POSTPONED: Reboot Europe: Is the Europe2020 strategy working and if not, how can we fix it?, Brussel

Atomium in Brussel
© Kevin Bergenhenegouwen
datum 3 februari 2015 09:30 - 12:30
plaats Brussel, België
locatie 1, Place du Congrès - 1000 Toon locatie
aanwezigen C. (Corina) Creţu i e.a.
organisatie Centrum voor Europese Beleidsstudies (CEPS)

Event Date

Event Date:

Tuesday, 3 February, 2015 - 09:30 - 12:30

Speakers: 

  • Andrea Renda, CEPS
  • Francesco Grillo, Vision
  • Sandro Gozi, State Secretary for European Affairs, Italy
  • Stefania Giannini, Minister for Education and Culture, Italy
  • Michel Lebrun, President, Committee of the Regions
  • Corina Cretu, Commissioner for Regional and Urban Policies (tbc)

Venue:

CEPS Conference Room

Venue address:

1, Place du Congrès 1000 Brussels

Secretary:

Anne-Marie Boudou

Responsible:

Andrea Renda

“The crisis is a wake-up call, the moment where we recognize that business as usual would consign us to a gradual decline, to the second rank of the new global order. This is Europe's moment of truth. It is the time to be bold and ambitious. 2010 must mark a new beginning. I want Europe to emerge stronger from the economic and financial crisis”.

The quote is taken by the preface of the communication of the European Commission defining the “strategy for the smart, sustainable and inclusive growth” of the Continent to be accomplished by this decade. As the words of the former President of the Commission Barroso clearly stated, the Europe 2020 was seen as the central piece of policy making to which Europe was associating its political survival. Moreover, the Commission embraced the challenge of setting itself five measurable EU targets to be accomplished by 2020: in terms of percentage of population to be taken back to work; propensity of European economies to spend on research and innovation; reduction of pollution and dependency on fossil energy; education; and reduction of poverty.

As the mid-term review of the strategy approaches, results looks worrying: Europe’s recovery from the crisis has been sluggish and differentiated across Member States; fiscal consolidation has led to further cuts in competitiveness-enhancing investments in human capital and research; unemployment and poverty are increasing especially at the periphery of Europe; inequalities are on the rise, social mobility has stayed low. In the meantime the European Central Bank is adopting extra-ordinary measures to reduce the risk of a dangerous combination of inflation and stagnation, at the same time demanding further efforts by Member States and other EU institutions, towards investment and growth. The new European Commission and its new President have unveiled the features of a new investment plan for Europe and are trying to arrange for a smarter application of the Stability and Growth Pact with more investments and flexibility combined with structural reforms.

However, this does not still account as a comprehensive strategy or as a reorganization of the way Europe works around an overall objective of growth. Can anything be done to make Europe’s growth strategy more consistent, effective and in line with the current economic situation of the Union? Should the governance of Europe 2020 be improved? How can the strategy be placed at the core of the new Commission’s efforts towards economic recovery and future prosperity?

This event is exceptionally free of charge. A light lunch will be served after the event.


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