Liberals and Democrats welcome parliamentary backing for Lisbon Strategy

4.53.54pm GMT Wed 9th Mar 2005

In a major speech to the European Parliament this morning on the Lisbon Strategy, Graham Watson, leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament, urged President Barroso to strike a fair balance between laying solid foundations for free and fair competition in Europe based on enterprise and individual initiative and the need for a responsible and measured regulatory approach to ensure a level playing field between business as well as between industry and the consumer. He struck out at some right wing factions for failing to see the incompatibility of a globalised economy and the nation state while pointing out the persistent divisions on the Left over the role of the State in managing the economy. Referring to 3 key pieces of draft legislation as examples of the need for a well balanced and properly assessed legislative approach, he called for a rethink on the Software Patents directive, improvements to the important Services Directive and support for the REACH Directive.

"To improve the economic vitality and the social and environmental health of our continent simultaneously, the Lisbon Agenda must combine flexibility, fairness and farsightedness" underlined Watson. "Much depends now on the political will of Member States to implement the core reforms needed to give substance to their intentions. The Commission, for its part, has a key coordinating duty to expose those national governments who fail to live up to their commitments or are slow to implement the Single Market measures approved" he added.

Lena Ek, (Swedish Centre Party), who led the negotiations on behalf of ALDE group, was pleased that they resulted in a broad parliamentary consensus on the way forward. "The EU economy needs help from the whole family" she said, alluding to President Barroso's reference in January to his three children and the three broad policy priorities for his term of office. "All EU member states need to pull together and recognise the broader European objective rather than squabbling. It is often said that competition brings out the best in products and the worst in people. We must ensure that it brings out the best in Europe and not the worst in Member States."