The next matter is our contribution to the Commission working document, the Future EU 2020 strategy. The EU Commission's consultation paper, EU 2020, sets out a new strategy to make the EU a smarter, greener social market economy. We discussed this paper with the Minister of State, Deputy Dick Roche, who briefed the committee at a meeting on 12 January last on this strategy which replaced the Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs.
Before we discuss the draft constitution, we propose to continue as follows. The committee's contribution reflects our discussion with the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, and the views expressed by the committee members and highlights a number of important areas which we believe the EU 2020 strategy should prioritise. These include: creating employment and protecting existing jobs; investing more in education, research and innovation; supporting a business-friendly environment and SMEs; and regulating better to ensure societal values are at the centre of the new strategy.
My only other additional comment would be that I believe it is fundamentally important that we recognise the need to ensure that the manufacturing and service sectors remain competitive. Uncompetitiveness is not only a threat to this economy, but to the European economy. That was not stated in the highlights I mentioned earlier. That is fundamental to what we are doing and what will be judged by the citizens and by our colleagues throughout Europe as time proceeds.
The draft contribution is open for comment. If there are no further comments, is the draft contribution, as amended, agreed? Agreed.
This will now be sent to the Commission. We ask the Commission to take our views into account in the preparation of the formal communication to be presented to the spring European Council. We will consider this communication once it is published.
Is it also agreed that the contribution be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas and that we call for a debate on the issue? Agreed.