A favourable environment for entrepreneurship and competitiveness - Industrial Policy

The Greek Presidency will follow-up and strengthen the strategy adopted in Lisbon and Gothenburg. A strategy for productivity, innovation and competitiveness that promotes employment and respects the environment. A strategy in which enterprises play a determining role within the new entrepreneurial spirit being advanced.
The Barcelona conclusions, which set out that economic and social convergence should proceed with specific objectives and timetables, are of great importance. Within this framework, priority is given to the creation of an environment that favours entrepreneurship and competitiveness as well as to the need for the support and evaluation of progress made in the area of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.
Special emphasis will be paid to the reinforcement, at a European level, of the following areas: more >

A basic priority of the Greek Presidency is a contribution to the attainment of the goals set by the European Councils, and especially the Lisbon strategy, in the fields of research, innovation and leading edge technologies, in order to make the European Union the most competitive and dynamic knowledge economy.
Within this framework, the Greek Presidency will work towards the promotion of the following objectives: more >

The deepening and strengthening of the functioning of the internal market plays a fundamental role in the promotion of the strategic goal of a competitive European knowledge economy that will give new impetus to sustainable development and employment. Efforts should continue in this direction, so that enterprises, and especially small and medium-sized ones, can benefit from the internal market through the lifting of obstacles that remain between Member States when conducting cross-border trade, investment and the supply of services.
However, the operation of the internal market should also ensure the citizens' confidence, as well as a high level of protection of the citizen, and should promote harmonious development at EU level through the continuous strengthening of economic and social cohesion. This policy acquires greater significance in view of the European Union's enlargement, because the future development of the internal market will depend on the smooth integration of the new Member States.
The Greek Presidency will work in this direction to achieve progress in two major fields: more >

The Greek Presidency will work so that substantial progress is made as to the realisation of a common strategy regarding the future of European Tourism. Within this framework, it will make efforts so that the goals set by the Council are implemented, with emphasis to the following: more >

The Greek Presidency will work for the promotion of the European Energy Policy. Particular attention will be paid on the following five areas: more >