A 70 percent employment rate and a 60 percent participation rate for women by year 2010. We also decided to move ahead with the creation of an electronic Europe for all, bridging the digital divide and turning it into a digital opportunity. These are the targets of our economic policy over the next decade. The specific measures adopted in Lisbon, together with the sound macroeconomic policies already in place, are expected to allow the European Union to grow at healthy rates in the future. An average economic growth rate of around 3 percent is a realistic prospect.
Investment is the driver for growth in the years to come, as it has been over the past five years.
A rapid increase in investment is expected to originate from the decrease of interest rates to euro-zone levels, which we recently witnessed, the construction projects for the preparation for the Olympics of year 2004, which are already underway, and from a large inflow of funds from the EU, earmarked for specific investment projects. Long-term macroeconomic stability, EMU membership, the country's special location in South East Europe and the prospects of rapid growth are not the only attractive features of the Greek economy. Domestic and foreign investors also benefit from the country's superior infrastructure, which improves daily and at a fast pace. There is a major revamping of the road and air transportation services, with new highways constantly being built and a new Athens airport, which will be operational as early as next month. The country has also made a leap forward in its telecommunications infrastructure.