Presidência do Conselho de Ministros (Council of Ministers' Presidency) - Conselho de Ministros (Council of Ministers)
Resolution
The Lisbon Strategy adopted a set of lines of political action aiming to an economic growth and social cohesion in Europe, in the context of a competitive and dynamic economy, based on knowledge and settled on the investment in people, with a good articulation as regards environmental balance.
However, it was found that the measures determined at the Lisbon European Council in March 2000 have not been promoted with the expected pace and depth.
The European Council in Brussels, in March 2005, thus decided to relaunch the Lisbon Strategy, understood as a partnership for growth and employment, with the particular aims of renewing the basis of competitiveness, increasing the growth potential and productivity and strengthening social cohesion within the Union, placing the main emphasis on knowledge, innovation and the optimisation of human capital.
To achieve these objectives, the Union has decided to mobilise, through a coordinated course of action, all Community and national resources, in order to effectively establish an economic, social and environmental strategy, involving all levels of governance, economic and social partners and civil society, reinforcing the synergies among the different policies, in a general context of sustainable development.
The new relaunching cycle of the Lisbon Strategy, which shall take place from 2005 to 2008, comprises the preparation of a strategic report and a package of common guidelines on economic policy and employment, on the basis of which the Commission shall present the Community Lisbon Programme and each Member State shall present a National Reform Programme.
To enhance internal coordination and to promote public discussion, in accordance with the procedures decided by each Member State, the European Council established that each country shall appoint, where appropriate, a Lisbon Strategy coordinator.
The participated devising, development and monitoring of a national reform programme, coordinated with programmes of other Union Member States and with the Community Programme, requires not only the appointment of a coordinator under the direct responsibility of the Prime-Minister but also the establishment of a small-size and flexible coordination structure, involving the main responsible sector entities within its scope.
Moreover, the Programme of the XVII Constitutional Government establishes for Portugal a growth strategy for the next decade, aiming to meet the measures defended at the Lisbon Strategy, assuming a very strong commitment towards knowledge, the qualification of Portuguese people, technology and innovation.
Therefore:
Pursuant to article 28 of Law no. 4/2004 o 15 January, and under point g) of article 199 of the Constitution, the Council of Ministers resolves:
1 - To appoint José Carlos das Dores Zorrinho as the Lisbon Strategy national coordinator, under the direct responsibility of the Prime-Minister.
2 - To assign the following tasks to the Lisbon Strategy coordinator:
a) To prepare, coordinate and monitor the introduction of the Lisbon Strategy National Reform Programme for the period from 2005 to 2008, under the terms provided for at the European Council held in Brussels, in March 2005;
b) To articulate the preparation, coordination and monitoring of the National Programme with the development of the Community Lisbon Program;
c) To articulate the preparation, coordination and monitoring of the National Programme with other relevant national plans and programmes, specially with the Stability and Growth Programme and with the National Strategic Reference Framework;
d) To promote the participation of economic and social bodies and of the civil society in the debate on the options and priorities of the national reform programme;
e) To present in October 2005 the national reform programme.
3 - To determine, for the purposes of the preceding paragraph, the constitution of a network of focal points comprising a representative of each minister and the coordinators of the existing coordination units, appointed respectively by the latter.
4 - To establish that it is incumbent upon the focal points to participate in the meetings convened by the Lisbon Strategy coordinator and to provide all requested collaboration, namely as regards the provision of relevant sector information and the participation in the preparation of the national reform programme.
5 - The Lisbon Strategy coordinator has the status and office equivalent to an Under Secretary of State, the remuneration thereof being established by joint order of the Prime-Minister and of the Minister of State and for Finance.
6 - To determine that the General-Secretariat of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers is assigned the task of ensuring the logistic and financial support to the Lisbon Strategy coordinator.
7 - To comply with the mission assigned thereto, the Lisbon Strategy coordinator may request the attachment of specialized experts to its office.
8 - The duration of the mandate of the Lisbon Strategy coordinator shall coincide with the period in which the XVII Constitutional Government takes office.
9 - To determine that the present resolution shall take effect from the date of taking office of the national coordinator.
30 June 2005. - The Prime-Minister, José Sócrates Carvalho Pinto de Sousa.
