Europe 2020: Europe’s growth strategy. Growing to a sustainable and job-rich future

Summary:

This publication is a part of a series that explains what the EU does in different policy areas, why the EU is involved and what the results are.

Further information:

Much like most other regions across the world, Europe is going through a period of transformation. The global economic crisis has wiped out years of economic and social progress and exposed structural weaknesses in its economy. Meanwhile, various long-term challenges such as globalisation, pressure on natural resources and an ageing population are intensifying. If we are to adapt to this changing reality, Europe can no longer rely on ‘business as usual’.

The structural weaknesses in Europe’s economy exposed by the crisis can only be addressed by moving ahead with structural reforms: reforms that are based on national efforts, but build on European assets such as the single market, the common trade policy and other European Union-level policies. If we want to sustain the model of the European social market economy in the current challenging climate, then Europe will also need to be more competitive.

In order to tackle these issues, in 2010 the EU and its Member States launched a strategy for sustainable growth for the coming decade: the Europe 2020 strategy. The strategy deals both with short-term challenges linked to the crisis and with the need for structural reforms through growth-enhancing measures needed to make Europe’s economy fit for the future.

European Commission: DG Communication: Europe 2020: Europe’s growth strategy. Growing to a sustainable and job-rich future [December 2012] https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/88ebf403-b2b1-40ab-adbb-c95b0c26ecee

European Commission: DG Communication: Europe 2020: Europe’s growth strategy. Growing to a sustainable and job-rich future [February 2014] https://publications.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/cf3b4a6f-6d45-4335-8624-ac12e44ef020

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