European economic situation: preparatory report on the integrated policy guidelines for 2007, concerning in particular the broad economic policy guidelines

 The committee adopted the own-initiative report by Udo BULLMANN (PES,  DE) on the EU's broad economic policy guidelines for 2007. The key message contained in the report was that Europe should take advantage of the present improvement in economic growth to make the changes and investment needed to enhance its potential growth rates for the longer term, so as to be able to generate more employment.

Among its recommendations, the committee called for:

- effective coordination of economic policies, including growth-intensive public spending, stimulation of private investment and public-private cooperation, notably on projects for science, research, transport, communication, energy and environmental sustainability;

- improved access to financing for small and medium sized businesses, along with favourable tax and social contribution arrangements;

- the curbing of protectionist tendencies;

- action to make the labour market more inclusive, balancing job security and flexibility, as well as better opportunities to combine professional and family life;

- enhanced and structured economic cooperation in the EU and in particular the euro area.

The report also recommended a number of measures at institutional level, including:

- publication by the Commission of a “league table” of Member States with the best and worst reform records, in the interest of learning from both successes and failures;

- action to make the Lisbon Strategy more visible to all players in Member States’ societies, with broader consultation;

- a joint process of reflection between the EU bodies via an inter-institutional working party following the 2007 spring summit, to develop the next set of integrated policy guidelines for the years to come