COUNCIL GREEN LIGHT FOR INTEGRATED GROWTH AND EMPLOYMENT GUIDELINES.

• Position: Brief article

European Union Finance Ministers adopted integrated guidelines for growth and employment on July 12. These outline a three year programme (2005-2008) based on macro-economic and micro-economic measures to reverse the current negative trend in terms of growth and employment. The integrated guidelines combine the principal coordination instruments for economic policy: the broad economic policy guidelines (BEPGs) and employment guidelines. These integrated guidelines should help the member states put in place national reform programmes by October 15. These programmes will be globally assessed in a report which the Commission is due to present in January. Modifications to priorities may be proposed on the basis of progress made.

Finance Ministers endorsed the British Presidency's work...