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The European Commission has implemented a new strategy called, Europe 2020, which aims to increase levels of employment by at least 6% over the next decade, as well as increasing investment in research and development, and increasing the numbers of university graduates too. The plan also aims to decrease the level of early school leavers which will coincide with the university graduate plan.
With unemployment levels reaching nearly 23million people in 2009 alone, this strategic plan cannot come quick enough. The strategy highlights its plans for the next decade with only three elements that it must contain; “growth must be smart, as developing an economy based on knowledge and innovation; it must be sustainable, promoting a more efficient, greener and more competitive economy and, last but not least, it must be inclusive, fostering high-employment and delivering territorial and social cohesion,” according to Social Agenda.
It aims to use seven flagship initiatives of Europe 2010;
- ‘Innovation Union’ – to improve framework conditions and access to finance for research and innovation.
- ‘Youth on the move’ – to enhance the performance of education systems and to facilitate the entry of young people to the labour market.
- ‘A Digital agenda for Europe’ – to speed up the roll-out of high-speed internet and reap the benefits of a digital single market for households and firms.
- ‘Resource efficient Europe’ – to help decouple economic growth from the use of resources, support the shift towards a low carbon economy, increase the use of renewable energy sources, modernise our transport sector and promote energy efficiency.
- ‘An industrial policy for the globalisation era’ – to improve the business environment, notably SMEs, and to support the development of a strong and sustainable industrial base able to compete globally.
- ‘An agenda for new skills and jobs’ – to modernise labour markets and empower people by developing their skills throughout the lifecycle.
- ‘European platform against poverty’ – to ensure social and territorial cohesion so that benefits of growth and jobs are widely shared and people experiencing poverty and social exclusion are able to live in dignity and take an active part in society.
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