{"id":5184,"date":"2014-02-18T15:12:44","date_gmt":"2014-02-18T14:12:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.efnweb.be\/?p=5184"},"modified":"2014-02-18T15:12:44","modified_gmt":"2014-02-18T14:12:44","slug":"the-euro-area-at-a-crossroads-policies-for-growth-jobs-and-competitiveness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=5184","title":{"rendered":"The Euro area at a crossroads: Policies for growth, jobs and competitiveness"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Meeting in Brussels on 17 February, for the OECD <a href=\"http:\/\/www.oecd.org\/about\/secretary-general\/the-euro-area-at-a-crossroads-policies-for-growth-jobs-and-competitiveness.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">seminar<\/a> on <i>\u201cThe Euro Area at a Crossroads: Policies for Growth, Jobs and Competitiveness\u201d<\/i>, finance ministers, from some of the EU countries hit hardest by the crisis, discussed what actions are needed to ensure a more dynamic Euro Area in the years ahead, taking into account that despite the ongoing efforts to emerge from the global economic and financial crisis, important policy challenges remain.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Angel Gurr\u00eda, OECD Secretary-General, explained that despite a better economic situation, youth unemployment rates are tremendous. Therefore, boosting the productivity and restore competitiveness is vital. There are still barriers to competition. There is a need for structural reforms in order to achieve a balanced and sustained recovery.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Jeroen Dijsselbloem, Minister of Finance of the Netherlands, highlighted the need for structural reforms and flexible governmental systems with a key focus on education. Public sector reform, workforce skills, investments in Research &amp; Development are key targets. He also stressed that spill over effects threaten the Eurozone. Services\u2019 markets and protected professions, from a political perspective are difficult to tackle!! So, the development of a banking union could be an example for other sectors. Maria Lu\u00eds Albuquerque, Minister of State and Finance of Portugal, expressed the need for continuous efforts as key for success, while Luis de Guindos, Minister of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain, explained that emerging markets are essential. But we cannot compare apples with pears!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, in all this debate health was not at all addressed, nor inequalities! But reference was made to the \u2018protected sector\u2019. Only Jeroen Dijsselbloem mentioned the modernisation of healthcare and the education sector. The welfare system is important to be maintained. It is clear from Jeroen Dijsselbloem intervention that, as the Eurozone president, he will protect and modernise the welfare state, including the healthcare sector.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Finally, it was concluded that flexibility is needed. Reference was made to Finland and Sweden, and IKEA explained why they are not able to open factories in some countries, and why regulation sometimes stops investment. The Portuguese Minister mentioned that skilled professionals are key, as well as export is key for investment. Ireland has attracted companies and stability in tax system and certainty is key for investment. A pool of educated people, productivity and competitiveness are essential. \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Meeting in Brussels on 17 February, for the OECD seminar&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":10434,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=10434","url_meta":{"origin":5184,"position":0},"title":"Nurses views need to stay central in health and social care policy-making","author":"efn efn","date":"July 10, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"With the kick off of the Austrian Presidency to the Council of the EU, the \u2018Trio Presidency\u2019 started on 1\u00a0July\u00a02017 to 31\u00a0December\u00a02018, and composed by Austria, Estonia and Bulgaria, is at its last round. 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Vice-Presidents (including a High Representative)\u00a0\u00a0 (All leading a project team - composition that may change according\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest News","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":11248,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=11248","url_meta":{"origin":5184,"position":3},"title":"Europe Day 2019 &#8211; Creating a protective, competitive, fair, sustainable and influential Europe!","author":"efn efn","date":"May 8, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"European citizens often feel that the work of the EU and its Institutions is far from their reality and needs, namely because the world we are living in is fast-paced and changing daily. Politicians in Brussels seem to have started to grasp the complexity of this reality, and the European\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest News","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5737,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=5737","url_meta":{"origin":5184,"position":4},"title":"Recommended actions in 2014","author":"efn efn","date":"June 5, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"In the framework of the fourth European Semester of economic policy coordination, the European Commission published on 2 June 2014 a set of country-specific recommendations for actions in 2014 in order to strengthen the policy actions at national level to boost growth and increase job and competitiveness. As regards health,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Latest News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Latest News","link":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?cat=35"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":15551,"url":"https:\/\/efn.eu\/?p=15551","url_meta":{"origin":5184,"position":5},"title":"THE SWEDISH EU COUNCIL PRESIDENCY \u2013 PRIORITY DOSSIERS!","author":"efn efn","date":"January 9, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The programme of the Trio, formed together with France and Czechia, has as thematic priorities, which will be addressed over an 18-month period: Protect citizens and freedoms;Promote a new growth and investment model for Europe;Build a climate-neutral, green, fair and social Europe;Promote Europe's interests and values in the world. 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