Uformelt møde i Det Europæiske Råd den 30. januar 2012 - Bilag 2: Hyrdebrev fra formanden for Det Europæiske Råd til møde i Det Europæiske Råd 30/1-12

We will first have an exchange of views with the new President of the European Parliament to goover the main points we will later on discuss in the meeting of the members of the EC.

In the present economic situation, we must continue our efforts to ensure financial stability andfiscal consolidation: this is necessary in itself, but it is also a condition needed for returning tostructural economic growth. At the same time, we need to take active measures to enhance growthand competitiveness and above all create jobs. Whilst our March meeting will provide widerguidance to Member States' economic and employment policies, I want us this time to focus onimmediate action to be taken in the specific areas of youth unemployment, the Single Market andSMEs. To that end I have circulated a draft statement which should help structure our discussionand communicate its outcome.

My idea is to hold an interactive debate allowing us to share experiences of the different paths topromote jobs and growth. Thus, after general introductions by José Manuel Barroso on how the EUcan support Member States' action, in particular as regards youth unemployment and support toSMEs, and by Helle Thorning-Schmidt, on the measures the Council needs to agree on rapidly, Iwill ask a number of lead speakers to introduce the three strands of our discussion (youthemployment; the Single Market; and the financing of SMEs).

We will also use this opportunity to endorse the ESM treaty and to register agreement on the newtreaty on stability and convergence within the euro area. With the two treaties we will furtherstrengthen the instruments at our disposal to ensure the consolidation and development of the euroarea as a whole.