12 EU policies until 2020
| (31210)
16016/09
COM(09) 647
| Commission Working Document: Consultation on the Future "EU 2020" Strategy
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| Legal base | —
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| Department | HM Treasury
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| Basis of consideration | Minister's letter of 13 January 2010
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| Previous Committee Report | HC 5-vi (2009-10), chapter 7 (13 January 2010)
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| Discussed in Council | European Council 10-11 December 2009
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared (decision reported 13 January 2010)
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Background
12.1 In 2000 an action plan, known as the Lisbon Agenda or
Lisbon Strategy, was launched to "make Europe, by 2010, the
most competitive and the most dynamic knowledge-based economy
in the world". In 2005 the action plan was relaunched for
the remainder of the decade as the Lisbon Strategy for Jobs and
Growth.
12.2 This Commission Working Document has been
published to seek the views of citizens, organisations and public
authorities on the future "EU 2020" Strategy as a successor
to the current Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs. It sets out
broad proposals for policies over the next ten years intended
to enable the EU to make a full recovery from the economic crisis,
while speeding up the move towards "a smarter, greener economy".
It describes the need for structural reform in the Union, proposes
some policy priorities and highlights possible delivery mechanisms.
12.3 The document was sent to the relevant sectoral
Councils on 7 December 2009 and discussed at the European Council
on 10-11 December 2009. The European Council's Conclusions recorded
that it "takes note of the consultation launched by the Commission
on the future strategy and looks forward to discussing an ambitious
proposal as early as possible in 2010 with a view to full discussion
in the European Council, including at its 2010 Spring meeting".[29]
The public consultation was to close on 15 January 2010 and the
Commission intends to present a formal proposal for a strategy
early this year, possibly following an informal European Council
on 11 February 2010, with a view to adoption of the strategy at
the Spring European Council.
12.4 When we considered this document, earlier
this month, we said:
- whatever plan is adopted to
follow on from the Lisbon Strategy for Jobs and Growth will be
an important determinant for a range of EU policies in the years
up to 2020;
- thus, while we were content to clear this present
consultative document, we were clear that we would wish to recommend
the Commission's formal proposal, once published and deposited,
for debate before the Spring 2010 European Council; and
- meanwhile, if the Government decided to respond
to the call for comments on the Commission Working Document, we
wished to see that response.[30]
The Government's view
12.5 The Government has responded to the Commission's
Working Document and the Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Ian
Pearson) sends it to us. The response, a letter to the President
of the Commission, welcomes the launching of a public debate on
policies to facilitate the Union's economic recovery, suggests
that a new strategy should provide a framework for the steps needed
at international, EU, national and regional levels to ensure that
the Union leads the global economy of the future and raises the
standard of living of its citizens and recalls the Prime Minister's
proposal, prior to the October 2010 for a new EU Compact for Jobs
and Growth, addressing six key priorities:
- fiscal policy that protects
the recovery and supports sustainable growth;
- creating new jobs and equipping our workforce
with skills for the new economy;
- growing the innovative industries of the future;
- supporting Europe's businesses to take advantage
of the Single Market;
- opening up global markets to trade and investment;
and
- a robust and competitive financial services sector.[31]
12.6 The Government's response continues that
it welcomes the focus of the Working Document on the interdependence
between the Union's economic, social and environmental objectives
and draws attention, as an initial contribution to the public
consultation its paper The Future of EU Competitiveness: From
economic recovery to sustainable growth published in June
2009.[32] It adds that:
"The UK government believes that the EU's strategy
must enhance cooperation in a new era of global economic management,
defined by the agreement reached at the Pittsburgh Summit of the
G20. In order to identify, build support for and implement the
reforms that Europe urgently requires, a new Compact for Jobs
and Growth must bind the EU's institutions and Member States into
a common cause of generating strong, sustainable and balanced
growth.
"This will mean addressing the lessons of the
current Lisbon Strategy through:
"Firstly, improved coordination and coherence
between policy instruments …
"Secondly, improved political ownership of
and accountability for the structural reforms needed …
"Thirdly, greater recognition of the importance
of the wider global context …
"And fourthly, stronger links between the strategy's
objectives and the delivery mechanisms available."
Conclusion
12.7 We are grateful for this information
about the Government's response to the call for comments on the
Commission Working Document. This confirms our view of the importance
of the outcome of the debate the document has initiated and we
take this opportunity to remind the Government that we will wish
to recommend the Commission's formal proposal, once published
and deposited, for debate before the Spring 2010 European Council.
29 See http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/111877.pdf.
Back
30
See headnote. Back
31
See http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page21117. Back
32
See http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file51732.pdf. Back
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