The European People’s Party has adopted in its Working Group on Economic Policy a position paper on EU’s new strategy for sustainable economic growth, the EU2020 strategy . The Working Group is co-chaired by EPP Vice President MEP Gunnar Hökmark, who explains:
“EU’s 2020 strategy is a step in the right direction, but the urgency of this reform process must be further reinforced. We, therefore, call for a 2020 strategy, which clearly spells out what the EU can do today to promote sustainable economic growth, job development and cohesion in Europe. Actions to bring down public deficits in order to restore confidence in European economies and the Euro must be the first priority of the 2020 strategy. There will be no growth unless Europe rapidly returns to long term sustainable public finances.”
“Creating the best environment for competitiveness, job creation and stable economic growth must stand at the heart of this ambitious strategy. Freeing up the potential of the Internal Market, building the best knowledge economy in the world and reforming the EU budget are crucial factors to secure a future prosperous economic development in Europe,” Hökmark added.
“In a time of crisis where Socialists are failing to take responsibility for Europe’s future, the EPP, which leads all the main EU institutions and a majority of national governments, will continue to assume its political leadership in Europe by setting out clear actions and political visions that will make Europe a leading economy in the world,” Hökmark concluded.
Note to editors:
The EPP is the largest and most influential European-level political party of the centre-right, which currently includes 73 member-parties from 39 countries, the Presidents of the Commission, Council, and Parliament, 14 EU and 5 non-EU heads of state and government, 13 members of the European Commission and the largest Group in the European Parliament.
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Kostas Sasmatzoglou, Spokesman, Tel: +32-2-2854147
Javier Jimenez, Press Officer, Tel: +32-475480446