As the meeting agenda was fairly extensive, the first part focused on the main challenges facing Europe in an uncertain climate. As mentioned
by group president Mario Sepi in the introduction to his speech, this
uncertainty results from unfamiliarity with the new Commission's programme, an unpredictable ratification process for the Constitutional Treaty and even the degeneration of industrial relations in many countries, caused by employers' erosion of workers' entitlements, often with the complicity of the State. Mr
Sepi ...[+++] emphasised that these aspects were interlinked, because "the choices made for relaunching the Lisbon Strategy will certainly have an impact on the way Europe is seen by the millions of citizens called to vote on the constitution". Mr Sepi concluded his speech by recalling the three main priorities for the future of Europe and its model: the mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy "striking a balance with each side of its equilateral triangle, that is, the economic, social and environmental aspects"; the Stability and Growth Pact, "which must be reviewed not only in terms of economic flexibility but also in terms of quality of expenditure"; the EU's financial perspectives, which must (as G. Dassis' opinion made clear) take account of the cohesion objectives if we are to determine the financial resources needed to realise our ambitions.En concluant s
on intervention, M. Sepi a rappelé les trois axes sur lesquels se joue le futur de l’Europe et de son modèle: la révision à mi-parcours de la Stratégie de Lisbonne « dans l’équilibre des trois côtés de son triangle équilatéral : l’économique, le social et l’environnemental ; le Pacte de Stabilité et de Croissance, «à réviser non seulement en termes de flexibil
ité conjoncturelle, mais également en terme de qualité de dépenses»; les perspectives financières de l’UE, par rapport auxquelles– comme l’avis de G. Dassis l’a b
...[+++]ien précisé – on doit partir des objectifs de cohésion si on veut comprendre quels moyens financiers sont nécessaires pour être à la hauteur des ambitions!
