The Future of EU Competitiveness: From
Economic Recovery to Sustainable Growth (Department of Business
Innovation and Skills (BIS), June
2009)
Leading on from the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 1998 White Paper on the
knowledge-driven economy, this government strategy paper links to
that concerned solely with the UK: Building Britain's future: new industry, new
jobs and advocates an outward-looking focus for action during
economic recession.
Extracts from the paper with
relevance for languages:
In this paper the Minister
for the newly-created government Department of Business, Innovation
and Skills calls for an outward-facing Single European
Market.
Messages supporting the
development of languages and intercultural skills are implicit in a
text which reiterates the significance of the international trading
context and pre-eminence of global supply chains, global
communications, and global recruitment markets.
Significant for the
languages sector is the statement that 'Market forces are not
enough' (p. 14) and that there is a case to be made for government
intervention to ensure the international competitiveness of the
UK’s economy, and the supply of an appropriate skills-base from the
UK to match international employer need and individual
aspiration.
'2.30 The EU’s interests are
also served by working to develop global standards and with trade
regulations in cooperation with trading partners. This will allow
EU firms to access third partners country markets and participate
in global production chains. Finally, EU Member States need to
cooperate much more closely in working to solve day-to-day market
access difficulties in key international markets.
'3.1 While strengthening
markets in the EU and ensuring that the global economy remains open
to trade are essential to our long term growth, they will not on
their own deliver sustainable growth and competitiveness in Europe.
For example, recent studies illustrate that the EU is not
producing, attracting and keeping enough scientists, engineers and
IT specialists to meet the requirements of its
industries.16 To capitalise on the opportunities that
come with open markets, European firms and workers need to be
equipped with the right skills and infrastructure and be able to
draw on strong capabilities in science, technology and the
commercialisation of research.
'3.2 These things must, in
part, be supported by governments where market forces will not
provide them to the necessary level. This is not about the state
seeking to override market forces. It is about matching the
influence and capabilities of the state to the dynamic power of the
market, and matching both of these to the strategic needs of firms
and workers competing in a global economy.
'Summary of
recommendations: Skills
- A regular Commission review
of current and essential future EU skills, accompanied by a road
map for developing capacity in these areas; strengthening the role
of the European Social Fund by simplifying access and ensuring
funds can be directed to training needs more quickly; an ambitious
target for apprenticeships across the EU.
A coherent package of
- labour
mobility tools for the EU, including
better skills forecasting for the entire EU labour market,
better recognition of qualifications and
clearer advice for Europeans wishing to move to
other EU countries in search of work.'