Background note Europe 2020 strategy: Implementation matters (European Council 17 June 2010)

Exaggerating only slightly: One more decade like the last one and Europe can apply to UNESCO for world heritage status.





Today the European Council confirms the five headline targets of the Europe 2020 strategy for jobs and growth. The numerical indicators for the two remaining targets – education levels and social inclusion – will be agreed.



According to the Council’s background note, after finalising the Europe 2020 strategy, the European Council is due to start concentrating on implementation.



Credibility on the line


After the wasted ten years of the Lisbon strategy, the Europe 2020 strategy puts the credibility of the member states and the EU institutions on the line.



Putting (lofty) ambitions into effect is the crux of the matter.



Implementation makes or breaks the Europe 2020 strategy: the promising new jobs and the sweet sound of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

Is there anything to convince us that failure will miraculously be followed by success?

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. The Commission proposal is the first chain in the link. This is what we turn to in our next blog post.




Ralf Grahn