Social Agenda 2005-2010 launched, February 2005

The European Commission launched its new Social Agenda for modernising Europe's social model under the revamped Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs on the 9 February 2005. This is the main roadmap for outlining the new European Commission's strategy for social, labour and employment policy for the next five years. It follows the 'Social Policy Agenda' for the period 2000-2005.

The new agenda focuses on providing jobs and equal opportunities for all and ensuring that the benefits of the EU's growth and jobs drive reach everyone in society. By modernising labour markets and social protection systems, it will help people seize the opportunities created by international competition, technological advances and changing population patterns while protecting the most vulnerable in society.

Commentators have pondered on its significance following the re-launch of the Lisbon Strategy one week earlier on the 2 February 2005, which suggested that the Barroso Commission would emphasise the economic reform and competitiveness aspects of the strategy and place less emphasis on the social and environmental aspects in the next five years.

This In Focus brings together a selection of information sources outlining, analysing, and commenting upon the new Social Agenda. The link at the bottom of the feature will find further information sources on the topic.

EU: Legislation and Policy Making

	European Commission: Secretariat General: PreLex: :Follow the progress of COM (2005)33 through the EU policy making process
	European Commission; DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities: Social Agenda 2005-2010
	European Commission: COM (2005)33 final: Communication on the Social Agenda

EU: Report

European Commission: Report of the High Level Group on the future of social policy in an enlarged European Union (Chair: Olivier Dutheillet de Lamothe), 2004,

EU: Background

	European Commission: MEMO/05/41: Questions and Answers on the new Social Agenda
	European Commission: Press Release: IP/05/152: The new Social Agenda: an essential pillar of the new growth and jobs strategy

Stakeholder organisation

	European Anti-Poverty Network: News, 17.2.05: NGOs criticise Social Agenda 2005-2010
	Confederation of British Industry: Press Release, 17.2.05: CBI Chief calls on EU Hewads of State to unite in backing Lisbon Agenda at the Spring Summit
	European Women's Lobby: Press Release, 9.2.05: EWL reaction to the Commisssion's Communication on the Social Agenda
	European Older People's Platform (AGE): AGE open letter to Mr Barroso, President of the European Commission, February 2005
	Social Platform: Campaign: SOS Europe! Social NGOs call for EU to prioritise social cohesion within Lisbon goals, March 2005
	Social Platform, Press Release, 9.2.05: Growth-first approach hampers Social Agenda and will fail to regain citizens' confidence
	UNICE: Press Release, 9.2.05: Commission social policy agenda must be consistent with the growth and employment strategy

Commercial publisher and media

	Financial Times, 21.2.05: Soft words mask hard intent at Commission
	infoBASE Europe FactSheet, No.96, February 2005: The Social Agenda 2005-2010
	European Voice, Vol.11, No.5, 10.2.05: Employers 'appalled' over social policy proposals

Related Publications

Journal Articles

Anna Czerny: Double trouble: People Management, Vol.11, No.4, 24..02.05, p14-15

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