Spaanse premier roept EP op om mee te gaan in nieuwe visie op economie en rol Commissie (en)

The head of the Spanish Government, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, has put forward a proposal in the European Parliament for a broad social pact to advance a new model of economic growth over the next ten years.

At a press conference following his speech to the plenary session of the European Parliament, the Spanish Prime Minister emphasised that “if this major European commitment, known as “Strategy 2020”, receives the backing of business and trade unions, it will be much stronger”.

The rotating presidency of the EU stressed the need to include social agents in the task “because the financial crisis, in addition to its harsh, negative effect on employment, will change the criteria for growth and the sources of innovation leadership”.

Appearing with the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Durao Barroso, and EP President Jerzy Buzek, the Spanish Prime Minister said that both the Council and the European Commission are working in this direction.

Furthermore, according to the head of the Spanish Government, the main factor leading to the failure of the Lisbon strategy, aimed at turning the EU into a more dynamic and competitive economy, has been the lack of Community resources to “implement some of the key measures”.

The four policies in which, in his opinion, “the Commission should take a more authoritarian Community role” are energy, the digital market, universities and the green economy, for example in electric vehicles.

Zapatero warned, “if we do not face up to the energy problem or take a leading role in the digital market and information society, we will not achieve the competitiveness and economic growth we want” and “that now is the time to make every effort to reform labour markets or the stability pact”, adding that “we talk of more economic governance, more sanctions (and they call that) controlling, intervening. But if aren't talking about this, but we open our eyes and tell each other the truth, that all these issues which are so essential for the European economy can only be approached with a European policy, if we wait for each of the 27 members, then we won't get there”.

In the opinion of Barroso, the Spanish Presidency is “good news for Europe” because of its commitment to the Community project, and he highlighted the importance of Spain's role in “shaping” Europe's new economic strategy, together with the other institutions.

Buzek thanked Zapatero for his “clear and constructive” speech, and reminded him that as the President in office he will have to discuss issues again with MEPs at the end of his term of office in June.