EU: Creating more and better jobs for citizens of the European Union will be a key feature of Ireland's EU Presidency, the Tánaiste said yesterday.
Ms Harney said the work to achieve the goal of making the EU the world's most competitive knowledge-based economy by the end of the decade would be speeded up over the next six months.
This programme of reform, known as the Lisbon agenda, would be done by encouraging growth-orientated policies, improving mobility of the labour force and increasing investment levels in research and technology.
The Tánaiste told a conference organised by the Institute of European Affairs that, in contrast to the US, the EU's attempts to modernise its economy had been slowed by factors such as insufficient flexibility in the labour market and lack of competitiveness.
"I don't believe the US is smarter intellectually than Europe, but I do believe they are smarter at getting things done," Ms Harney said.
She also reiterated the Government's stance that unanimity should continue over issues such as taxation as negotiations on a new European constitution continue.
Ms Harney said that at member-state level governments were elected largely on the basis of their taxation policies and this should continue in the interests of a healthy local democracy.
Speaking at the same conference, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said he had already written to his EU colleagues to underline his intention to deliver progress on the Lisbon agenda's priorities of sustainable growth and increased employment.
"To deliver on this, we will focus on a limited number of issues, and we will drive these forward. The traditional wish-list or Christmas-tree approach will not be entertained," he said.
Mr Ahern said the services sector, where progress was lagging, needed specific attention, and the Government would advance proposals for a specific directive on services.
Ireland's experience in social partnership would be a valuable model for the rest of Europe.
"In this regard, we in Ireland will be bringing a distinctive and successful experience to the approach of the Union. We will likewise seek to enhance worker mobility across the Union, simplifying and modernising provisions which can act as a barrier or deterrent."
The Tánaiste also said the presidency would encourage adaptation to change by workers and companies and seek to change the overly "prescriptive" approach of some EU governments to business.
"I think there is great potential to at least be able to stop things which might damage Europe becoming more dynamic and creative," Ms Harney said.
