The Taoiseach has called on European leaders to use next month's EU summit in Brussels to focus on boosting economic growth and fighting unemployment, Denis Staunton reports from Brussels

The Taoiseach has called on European leaders to use next month's EU summit in Brussels to focus on boosting economic growth and fighting unemployment.

In a letter to the leaders of all present and future member-states, Mr Ahern said that the Lisbon Agenda, the EU's long-term plan to become more competitive, risked losing momentum.

"The challenge that we face is to step up implementation of the commitments we have agreed over the past four years. We must accord this the highest level of political priority now," he said.

The draft conclusions for next month's meeting call for more action to liberalise the European economy.

"The internal market is one of the Union's greatest achievements. However, the market remains highly fragmented in the services sector, which accounts for 70 per cent of GDP in the EU and around 70 per cent of employment. More competition is required to improve efficiency, increase output and employment, and benefit consumers," the draft statement says.

The conclusions also call for more action to encourage research and development and for a deadline for agreement on a European patent. They also call on the next President of the European Commission to consider how best to enhance the role of competitiveness in EU initiatives.

Describing the EU's 8 per cent unemployment figure as unacceptable, the draft statement says that work must become more flexible, more people should be attracted into the labour market, and education and training should be improved.

Drawing on Ireland's experience of social partnership, the statement calls for support for change from beyond governments.

"In order to generate this support, the European Council calls on member-states to build Reform Partnerships involving the social partners, civil society and the public authorities, in accordance with national arrangements and traditions. Such national reform partnerships should promote complementary strategies for change. The strategies should address the broad range of policies - economic, social and environmental - encompassed by the Lisbon Agenda. These strategies should be reflected in clear national policies and objectives," it says.

Next month's summit's agenda will be dominated by economic issues, but the meeting will also see the Taoiseach's report on negotiations towards a constitutional treaty. If an agreement appears possible, Mr Ahern is expected to convene formal negotiations in April with a view to sealing a deal before June's European elections.