The Lisbon Summit focused on a strategy to strengthen employment, economic reform and social cohesion as part of a knowledge-based economy. Progress in implementing its commitments will be reviewed at each spring European Council. The conclusions of the Stockholm Summit in March this year add further commitments to the Lisbon agenda in relation to sustainable development, requiring that the sustainable development strategy, including the environmental dimension, to be adopted at the Gothenburg European Council in June this year, will complete and build on the political commitment under the Lisbon strategy.
At its Spring meeting in 2002, the European Council will review progress in implementing the sustainable development aims in to the Lisbon Strategy, as well as the contribution that the environmental technology sector can make to promoting growth and employment. My Department, in consultation with other Departments and agencies as appropriate, will continue to address sustainable development issues within the framework of the national sustainable development strategy and subsequent strategies including the national climate change strategy, the National Spatial Strategy, in preparation, and having regard to the emerging EU strategy for sustainable development.
