Project Europe 2030- Report by EU ’Wisemen’

On 9 May, Europe Day and the 60th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, the Chairman of the Reflection Group, Felipe González delivered the report of the Reflection Group “Project Europe 2030” to the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy.


The European Council of 14 December 2007 decided to create a ’reflection group’. Its goal is to identify the key issues and challenges that the EU will face in the future and develop a response. The group started its work in December 2008 and finished the report in time for Europe day.

The membership of the group is quite high level, Former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe González was named Chair, while Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, former president of Latvia, and Jorma Ollila, former CEO of Nokia, were appointed as Vice-Chairs.

The other members of the group include:
- Lech Wałęsa, the historic leader of the Polish anti-communist movement ’Solidarność’ and former Polish President;
- Mario Monti, a former Italian Competition Commissioner;
- Richard Lambert, director general of the Confederation of British Industry and former editor of the Financial Times;
- Lykke Friis of the University of Copenhagen, who recently resigned after having been elected as Minister for Climate and Energy of Denmark;
- Nicole Notat, French former leader of the CFDT trade union;
- Wolfgang Schuster, German conservative and mayor of Stuttgart;
- Rainer Muenz, an Austrian economist;
- Rem Koolhaas, Dutch architect, and;
- Kalypso Nicolaidis, a Franco-Greek professor at Oxford University.

The group, which became known as the “Wisemen Group” reached the conclusion that the EU`s ability to influence developments beyond its borders will in turn depend on its capacity to secure solid growth and internal cohesion.

They called on EU leaders to embark on an ambitious long-term reform programme for the next twenty years. According to the report, the top priority must remain creating jobs and growth. And those Member States that can no longer afford to spend, will have to rely on the EU and other Member States to take the lead in setting up the conditions for economic recovery. The group also urged the EU to reform its financial institutions, because few financial institutions have changed the practices which brought on the crisis.

Human capital is key for ensuring success in the global economy. In order to create a knowledge economy, the EU will have to coordinate efforts to promote research and development (R&D), and Member States will have to invest in R&D.

The EU must continue leading the fight against climate change. The authors urged the EU to develop a truly common negotiation strategy in order for it to better defend its interests.

The EU is also facing a demographic challenge. Action should be taken to enable pension, health and welfare systems to handle an ageing population. Priority measures suggested include increasing the proportion of women in the workforce; facilitating a better work-life balance; changing the approach to retirement, and developing an immigration policy that meets demographic and labour market needs.

The report also underlines the need to dialogue with citizens and the importance of ensuring the support of citizens.

For Further Information

- Project Europe 2030: Challenges and Opportunities
- The Reflection Group
- Details emerge of EU’s ‘wise men’ group report
- Wise men’ warn EU of gradual decline into irrelevance

Related EPHA Articles

- Europe 2020 Integrated Guidelines
- *Updated June 2010* European Council adopts ’2020 strategy’ EU 2020 Strategy launched
- EU2020 ’does not go far enough’ on environment and energy
- NGOs’ anger at Commission failure on future of Europe
- Safe and efficient healthcare through eHealth
- Spotlight on Malta Health Network
- Financial crisis: who, what, and why?

Last modified on June 6 2010.