Brussels unveils 2020 economic roadmap for Europe

The European Commission launched on the 3 March 2010 the Europe 2020 Strategy to get out of the economic crisis and prepare EU economy for the next decade.

The Commission identified three key drivers for growth, to be implemented through concrete actions at EU and national levels:

+ smart growth (fostering knowledge, innovation, education and digital society)
+ sustainable growth (making our production more resource efficient while boosting our competitiveness)
+ inclusive growth (raising participation in the labour market, the acquisition of skills and the fight against poverty).

This battle for growth and jobs requires ownership at top political level and mobilisation from all actors across Europe. Five targets are set which define where the EU should be by 2020 and against which progress can be tracked.

EurActiv, 4.3.10: Europe 2020 plan ‘too long-termist’, critics say http://www.euractiv.com/priorities/europe-2020-plan-long-termist-cr-news-302254

European Commission: Press Release: IP/10/225: Europe 2020: Commission proposes new economic strategy in Europe http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/225&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

European Commission: Communication: Europe 2020: A European strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/president/news/documents/pdf/20100303_1_en.pdf

Website: European Commission: Europe 2020 http://ec.europa.eu/eu2020/index_en.htm

BBC News, 3.3.10: EU sets 'smart economy' targets in 2020 strategy http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8547420.stm

Deutsche Welle, 3.3.10: Europe unveils plan for greater prosperity http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5313247,00.html

ESO: Background information: Commission launches consultation on EU 2020: a new strategy to make the EU a smarter, greener social market http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-commission-launches-consultation-on-eu-2020-a-new-strategy-to-make-the-eu-a-smarter-greener-social-market/

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