LISBON STRATEGY REVISION : UNION MUST BANK ON GROWTH, SAY MEPS.

• Position: Member of the European Parliament - Brief article

MEPs from the European Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) believe that the Union must continue to enhance its growth potential, whereas the European economy could suffer the consequences of a strong slowdown in activity in the United States.

Anticipating the debate to be held by the 27 member states during the next spring summit on the new cycle of the Lisbon Strategy, the (non-binding) own-initiative report by Margarita Starkeviciute (ALDE, Lithuania) encourages most of the countries in the Union to consolidate their public finances and speed up the modernisation of their public administrations. To achieve this, the report estimates that the stimulation of public-private investment could help to meet transport, communication, energy and environmental challenges.

An amendment was also adopted, by a small majority, drawing attention to the "danger presented by the high rates of exchange of the euro" to avoid damaging...