Dariusz Rosati (PPE). – Mr President, I welcome the Annual Growth Survey 2017 and I fully support the three-pillar approach which puts the focus on investment, structural reforms and responsible fiscal policy.

However, after three years of being involved in this type of policy approach we see that growth, economic growth, has returned to Europe but it is still very fragile. But I do not know whether this is a reason to blame the Commission or the European Union in general. I would say that there are limits to what the EU can do, given the very small size of the budget and also the fact that many of the constraints on growth which we identify right now are in areas that are under the direct control of Member States. Let me just mention a few of them.

First of all, high debt levels both in banks and in enterprises. Then, low investment in innovation, knowledge, and education. Number three, this is still an insufficiently conducive environment for business activities that would make Europe an attractive, the most attractive, place for investment across the whole world.

So there are a number of things that have to be done by Member States. I would like to call on the Commissioner to increase the role of country-specific recommendations and to make sure that they are treated seriously by Member States because otherwise we can, of course, exchange reproaches in this House but without actually any tangible results in terms of higher growth and more jobs.