§ Mr. HesfordTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with other members of the European Union on improving the competitiveness of business. [101198]
§ Mrs. LiddellMy Department's EU priorities, and in particular the central objective of improving the working of the single market, are aimed at improving the competitiveness of EU industry. DTI ministerial colleagues and I have regular discussions with our EU opposite numbers on a wide range of issues in both bilateral meetings and at EU Council meetings in Brussels.
The process of encouraging the EU to concentrate on competitiveness issues was reinforced at EU level at the Cardiff European Council under the UK Presidency last year which laid down a process to encourage and monitor economic reform and competitiveness in Europe.
In March next year, the Portuguese Presidency will be holding a special European Council on economic reform, employment and social cohesion. The UK has made a substantial input to this discussion, with the knowledge-driven economy, enterprise and social inclusion as our main proposals for achieving the objective of making Europe the most advanced knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010. My colleagues and I have spoken to a large number of our counterparts in other member states on these themes.