There are four basic objectives: helping European firms to adapt to the new globalized and interdependent competitive situation; exploiting the competitive advantages associated with the gradual shift to a knowledge-based economy; promoting a sustainable development (q.v.) of industry; reducing the time-lag between the pace of change in supply and the corresponding adjustments in demand. In the context of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC), the policy on employment will be reviewed in the light of these guidelines and those mapped out by the European Council in Essen. Some Member States would like competitiveness to be included in Article B of the Treaty., konkurentsiseis - ettevõtte rentaablus strateegilises ärivaldkonnas oma kõige edukamate konkurentidega võrreldes