The Lisbon strategy is the European Union's plan of action to promote the regions' economic competitiveness in the world economy in par with its social cohesion. Deep structural changes are needed and this should, is and will have a strong impact on all the EU's member states. This section intends to provide the necessary information and space for analysis and debate on the implementation process of the Lisbon Strategy by each european country and the region as one, as well as its national, regional and global impact.
Genesis
Europe is constantly building and discovering its own way for development, modernisation and social fairness. The need of a pragmatic and systemic approach allowing the EU to develop economic competitiveness together with increased social cohesion characterises the European momentum and its strategic approach to development. Nevertheless, this has proved to be a difficult path.
In March 2000, European leaders committed the EU to become by 2010 "the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion, and respect for the environment". This came to be known as the Lisbon Strategy, encompassing a comprehensive and interdependent series of reforms, where maximum effectiveness would be achieved if all EU member-states acted in concert.
The Lisbon Strategy is based on long-term action, nevertheless, increased commitment is needed at all levels to achieve improved economic growth and increased employment, social cohesion and environmental sustainability. Even though the 2010 deadline intends to provide only an aim to policy-makers, entrepreneurs, social partners and civil society in general, we have gone through half a decade achieving only a disappointing overall performance. The reasons for this could be split into two: on the one hand, a negative external environment since 2000, on the other hand the main problem is the structural weakness of the European economy, an overloaded national and European agenda, poor co-ordination and conflicting priorities.
According to the Report from the High Level Group chaired by Wim Kok, published in November 2004, even though much needs to be done in order to prevent Lisbon to become a synonym for missed objectives and failed promises, Lisbon is not a picture of unrelieved gloom. The report highlights positive structural changes in: labour market policies, permitting the growth of temporary employment; the overall female employment rate rose to 56% in 2003; the employment rates of older workers in some of the countries. Beyond employment, progress was mainly in the spread of ICT and the use of Internet in schools, universities, administration and trade. The worst results were signalled on net job creation, which largely slowed down, on research and development spending, on transposing EU internal market directives and, last but not least, environment-related targets.
Key documents
The European Commission's annual Spring Report examines the Strategy in detail. The Spring Report is the only document on the agenda of the Spring European Council, where EU Heads of State and Government assess the progress of the strategy and decide future priorities in order to realize the Lisbon targets. Here you can find direct links to these key documents in the process of implementation of the Lisbon Strategy.
Conférence 'Italie/Europe: La démocratie en danger' avec Beppe Grillo, 6 février 2010 - Paris Marianne Ranke-Cormier, directrice de publication de Newropeans Magazine présente Franck Biancheri, président de Newropeans, un des pères fondateurs du programme Erasmus et directeur de recherche de LEAP2020.
2010 bis 2020: Gold erringt K.O.-Sieg über den DollarThursday, 04 February 2010 | Leap/E2020Die US-Zentralbank ist nicht mehr in der Lage, ihren Jahrzehnte langen Kampf gegen Gold unter dem Schlagwort vom „Überbleibsel aus barbarischen Zeiten“ führen, mit dem die alles überragende Stellung des Dollars im internationalen Währungssystem... Weiter lesen
[Conferenza] LA DEMOCRAZIA IN PERICOLO - Italia - Europa - I cittadini resistonoThursday, 04 February 2010 | Newropeans
Il bisogno di democrazia in Europa è sempre più forte. Le forze democratiche tentano di ridurre i nostri diritti impedendoci di poter scegliere liberamente mantenendo così al potere, nei nostri paesi e sul nostro continente, un élite corrotta... Legga più
Kapuscinski: ritratto e autoritratto di un esploratore di animeThursday, 04 February 2010 | Damiano Mazzotti “Kapuscinski. Opere” è la meravigliosa biografia del più grande reporter di guerra (1932-2007), con la raccolta degli scritti più preziosi e “magici” di uno dei più grandi interpreti di culture (Mondadori, 2009). Legga più
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Zapatero, Galeano y HaitíThursday, 04 February 2010 | Alberto Montero SolerMientras la comunidad internacional alerta sobre la ocupación militar estadounidense de Haití realizada bajo la excusa de la ayuda humanitaria, al presidente Zapatero no se le ocurre otra cosa que decir en el Parlamento Europeo que “ver... Lea el artículo
[Europese gedachten] De schijndemocratie van het burgerintiatiefThursday, 04 February 2010 | Chris AalbertsBinnenkort begint eindelijk de Europese directe democratie. In het verdrag van Lissabon is de mogelijkheid van een burgerinitiatief opgenomen: burgers kunnen een voorstel doen aan de Europese Commissie om een wetsvoorstel te maken op een bepaald... Lees meer
Het kost een paar centen.... Thursday, 04 February 2010 | Veronique SwinkelsVolgens de Brusselse professor Matthijs hebben wij in Nederland het op een na duurste koningshuis van de wereld. Alleen de Britse koningin leeft op grotere voet. ... Of we goedkoper uit zouden zijn met een President is natuurlijk ook maar de vraag.... Lees meer
The three post-war scenarios regarding EU-US relations
On March 17th 2003, seven years ago, on the eve of the US invasion of Iraq, Franck Biancheri published three scenarios attempting to describe the war's possible consequences. Among the three he qualified one as most likely to happen. Because of its striking anticipation of what is indeed happening today, we have decided to put it online again. Upon whom will the ashes of Baghdad fall down?The three post-war scenarios regarding EU-US relations
292 - 5 millions - 2 milliardsThursday, 21 January 2010
292 morts, plus de 5 millions de personnes vaccinées au 1er janvier… et une facture de 2 milliards d’euros. Tel est le coût estimé de 3 mois de... + Full Story
We all are Icelanders, fed up to pay for the banks failures! In any case, to prove that all Europeans are not like the British and Dutch governments, Newropeans is launching a petition called « We all are Icelanders, fed up with paying for banks failures» and aiming at gathering popular support for the Icelandic resistance to the current outrageous 'financial order'.
► SIGN HERE
Nous sommes tous des Islandais, ras le bol de payer pour les banquiers! Pour prouver que tous les Européens ne sont pas à l'image des gouvernements britannique et néerlandais, Newropeans lance la pétition "Nous sommes tous des Islandais, ras le bol de payer pour les banquiers! " pour rassembler un soutien populaire à la résistance des Islandais à l'inique "ordre financier" actuel. ► SIGNEZ LA PETITION ICI
The Lisbon strategy is the European Union's plan of action to promote the regions' economic competitiveness in the world economy in par with its social cohesion. Deep structural changes are needed and this should, is and will have a strong impact on all the EU's member states. This section intends to provide the necessary information and space for analysis and debate on the implementation process of the Lisbon Strategy by each european country and the region as one, as well as its national, regional and global impact.
The three post-war scenarios regarding EU-US relations
