Strategi for Lisboa-strategien siste 3-årsperiode
Meddelelse fra Kommisjonen til Det Europeiske Råd. Strategirapport om den fornyede Lisboa-strategien for vekst og sysselsetting: lansering av den nye syklusen (2008-2010): Hold tempoet oppe
Bakgrunn
Bakgrunn (fra Kommisjonens meddelelse, engelsk utgave)
INTRODUCTION
With the re-launch of the Lisbon Strategy in 2005, the European Union and its Member States committed themselves to a new partnership aimed at securing sustainable growth and jobs.
Almost three years later, the results of this partnership are clearly visible. Economic growth has risen from 1.8% in 2005 and is expected to reach 2.9% in 2007 and 2.4% in 2008. While most of the recent upturn is cyclical, structural reforms in the Member States have also contributed. Almost 6.5 million new jobs have been created in the last two years. Another 5 million jobs are expected to be created up to 2009. Unemployment is expected to fall to under 7%, the lowest level since the mid-80's. The employment rate, currently at 66%, has moved much closer to the overall Lisbon target of 70%. For the first time in a decade, strong increases in employment have gone hand in hand with robust productivity growth. Standards of living in the Member States that recently joined the EU are visibly rising.
However, not all Member States have undertaken reforms with equal determination. Reforms in some areas, such as opening up markets and tackling labour market segmentation, have lagged behind. At the same time, the context is becoming less favourable as a result of a global economic slowdown, financial turmoil and higher commodity prices.
At the Informal European Council in Lisbon in October 2007, Heads of State and Government discussed the European response to globalisation. They confirmed the central place of the renewed Lisbon strategy and called for it to be deepened during the next cycle. They also emphasised that the EU should use the Strategy to help shape globalisation in line with its own values and interests. The Union’s model of development, combining competitiveness with solidarity and sustainability, and its long experience of economic integration, can be major assets in the age of globalisation. With the signature of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU will enter a new phase. Having resolved key institutional questions, the EU can now turn its attention to the issues that directly affect its citizens in their everyday lives.
The first part of this Communication to the 2008 Spring European Council sets out the Commission's proposals for taking the Strategy forward. While underlining the importance of macro-economic stability, it emphasises the need to implement outstanding reforms to reinforce the fundamentals to sustain solid economic growth in the future and help the EU withstand adverse developments in the global economy.
The second part consists of an assessment of progress made by each Member State (and the euro area) in the implementation of its National Reform Programme and of the country-specific recommendations, as adopted by Council. The third part is a companion document containing a detailed assessment of progress by policy area. The Lisbon package furthermore contains: (1) a proposal for a Council recommendation to update the country-specific recommendations and 'points to watch'; (2) a proposal for a Council recommendation to re-affirm the Integrated Guidelines for growth and jobs; (3) a new Community Lisbon Programme; and (4) an analysis of the reorientation of the structural funds in support of growth and jobs.
INTRODUCTION
With the re-launch of the Lisbon Strategy in 2005, the European Union and its Member States committed themselves to a new partnership aimed at securing sustainable growth and jobs.
Almost three years later, the results of this partnership are clearly visible. Economic growth has risen from 1.8% in 2005 and is expected to reach 2.9% in 2007 and 2.4% in 2008. While most of the recent upturn is cyclical, structural reforms in the Member States have also contributed. Almost 6.5 million new jobs have been created in the last two years. Another 5 million jobs are expected to be created up to 2009. Unemployment is expected to fall to under 7%, the lowest level since the mid-80's. The employment rate, currently at 66%, has moved much closer to the overall Lisbon target of 70%. For the first time in a decade, strong increases in employment have gone hand in hand with robust productivity growth. Standards of living in the Member States that recently joined the EU are visibly rising.
However, not all Member States have undertaken reforms with equal determination. Reforms in some areas, such as opening up markets and tackling labour market segmentation, have lagged behind. At the same time, the context is becoming less favourable as a result of a global economic slowdown, financial turmoil and higher commodity prices.
At the Informal European Council in Lisbon in October 2007, Heads of State and Government discussed the European response to globalisation. They confirmed the central place of the renewed Lisbon strategy and called for it to be deepened during the next cycle. They also emphasised that the EU should use the Strategy to help shape globalisation in line with its own values and interests. The Union’s model of development, combining competitiveness with solidarity and sustainability, and its long experience of economic integration, can be major assets in the age of globalisation. With the signature of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU will enter a new phase. Having resolved key institutional questions, the EU can now turn its attention to the issues that directly affect its citizens in their everyday lives.
The first part of this Communication to the 2008 Spring European Council sets out the Commission's proposals for taking the Strategy forward. While underlining the importance of macro-economic stability, it emphasises the need to implement outstanding reforms to reinforce the fundamentals to sustain solid economic growth in the future and help the EU withstand adverse developments in the global economy.
The second part consists of an assessment of progress made by each Member State (and the euro area) in the implementation of its National Reform Programme and of the country-specific recommendations, as adopted by Council. The third part is a companion document containing a detailed assessment of progress by policy area. The Lisbon package furthermore contains: (1) a proposal for a Council recommendation to update the country-specific recommendations and 'points to watch'; (2) a proposal for a Council recommendation to re-affirm the Integrated Guidelines for growth and jobs; (3) a new Community Lisbon Programme; and (4) an analysis of the reorientation of the structural funds in support of growth and jobs.