Europe brings together as much as it divides

The French Government sent the week last at the European Commission its "progress report" on the implementation, on the side of French, the "Lisbon strategy", this collective commitment to improve the competitiveness of the European Union. Exercise become mandatory for every Member State since 2005 twenty-five were admitted that an ambitious project aimed at raising the level of the best-performing areas of the planet Europe began on undue delay in its structural reforms.

In its report, expected to draw up the balance of a year of action in France, the France puts forward loose its efforts to reduce the deficit of public finances, its results in employment particularly with the implementation of the agreement new hires (CNE), the reform of its research with the ambition to see the credits reach 3 of gross domestic product in 2010, the installation of its poles of competitiveness, the simplification of the financing of small and medium-sized enterprises, and quote even the "shield tax" intended to cap the total amount of the taxes paid by households.

Sustainable development

The watchword, since the failure of the referendum of 2005 provide more call on civil society, the Government has consulted members of Parliament and senators, the economic and social Council and the social partners. The Minister responsible for Europe, Catherine Colonna, said ultimate stone building. Via the "touteleurope.fr" site, it has proposed to the French a questionnaire on the European strategy of Lisbon, between September 12 and October 10, the results of which were appended to the Government report. This "survey", not representative because it is aimed at all but sparked replies that "motivated" citizens, has collected 4.100 1.700 free comments and responses. If this questionnaire and interviews with political figures who accompany him are first aimed to pedagogy, the responses by users are revealing the expectations and concerns of the French towards Europe. For the majority of the participants, the sustainable development (so) the defence of the environment and investment in innovation must be at the heart of the growth strategy, and identify actions across European and non-State.

But if they are optimistic about the chances for Europe to achieve the objectives of the Lisbon strategy in these two areas, they are pessimistic on its overall objectives: "To make the European economy the most competitive and dynamic in the world by 2010" with a strong increase of the supply of jobs.

They are also divided on the means to implement needed reforms. Proposals advocating flexibility, openness, competition or immigration create real cleavages. Thus, for Internet users, improve employment is a necessity which passes above all through education and its adaptation to the needs of the market (63). But increased flexibility of the labour market is rejected by 40 of the participants, while it is preferred by 42 of them.

Control public deficits

Same divergence on the use of economic immigration (32 for; 44 against). If there is consensus to "ensure macroeconomic equilibria", opinions are still divided over the method: the Orthodox believe that need to control public deficits (47) and the evolution of wages (34). The other, that budgetary consolidation is not a priority (28) than the control of wages (43). Europe brings together as much as it divides