Introduction section Europe 2020

Europe 2020

On February 11, 2010 the European Commission submitted a document titled “Europe 2020”, outlining the new economic strategy, drawing on many of the elements and some of the tools of the previous Lisbon Strategy. These are clearly expressed in the Commission’s proposal of March 3, 2010, adopted by the Spring European Council of March 25 and 26 2010. The European Council meeting of June 17, after taking note of the Resolution adopted by the European Parliament on June 16, launched the 2020 Strategy in its Conclusions.

The Commission identifies three engines of growth: smart growth (promoting knowledge, innovation, education and the digital society), sustainable growth (making our production more effective from the point of view of resources while at the same time boosting our competitiveness) and inclusive growth (encouraging participation in the labour market, the acquisition of skills and the fight against poverty). The following goals are to be achieved:

  • 75 % of people aged between 20 and 64 in employment;
  • 3% of GDP in the EU invested in R&D;
  • the"20/20/20" climate and energy targets must be met;
  • school drop-out rates below 10% and at least 40% of young people with a university degree or diploma;
  • 20 million fewer people at risk of poverty.

To achieve these goals the Commission proposes a program made up of seven flagship initiatives: Innovation Union, Youth on the move, Digital Agenda for Europe, Resource efficient Europe, An Industrial Policy for Green Growth, An agenda for new skills and jobs, European platform against poverty. Governance is strengthened, especially by seeking greater consistency of the Stability and Growth Pact with the policies set out in the 2020 Strategy. The reports and feedback called for in the Europe 2020 Strategy, i.e. the National Reform Program and the Stability and Groth Pact are drawn up simultaneously (even though they remain two separate documents) to enhance consistency within the European Semester. In addition, the overall coordination of economic policies enables to make better use of the tools provided by the new Lisbon Treaty that came into force on December 1, 2009.

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