Europa kiest voor kennis

Nieuws | de redactie
3 maart 2010 | De nieuwe EU-commissie Barroso zet voluit in op kennis in de nieuwe economische strategie EU2020. “We need to build a new economic model based on knowledge, low-carbon economy and high employment levels. This battle requires mobilisation of all actors across Europe”, aldus Barroso. Maar hij krijgt al fikse kritiek op de speelruimte voor lidstaten om er omheen te glippen. Men vreest 'Griekse toestanden'.

De doelstellingen van de EU2020 strategie zijn:

  • Raise the employment rate of the population aged 20-64 from thecurrent 69% to at least 75%;
  • Achieve the target of investing 3% of GDP in R&D inparticular by improving the conditions for R&D investment bythe private sector, and develop a new indicator to trackinnovation;
  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% compared to1990 levels or by 30% if the conditions are right, increase theshare of renewable energy in our final energy consumption to 20%,and achieve a 20% increase in energy efficiency;
  • Reduce the share of early school leavers to 10% from thecurrent 15% and increase the share of the population aged 30-34having completed tertiary education from 31% to at least 40%;
  • Reduce the number of Europeans living below national povertylines by 25%, lifting 20 million people out of poverty.

Forse rol portefeuille Kroes

Om deze concrete doelen te bereiken zet de Europese Commissie in opinnovatie, onderwijs, digital society, klimaat, energie enmobiliteit. Opvallend is de grote rol die Eurocommissaris NeelieKroes met haar digitale portefeuille krijgt in de nieuwe Europeseeconomische strategie.

Haar ‘digitale agenda voor Europa’ is benoemd tot ‘EU flagshipinitiative’. Deze digitale agenda houdt in “to speed up theroll-out of high-speed internet and reap the benefits of a digitalsingle market for households and firms”.

‘Anything else spells failure’

Vanuit de favoriete denktank van Barroso, de Lisbon Council,is kritisch gereageerd op de EU2020 strategie. Directeur AnnMetler: “Since the launch on 3 March, we have subsequently learnedthat two of the original nine flagship programmes are no longerincluded in the final version. They are the “Energy Action Plan”and “A New Jobs Agenda.”

Also, there is now some confusion over the governance of Europe2020. What appeared like a clear-cut division of labour between theEuropean Commission and the European Council/member states in theoriginal draft has now been called into question because there isconfusion over who will set the country-specific targets andconduct the surveillance.

To be clear: for me it is a non-starter to allow member states toset their own targets because they have an incentive to set themtoo low (in order to reach them easily and proclaim success). Also,the member states are not likely to diligently monitor progress. Aswe have seen with the watering down of the Stability and GrowthPact in 2005, member states are soft on one another.

To the extent that there is a body that credibly and forcibly putsmuch-needed pressure on member states, it is the EuropeanCommission. That is why it is imperative that the Commission beentrusted to set the country-specific targets for the five headlineobjectives and that it be the guardian of compliance and in chargeof surveillance. Anything else spells failure.”

Klik hier voor een schematisch overzicht van deEU2020 strategie.


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