European Parliament resolution on the Commission recommendation on the broad guidelines for the economic policies of the Member States and the Community in the framework of the integrated guidelines for growth and jobs (2005-2008) (COM(2005)0141 - 2005/2017(INI))
Date: 2005-05-26
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: European Employment Strategy, competitiveness, economic and social cohesion, economic policy, employment policy, sustainable development

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49.
Believes that an enhanced information and communication strategy is necessary if the objectives of
promoting fundamental rights and raising awareness of fundamental rights issues (creating a culture of
respect for fundamental rights) are to be attained; believes that the inclusion of a subject on the Member
States' school curricula to cover both fundamental rights and the human rights recognised by the inter-
national community could help to attain these objectives;

50.
Takes the view that these concrete steps should include training measures organised by the Agency
for those working in the field of human rights in Europe, whether representatives of civil society or pro-
fessional organisations;

51.
Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the European Council, the Council and the Com-
mission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, national human rights bodies, the Council
of Europe, the OSCE and the UN.

P6_TA(2005)0209

BEPGs

European Parliament resolution on the Commission recommendation on the broad guidelines for
the economic policies of the Member States and the Community in the framework of the integrated
guidelines for growth and jobs (2005-2008) (COM(2005)0141 — 2005/2017(INI))

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Commission recommendation (COM(2005)0141),

— having regard to Article 99(2) of the EC Treaty,

— having regard to the Spring 2005 economic forecasts drawn up by the Commission for the euro area

and the European Union (2005-2006),

— having regard to the conclusions of the Presidency of the Lisbon European Council of 23 and 24 March
2000, the Gothenburg European Council of 15 and 16 June 2001 and the Barcelona European Council
of 15 and 16 March 2002,

— having regard to the conclusions of the Presidency of the European Councils held in Brussels on 20 and
21 March 2003, 16 and 17 October 2003, 25 and 26 March 2004, 4 and 5 November 2004 and 22
and 23 March 2005,

— having regard to its resolution of 22 February 2005 on the European economic situation — prepara-

tory report on the broad economic policy guidelines (1),

— having regard to Rule 107 of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (A6-0150/2005),

A. whereas growth in the euro area and the 25-member European Union is failing to achieve its potential
on a sustained basis and is still too weak, particularly in the four leading economies in the euro area;
whereas household consumption is still faltering and the economic outlook for 2005 and 2006 con-
tinues to be unsatisfactory, contributing to a continuing high level of unemployment which will decline
only slowly; whereas, despite the lowest interest rates since the Second World War, there is little will-
ingness to invest;

B. whereas structural reforms of product, energy and labour markets and taxation systems and the imple-
mentation of the internal market have not been carried out in all the Member States with the requisite
care, and whereas reforms at Community level are making only slow progress,

(1) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2005)0034.

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C. whereas the Stability and Growth Pact has contributed to maintaining a low level of inflation and a

historically low level of interest rates,

Thursday 26 May 2005

D. whereas worldwide competition is steadily increasing; whereas the European Union is lagging behind
the growth rates in many other parts of the world and sees its market shares on third markets
threatened; whereas the economic growth in the Union as an average is lagging behind the U.S. as
well as some key Asian economies,

E. whereas the Lisbon Strategy requires the mobilisation of all existing instruments, in particular the broad
economic policy guidelines (BEPGs), the Seventh EU Framework Programme for Research (2007-2013)
and the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (2007-2013), and the redirecting of
expenditure towards growth-enhancing and job-creating categories in the framework of the financial
perspective 2007-2013,

F. whereas the Lisbon process is part of the EU's strategy for sustainable development and whereas the
environmental dimension must be an integral part of the European strategy to boost employment,

G. whereas the Union is now an entity comprising 455 million men and women in 25 very disparate
countries; whereas there are considerable economic and social disparities between and, in many cases,
within the Member States; whereas the growth in a number of Member States is considerably higher
than in others; whereas excessively general guidelines could fail to take account of the diversity of
problems arising,

H. whereas economic growth is not an objective in itself but part of an integrated approach focusing on
the welfare and quality of life of citizens; whereas the pursuit of sustainable growth must be based on
social, employment, environmental and budgetary policies which show a sense of responsibility towards
future generations and respect for the different preconditions of the Member States;

I. whereas unemployment is the greatest social injustice; whereas social cohesion can only be streng-
thened by growth in all parts of the Union, facilitating a high level of social protection and a high
level of employment, in accordance with the objectives set out in the Treaty,

J. whereas growth can only be achieved through higher competitiveness and more investment; whereas
the Union lags far behind its main competitors in the field of research and development, innovation
and investing in the start-up of new enterprises;

1. Welcomes the presentation of integrated BEPGs and employment guidelines which concentrate on
growth and employment while remaining committed to a balance between the three pillars of the Lisbon
Strategy in line with the presidency conclusions of the Brussels European Council of 22 and 23 March
2005, that integrated presentation being a sign of the complementary nature of economic and social policy
and of commitment to further progress towards making the macro-economic framework established for the
Union simpler and easier to understand; supports the determination of the Council and the Commission to
concentrate to a greater extent on growth and employment by increasing competitiveness, extending the
internal market to the services sector, improving the efficiency of public services and consequently boosting
domestic demand;

2.
Deplores the fact that the Commission's recommendations pay little attention to the environmental
dimension in kick-starting growth and employment; recalls that environmental requirements will help to
establish a forward-looking, dynamic and efficient economy which offers citizens a high quality of life;

3.
Stresses the importance of creating employment in the personal services and community services
sector in a society of high female employment with an ageing and urbanised population; points to the
importance of diversification and increased competition in a sector where it is important for citizens to
enjoy the highest possible level of service and a range of choices, as such objectives also create opportunities
for entrepreneurship for both women and men;

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4.
Regrets the excessively general nature of the integrated guidelines, which do not take sufficient account
of the differences between Member States; encourages the Commission in its plan to submit a communi-
cation identifying the key challenges for each of the Member States, especially in the field of structural
reforms and investment as well as for more rapid exchange of advanced knowledge in setting economic
policy;

5.
Recalls that a healthy macro-economic environment implies adequate interaction between coordinated
budgetary policies, an independent monetary policy that maintains the objective of price stability and
further pursues the one of achieving the Union's general goals as enshrined in the Treaty, in an effort to
reach better living standards and the objectives of sustainable development; calls on the Member States to
implement structural reforms that help stimulate investment and therefore make full use of the low interest
rates guaranteed by the ECB and to use the room for manoeuvre in the reformed Stability and Growth Pact
to foster a more qualitative European economic growth, all of which underlines the opportunities and the
need for increased trade in all sectors and the necessity to complete the Single Market;

6.
Highlights the attraction exerted by the European model and the major role of the Union and of the
Member States in world trade; underlines the need for a labour market which is open to all citizens and
flexible enough to help people opt into the market and which does not force older people willing to work
out of their jobs;

Stresses the necessity to restructure economic policy, focusing it on factors related to productivity
7.
growth, e.g. the modernisation of the economy, knowledge and social welfare and institutional arrange-
ments, to meet the challenges of the recent enlargement and the requirements of a modern economy and
resist the deflationary pressure of the third world;

8.
Notes that increased labour productivity, efforts to strengthen competitiveness, investment and growth
are prerequisites for higher wages and an equitable distribution of the fruits of growth, employment and
social cohesion; stresses that such a development should be followed by an obligation for enterprises to
meet their social responsibilities;

9.
Is of the view that increased and sustainable growth in Europe requires simultaneous, coordinated
action by all Member States, including the completion of the internal market, a higher level of investment
and innovative labour market reforms;

10.
Regrets the conditions, in particular in terms of the timetable, under which Parliament is required to
express an opinion on the integrated guidelines; calls for the conditions relating to interinstitutional coop-
eration on the integrated guidelines to be clarified before the European Council in June 2005 in order to
prevent this situation being repeated, while taking into account the consequences of the revision of the
Lisbon Strategy;

11.

Calls on the Council to take account of the following modifications:

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Modification 1

Section A, Chapter A.1, paragraph 4

Guideline. To secure economic stability, Member States should main-
tain their medium-term budgetary objectives over the economic cycle
and, as long as this objective has not yet been achieved, take all the
necessary corrective measures in line with the Stability and Growth
Pact. Subject to this, Member States should avoid pro-cyclical fiscal
policies. Member States posting current account deficits that
risk
being unsustainable should work towards correcting them by imple-
menting structural reforms to boost external competitiveness and also
contribute to their correction via fiscal policies (Integrated guideline
No 1).

Guideline. To secure economic stability in order to facilitate
economic growth, and to transform a competitive advantage
of diversity of cultural heritage and intellectual capital into
innovation-driven growth in productivity. Member States
should maintain their medium-term budgetary objectives over
the economic cycle and, as long as this objective has not yet
been achieved, take all the necessary corrective measures in
line with the Stability and Growth Pact. Subject
to this,
Members States
fiscal policies.
should avoid pro-cyclical
Member States posting current account deficits that risk being

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unsustainable should work towards correcting them by imple-
menting structural reforms to boost external competitiveness
and also contribute to their correction via fiscal policies, par-
ticularly by using the fruits of growth; moreover, Member
States should redirect public spending towards budget cat-
egories that support the objectives of the Lisbon strategy, par-
ticularly investment aimed at developing human resources,
knowledge, innovation and infrastructure, in order to assist
economic development (Integrated guideline No 1).

Modification 2

Section A, Chapter A.1, paragraph 7

Guideline. To safeguard economic sustainability Member States
should,
in view of the projected costs of ageing populations,
undertake a satisfactory pace of government debt reduction to
strengthen public finances, reform pension and health care sys-
tems to ensure that
they are financially viable while being
socially adequate and accessible, and take measures to raise
employment rates and labour supply (Integrated guideline No
2). See also integrated guideline ‘Promote a lifecycle approach
to work’ (No 17).

Guideline. To safeguard economic sustainability as a basis for
increased employment, Member States should,
in view of the
projected costs of ageing populations and taking account of
the economic cycle, undertake a satisfactory pace of government
debt reduction to strengthen public finances, reform tax sys-
tems, inter alia by reducing the burden on low wage earners,
further reform pension and health care systems to ensure that
they are financially viable while being socially satisfactory and
accessible, and take measures to raise citizen's responsibility for
pension systems, employment rates and high-quality labour
supply (Integrated guideline No 2). See also integrated guideline
‘Promote a lifecycle approach to work’ (No 17).

Modification 3

Section A, Chapter A.1, paragraph 9

Guideline. To promote an efficient allocation of
resources
Member States should, without prejudice to guidelines on econ-
omic stability and sustainability, direct the composition of pub-
lic expenditure towards growth-enhancing categories, adapt tax
structures to strengthen growth potential and ensure that mech-
anisms are in place to assess the relationship between public
spending and the achievement of policy objectives and ensure
the overall coherence of reform packages (Integrated guideline
No 3).

Guideline. To promote an efficient allocation of
resources
Member States should, without prejudice to guidelines on econ-
omic stability and sustainability, direct the composition of pub-
lic expenditure towards growth-enhancing and job-creating cat-
egories and adapt tax structures to strengthen potential growth
and stimulate private investment, particularly by creating a
fiscal framework that is favourable to SMEs and offers incen-
tives to create jobs; Member States should cooperate to combat
tax evasion; Member States should also ensure that mech-
anisms are in place to assess the relationship between public
spending and the achievement of policy objectives and ensure
the overall coherence of reform packages (Integrated guideline
No 3).

Modification 4

Section A, Chapter A.1, paragraph 11

Guideline. To promote greater coherence between macroecon-
omic and structural policies Member States should pursue
reforms that support the macroeconomic framework by increas-
ing flexibility, mobility and adjustment capacity in response
technological advances and cyclical changes
to globalisation,

Guideline. To promote greater coherence between macroecon-
omic and structural policies Member States should pursue
reforms that support the macroeconomic framework by main-
taining strict fiscal procedures, stimulating investment and
enterprise and fostering consumer confidence, and by further

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(Integrated guideline No 4). See also integrated guideline ‘Pro-
mote flexibility combined with employment security and reduce
labour market segmentation’ (No 20).

increasing adaptability, mobility, creativity and adjustment
capacity in response to the challenges of globalisation, tech-
nological advances and cyclical changes; Special attention
must be given to the flexibility and security of the labour
market. (Integrated guideline No 4). See also integrated guide-
line ‘Promote flexibility combined with employment security
and reduce labour market segmentation’ (No 20).

Modification 5

Section A, Chapter A.1, paragraph 14

Guideline. To ensure that wage developments contribute to
macroeconomic stability and growth and to increase adaptabil-
ity Member States should promote nominal wage increases and
labour costs consistent with price stability and the trend in
productivity over the medium term, taking into account differ-
ences across skills and local
labour market conditions (Inte-
grated guideline No 5). See also integrated guideline ‘Ensure
employment-friendly wage and other labour cost developments’
(No 21).

Guideline. To ensure that wage developments contribute to
macroeconomic stability, growth and employment, and to
increase adaptability Member States and the social partners
should promote nominal wage increases and labour costs con-
sistent with the trend in productivity over the medium term,
taking into account differences across skills and local
labour
market conditions; The fulfilment of the Single Market, labour
market reforms and a strenghtening of the social partners'
responsibility for low unemployment by decentralised wage
negotiations are crucial to increase wages and reduce differ-
ences in income, while remaining consistent with the evolution
of productivity and competitiveness. (Integrated guideline No
5). See also integrated guideline ‘Ensure employment-friendly
wage and other labour cost developments’ (No 21).

Modification 6

Section A, Chapter A.2, paragraph 6

Guideline. To contribute to a dynamic and well-functioning
EMU, euro area Member States need to pay particular attention
to fiscal discipline, and in this connection those that have not
yet reached their medium-term budgetary objective should pur-
sue an annual improvement in their cyclically-adjusted budget
deficit net of one-offs and other temporary measures of 0,5 %
of GDP as a benchmark, while ensuring a higher adjustment
effort in good times; press forward with structural reforms that
improve euro area competitiveness and economic adjust-
will
ment to asymmetric shocks; and ensure that the euro area's
influence in the global economic system is commensurate with
its economic weight (Integrated guideline No 6).

Guideline. To contribute to a dynamic and well-functioning
EMU, euro area Member States need to pay particular attention
to fiscal discipline, so as to ensure better coordination of their
initially by harmonising
economic and budgetary policies,
their budgetary timetables; and in this connection those
Member States that have not yet reached their medium-term
budgetary objective should pursue an annual
improvement in
their cyclically-adjusted budget deficit net of one-offs and other
temporary measures of 0,5 % of GDP as a benchmark, while
ensuring a higher adjustment effort in good times; bearing in
mind that, in future, structural reforms will be taken into
account when defining the adjustment path to the medium
term objective, and temporary deviations from this objective
will be allowed for countries that have already reached it;
press forward with structural reforms that will
improve euro
area competitiveness inter alia by investing in innovation,
industrial policy, education and vocational training and econ-
omic adjustment to asymmetric shocks; Member States should
complete the reform of the Stability and Growth Pact and
ensure that it is strictly applied in order to re-establish con-
fidence. Moreover, Member States should ensure the external
representation of the euro area in accordance with the com-
mitments made at the Vienna European Council of 11 and
12 December 1998, so that the increasingly important role of
the euro in the global economic system is commensurate with
its economic weight. In the new Member States, nominal con-
vergence must be accompanied by real convergence. (Integrated
guideline No 6).

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Modification 7

Section B, Chapter B.1, paragraph 4

Guideline. To extend and deepen the Internal Market, Member
States should speed up the transposition of
Internal Market
directives, give priority to stricter and better enforcement of
Internal Market legislation, accelerate the process of financial
market integration, eliminate tax obstacles to cross-border activ-
ities and apply EU public procurement rules effectively (Inte-
grated guideline No 7).

Guideline. To extend and deepen the Internal Market, Member
States should speed up the transposition of
Internal Market
directives, give priority to stricter and better enforcement of
Internal Market legislation, accelerate the process of financial
market integration, eliminate bureaucratic and tax obstacles to
cross-border activities by pressing forward with negotiations
on harmonising the tax basis and apply EU public procure-
ment rules effectively (Integrated guideline No 7).

Modification 8

Section B, Chapter B.1, paragraph 9

Guideline. To ensure open and competitive markets, Member
States should give priority to the removal of regulatory and
other barriers that hinder competition in key sectors; a more
effective enforcement of competition policy; selective market
screening by competition and regulatory authorities in order to
identify and remove obstacles to competition and market entry;
a reduction in State aid that distorts competition; and a rede-
ployment of aid in favour of support for certain horizontal
objectives such as research and innovation and the optimisation
of human capital. Member States should also fully implement
the agreed measures to open up the network industries to com-
petition in order to ensure effective competition in European
wide integrated markets, allowing at the same time to guarantee
the satisfactory delivery of high quality services of general
economic interest (Integrated guideline No 8).

Guideline. To ensure open and competitive markets, Member
States should give priority to the removal of regulatory and
other barriers that hinder competition in key sectors; a more
effective enforcement of competition policy; selective market
screening by competition and regulatory authorities in order to
identify and remove obstacles to competition and market entry,
which are contrary to consumers' interests; the abolition of
State aid that distorts competition inside the internal market;
and a redeployment of aid in favour of support for certain hori-
zontal objectives such as research and innovation and the opti-
misation of human capital. Member States should also fully
implement the agreed measures to open up the network indus-
tries to competition in order to ensure effective competition in
European wide integrated markets, allowing at the same time to
guarantee the delivery of high quality services of general econ-
omic interest (Integrated guideline No 8).

Modification 9

Section B, Chapter B.1, paragraph 14

Guideline. To create a more attractive business environment,
Member States should improve the quality of their regulations
through a systematic and rigorous assessment of their econ-
omic, social and environmental impacts, while taking into con-
sideration the administrative costs associated with regulation.
Moreover, Member States should consult widely on the costs
and benefits of their regulatory initiatives, in particular where
these imply trade-offs between different policy objectives (Inte-
grated guideline No 9).

Guideline. To create a more attractive business environment and
to encourage private initiatives, Member States should improve
the quality of their regulations through a systematic and rigor-
ous assessment of their economic, social and environmental
impacts, while taking into consideration the administrative
costs associated with regulation. Moreover, Member States
should consult widely on the costs and benefits in terms of
growth and employment of their regulatory and legislative ini-
tiatives, in particular where these imply trade-offs between dif-
ferent policy objectives (Integrated guideline No 9).

Modification 10

Section B, Chapter B.1, paragraph 16

Guideline. To promote a more entrepreneurial culture and create
a supportive environment
for SMEs, Member States should
improve access to finance, adapt tax systems, strengthen the
innovative potential of SMEs, and provide relevant information

Guideline. To promote a more entrepreneurial culture and create
a supportive environment
for SMEs, Member States should
improve access to finance, in particular to venture capital and
microcredit, reform and adapt tax systems, stimulating invest-

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and support services in order to encourage the creation and
growth of start-ups in line with the SMEs Charter. In addition,
Member States should reinforce entrepreneurship education and
training (cross reference to the relevant employment guideline).
Member States should also facilitate the transfer of ownership,
revise their bankruptcy laws, and improve their rescue and
restructuring proceedings (Integrated guideline No 10).

ment initially by harmonising the tax basis, strengthen the
innovative potential of SMEs, and provide relevant information
and support services in order to encourage the creation and
growth of start-ups in line with the SMEs Charter. In addition,
Member States should reinforce education and training in entre-
preneurship (cross reference to the relevant employment guide-
line) and in assuming risks and take measures to tackle the
stigmatisation of young entrepreneurs who not been wholly
successful and help them to start again. Member States should
also facilitate the transfer of ownership, revise their bankruptcy
laws, and improve their rescue and restructuring proceedings,
while improving the rules on corporate governance and man-
agerial responsibility (Integrated guideline No 10).

Modification 11

Section B, Chapter B.2, paragraph 4

in R&D,
Guideline. To increase and improve investment
Member States should further develop the mix of measures to
foster business R & D through: improved framework conditions
and ensuring that companies operate in a sufficiently competi-
tive environment; increased and more effective public expendi-
ture on R & D; strengthening centres of excellence; making
better use of support mechanisms, such as fiscal measures to
leverage private R & D; ensuring a sufficient supply of qualified
researchers by attracting more students into scientific, technical
and engineering disciplines and enhancing the career devel-
opment and the transnational and intersectoral mobility of
researchers (Integrated guideline No 12). See also integrated
guideline ‘Expand and improve investment in human capital’
(No 22).

in R&D,
Guideline. To increase and improve investment
Member States should further develop the mix of measures to
foster business R & D through: improved framework conditions
and ensuring that companies operate in a sufficiently competi-
tive environment; increased and more effective public expendi-
ture on R & D; developing public-private partnerships; streng-
thening centres of excellence; making better use of support
mechanisms, such as fiscal measures to leverage private R & D;
ensuring a sufficient supply of qualified researchers by attracting
more students into scientific,
technical and engineering dis-
ciplines and enhancing the career development and the trans-
national and intersectoral mobility of researchers, especially
those European researchers who have left Europe; strengthen-
ing the link between science, research and innovation; ensur-
ing secure public funding that strengthens centres of excel-
lence; and increasing competition and emulation in the field
of research. Member States should make greater efforts to pro-
mote the sciences of the future, such as the information
society, preventive healthcare and biotechnology, in particular
by promoting more objective information on the advantages
and risks involved in the more controversial areas of research,
such as GMO and embryo stem cell research. (Integrated guide-
line No 12). See also integrated guideline ‘Expand and improve
investment in human capital’ (No 22).

Modification 12

Section B, Chapter B.2, paragraph 7

Guideline. To facilitate innovation and the uptake of
ICT,
Member States should focus on improvements in innovation
support services, in particular for technology transfer, the cre-
innovation poles and networks bringing together
ation of

Guideline. To facilitate innovation and the uptake of
ICT,
Member States should focus on improvements in innovation
support services, in particular for technology transfer, the cre-
innovation poles and networks bringing together
ation of

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universities and enterprises, the encouragement of knowledge
transfer through FDI, better access to finance and affordable
and clearly defined intellectual property rights. They should
facilitate the uptake of ICT and related changes in the organi-
sation of work in the economy (Integrated guideline No 13).

universities and enterprises by facilitating the creation of incu-
bators, the encouragement of knowledge transfer through FDI,
better access to finance and affordable and clearly defined intel-
lectual property rights. They should facilitate the uptake of ICT
and related changes in the organisation of work in the economy
(Integrated guideline No 13).

Modification 13

Section B, Chapter B.2, paragraph 9

Guideline. To encourage the sustainable use of resources and
strengthen the synergies between environmental protection and
growth, Member States should give priority to the internali-
sation of external environmental costs; to increasing energy effi-
ciency and to the development and application of environment-
these priorities
friendly technologies. The implementation of
should be in line with existing European Commitments and
with the actions and instruments proposed in the Environmen-
tal Technologies Action Plan (ETAP), through the use of market-
based instruments, risk funds and R & D funding, greening of
public procurement and the removal of environmentally harm-
ful subsidies alongside other policy instruments (Integrated
guideline No 14).

Guideline. To encourage the sustainable use of resources and
strengthen the synergies between environmental protection and
growth, Member States should give priority to the internali-
sation of external environmental costs particularly in the fields
of energy, transport and agriculture to increasing energy effi-
ciency and to the development and application of environment-
friendly technologies. Member States should, moreover, use
environmental policies more pro-actively to enhance growth
and employment by developing eco-technology and eco-inno-
vation, especially investments needed to meet the Kyoto Proto-
col targets, including the efficient use of traditional forms of
energy, especially those which do not pose a risk to the objec-
tives of the Kyoto Protocol; The implementation of these prior-
ities should be in line with existing European Commitments and
with the actions and instruments proposed in the Environmen-
tal Technologies Action Plan (ETAP), through the use of market-
based instruments, risk funds and R & D funding, greening of
public procurement and the removal of environmentally harm-
ful subsidies alongside other policy instruments (Integrated
guideline No 14).

Modification 14

Section B, Chapter B.2, paragraph 11

Guideline. To contribute to a strong European industrial base,
Member States should focus on the development of new tech-
nologies and markets. This implies in particular commitment to
the setting up and implementation of joint European technology
initiatives and public-private partnerships that help tackle genu-
ine market failures, as well as the creation and development of
regional or local clusters (Integrated guideline No 15).

Guideline. To contribute to a strong European industrial base,
Member States should focus on the development of new tech-
nologies and markets, including outside Europe, to ensure that
globalisation is not a threat but a new opportunity for the
world's leading exporter. They should draw up a communi-
cation strategy to tackle the sense of insecurity felt by citizens
in the face of globalisation, the opening up of markets and
competition. This implies in particular commitment to the set-
ting up and implementation of joint European technology ini-
tiatives and public-private partnerships that help tackle genuine
market failures, as well as the creation and development of
regional or local clusters (Integrated guideline No 15).

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and Commission, and the govern-

12.
ments and parliaments of the Member States.