39. Underlines again the importance of an effective and dynamic follow-up and implementation of the Lisbon strategy in 2004; considers that the Lisbon structural reform agenda has to result in better, and sustainable, jobs, in order to create a knowledge-based economy; insists that economic, environmental and social reforms must be mutually supportive and must be achieved in close cooperation with all actors concerned; looks to the Commission to step up cooperation with the social partners with a view to drawing up joint strategies and measures to achieve the employment objectives ...[+++] laid down in Lisbon, in particular greater involvement for the elderly and women on the labour market;

24. Looks to the Commission to step up cooperation with the social partners with a view to drawing up joint strategies and measures to achieve the employment objectives laid down in Lisbon, in particular greater involvement for the elderly and women on the labour market, and do away with barriers to flexibility on the labour market;

The strengthened OMC should operate in parallel and in close interaction with the revised Lisbon Strategy, contributing to the growth and employment objectives at the same time as the Lisbon-related programmes contribute to the social cohesion objectives.

The objective, however, of full employment set in Lisbon is a political commitment by the leading Member States, not a binding legal commitment.

We want to use this proposal which is based on Article 129 of the Treaty to support, deepen and develop the employment strategy and through that to achieve the goal of full employment of Lisbon.

Thus, the OMC should parallel and interact closely with revised Lisbon – "feeding in" to growth and employment objectives while Lisbon programmes "feed out" to advance social cohesion goals.