CCI urges Ahern to speed up EU reforms

The Chambers of Commerce of Ireland has called on the Taoiseach to speed up Irish economic and social reforms as part of moves to improve overall European competitiveness.

Speaking at the Eurochambres Congress 2004 in Vienna today CCI president Mark Staunton said the EU is continuing to lose competitiveness compared to the leading economies of the world.

"While the Irish Presidency did represent significant effort to refocus this agenda, we are concerned that the sheer breadth of the Lisbon vision and the weakness of the Open Method of Co-ordination mean that we will continue to under perform against the US and Asia,” said Mr Staunton.

“Europe’s political leaders need to correct this untenable situation and make a fresh start,… said Mr Staunton.