On 13-14 March 2008, EU leaders confirmed commitments in three major areas, namely:
the renewed Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs
climate change and energy
the stability of financial markets
The launch of the second three-year cycle of the Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs (2008-2010) kicked off with three themes: implementation at national level of current Integrated Guidelines (BEPGs and Employment Guidelines), knowledge and innovation, Europe’s competitiveness.
With regards to implementing the Lisbon strategy, attention was drawn to:
renewing Member States’ commitments for the economic and employment policies in their National Reform Programmes
emphasising the importance of economic, social and territorial cohesion
recognising the role of the local and regional level in delivering jobs and growth
highlighting the importance of macro-economic stability, i.e. reducing deficit and debt in line with the Council opinions on the Stability and Convergence Programmes
reconfirming the social dimension as part and parcel of the Lisbon Strategy and the need to integrate economic, employment and social policies.
Investing in knowledge and innovation was pointed out as a fundamental precondition for future growth. Particular emphasis is giving to:
developing across the EU scientific e-infrastructure and high-speed internet usage
enabling an EU-wide market for venture capital
improving science-industry linkages and development of regional clusters
financing joint programming of research
Europe’s competitiveness is considered in relation to:
ensuring the so-called "fifth freedom" by promoting greater mobility of researchers and mutual recognition of qualifications
ensuring better regulation to improve the competitiveness of EU business
following-up the Commission’s Single Market Review on a yearly basis to address the obstacles to the 4 freedoms (people, goods, services, capitals)
promoting competition in network industries (energy, electronic communications)
implementing the Service Directive as the precondition of a genuine single market for services
reinforcing the integration of innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Single Market through the removal of administrative obstacles and financial incentives
reinforcing the external dimension of the renewed Lisbon strategy
last but not least investing in people and modernising labour markets
Overall, it was stressed that a continued EU-level commitment to structural reforms, sustainable development and social cohesion will be necessary after 2010 to ensure the results already achieved. Hence, the Commission, the Council and Member States are called to reflect on the future of the Lisbon strategy in the post-2010 period.
On the one hand, the European Council prompts the Commission for a renewed Social Agenda to complement the social dimensions of the Lisbon Strategy by taking into consideration Europe’s social and labour realities. In particular the Council invites the Commission to present a comprehensive assessment of the future skills requirements in Europe up to 2020 and to propose steps to anticipate future needs. On the other hand, the Council urges Member States to take concrete action to ensure universal literacy and numeracy, promote greater labour force participation by tackling segmentation and guaranteeing the agreed principles on flexicurity.
In relation to other key areas debated by EU leaders, consensus was agreed on:
a timeframe and key principles for the adoption of the energy and climate change package
the need for strengthening the financial stability framework through supervision and improved tools for financial crisis management.
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