British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair called for greater flexibility of the European labour market ahead of a summit meeting with Italian counterpart Mr Silvio Berlusconi in Rome today.
The two leaders are due to sign a document forging a common position on opening up the labour market at their meeting, the first between a British and Italian prime minister in two years.
"Today, we meet in Rome to contribute to the preparation of an important programme of economic reforms in view of the summit in Barcelona," wrote Mr Blair in the Italian daily Corriere della Sera.
"Our purpose is to help the European Union seize an opportunity to intensify the commitment on the objectives laid out two years ago in Lisbon," he said.
He said although Europe has created almost five million jobs since then, "we must not rest on our laurels" and that 17 million people out of work was still too high.
"The European labour markets must be more flexible. Business is still being impeded by useless regulations. We haven't yet completely opened the European energy markets to competition. And the reform of financial services must be intensified," he said.
Liberalising the energy market and financial services are also on the agenda of today’s meeting.
AFP