Irish Regions Office Website

March 20, 2008

Fifth Freedom & Flexicurity...the next stage of Lisbon Process

Following two years of solid economic growth and job creation since the Lisbon Agenda was renewed with a growth and jobs focus, the EU Councils spring summit's response to increasing public concern over challenges such as climate change and social exclusion brought an agreement to place these matters towards the forefront of future approaches.

A statement from the Slovenian Presidency after the meeting noted that "economic growth and high-quality jobs are a guarantee of social progress and social cohesion. The new cycle of the Lisbon Strategy ensures a better balance between concern for citizens and the environment on the one hand and efforts for a competitive, knowledge-based market economy on the other. The new emphases are, in essence, a heightened concern for citizens and social issues, pro-active responses to climate change, and a more modern view of innovation and creativity". Member states have agreed upon the following priorities: national action plans to reduce the number of early school leavers; future industry skills requirement assessment (accounting for technological change and ageing population impacts) - notably in the key business opportunity areas of climate and energy-efficient technologies; the removal of barriers to the free movement of knowledge (now the EU's "fifth freedom"), thus advancing long-established RTDI goals by boosting cross-border mobility of researchers, students, scientists and university teachers; the "flexicurity" labour market principle which combines greater skills training availability and higher benefits for the unemployed with easier hiring and firing rules for employers to be implemented at national level; and reducing administrative burdens on businesses including red tape hindering them from operating across the entire EU Single Market through approval of the 'Small Business Act' (see the article published on this website in February) including financing and support measures aimed specifically at helping SMEs access new markets and calls for the earliest possible implementation of the Services Directive. Further details from: http://www.eu2008.si/en/News_and_Documents/Press_Releases/March/0314EC_Lizbona.html

Posted by iroronan at March 20, 2008 03:06 PM