UNICE i PKPP o przyśpieszeniu reformy Unii Europejskiej i stworzeniu warunków dynamicznego rozwoju UE.
2002-01-17
UNICE i PKPP o przyśpieszeniu reformy Unii Europejskiej i stworzeniu warunków dynamicznego rozwoju UE.
PKPP stała się od stycznia 2002 r. oficjalnie, członkiem stowarzyszonymZwiązku Konfederacji Przemysłu i Pracodawców Europy (UNICE), największej
organizacji biznesowej, działającej w Unii Europejskiej. Związki i
konfederacje, zrzeszone w UNICE to ponad 16 milionów przedsiębiorstw,
zatrudniających ponad 106 milionów pracowników.
PKPP zaczyna więc funkcjonować w najważniejszych instytucjach biznesowych,
wpływających na gospodarkę Unii oraz jej partnerów gospodarczych.
Jedenastego stycznia, Prezydent UNICE, George Jacobs przekazał premierowi
Hiszpanii i jednocześnie, przewodniczącemu Unii Europejskiej, podczas
prezydencji hiszpańskiej, Jose Marii Aznarowi list otwarty, podpisany
przez szefów organizacji pracodawców z całej piętnastki oraz poparty przez
szefów wszystkich konfederacji stowarzyszonych, w tym - Polskiej
Konfederacji Pracodawców Prywatnych. Jest to apel do obecnego
przewodniczącego, by podjął jak najszybsze i najskuteczniejsze kroki,
zmierzające do wypełnienia zadań, dotyczących gospodarki Unii
Europejskiej, uzgodnionych na szczycie w Lizbonie, wiosną 2000 roku.
Wprowadzenie wspólnej, europejskiej waluty to ważny, ale nie wystarczający
krok ku realizacji najważniejszego celu, jaki wyznaczyła sobie Unia:
osiągnięcia pozycji najsilniejszej gospodarki świata.
Intencją UNICE jest przyśpieszenie przygotowań do wiosennego szczytu Unii
Europejskiej w Barcelonie.
UNICE apeluje o:
1.Zniesienie barier prowadzenia działalności gospodarczej,
szczególnie dla małych i średnich przedsiębiorstw. UNICE postuluje i
zabiega, by przepisy obowiązujące przedsiębiorców w Unii takie, jak
choćby regulacje dotyczące patentów były ujednolicone i proste.
2.Poprawę systemu edukacji podstawowej oraz liberalizacji rynku
pracy.
3.Wprowadzenia w Unii takich przepisów, które przyśpieszą rozwój
wspólnej infrastruktury: transportu, energii, telekomunikacji, według
określonego i konkretnego harmonogramu, jaki powinien zostać wyznaczony
przez Unię, pod przewodnictwem Hiszpanii.
4.Rozwoju wspólnego rynku usług finansowych poprzez ułatwienie
przedsiębiorcom dostępu do rynków kapitałowych krajów Unii oraz
zwiększenia ich konkurencyjności, a także poprawy przejrzystości
informacji dla inwestorów.
5.Zobowiązania rządów krajów członkowskich do przyjęcia regulacji
dotyczących jednolitego rynku, ponieważ do tej pory nie wdrożyły do
ustawodawstwa narodowego około 10% wspomnianych przepisów, a strategiczne
działania dla wspólnego rynku zostały zrealizowane w jednej trzeciej, w
stosunku do założeń na 2001 rok.
W załączeniu przesyłamy materiały przygotowane przez biuro prasowe UNICE.
Warszawa, 11 stycznia 2002 r.
Brussels, January 2002
Council in Barcelona
Lisbon
Europe
most competitive region
EU business federations open letter
Spanish Prime Minister
Mr José María Aznar
In preparation of the European
which will evaluate the progress made since
in view of making
the world's
The presidents of
jointly sign the following
to
and President of the European Union
OPEN LETTER
THE POLITICAL CHALLENGE:
The European Council is asked to take decisive action to make real and
credible progress against the Lisbon targets.
This message is supported by all UNICE full and associate member
federations.
COUNT-DOWN TO BARCELONA: KEY MESSAGES
Innovation and entrepreneurship: Member States must deliver a supportive
legislative framework that will reduce the administrative burden,
particularly on SMEs, and will allow entrepreneurs to focus on creating
wealth rather than doing paperwork. European business was very
disappointed by the failure of Member States to reach agreement on a
competitive Community patent, and we look to the Spanish Presidency to
find a solution to this problem.
Flexible labour markets and skills availability: Europe needs more
dynamic and flexible labour markets, with increased geographical and
professional mobility of workers, with employment friendly social security
safety nets and sustainable pension systems. To equip Europe with the
skills that will allow it to reach its growth potential and provide jobs
for all its citizens, also requires improving basic education systems to
be responsive to market demand; encouraging companies to develop the
competencies of their work force; and supporting individuals' efforts to
develop their competencies throughout their whole life.
Essential infrastructure: Europe needs integrated and interoperable
networks that are open and competitive. The complete opening up to
competition of transport, energy, postal and telecommunications networks
should be implemented within fixed and short-term deadlines.
Financial services: Europe needs a strong financial services market,
providing competitive access to capital for companies of all sizes, and
also the framework for a healthy pensions system. Without further
integration of financial markets, the single market as a whole will fail
to deliver its benefits. The Lamfalussy proposals and Financial Services
Action Plan are an essential part of the Lisbon agenda, and should remain
a priority. Member States should ensure that the targets for
implementation of the FSAP are not missed due to insufficient political
determination. Raising finance can still be a major challenge for many
European enterprises. In this context, it is important that the revision
of the new Basel Capital Accord and proposals for the subsequent
directive, as well as the proposed directive on a single prospectus, avoid
creating more difficult conditions for European business, in particular
small businesses entrepreneurs.
Internal Market: The Lisbon summit called for economic reforms for
a complete and fully operational internal market, and in Stockholm a year
later, Member States prioritised the creation of an effectively
functioning internal market in services. The single market is the backbone
of the European economy, and underpins its performance. Completion of the
single market remains the key goal in order for European companies to
operate and compete effectively cross-border. Yet 10% of Directives have
not been made law in all Member States, and a third of the Internal Market
strategy target actions missed their 2001 deadline for completion.
Sustainable development: Member States should urge the Commission
to come forward with its action plan for better regulation, promised for
July 2002, to implement a fundamental regulatory reform which will ensure
that due attention is paid to economic sustainability, which forms the
basis of long-term social and environmental well-being.
The president
Your Excellency, the President of the Spanish government,
President of the European Council,
As members of the Council of Presidents of UNICE, the voice of business in
Europe, we would like to congratulate you on your selection of priorities
for the next six months, and to wish you a fruitful Presidency. Your
Presidency comes at a key moment in the development of the EU, after a
challenging and difficult year for the global economy in 2001, and with
the EU economy showing clear signs of weakness. As business leaders we can
confirm that companies are facing severe difficulties in many Member
States.
The Barcelona Spring summit in March this year will review progress made
since the Lisbon summit two years ago, when the European Council defined
the bold ambition for the EU to become the most competitive and dynamic
economy in the world. In the current difficult climate, the EU, the
world's 2nd largest economy, should be able to act as a driver of economic
growth, but thus far, it has not been able to fulfil its potential. As you
recently and rightly said, today's economic deceleration should not serve
as an excuse to postpone essential structural reforms, but reinforces the
need to implement them.
The European integration achieved with the Internal Market and the
introduction of the single currency represents an enormous asset for the
business community, but there are still important areas where European
needs more liberalisation, flexibility and harmonisation, where necessary
for the smooth functioning of the Internal Market. UNICE has a clear
message to the Council and to Member States: to succeed in achieving the
Lisbon objectives it is imperative that the agreed measures and structural
reforms be decided and implemented, at European and national level, as a
matter of urgency. The credibility of the whole process is now at stake,
the Barcelona summit must therefore be a real step forward. European
business will continue to contribute to the development of a dynamic and
competitive EU, creating jobs and prosperity - today in an EU of 15 Member
States, tomorrow of more.
In the context of enlargement, we welcome the decision to draw the
candidate countries into the Lisbon process. We believe that the earlier
the candidate countries adopt the Lisbon strategy, the better it will be
for the competitiveness of Europe as a whole. For European business, the
good functioning of the Internal Market is of paramount importance, and
the accession decisions to be taken in December 2002 should be based on
each candidate country's own merits and fulfilment of the accession
criteria.
As from March 2002, the Spring European summits will also review the
direction of the EU sustainable development strategy. UNICE cautions that
this agenda should not be allowed to dilute the spirit of Lisbon, bearing
in mind the crucial importance of a competitive and innovative economy for
sustainable development.
UNICE looks forward to playing an active role in implementing the Lisbon
agenda. We hope to have the opportunity to discuss our priorities with you
prior to the Barcelona summit. We have highlighted our key messages
opposite, which will be the basis for our extended contribution to the
Barcelona summit.
Yours faithfully,
George Jacobs - UNICE president
Peter MITTERBAUER - VÖI
AustriaGui de VAUCLEROY - FEB
BelgiumJohan SCHRODER - DI
DenmarkNiels FOG - DA
Denmark
Matti HONKALA - PT
FinlandChristoffer Taxell - TT
FinlandErnest Antoine SEILLIERE - MEDEF
FranceDieter HUNDT - BDA
Germany
Michael ROGOWSKI - BDI
GermanyUlysses KYRIACOPOULOS - FIG
GreeceWilliam BURGESS - IBEC
IrelandAntonio D'AMATO - CONFINDUSTRIA
Italy
Charles KROMBACH - FEDIL
LuxembourgJacques SCHRAVEN - VNO - NCW
NetherlandsRui Manuel NOGUEIRA SIMOS - CIP
Portugal
Jorge ROCHA de MATOS - AIP
PortugalJosé Maria CUEVAS-SALVADOR - CEOE
SpainSören GYLL - SVENSKT NÄRINGSLIV
SwedenIain VALLANCE - CBI
United Kingdom
UNICE is the official voice, vis-ŕ-vis the institutions of the European
Union, of the more than 16 million small, medium and large companies
active in Europe today. These companies employ a total of more than 106
million people. They generate the resources which are the basis for the
well-being and living standards of society. Employment in Europe depends
largely on their success. Created in 1958, UNICE's membership now
consists of 34 central industrial and employers' federations from 27
European countries. Its priority mission is to ensure that common
interests of the companies it represents are heard, understood and taken
into account. UNICE is a social partner and its role is enshrined in the
Treaty establishing the European Community.
www.unice.org
Rue Joseph II 40/Bte 4 - B-1000 Brussels - Tel. +32(0)2 237.65.11
Fax +32(0)2 231.14.45 - E-mail: main@unice.be
