Joint declaration on mid term review of Lisbon Strategy: Social Partners agree on the way forward
UNICE/UEAPME, CEEP and ETUC have adopted a joint declaration on the mid-term review of the Lisbon strategy. Convinced that the Lisbon strategy remains as valid and necessary as it was in 2000, they stress that Europe’s weakness in terms of growth and employment needs to be addressed without delay. The declaration is a joint contribution to the Spring Council taking place in Brussels on 22-23 March next and has been sent to the Presidents of the European Parliament, Mr. Borell, the EU Council, Mr Juncker, and the EU Commission, Mr Barroso.
UNICE/UEAPME, CEEP and ETUC reiterate their support to the Lisbon strategy aimed at turning Europe into the most competitive knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth, with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion.
Europe’s success depends on the competitiveness of its companies as well as on the efficiency of its economic and social systems to generate sustainable economic growth, employment and social cohesion. As part of their contribution to the March 2005 European Council, the European social partners have developed a joint understanding of key elements of the concept of competitiveness in a sound macro economic environment.
UNICE/UEAPME, CEEP and ETUC support the proposal to prepare national Lisbon programmes to bridge the delivery gap. They highlight the importance of involving social partners both at national level, when developing these programmes, and at the European level, when assessing the implementation and results of the Lisbon strategy.
UNICE/UEAPME, CEEP and ETUC have started a reflection on the content of the next work programme of their autonomous social dialogue and are fully conscious of the need to firmly embed it in the Lisbon strategy.
The joint declaration is attached. The four specific contributions announced in the joint declaration will be published on 22 March 2005.
For more information please contact:
Maria Fernanda Fau, UNICE Tel.:+32(0)2 237 65 62 www.unice.org
Richard More O’Ferrall, UEAPME Tel.:+32(0)2 230 75 99 www.ueapme.com
Valeria Ronzitti, CEEP Tel.:+32(0)2 229 21 42 www.ceep.org
Patricia Grillo, ETUC Tel.: +32(0)2 224 04 31 www.etuc.org
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