Europe 2020 is the European Union’s ten-year jobs and growth strategy. It was launched in 2010 to create the conditions for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.
Five headline targets have been agreed for the EU to achieve by the end of 2020. These cover employment; research and development; climate/energy; education; social inclusion and poverty reduction.
Progress towards the Europe 2020 targets is encouraged and monitored throughout the European Semester, the EU’s yearly cycle of economic and budgetary coordination.
In March 2014, the Commission published a Communication taking stock of the Europe 2020 strategy, including an overview of progress on the 2020 targets.
The Commission held a public consultation on the strategy between May and October 2014, and published the results in a communication [178 KB] in March 2015. This consultation results will be taken into account when reflecting on how the Europe 2020 strategy should be taken forward. Proposals to review the strategy will be presented before the end of 2015.
Also in March 2015, Commission proposed a new set for the Integrated guidelines – broad guidelines for the economic policies of the Member States and of the Union and guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States – that once adopted would replace the 2010 Integrated Guidelines.
The 5 targets for the EU in 2020
The 5 targets for the EU in 2020
- Employment
- 75% of the 20-64 year-olds to be employed
- R&D
- 3% of the EU’s GDP to be invested in R&D
- Climate change and energy sustainability
- greenhouse gas emissions 20% (or even 30%, if the conditions are right) lower than 1990
- 20% of energy from renewables
- 20% increase in energy efficiency
- Education
- Reducing the rates of early school leaving below 10%
- at least 40% of 30-34–year-olds completing third level education
- Fighting poverty and social exclusion
- at least 20 million fewer people in or at risk of poverty and social exclusionDeepening the single market
- Growth and job creation depend on healthy, well connected markets, where competition and consumer access stimulate business and innovation.
Investing in growth
The financial crisis has had a major impact on the capacity of European businesses and governments to finance investment and innovation projects.
External policy instruments
To foster growth, the EU must encourage trading in open, fair markets worldwide, within a rule-based international ramework.
The EU also wants to build strategic relationships with emerging economies, to discuss issues of common concern, promote cooperation on regulation and other matters, and resolve bilateral issues. In this context, the Commission presented a new trade strategy in November 2010.
sources: http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/europe-2020-in-a-nutshell/eu-tools-for-growth-and-jobs/index_en.htm
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