Europe 2020

Europe 2020 in brief

On 17 June 2010, the European heads of state and government who form the European Council adopted the Europe 2020 strategy - a new European Union strategy for jobs and smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Aside from helping Europe to fully overcome the financial and economic crisis, the primary objective of the Europe 2020 strategy is to boost the EU's competitiveness, productivity, growth potential, social cohesion and economic convergence - both internally and at the international level. In this way, the strategy aims to contribute to Europe's ability to cope successfully with long-term economic and labour market challenges.

Two key factors have had a formative influence on the new strategy: (i) the EU's experience with the Lisbon Strategy, which expires at the end of 2010 and (ii) the lessons that have been drawn from the financial and economic crisis. Where action is needed is not so much in the content of the strategies - after all, the final version of the Lisbon Strategy was targeted toward the overriding objectives of growth and jobs as well - but rather in the consistent and vigorous application and monitoring of the existing legislative framework.

The main documents outlining the Europe 2020 strategy (see Downloads) are the European Commission's Communication dated 3 March 2010 on "Europe 2020: A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth" and the conclusions of the European Council dated 26 March 2010 (items 1-6 and annex) and 17 June 2010 (items 1-8 and annex). A discussion process lasting several months helped to shape the new strategy, and the German government contributed its own position paper to these deliberations.