European Commission rolls out country-specific proposals for growth, jobs

BRUSSELS, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission on Wednesday adopted its latest annual recommendations for EU member states to boost growth and jobs and increase competitiveness in the 2013-2014 period.

These recommendations, designed as part of its strategy to "move Europe beyond the crisis" and based on country-specific analyses, brought forward a set of reforms for the EU economy after more than three years of sovereign debt crisis in the eurozone.

"Now is the time to step up fundamental economic reforms that will deliver growth and jobs... these proposals are concrete, realistic and adapted to the situation of each member state," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said here on Wednesday.

It was only way to address the two lasting legacies of the crisis, namely the loss of competitiveness in many member states and persistent unemployment, the president added.

The package includes 23 sets of proposals for all member states except for Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Cyprus, as well as a separate set for the eurozone as a whole, making country-specific guidance on budgetary, economic and social policies.

The four excluded member states have been monitored under a separate and more intense process for adjustment and economic revival, according to the Commission.

We recommend:
AN-2 plane crashes in Jalal-Abad region, Kyrgyzstan	Graduation ceremonies of West Point held in New York	People mourn over British fallen soldier in London
'Abused' dolls displayed in Israel	City lit up during Vivid Sydney	Jewish wedding ceremony held in Jerusalem