The activities developed under Horizon 2020 should promote equality between women and men in research and innovation, by addressing in particular the underlying causes of gender imbalance, by exploiting the full potential of both female and male researchers, and by integrating the gender dimension into the research and innovation content as well as by paying particular attention to ensuring gender balance, subject to the situation in the field of research and innovation concerned, in evaluation panels and in other relevant advisory and expert bodies in order to improve the quality of research and to stimulate innovation.

30. Notes that many of the best and most competitive locations for RES in the EU are at a considerable distance from the centres of energy consumption, which makes the optimum use of such locations contingent on the development of transmission and distribution systems and reinforcement of cross-border interconnections; notes also the advantages of decentralised renewable energy supply close to consumption centres; stresses that this can lead to cost reductions, reduce the need for grid extension and avoid congestions when adequate infrastructure is in place; points out that the Commission should facilitate the development of adequate modelling tools to define the optimal mix of distant, large scale generation plants and distribution leve ...[+++]l installations; stresses the potential of an integrated approach for the energy system that would cover both heat and electricity demand and supply; notes also the potential of local RES production such as micro generation or cooperatives by citizens jointly investing in the production and supply of renewable energy, such as geo-thermal heating and solar power, as mentioned in the Commission Communication;

The question of whether weekly rest should normally be taken on a Sunday, rather than on another day of the week, is very complex, raising issues about the effect on health and safety and work-life balance, as well as issues of a social, religious and educational nature.

1. Expresses its concern about, first, the persistently slow growth in Europe since 2002, accelerating, in the euro zone, only gradually from 0,6% in 2003 to 1,3% in 2005, in contrast with the US growth rate of 3,5% in 2005 and the rebound of Japan's economy driven by private final domestic demand; second, the persistently high unemployment of 9% in EU-25 and 8,1% in EU-15; and, third, about the output gap, currently at -1% of GDP, demonstrating that EU economic growth remains substantially below long-term potential, constrained by structural rigidities, weak internal demand, and a lack of proper balance in the macroeconomic policy mix ...[+++]; stresses that the European economy's potential for growth remains excessively low, at about 2%, which is much lower than that registered elsewhere in the world; considers that this potential for growth is insufficient for job creation and reducing unemployment rates or for the development of EU-25;

1. Expresses its concern about, first, the persistently slow growth in Europe since 2002, accelerating, in the euro zone, only gradually from 0,6% in 2003 to 1,3% in 2005, in contrast with the growth rates of the USA of 3,5% in 2005 and the rebound of Japan's economy driven by private final domestic demand, second, the persistently high unemployment of 9% in EU-25 and 8,1% in EU-15 and, third, about the output gap, currently at -1% of GDP, demonstrating that EU economic growth remains substantially below long-term potential, constrained by structural rigidities, weak internal demand, and a lack of proper balance in the macroeconomic poli ...[+++]cy mix; stresses that the European economy's potential for growth remains excessively low, at about 2%, a figure much lower than that registered elsewhere in the world; considers that this potential for growth is insufficient for job creation and reducing unemployment rates or for the development of the enlarged Union;

If we are to replace traditional job security with employability, we need a new approach to working time arrangements because new problems are emerging, such as how to turn part-time employment into full-time employment, what to do about weekly rests and the ban on working on public holidays, how far to adjust working time arrangements where paid work is turned into self-employment, how to control the application of specific working time arrangements in the case of teleworking, what new balance must be struck between home life and work and, finally of course, how can we make time spent on lifelong learning count as working time.