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Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on Implementing the Community Lisbon Programme: Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions — More Research and Innovation — Investing for Growth and Employment: A Common Approach

COM(2005) 488 final

(2006/C 309/02)

On 12 October 2005 the European Commission decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under Article 262 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovementioned proposal.

The Section for the Single Market, Production and Consumption, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 31 May 2006. The rapporteur was Ms Fusco.

At its 428th plenary session, held on 5 and 6 July 2006 (meeting of 5 July), the European Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion with 152 votes in favour and three abstentions.

1.   Background and gist of the Commission communication

2.   General comments

3.   Specific comments

Brussels, 5 July 2006

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Anne-Marie SIGMUND

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(1)  SEC(2005) 1289, Annex to COM(2005) 488 final, Impact Assessment, in which the Commission chooses the third option — a common approach.

(2)OJ C 204 of 18.7.2000.

(3)  COM(2002) 499 final.

(4)  ‘Working together for growth and jobs — A new start for the Lisbon Strategy’ [COM(2005) 24 final] of 2.2.2005 and ‘Common Actions for Growth and Employment: The Community Lisbon Programme’ [COM(2005) 330 final] of 20.7.2005.

(5)  COM(2005) 229 final and SEC (2005) 717 of 1 June 2005 on ‘i2010 — A European Information Society for growth and employment’ promoting growth and employment in information society industries and the media. This sector of the EU economy accounts for 40 % of the EU's productivity growth and 25 % of GDP growth.

(6)  SEC(2005) 1289, Impact Assessment.

(7)  Mobilisation of public and private resources; tax incentives; European Structural Funds; SME access to finance.

(8)  University-industry partnerships; poles and clusters; pro-active business support services; innovative services.

(9)  Presidency conclusions of the Brussels European Council of 23-24 March 2006.

(10)  INI/2006/2005: European Parliament analysis of COM(2005) 488 final.

(11)  SEC(2005) 1253 Annex to COM(2005) 488 final, ‘Steps to the implementation’.

(12)  COM(2003) 226 final, point 2.

(13)  In the eight Member States that have already introduced them, they account for 13 % of direct investment in research.

(14)  Ibid, Calderón 2001, page 19.

(15)OJ C 110 of 30.4.2004.

(16)OJ C 110 of 30.4.2004.

(17)OJ C 157 of 26.6.2005.

(18)OJ C 65 of 17.3.2006.

(19)  Nanotechnology, biotechnology, health research, information technology, energy research (including fusion energy research), space and security research.

(20)OJ C 65 of 17.3.2006.

(21)  ‘98 % of businesses in Europe are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). They provide 55 % of private-sector jobs. In terms of production processes, products and services SMEs have considerable innovative potential.’

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