WRITTEN QUESTION E-0589/02 by Elisa Damião (PSE) to the Council. The Lisbon strategy.
Date: 2002-03-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU employment policy, activity report, business policy, economic and social cohesion, economic growth, full employment, innovation, social partners

C 229 E/108

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.9.2002

Reply

(26 June 2002)

At present there is no European Community legislation regulating the welfare of pet animals. Since the
Commission is not considering any proposals at this stage, it is unlikely that the question will be dealt with
before the completion of the accession negotiations;
it will therefore not be covered by the acquis
communautaire.

There is a Council of Europe Convention for the protection of pet animals. However, its general nature
prevents it from regulating the problems raised by the Honourable Member.

Moreover, the Council is currently completing its examination of a proposal on the movement of pet
animals, which is subject to the codecision procedure and on which the European Parliament has already
delivered its first-reading opinion. This text, which deals only with aspects of animal health and non-
commercial movement of pet animals, does not affect the measures taken by a Member State for reasons
relating to public order.

(2002/C 229 E/123)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0589/02

by Elisa Damião (PSE) to the Council

(6 March 2002)

Subject: The Lisbon strategy

The targets set by the Lisbon strategy for employment growth up to 2005 and 2010 were employment
in the expectation that growth would
rates of 60 % for women and 70 % for the total workforce,
simultaneously be underpinned by technological innovation and social cohesion. However, the Prospective
Analysis 2020 synthesis report by the European Science and Technology Observatory on the ‘Impact of
Technological and Structural Change on Employment’ contradicts this view and goes so far as to say that
productivity will speed up, with a positive impact on the economy, but not on employment, which will
continue to grow in the traditional business sectors.

What does the Council intend to do 8 correct the Lisbon targets or adopt more realistic strategies for
employment growth?

Reply

(26 June 2002)

At the Barcelona summit on 15 and 16 March 2002, the European Council reviewed progress made in the
first two years of the Lisbon strategy. It noted that there had been important successes, but also that there
were areas where progress had been too slow.

The Barcelona European Council confirmed the Lisbon objectives and gave a reminder
full
employment is the essential goal of economic and social policies and that it is therefore necessary to
continue paying special attention to the reform of policies aimed at a high level of employment.

that

The Barcelona European Council also asked the social partners to place their strategies in the various
territorial (European, national, regional and local) and sectoral spheres at the service of the Lisbon Strategy
and Objectives and to that end to produce an annual report on their efforts both at national level and at
European level. The multiannual programme which they will submit in December 2002 should already
include that contribution, particularly with regard to the adaptability of businesses in matters such as
collective bargaining, wage moderation, improved productivity, life-long training, new technologies and
the flexible organisation of work.