2. RecallsinthestrongesttermsthatthedeterminationofpriorityprojectsinAnnexIIIofDecision
No1692/96/ECof23July1996oftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilonCommunityguidelinesfor the developmentofthe trans-European transportnetwork(
1) is governed solelyby the codecision
procedurebetweenParliamentandtheCouncilinaccordancewithArticle251oftheTreaty;
3. StressesthatanyarbitrarysettingofprioritieswithregardtopriorityprojectslistedinAnnexIIIis
inadmissibleandthatthetimingorfundingoftheindividualprojectswithinAnnexIIIdependssolelyontheprescribedcriteria,suchaseachproject’sstateofmaturityinplanning,fundingandconstructionterms;
4. DemandsthatitberegularlyinformedabouttheprogressoftheseprojectsrelatingtoAnnexIIIas
wellastheirfinancing;
5. InstructsitsPresidenttoforwardthisresolutiontotheCouncil,theCommissionandthegovern-
mentsoftheMemberStates.
(1) OJL228,9.9.1996,p.1.DecisionasamendedbyDecisionNo1346/2001/EC(OJL185,6.7.2001,p.1).
P5_TA(2004)0116
Preparatoryreportonthebroadeconomicguidelines
EuropeanParliamentresolutiononthesituationoftheEuropeaneconomy,reportonthebroad
guidelinesforeconomicpolicies(2003/2135(INI))
TheEuropeanParliament ,
/dash havingregardtothePresidencyconclusionsoftheLisbonEuropeanCouncilof23/24March2000,
the Gothenborg European Council of 15/16June 2001 and the Barcelona European Council of15/16March2003,
/dash havingregardtotheCommissionRecommendationontheBroadGuidelinesoftheEconomicPolicies
oftheMemberStatesandtheCommunity(forthe2003-2005period),(COM(2003)170),
/dash havingregardtothePresidencyconclusionsoftheBrusselsEuropeanCouncilsof20/21Marchandof
16/17October2003,
/dash havingregardtotheCommunicationfromtheCommission‘AEuropeanInitiativeforGrowth,Invest-
ing in Networks and Knowledge for Growth and Jobs’ Final Report to the European Council,(COM(2003)690),
/dash havingregardtotheconclusionsoftheCouncilforEconomicandFinancialAffairsof25November
2003,
/dash havingregardtothehearingontheReportofanIndependentHigh-LevelStudyGroupestablishedon
theinitiativeofthePresidentoftheCommissionandchairedbyAndréSapirintheEconomicandMonetaryCommitteeon4November2003,
/dash havingregardtotheFinalreportoftheCentreforEuropeanPolicyStudiesof27November2003,/dash havingregardtotheEconomicForecastsAutumn2003(
1),
/dash havingregardtotheCommunicationfromtheCommission‘Investinginresearch:anactionplanfor
Europe’(COM(2003)226),
(1) TobepublishedasEuropeanEconomyNo5/2003.C98E/162 EN23.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004
/dash havingregardtotheCommunicationfromtheCommission‘MoreResearchforEurope,towards3%
ofGDP’(COM(2002)499),
/dash havingregardtotheCommunicationfromtheCommissiontotheCouncil,theEuropeanParliament,
theEuropeanEconomicandSocialCommitteeandtheCommitteeoftheRegionson‘Innovationpolicy:updatingtheUnion’sapproachinthecontextoftheLisbonstrategy’(COM(2003)112),
/dash havingregardtotheProposalforaDecisionoftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncilamending
DecisionNo1692/96/EConCommunityguidelinesforthedevelopmentofthetrans-Europeantrans-portnetwork(COM(2003)564),
/dash havingregardtoitsresolutionsof12March2003onthestateoftheEuropeaneconomy/dashprepara-
toryreportwithaviewtotheCommissionrecommendationonBroadEconomicPolicyGuidelines(
1)
andof15May2003ontheCommissionrecommendationontheBroadGuidelinesoftheEconomicPoliciesoftheMemberStatesandtheCommunity(forthe2003-2005period)(
2)andtoitsresolution
of 23October 2003 on the outcome of the European Council meeting held in Brussels on16/17October2003(
3),
/dash havingregardtotheopinionoftheEuropeanEconomicandSocialCommitteeontheAssessmentof
theexperiencesgatheredbytheEESCtoevaluatetheeconomic,socialandemploymentimpactofstructuralreformsintheEU(ECO/109,CESE1406/2003),
/dash havingregardtothereportfromCommissiontotheSpringEuropeanCouncil‘DeliveringLisbon,
ReformsfortheEnlargedUnion’(COM(2004)29),
/dash havingregardtotheCommunicationfromtheCommissiontotheCouncil‘JointEmploymentReport
2003/2004’(COM(2004)24),
/dash havingregardtoRule163ofitsRulesofProcedure,/dash havingregardtothereportoftheCommitteeonEconomicandMonetaryAffairs(A5-0045/2004),
A. whereas,duetothelackofstructuralreformsinmostMemberStates,theGDPgrowthrateforthe
eurozonehasbeencontinuouslydecreasing,leavingEurope’seconomyonthebrinkofstagnation(from3,5%ofGDPin2000to1,5%in2001,0,9%in2002and0,4%in2003),
B. whereasanupturnintheEuropeaneconomyistobeexpectedin2004,
C. whereasemploymentprospectshavedeterioratedin2003,increasingtheunemploymentrateto8,9%
intheeuroareaandto8,1%intheEUasawhole,about0,5ppshigherthanin2002,
D. whereasthepercentageofpersonsatriskofpovertyatEUlevelremainsataveryhighlevelof15%,
andwouldamountto23%withoutsocialtransfersandtoasmuchas27%intheaccessioncountries;whereasincomeinequalitieswilldrasticallyincreasewithenlargement,
E. whereas,duetotheeconomicstagnation,socialexpenditurehasincreasedonaverageby1,5%of
GDPintheEUsince2000,resultingingreaterpressureonpublicfinances;whereastaxonlabouraccountsformorethan50%oftotaltaxrevenuescreatinganimpedimenttoemploymentgrowth,
(1) P5_TA(2003)0089.
(2) P5_TA(2003)0222.
(3) P5_TA(2003)0459.23.4.2004EN C98E/163 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004
F. whereasbothpublicandprivateinvestmentacrosstheEuropeanUnionhavefalleninrecentyears,
withthisdownwardtrendpersistingin2003,andwhereasbetterbackgroundconditionsforincreasedcompetitivenessarenecessaryinordertostimulateprivateinvestment;
G. whereasthedramaticdeclineofventurecapitalinvestmentsrelativetoGDPfrom0,07%to0029%in
2002iscausingmajordifficultiesforresearch-intensiveSMEs,andwhereasthereisagrowingcon-
centrationoftransnationalR&DexpendituresofEUfirmsintheUS,combinedwithanincreaseinthe‘braindrain’phenomenon,
H. whereasEuropeisfarbehinditsmaincompetitorsininvestmentsinthefuture,suchasresearchand
developmentandhumanresources,andisunder-performingininnovation;whereasR&Dspendingforaccedingcountriesaverageswellbelow1%ofGDPandrepresentsanobstacletorealconvergenceandintegrationintoaknowledge-basedeconomy,
I. whereastherearenosignsofanysubstantialincreaseinoverallinvestmentinhumanresourcesand
whereashumancapitalaccountsfor22%ofobservedproductivitygrowth;whereasraisingtheaver-agelevelofeducationofthepopulationbyoneyearrepresentsa5%increaseingrowthintheshorttermandafurther2,5%inthelongrun,
J. whereasEuropeshowsagapwiththeUSof13%ofpopulationtohavecompletedhighereducation,
andwhereastheEUinvestsonly1,1%ofGDPintertiaryeducationascomparedto3%intheUS,withmorethanhalfcomingfromtheprivatesector,
K. whereaslevelsofschoolfailureandofsocialexclusionareexcessivelyhigh,withalmost20%of
youngpeopleaged18to24intheEUprematurelydroppingoutofschoolin2002,andwhereasthequalityandattractivenessofvocationaltraining andlife-longlearningarenotuptothenewrequirementsoftheknowledge-basedeconomyandtheurgentneedtoincreaselabourmarketpar-ticipationinviewofourageingsociety,
L. whereas investmentneedsinacceding countries,especially inthe area oftransportnetworksand
environment, remain high considering the poor quality of public infrastructure which is oftenill-suitedtotheneedsandstandardsofmarketeconomies,
M. whereasattheLisbonEuropeanCouncil,theUnionhassetitselfthegoalofbecomingthemost
competitiveanddynamicknowledge-basedeconomyintheworldby2010,capableofsustainableeconomicgrowthwithmoreandbetterjobsandgreater socialcohesion;whereasfouryearswillsoonhaveelapsedwithoutanyremarkableprogresshavingbeenmadebeforethe2004SpringEuro-peanCouncil,
Improvingeconomicgovernance
1. RegretsthattheimpetusgivenbytheLisbonEuropeanCouncilinachievingsustainablegrowth,full
employmentandsocialinclusion,hasbeenlostduetodelaysintheimplementationoftheLisbonstrategywhichremainstheUnion’smostcomprehensivestrategytoundertakeeconomicandstructuralreforms,growth-orientedstrategiesforachievinggreatercompetitivenessandpromotingfullemployment,andtorespondtoenvironmentalchallengesandguaranteetheviabilityoftheEuropeansocialmodel;
2. Endorsesthecallsmadeinitsabovementionedresolutionof12March2003,andinparticularits
callsforareformedlabourmarket,withabalancebetweenflexibilityandsecurity,theswiftintroductionofstructuralreformsandresponsiblemanagementoftheStabilityandGrowthPact;C98E/164 EN23.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004
3. Recallsthedemocraticdeficitineconomicpolicygovernanceandthereforecallsonthe2004Spring
EuropeanCounciltoincludenotonlytheEuropeanParliament,butallnationalparliamentsintheLisbonStrategyprocess,andfordebatesonthismatterinallnationalparliamentsbeforetheSpringEuropeanCouncil;callsfortheinvolvementofsocialpartnersandcivilsocietyatalllevelsoftheLisbonstrategytoincreasepoliticalinvolvementandcommitmenttothestrategy;
4. CallsuponMemberStatesandaccessioncountriestoengageinacoordinatedstrategyforstructural
reforms,aslaiddownintheLisbonagenda;
5. Encouragesimprovementsineconomicpolicycoordinationsuchasamoreactivedisplayofthe
moralauthorityoftheCommission,givinganearlywarningwhenMemberStatesriskfailingtoprovideforabudgetsurplus,orevenjeopardisingtheirbudgetarystability,inperiodsofstronggrowth;
6. ExpressesitsconcernaboutthegrowinggapbetweentheaimsandtargetssetattheLisbonEuro-
peanCouncilandtheexistingbroadeconomicpolicyguidelines(BEPGs);insistsonanincreaseinthecoherenceandconsistencybetweentheLisbonstrategy,theGrowthInitiative,the2003-2005BEPGs,aswellasthe2003-2005Europeanemploymentguidelines(EEGs),andasksfortheseinstrumentstobefullyandpromptlyimplementedatnationalandlocallevel;
7. NoteswithregretthelackofcooperationandcoordinationinallfieldsoftheLisbonstrategy;calls
forgreaterstreamliningofthedifferentinstrumentssoastoaimforinnovation,growth,sustainabilityandsocialcohesion;stresses,inthisconnection,theimportanceofanintegratedstrategytoimprovecompeti-tiveness;
8. CallsontheMemberStatestoimplementtherequisitestructuralreformsandpoliticalmeasureswith
aviewtocreating,inlinewiththeprincipleofbetterlaw-making,abusinessclimateconducivetoentre-preneurialenterprise,innovationandindustrialcompetitiveness,andendorsesinthisconnectionthecon-clusionsoftheCompetitivenessCouncilof26/27November2003;
9. CallsontheCommissiontofurtherimproveitsmethodsofapplyingprospectiveimpactanalysisto
draftlegislationand,inparticular,toexaminetherepercussionsoflegislativeproposalswhichinanumberofcasesmayimpedecompetitivenessoftheEuropeaneconomy;notes,inthiscontext,thatover-regulationisanobstacletotheEuropeaneconomymakinguplostgroundandcanleadtofurtherbelow-averageproductivitygrowth;
10. Stresses that a functioning internal market is a prerequisite for economic success and social
well-being in Europe; calls on the Member States to implement consistently the European legislationintendedtoremoveobstaclesintheinternalmarketaswellasfiscalobstacles;
11. Welcomesthegrowthinitiativeasalong-expectedsignalofeconomicgovernanceinordertoboost
confidenceandexpresscommitmenttotheLisbonstrategy,establishingapartnershipforinvestmentinnetworks,researchandinnovation;however,regretsthelackofinitiativesinthefieldofenvironmentallyfriendlytechnologiesandrenewableenergy,andnoteswithgreatconcernthatinvestmentmeasuresinhumancapitalhavebeenomitted;
12. Stresses that coordinated measures are needed to fight tax fraud and unfair tax competition;
suggests,asanadditionalmeanstofinanceinvestmentsingrowth,toimprovethecollectionofpublicrevenues,focusingonthewidespreadproblemoftaxfraud,whichdeprivesMemberStatesofconsiderablefiscalresources;callsontheCommissiontoworkwithMemberStatestoestablishacooperationandbenchmarkingsystemtocombattaxfraud,particularlyinareassuchasVAT(intradebetweenMemberStates);23.4.2004EN C98E/165 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004
Investments in the Future: employment policy, human resources, skills strategy, research and
developmentandsocialservicesociety
13. Considersinvestmentinhumancapitaltobeadeterminingfactorforgrowth,productivityand
competitiveness,andapreconditionfortheknowledge-basedsocietyanditseconomy;inaddition,believes
thatitiscrucialfortechnologicalchangeandinnovation,akeyinstrumenttoincreaseemploymentpar-
ticipationandthequalityofjobs,equalopportunitiesandsocialcohesion;encouragesmoreemphasistobegiventoimprovingqualityinworkwhichgoeshandinhandwithprogresstowardsfullemployment,higherproductivitygrowthandbettersocialcohesionandisoneofthethreeoverarchingobjectivesintheEmploymentGuidelinesfortheperiod2003-2005andpointsattherelevanceofthetenspecificguidelinessupportingtheseobjectives,notablythoseonlifelonglearning,genderequality,adaptability,makingworkpay,inclusionandundeclaredwork;
14. EncouragesMemberStatestocutdownthedrop-outrateatschool,toimprovethequalityand
attractiveness of vocational training and to increase the share of the population to have completed
secondary,post-secondaryandtertiaryeducationby2010;callsonMemberStatestocreateincentivesfortheprivatesectortoinvestinthelife-longlearningfortheiremployees,withparticularattentiontothepossibilitiesandneedsofSMEs;stresses,inthisconnection,thesharedresponsibilityof,andtheneedforgreatercommitmenttobedemonstratedby,MemberStates,employersandemployeesthemselves,inordertotranslatetheconceptoflife-longlearningintoreality;emphasisesthattherecognitionofinfor-mallyacquiredskillsmustbeimprovedinthecaseofsmallbusinesses;
15. Callsupon the Union to integrate a skillsstrategy into the growth initiative and calls for the
establishmentofaEuropeanareaofknowledgeandskills,identifyingbestpracticeinmatchingeducation,
life-long learning and pension systems;calls for the establishment ofa commonEuropean references
framework(Europass)withprinciples,criteriaandkeyindicatorsforqualityassuranceandvalidationofformalandinformallearningtoimprovequalityandmobility;
16. Agrees on the need to remove the existing legal and administrative obstacles to mobility, but
stressesagaintheneedfortheCommissiontoinitiateadialoguewiththesocialpartnersincludingthoseofthenewMemberStates,inordertoavoidunfaircompetitioninwagesandconditions;
17. Recommendsfocusingtheskillsandemploymentstrategyparticularlyonwomen/dashtoincreasethe
proportion of women specialising in science and technology /dash older workers, immigrants and newentrantstothelabourmarket;encouragesinvestmentin,anddevelopmentof,asocialservicesocietytoincreaseemploymentparticipationandbettertoreconcileworkingandfamilylifeformenandwomen;callsonMemberStatestospeeduptherealisationofthetargetsetattheBarcelonaEuropeanCouncilof15/16March2003toprovidechildcareby2010toatleast90%ofchildrenbetweenthreeyearsofageandthemandatoryschoolage,andatleast33%ofchildrenunder3yearsofageinordertoreacttothechallengeoftheageingandknowledge-basedsocietyandeconomy;
18. Noteswithgreatconcernthedeclineininvestmentintheknowledge-basedeconomy,theincrease
intheR&DinvestmentgapbetweentheEUandtheUS,inthe‘braindrain’phenomenonandintheconcentrationofEUfirms’transnationalR&DexpenditureintheUSA,indicatingthattheEUisbecominglessattractiveasalocationforR&Dforindustry,andthedramaticdeclineofriskcapitalactivity;callsontheMemberStatestoincreasethenumberandattractivenessofresearchpositionsandimprovethecareerdevelopmentforresearchersinordertopreventthe‘braindrain’totheUS;C98E/166 EN23.4.2004 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004
19. Callsforanurgentmobilisationofprivate-sectorinvestmentforR&Dwithaspecialfocusonseed
andstart-upventurecapitalformicroenterprisesandSMEs;
20. EncouragestheimprovementofframeworkconditionsforR&DinEuropesuchasmoreresearch
andinnovation-friendlystateaidandpublicprocurementrules,thesetting-upofalegalframeworkforpublic/dashprivatepartnerships,adequateintellectualpropertyrightssystemsandhighlyqualified,adaptableandmobilehumanresources;callsforastrongpublicresearchbasewithlinkswithindustryinthecontextofEUregionalandcohesionpoliciesandofthefinancialinstrumentstargetedparticularlyattheaccessioncountries;callsfortherealisationofaEuropeanresearcharea;encouragestheopening-upofnationalR&Dsystemsandprogrammestotransnationalcollaboration;
21. NoteswithconcernthatEuropehaslostitsadvanceinenvironmentallyfriendlytechnologiesand
renewableenergiesinthepastyears;recallsthestrategyforsustainabledevelopmentsetattheGothenburgEuropeanCouncilof15/16June2001anddemandsthatitbeputatthecentreofacoherentindustrialpolicy,favouringtheintroductionofnewandenvironmentallyfriendlytechnologiessuchasnano-andbio-communication,andothercleantechnologies,inparticularinthefieldofenergy,investmentsingreenhousemitigationmeasuresandtransport;supports,inparticular,theirwideruseandthoseprojectsaimedattransformingresearchintoeconomicallyviableinnovation,acknowledgingtheirgrowthpotential;
22. StressestheimportanceofreducingEurope’sdependenceonoilimports,whichconstitutesaheavy
burdenfromthepoliticalandpricevolatilitypointofview;welcomestechnologyplatformssuchastheEuropeanPartnershipforaHydrogenEconomy;encouragesfurtherinvestmentinthemostcost-effectiveformsofrenewableenergy,whichwillreducethevolatilityofthecostperunitofenergy,increasethesecurityofenergysupply,belessharmfultotheenvironment,andpotentiallytriggeranindustrialrevol-utionsimilartotheIT-ledindustrialrevolutionintheUS;
23. Calls for an intensified public-private partnership with particular support for SMEs, and the
developmentofacoherentindustrialpolicy;supportsmeasurestoestablishandkeeptheR&DcentresofindustrywithintheEU;encouragesanincreaseofpublicfinancialsupporttobusinessR&D;callsforintensifiedco-operationbetweenpublicresearchinstitutionsandindustry,withaspecialfocusonSMEs,astrongerparticipationofindustryinthedeterminationofprioritiesforpublicresearch,butalsoasubstan-tialincreaseofprivatesectorfinancialcontributionthereto;supportsthepromotionoftechnologytransferofpublicly-fundedorpublic-privatelyfundedresearchtoindustryandspin-offcreation;stronglywelcomesnetworks of excellence, public-private R&D partnerships, business incubators and clusters leading toknowledge transfer and commercialisation of R&D results; calls on the EIB to develop new fundingarrangementstofosterthedevelopmentandmarketintroductionofnewtechnologies,includinggroupedloansforspecificresearchactivities,technologyplatforms,andsimplifiedlendingproceduresformidsizedfirms;
24. WelcomestheincreasedroleandproposedinitiativesoftheEIBandEIFinthiscontextandcallsfor
thefulluseoftheloanfacilitiesoftheEIBinstitutions;
25. Recommends, in particular, that the existing margin for manoeuvre offered within the current
Financial Perspectives be used now, by taking full advantage of the EU budget and European funds,inparticularstructuralfunds,tobetterreflectandimplementtheLisbonstrategy;
26. InstructsitsPresidenttoforwardthisresolutiontotheCouncilandtheCommission,theEuropean
EconomicandSocialCommitteeandthegovernmentsandparliamentsoftheMemberStatesandthesocialpartners.23.4.2004EN C98E/167 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanUnion
Thursday26February2004