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Treaty of Lisbon (No. 4)

I hope that the hon. Gentleman will just bear with me. I shall deal with three issues, the first of which is the challenge of completing a genuine single market. In 2000, the Lisbon strategy set out the aim of making the EU"““the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world””" by 2010. Last year, the Secretary of State's Department conceded that the Lisbon goals remained ““a far-off aspiration””. The Lisbon strategy's own website notes:"““Weak competition in many markets, especially in network services including energy, continues to hold Europe back.””" The Government recognise the need for improved access to capital, lower prices for businesses and consumers, and the liberalisation of the network industries if we are to compete effectively internationally. The Department estimates that liberalisation of the network industries alone could add 1.7 per cent. to Europe's gross domestic product. We urgently need a more efficient, competitive and integrated market, but the chances of achieving that are receding as this treaty takes form.