Resumé af konklusionerne (på engelsk)

Summary of the conclusions of the EU summit in Stockholm

Date: 24/03/2001
Policy area: European Council
News item: Press release

The summit in Stockholm has created a basis for how the work of achieving the common objective of the EU-to transform the EU into the most competitive region in the world - is to be pursued in the future.
- This summit was the first in a series of summits, each of which will together realise the objectives established in Lisbon: that the EU would be the most competitive economy of the world by the year 2001. In Lisbon we laid the foundations. In Stockholm we built the first of ten stories - said Göran Persson at the final press conference of the summit.

There was full agreement that the overall objectives depend partly on the Union and Member States aligning themselves with the objective of full employment and partly that a dynamic European Union must consist of active welfare states.

Four new areas have been added to the agenda.
- The demographic challenge was discussed for the first time by the heads of state and government. It is of central importance that this issue is included in our long-term work.
- The significance of biotechnology for the European economy.
- Sustainable development and environmentally oriented economic growth are now integral parts of the Lisbon strategy.
- In the current work of enlarging the EU, the decision has been made to integrate the candidate countries into the Lisbon strategy's objectives and processes.

The conclusions from the summit are summarised as follows:

Economic issues:

- The meeting has decided to create a European market for financial services and risk capital, based on the Lamfallussy report.
- A manifestation of the objective of the EU to deregulate the European gas and electricity markets was made.
- The European Council has urged the ministers of transport and communications to adopt a common standpoint and in conjunction with the Parliament, to draw up a final directive on further deregulation of the postal services market.

- Air transport in Europe will be facilitated by establishing a common European air space.
- To promote a functioning market, government subsidies to the business sector that artificially contort the market will be reduced at the latest by 2003.
- The work to get a new round of WTO negotiations going will be intensified. Greater free trade promotes growth and employment.
- The heads of state and government have agreed to speed up legislation on the internal market at the national level.
- To develop eEurope, promote electronic commerce and to exploit its growth-stimulating effects, Internet must be made more secure. A report of such measures will be submitted during the summit in Göteborg.
- The transport ministers were assigned the task of working further to realise the new satellite navigation system, Galileo.

Social issues

- A new aim for employment has been established. The aim is that among people over the age of 55 years, at least 50 per cent will be employed by year 2010.Today only 38 per cent of this group is employed.
- A new partial objective has been established for 2005. The target for the general level of employment in 2005 is 67% and for women, 57%.
- Before 2002, common measuring systems will be established in order for countries in the EU to be able to compare the availability of child care. Equivalent measuring systems will be set up for the care of the elderly.
- In the area of gender equality, it has been decided on greater pressure in order to get rid of salary differences between women and men, here too, by producing common measuring systems.
- In the area of gender equality, it has also been decided to make the Equal Treatment Directive more stringent, as early as this year.
- Quality in work will be promoted through measures to improve the working environment, increase skills development, strengthen gender equality and improve working organisation.
- The participation in working life of persons with disabilities will be promoted. Common measurement systems will be produced in the autumn.
- It has been decided that a first evaluation of the work in promoting a long-term sustainable pension system in Europe will be made during the summit in Göteborg.

Foreign policy issues

- The EU has decided that the European Investment Bank (EIB) will, under certain conditions, be prepared to take part in the financing of environmental projects in Russia with up to 100 million euros.
- The EU will take part in the celebrations of St Petersburg's 300-year jubilee to stress the historical ties between Europe and Russia.
- The EU affirms its solidarity with FYROM in the crisis that has emerged, it supports the country's independence and territorial integrity and urges the parties to take all possible measures to avoid military escalation.
- In order to support a multiethnic and democratic FYROM, the EU gives its backing to legal reforms, firm rights for minorities and a more efficient organisation for local administration. EU assistance has increased from 25 million to 40 million euros.
- The President of the European Council will, on behalf of the EU, visit Pyongyang and Seoul in order to express support for the reconciliation process between North and South Korea.
- The EU High Representative Javier Solana has been assigned the task, in conjunction with the Commission, of drawing up a report on how the EU can play a more defined role in order to promote peaceful development in the Middle East. The report will be completed at the latest by the summit in Göteborg.