Jobs and growth are the answer to the crisis, says prime minister

Europe needs to become more competitive and create more jobs in order to ensure its future prosperity, Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte said after Monday night’s informal EU summit on the eurozone debt crisis.


‘There are currently 23 million people in the EU without work and in the long term, that is not sustainable,’ Rutte said.
‘The internal market can be an important motor for growth, but only 40% of the EU economy falls under it. That percentage must be increased,’ Rutte said in a statement.
At the same time, moves to improve budgetary discipline within the eurozone are being taken. ‘The agreements in the stability and growth pact have been tightened up considerably, meaning faster and tougher intervention can take place,’ Rutte said.
Fiscal treaty
During the summit, 25 of the 27 EU leaders agreed to join a fiscal treaty to enforce budgetary discipline. Britain and the Czech Republic opted out.
The treaty, largely agreed last December, gives a greater role to the European Commission in making sure national budgets meet the rules and allows the European Court of Justice to monitor compliance.
Rutte also said the EU must continue to expand its presence in foreign markets. This is particularly important for country like the Netherlands whose economy is based on exports, he said.

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