Agenda Raad Concurrentievermogen: industrie, Lissabon, nieuw EU-innovatieprogramma, textiel (en)

Industry policy

Over lunch, the Council had an informal debate about a modern industrial policy. The Commission is currently working on a Communication on Modern Industrial Policy that will aim at developing a work programme on Industrial Policy for the coming years. Commissioner Günter Verheugen insisted that the EU needed a strong industrial base to be able to create growth and jobs. Mr. Verheugen said that modern industrial policy was horizontal in nature. This means it aims to create a better environment for all businesses, regardless of size or sector. At the same time, the Vice President underlined that the EU must also be able to address sector-specific circumstances and needs to optimise Europe's economic performance. Mr. Verheugen stressed that this did not mean helping and sheltering some sectors from international competition.

Partnership for growth and jobs

The Council gave broad support for mechanism the new mechanisms the Commission proposed to create more growth and jobs in the EU and re-launch the Lisbon Agenda. Commissioner Verheugen presented a working paper the Commission tabled providing some assistance to the Member States in this endeavour. It reaffirms the principle of national ownership of the process by providing as much flexibility as possible to the Member States to base their reforms on their own needs and priorities. Yet, at the same time, this is a common approach. In essence, the Commission views the National reform plans as relatively succinct forward-looking policy documents of around 30 to 40 pages; they should set out a comprehensive three-year strategy to implement the integrating guidelines, to deliver growth and jobs. In addition, the Commission is putting forward some concrete ways to apply the principle of partnership. Mr. Verheugen said that he would appoint senior officials to work with Member States starting from clarifying the different challenges that the national reform plans will be addressing.

New competitiveness and innovation programme (CIP)

The Council discussed the new competitiveness and innovation programme (CIP) the Commission tabled in March. Commissioner Verheugen underlined the importance of a new, streamlined innovation programme, which would hugely benefit Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). He stressed that the philosophy of the new programme was fully in line with the conclusions of the Spring Summit last March.

Textiles

Under other points, the Council discussed the situation of the textiles and clothing sector in the EU which is currently facing a series of challenges, including the abolition of quantitative restrictions on 1 January 2005. Commissioner Verheugen pointed out that the Commission was fully aware of the importance of the current trade evolutions for the future of the textile sector, which in many Member States remains a pillar of their industrial sector. He promised that the Commission would therefore make all the necessary efforts to take necessary actions in a swift and balanced manner while keeping in mind the necessity for the EU to comply with its international obligations.