Memo: Joint declaration of European Commission President Barroso and Italian Prime Minister Monti after their meeting on 27 February 2013

Commission President José Manuel Barroso and Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti met 27 February 2013 to discuss the preparation of the upcoming European Council, which will be devoted to the coordination of economic, fiscal and employment policies in the EU to boost growth and job creation, based on the Commission's Annual Growth Survey published on 28 November 2012.

They have discussed the Commission’s work in progress, following up to the December European Council, on contractual arrangements to raise competitiveness through structural reforms, which includes solidarity mechanisms to help Member States.

Both are convinced that continued and determined action at European and national levels is needed to ensure that the return of confidence into the euro area is sustained. The crisis is not yet over and efforts must not be relaxed. This implies pursuing commonly agreed and differentiated reform and consolidation efforts to create growth and jobs and enhancing competitiveness, while ensuring financial stability.