Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-02-12-Speech-3-040"
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"en.20030212.3.3-040"2
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"Mr President, it was agreed when the Lisbon strategy was being decided that the EU could not become the world’s most competitive knowledge-based economy unless there was sufficient investment in human resources. That is why the decision to place skills and innovation in the frontline of the strategy at the Spring Summit is a welcome one indeed.
The Commission communication is urging Member States to increase investment in skills and innovation over the next twelve months. This is a good start, but there has to be long-term investment in training. A solid skills base will not be built in a year. Public expenditure for training and education has remained virtually unchanged in all Member States in recent years. With an ageing population and as the need for labour grows we must view training and education, not just as a necessary evil, but as an investment in the future.
Societies which try to make use of the whole nation’s resources, based on a policy of equality, achieve great things. Public services alone are not enough in making use of resources: the public sector must also do its share, especially by offering its employees the opportunity to receive training alongside their work. Training is the most important factor when it comes to employing people. The share of the population that works has increased in the last ten years. Since 1996, for example, 12 million jobs have been created. Most of these have been in sectors that require further or higher education.
Education and training policy is the responsibility of the Member States, but we can enhance it though cooperation at EU level. The ministers for education have agreed on some common targets for education and training systems. By 2010 the number of those who leave school early should be halved and the proportion of those receiving vocational education and training among 25-64 year olds should be increased to 80%. The imbalance between men and women in the areas of mathematics, technology and science must be corrected."@en1
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