Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – Commission Work Programme 2013

Today's absolute imperative is to tackle the economic crisis and put the EU back on the road to sustainable growth. This is the number one task for this generation of Europeans. It calls for a Europe able to compete in the global economy, reshaped to seize the opportunities of the future. It requires the stable macroeconomic environment which true economic and monetary union can bring. It needs a step change in the economy, to release the many strengths Europe can bring to bear in tomorrow's economy of high innovation and high skills.

This demands changes to the business environment in the Single Market; it requires that the huge potential of Europe's networks and of the IT revolution is fully exploited; it calls for new skills and help so that those shut out of the labour market today can make their contribution; and it must be shaped by the needs and opportunities of resource efficiency. These are long-term challenges calling for a concerted effort from all sections of society – but in all cases, the EU contribution is a precondition for success.

This is why, in the State of the Union address, President Barroso called for new thinking for Europe – to draw the consequences of the challenges we are now facing and that are fundamentally changing our world. There can be no growth without reform and no way of confronting our challenges unless we do it together. The State of the Union speech launched ambitious ideas for the long term framing of the EU – a deep and genuine economic union, based on a political union. This vision must be translated into practice through concrete steps, if it is to address the lingering crisis that continues to engulf Europe, and the Euro Area in particular.

This 2013 Work Programme sets out the long term vision of what the EU might look like in key policy areas, summarises what is missing today and explains how the Commission will tackle these challenges. By prioritising the right kind of initiatives, the EU can contribute to growth and job creation and can step by step move closer to its longer term vision.

EUR-Lex: COM(2012)629: Follow the progress of this document through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2012:629:FIN

ESO: Background information: Press Release: Commission adopts 2013 Work Programme http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-commission-adopts-2013-work-programme/

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