Report on a European Economic Recovery Plan
The Council held a policy debate on ways of responding to the current economic downturn, and unanimously adopted the following set of key messages and recommendations to be sent for endorsement by the next European Council in Brussels on 19 and 20 March.
In order to respond pro-actively to the economic downturn, the Council considers that the European Union and Member States must act in a concerted, ambitious and comprehensive manner. The Council therefore proposes a large number of short-term measures to improve the economic conditions for business and contribute to the creation of more jobs.
These measures focus on five priority sectors:
- a fully functioning internal market without barriers;
- putting into effect the Action Programme on reduction of administrative burden on businesses;
- improving the framework conditions for industry, with special focus on innovation and SME competitiveness;
- enhancing the level and the quality of investment into knowledge and research;
- strengthening the external dimension of competitiveness.
All of the measures are set out in detail in the annex to the draft Council recommendations.