The European Economic and Social Model

The main strategy necessarily to be pursued by Europe (at European as much as national level) is to increase economic growth. A growth of 2 percent does not support any reduction of unemployment combined with a rise in productivity that is similarly satisfactory and ensures competitiveness. This applies in particular to countries (such as Austria) that see their labour supply growing. As a secondary line, the aim is to fine-tune labour markets to obtain a better combination of flexibility and security. To achieve the growth target, it would be necessary to accelerate infrastructure investments (such as the trans-European projects) and put more emphasis on the Lisbon strategy.