“The Austrian Presidency set itself the task of offering concrete solutions and encouraging Member States to make voluntary commitments, so that we can achieve our common goals of stimulating growth and employment. After all, Europe will be judged by the extent to which we achieve our objectives, not by our words”, Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel, current President of the European Council, said at the closing press conference of the EU summit, which ended today in Brussels. “Europe will be built on deeds, but this cannot be done in a day. We took some initiatives which were well received.” By way of example, the European social partners and the President of the European Central Bank attended the summit meeting of Heads of State and Government for the first time, at the invitation of the Austrian Presidency. “That was a breath of fresh air, which did us good and showed that the European social model, the inclusion of the social partners, is an important issue”, Schüssel said.
Commenting on the summit conclusions, the Chancellor said the measures to boost growth and employment were important. “The business cycle is favourable and if we make the extra effort, we can create 2 million new jobs yearly by 2010. That is very important. We also decided jointly to do this”, Schüssel declared. Another key concern was to cut youth unemployment and to improve the work situation of young people. It was decided to take action to cut the proportion of early school leavers to 10%. Furthermore, by the end of 2007, every unemployed school leaver is to be offered a job, an apprenticeship or some other job preparation within six months. The six months are to be reduced to four by 2010.
A key element of the conclusions is clear objectives in the area of research and technological development. They include the overall aim of increasing research spending to 3% of GDP, taking account of the Member States’ different starting points. Member States are to allocate more of their budget to research and development with a view to providing more and better resources. Private sector measures are to be supported through a better mix of support tools. Member States have also undertaken to proceed speedily to adopt the 7th research framework programme, set up the European Research Council and do more to promote public private-partnerships. They also back the establishment of a European Insititute of Technology.
In order to promote and support small and medium-sized businesses, the European Council decided among other things to establish the one-stop-shop principle by 2007. Another objective is for business set-ups within a week to be feasible everywhere in the Union by 2007.
Another key item in the discussions was a common energy policy, which has now been incorporated in the conclusions. Cross-border energy exchanges are to be increased to 10% of installed production capacity. In accordance with a European Commission analysis, the share of renewables is to be increased to 15% by 2015 and that of biofuels to 8%. “Energy saving is the crucial theme in my view”, Chancellor Schüssel declared. “If we do succeed in cutting 20% off current energy demand within 15 years, this objective is a significant decision. Energy policy in particular is a prime example of all the institutions having to work together to develop something new.”
Chancellor Schüssel also expressed satisfaction that the European Parliament proposal on the Services Directive is now supported by all the Heads of State and Government.
Here you can find the Presidency Conclusions
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