6. 7. 96 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 167/55 COUNCIL DECISION of 25 June 1996 on the implementation of a Community action programme to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry (96/413/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 130 (3) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parli- ament (), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (%), (1) Whereas the heads of State or Government, meeting as the European Council on 10 and 11 December 1993 in Brussels, endorsed the White Paper ‘Growth, competitiveness and employment’ as the terms of reference for action by the European Union and its Member States, supporting an approach to industrial development based on global competitiveness, a factor generating growth and employment; (2) Whereas on 22 April 1994 the Council adopted conclusions on improving the competitiveness of European industry, based on the said White Paper; (3) Whereas, on the basis of a Commission communica- tion of September 1994, the Council adopted the resolution of 21 November 1994 (*) on the strength- ening of the competitiveness of Community industry, which stressed in particular that a competi- tive innovatory industry in the Community is a prerequisite for lasting economic growth and the creation of new jobs; whereas the framework condi- tions for competitiveness and competition must be improved so that the European Union remains an attractive location for business leading to the creation of new firms and new jobs; (4) Whereas on 10 October 1994 the Council adopted a resolution in support of the Commission’s integrated programme in favour of small and medium-sized enterprises and the craft sector; () OJ No C 308, 20. 11. 1995, p. 470. () O] No C 39, 12. 2. 1996, p. 1. () OJ No C 100, 2. 4. 1996, p. 14. () OJ No C 343, 6. 12. 1994, p. 1. (5) Whereas the Cannes European Council on 26 and 27 June 1995 welcomed with great interest the report of the Advisory Group on Competitiveness (Ciampi Group); (6) Whereas on 29 June 1995 the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the Commission communi- cation on an industrial competitiveness policy for the European Union; (7) Whereas industrial production and services increa- singly complement each other; whereas, conse- quently, a competitive industrial sector is indispen- sable in order fully to exploit the possibilities of job creation in the service sector; (8) Whereas the internal markets in energy and telecom- munications must be completed with a view to rapid strengthening of the competitiveness of this sector and of industry in general; {9) Whereas economic and social cohesion and the competitiveness of European industry are linked in that competitive European industry can contribute to cohesion and cohesion can provide industry with the benefits of a wider commercial and geographic base; (10) Whereas the maintenance and improvement of industrial competitiveness is primarily the task of business and it is for the Community and the Member States to ensure that the necessary condi- tions prevail; whereas it is particularly urgent that the Community and the Member States, within the framework of their respective powers, adopt measures to that effect; (11) Whereas accelerating technical progress, increasing globalization of markets, intensification of interna- tional competition and the increasing importance of enviromental protection require greater efforts from all those with responsibility in the economic, poli- tical and social fields in order to facilitate the neces- sary structural adjustments, inter alia, to ensure sustainable development, and to create new jobs; (12) Whereas greater attention to the needs of the market in terms of research policy and the establishment of the information society will have a determining influence on all the European Union’s industrial activities;