Media War obsession provides cover for Irish Government Services Privatisation Agenda

national | miscellaneous | news report Monday March 10, 2003 17:57 by former member article 133 info group

Gats Gats Gats - It hasn't gone away u know

This is a Irish Government Press Release. For Lisbon Agenda - Read Gats. More Info at www.indymedia.ie/article133

>Ireland and the Netherlands call for the early removal of remaining barriers to trade across the EU.
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>In preparation for next month’s Spring European Council meeting on 21 March, Ireland and the Netherlands have joined forces and are calling for greater emphasis to be placed on the elimination of barriers to trade within Europe. The Taoiseach Mr. Bertie Ahern and his the Dutch counterpart, Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende have today written to the current President in Office of the European Union, Prime Minister Konstantinos Simitis of Greece, seeking urgent progress in the removal of remaining barriers to trade in the services sector.
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>The Taoiseach said today that he welcomed the positive emphasis being placed at EU level on ensuring that targets set at the Spring European Council in Lisbon in 2000 to make Europe the most competitive economy in the world by 2010 (the Lisbon Agenda) are being attained.
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>“Three years ago at the Lisbon European Council, the EU set itself the considerable challenge of making Europe the most competitive economy in the world by 2010, with more and better jobs for everyone. That was, and remains, a significant challenge. In the current environment of political uncertainty and economic downturn, we believe now, more than ever, that we must continue to strive towards the goal of sustained economic growth.
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>The Irish and Dutch Governments remain fully committed to the continuation of the Lisbon Agenda. Substantial progress has been made over the past three years and enterprise has seen significant improvements in competition and increases in trade between member states. However gaps still remain, and the true benefits of the reforms and improvements that have been introduced are not necessarily being seen by business and consumers. They are not yet fully benefiting from wider choice and cheaper and better services.”
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>In their joint proposal the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Balkenende point out that complex rules still exist across Europe at national and in some cases, regional level, which act as barriers to trade, especially for small and medium enterprises. Not only do these complex rules inhibit innovation and competition, they also increase costs of goods and services for consumers.
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>The joint paper calls on European Leaders to use the forthcoming Spring European Council on 21 March, to address the challenge of removing the remaining barriers to trade in the services area. “Economic growth in the services area across the EU is substantial”, said the Taoiseach. “Services account for 70% of GDP in the EU and for approximately 70% of employment. Delays in introducing necessary reform have a knock-on effect for other sectors, such as manufacturing, which are heavily dependent on the services sector. If services are not competitive, then costs trickle down throughout the economy and ultimately, it is the consumer who pays.”
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>The Taoiseach and Prime Minister Balkenende have requested that the Spring European Council give its full support to the European Commission to speed up and implement its Strategy for Services and to submit proposals for the elimination of the remaining barriers to trade in services by means of a framework Directive before the end of 2003. They have also asked for support from the SME Envoy to assist business in the resolution of complaints.
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>Both leaders also pledge to give high priority to this issue during 2004, when they will each hold the rotating Presidency of the European Council.
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>ENDS
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>27 February 2003
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