Western Europe GDP per capita - not taking into account the new accession counties - was lower in 2001 relative to that of the US than any time since the 1960's.

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• John Hutton:

  The challenge to our national economies and the collective economy of Europe will become - with the

• John Hutton:

  For many Europeans the next decade looks to be filled with threats rather than opportunities.

• John Hutton:

  But we can turn challenges into opportunities if we look outwards to the realities of the global ec

• John Hutton:

  Our aim, during our Presidency in the next six months will be to lead this challenge, to show that

• John Hutton:

  We must seek to persuade member states and institutions that better regulation in Europe does not m

• John Hutton:

  Yet in order to make sure the European social model keeps up with the pace of economic change that

• John Hutton:

  More than 50% of significant new regulations that impact on business in the UK now emanate from the

• John Hutton:

  Our objective must therefore be to ensure EU better regulation contributes towards delivering a mod

• John Hutton:

  And, in the past, it has been all too easy for legislators to load costs onto business in order to

• John Hutton:

  There is no such thing as free regulation.