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8/29/06

Barroso urges end to "Europessimism", wants continuing EU expansion

The Raw Story

"Barroso urges end to 'Europessimism', wants continuing EU expansion

Deutsche Presse Agentur
Published: Tuesday August 29, 2006

Brussels- European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Tuesday called for an end to "the spectre of Europessimism" haunting the European Union and said the 25-nation bloc must pursue ambitious expansion plans to increase its global clout. In a speech in Paris marking the end of Europe's traditional August vacation, Barroso said EU governments must be ready to confront the challenge of globalization and rising competition from China, India and the US.

But this required urgent labour market reforms and efforts to step up EU competitiveness through bigger investments in research and innovation, said Barroso.

The Commission chief said he believed in the principle of labour "flexicurity" under which people, rather than jobs, were protected."

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