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Taoiseach Mr. Bertie Ahern, T.D

Taoiseach Mr. Bertie Ahern, T.D

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About this Event

08 Mar 2004

Speech by the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, T.D., at the
Launch of the Centre for European Reform's
"Lisbon Scorecard IV"
at the Institute of European Affairs on
Monday 8 March 2004


Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted to have the opportunity to address this meeting today to launch the Lisbon Scorecard. The Centre for European Reform provides a valuable forum for debate on European policy. In addition, the Lisbon Scorecard which has been produced by the Centre is a timely contribution to the Spring European Council later this month.

I am here in my capacity as President of the European Union, a position that I am honoured to hold at a time when we will witness the historic enlargement of the EU from 15 to 25 Member states.

This, Ireland’s sixth Presidency, is faced with a challenging agenda. The ongoing negotiations on a constitutional treaty for Europe are clearly a major priority. I am currently engaging with my European Union partners and assessing the scope for progress. I will report to the European Council at the end of this month on the position.

The negotiations on the constitutional treaty, important as they are, are by no means the only important item on the European Union\'s agenda. The enlargement of the Union and the European economic and social agenda are both central to our Presidency.

Enlargement
On the 1st of May we will welcome the 10 new Member States into the European Union. With this enlargement comes the end of the artificial divide that has separated the people of Europe. This is of great significance to the Union and to each Member State.

Enlargement will bring the population of the European Union to over 450 million citizens. The enlarged Union must be a dynamic economic force that drives sustainable economic development.

We want to see a strong and vibrant European Union, ready and willing to accommodate further expansion in the coming years.

There is a pressing need for Europe to demonstrate that it can make a real difference to the lives of its citizens. Real opportunity, real prosperity, real security- these are the foundations on which the European Union has been built. These are the issues our peoples expect us to work on together. These foundations must be reinforced in the enlarged European Union.

Enlargement will certainly pose new challenges for the European economy. But with these challenges come exciting new opportunities: for growth; trade; tourism; and collaboration in research and knowledge networks. The enlarged Union will be a Union where knowledge, innovation and ideas will be the key resources for economic success.

Ireland is perhaps the best example of a Member State that has, over the course of its membership, achieved full economic convergence from a position on accession of 60% of the EU\'s average GDP per capita. That success could not have been achieved without EU Membership. Equally, the Irish experience in transforming our economy can prove useful in helping to shape future European policy.

Effective and well-resourced cohesion policies will play a key part in ensuring economic convergence for the new Member States. But the creation of both a fully effective single market and the economic and social policies that support growth and convergence across the EU, will also be critical to success.

This is why the Irish Presidency has placed the Union\'s economic agenda at the centre of its Presidency programme.


Europe is about its people
We must always remember that the European Union has succeeded because it has had a concrete and positive impact on the lives of its people. The ordinary man and woman, in Dublin, in Paris, in Madrid or in Salzburg can see the benefits of European Union membership every day. It is important that Europeans continue to see these benefits.

At the Lisbon European Council in March 2000, Europe agreed on both the target of becoming the most competitive economy in the world by 2010 and how to achieve that target. While much of the work involved in the Lisbon Agenda appears complex, it is really about people’s lives.

Today I also launched a new communication setting out how the Lisbon Agenda is working to improve the lives and prospects of Irish people. This sets out in general terms how the Lisbon agenda has already begun to bring about tangible benefits in our daily lives. It outlines actions being taken by the EU to support workers, students and business people in managing the transition to a dynamic, knowledge-based EU economy with more and better jobs. It also gives examples of measures in the pipeline which will protect our environment and promote greater social cohesion.

I believe this leaflet will underline to the Irish public the importance of achieving urgent progress on a strategy that, once fully implemented, will serve all of our interests.


The Lisbon Scorecard
One of the key achievements of the Lisbon Agenda has been the near-universal agreement on the policy mix required for growth and competitiveness. The challenge now is to see these policies implemented.

We have made good progress since 2000 in implementing those reforms necessary to reach the overall Lisbon goal, but more needs to be done. The Lisbon Scorecard has been a useful indicator of where progress is being made - and by whom. It is, of course, also an indicator of areas where we need to make improvements.

This year’s scorecard, the fourth such document prepared by the Centre for European Reform, complements the European Commission’s Spring Report. The scorecard records Member States’ success in implementing the Lisbon process under five broad headings. This makes extremely interesting and occasionally sobering reading for everyone involved in progressing the Lisbon Agenda.

While the scorecard records mixed results across the headings, I believe that Member States are taking their commitments very seriously. This is indeed our position here in Ireland. I am delighted to see that we have been rated overall as one of this year’s positive stories, or heroes, for our ongoing commitment to the Lisbon agenda.

I am pleased to note the positive score in relation to Ireland’s business start-up environment. This is an important issue for us, particularly in terms of encouraging new small and medium-sized enterprises. Our competitiveness depends very much on SMEs which have helped create the wealth, the jobs, the skills and the innovation that have driven our economic success.

I note, of course, that there are areas where Ireland’s performance needs improvement. In the area of climate change we have not done well. This is due to a number of factors including, in particular, our unprecedented rate of economic growth in recent years. I am glad to note, however, that we are improving in this area and that, since the collection of data for use in the scorecard, our overall greenhouse gas emissions have improved.

Overall, we all need to give fresh impetus to what the EU has set out to achieve. The scorecard helps to focus our attempts on this. It also highlights the need to take account of the position of the new Member States. They will require our support and cooperation over the coming year.


Spring European Council
The Lisbon Agenda is the agreed strategic framework within which Europe can increase its rate of economic growth. It is also the means by which Europe can respond to global challenges in an effective way.

We are currently finalising our preparations for this year’s Spring European Council, where we will affirm the political resolve to make the Lisbon vision a reality. It is important in our discussions at the European Council that the Heads of State or Government concentrate on the most urgent priorities facing the Union. The Irish Presidency has made a particular effort in drawing up the draft agenda for the European Council to focus on the twin priorities of sustainable growth and more and better jobs. The draft agenda has been considered at two sessions by COREPER - the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States. I am pleased to note that while many amendments have been suggested to our initial text, we have succeeded in maintaining our original focus. This is a positive sign of commitment by all Member States to the core areas for attention.

The draft agenda also sets a note of determination and confidence. Determination to press ahead with reforms which are long needed, and confidence that Europe has the will and the capacity to achieve its potential. We must now avail of the welcome economic upturn to deepen our commitment to the process of change which is so badly needed.

The critical issue now is delivery. We must have better implementation, both at EU and National levels, of the commitments that have already been agreed.

The true test of the Lisbon agenda will be whether we can sustain higher levels of growth and employment by 2010.

In terms of the economic challenge for the European Union to realise its growth potential, we need to concentrate on:

- sound macro economic policies which provide the basis for growth;
- investment in the infrastructure necessary for high long-term growth – such as transport, energy, research and development;
- increasing competitiveness and innovation;
- exploiting the full potential of the Single Market, most particularly in the services sector;
- developing a regulatory and business environment which delivers the desired policy objectives at the lowest cost to business and society;
- and last but not least, maintaining effective levels of social protection and cohesion.

Delivering more and better jobs is the other urgent priority to be addressed over the coming year. We must aim to reach the Lisbon target of an employment rate of 70% by 2010. This will require higher average annual increases in jobs than those seen between 1997 and 2003. We need now to deliver more and better employment in Europe. And we have a blueprint available to help us to do this.

The report of the Employment Task Force, chaired by Mr. Wim Kok, as integrated in the Joint Employment Report, provides us with a good basis to take firm action on employment.

In taking action, it is critical that we pay attention to three particular structural challenges: adaptability, attracting more people into the labour market; and investing in human capital. Each Member State must now follow up proactively on these challenges. At every level we must increase the ability of workers and enterprises to respond to change. We must make work more attractive to specific groups, including women and older workers. We must ensure that we make more effective investment in human capital. Increased investment in education, vocational training and the whole area of lifelong learning is essential, if we are to achieve our aim of providing more and better jobs in the knowledge society of the future.


Social Dialogue
We can only revitalise our economies and increase employment if we involve all of the stakeholders within Member States – Government, Parliament, social partners and civil society. National reform partnerships are a means of involving all of these partners in a coordinated way. I believe that such partnerships can achieve tangible results, starting from shared goals and engaging together in a form of collective problem solving.

This is why we are proposing that Member States should build national reform partnerships. By doing so, Member States will demonstrate their public conviction to the Lisbon reforms. National reform partnerships can promote complementary strategies for change, which in turn are reflected in clear national policies and objectives. This will be a practical commitment to delivering change by all concerned, reaching beyond Governments alone.

I say this from my own position as a strong supporter of social partnership. I have seen at first hand its value in addressing the challenge of economic and social reform. We place a high value on social partnership both here in Ireland and at EU level. Its importance cannot be overstated, given the scale and challenges of the Lisbon agenda.


Mid Term Review
Looking ahead, 2005 will be an extremely important year in terms of shaping the future of the Lisbon process. This year’s Spring European Council will agree the arrangements for a Mid-Term Review of the Lisbon agenda. This review will entail an in-depth examination of how we have progressed during the first period of the Lisbon Agenda, and will propose whatever re-orientation is necessary in order to deliver the Lisbon goals. In doing so, it will of course take account of enlargement and of the changed economic climate.

At the Spring European Council later this month, we will establish an independent high-level group to make a report as a first step in the process. The group will report by early November, and its report will then be brought forward by the Commission with recommendations for decision by the European Council in March 2005.

This is a crucial and challenging project for the future success of European economic and social policy. I am pleased that the Irish Presidency has the opportunity to set the framework for the mid-term review and to contribute to the future of the Lisbon agenda.


Conclusion
To conclude, my view in relation to delivering on the Lisbon reform agenda is simple and straightforward. We already know what needs to be done. The European Union has identified a series of reforms and has provided the instruments which will enable us to achieve our goal. Member States must stick to the policies identified and press ahead with implementing them.

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is the key message that all of us who support reform must get across. This is not some worthy academic exercise. This is literally a bread and butter issue for all of us. Appropriate and well implemented reforms mean more jobs, better services, better social protection and a better environment for all of us.

I am determined that we will achieve these aims.

Thank you.

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