EU: European Commission president José Manuel Barroso has appealed to EU leaders to reject economic nationalism and work together to promote economic growth when they meet for a European summit tomorrow.
He also warned certain member states not to use the meeting to try to set unrealistic goals in relation to the controversial services directive (a proposed European law that would enable firms to provide services across all EU states).
In a speech yesterday laying out the commission's priorities for the European Council in Brussels, Mr Barroso highlighted creating a common EU energy policy and delivering economic reform as two key themes.
Reacting to the recent upsurge in disputes over cross-border mergers in the banking and energy sectors, he also urged EU leaders to reject the type of "absurd" economic nationalism that was sweeping Europe.
"Full respect of the principles underpinning the single market and full respect of competitiveness: that will be our message and I hope member states get that message," said Mr Barroso.
"By definition, in Europe we cannot accept nationalism . . . We cannot build barriers against each other in a single market - that would be absurd."
The spring European Council will be primarily dominated by economic issues. Leaders will discuss the need for states to follow the so-called Lisbon Agenda, which seeks to promote growth and jobs across the EU.
This policy, first agreed by EU leaders in 2000, is intended to transform the EU into the most competitive economy in the world by 2010.
It includes a range of targets such as boosting investment in research and development (R&D), removing unnecessary bureaucracy, creating flexible labour markets and promoting an entrepreneurial culture throughout Europe.
"We need to make life easier for investment in Europe" said Mr Barroso. "For businesses, we need the red carpet, not red tape." Mr Barroso referred to the need to establish "one-stop shops" to help entrepreneurs start a business within a week anywhere in the EU.
Draft conclusions seen by The Irish Times show the EU expects to create six million jobs in the three years between 2005 and 2007, which should reduce unemployment by 1 percentage point to 8 per cent by 2007.
Meanwhile, on the issue of the services directive, Mr Barroso warned EU leaders from new member states not to be "unrealistic" in their desire to open up the EU services market beyond a compromise text agreed last month by the European parliament.
Other issues on the summit agenda are: the commission proposal to create a European Institute of Technology; setting economic reform targets for member states; and a proposed new EU energy policy.
Leaders are expected to back a recent commission proposal to better co-ordinate European energy policies to safeguard energy supply.