Lisbon Strategy
The Lisbon Strategy was a long-term plan developed by the European Union in the early 2000s to improve its competitiveness and social cohesion, promote economic growth and job creation, and address environmental and social challenges. It was launched in 2000 and aimed to make the EU the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010. The strategy was named after the city of Lisbon, where the EU leaders had adopted the plan at the European Council in March 2000.
The Lisbon Strategy was a response to growing concerns that the EU was falling behind its main global competitors, notably the US and Japan, in terms of economic growth, technological innovation, and productivity. In addition, the EU faced significant social challenges, such as high levels of unemployment, poverty, and social exclusion, and environmental challenges, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. The Lisbon Strategy sought to address these challenges by setting ambitious targets and coordinating policy actions across the EU.
The Lisbon Strategy had three main pillars: economic, social, and environmental. The economic pillar aimed to create a more dynamic and innovative economy, based on knowledge, research, and entrepreneurship. The social pillar aimed to improve social inclusion, education, and training, and to reduce poverty and discrimination. The environmental pillar aimed to promote sustainable development, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect natural resources and biodiversity.
One of the key targets of the Lisbon Strategy was to increase the employment rate in the EU to 70% by 2010, from 63% in 2000. This target was considered crucial for boosting economic growth and reducing poverty and social exclusion. To achieve this target, the EU adopted a range of measures, such as improving education and training, promoting flexible and inclusive labor markets, and encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation.
Another key target of the Lisbon Strategy was to increase investment in research and development (R&D) to 3% of the EU's gross domestic product (GDP) by 2010, from around 2% in 2000. This target was considered necessary to foster innovation and competitiveness, and to ensure a sustainable growth model. To achieve this target, the EU adopted various measures, such as promoting public-private partnerships, simplifying intellectual property rights, and enhancing cooperation between universities and businesses.
The Lisbon Strategy also aimed to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The EU recognized that excessive regulations and bureaucracy were hindering the growth and competitiveness of SMEs, which are the backbone of the EU's economy. To address this issue, the EU launched the "Better Regulation" initiative, which aimed to simplify and harmonize the regulatory framework and reduce administrative costs.
The Lisbon Strategy was not without its challenges and criticisms. Some critics argued that the targets and measures were too ambitious and unrealistic, given the diverse nature and different levels of development of the EU Member States. Others argued that the Lisbon Strategy focused too much on economic growth and competitiveness, at the expense of social and environmental concerns. Some also criticized the lack of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the strategy, and the limited involvement of civil society and stakeholders.
Despite these challenges, the Lisbon Strategy had some notable achievements. For example, the employment rate in the EU increased from 63% in 2000 to 68% in 2010, although it fell back to 66% after the global financial crisis of 2008. The EU also increased its investment in R&D to around 2.1% of GDP in 2010, although it fell short of the 3% target. The Lisbon Strategy also encouraged the adoption of the European Qualifications Framework, which improved the recognition and comparability of qualifications across the EU.
Moreover, the Lisbon Strategy paved the way for the Europe 2020 strategy, which was launched in 2010 and aimed to build a smart, sustainable, and inclusive economy for the EU. The Europe 2020 strategy built on the lessons and experiences of the Lisbon Strategy, and set new targets and measures to address the new challenges facing the EU, such as social inequality, demographic change, and globalization.
In conclusion, the Lisbon Strategy was a significant initiative that aimed to improve the competitiveness, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability of the European Union. Although the strategy faced some challenges and criticisms, it had some notable achievements and paved the way for the Europe 2020 strategy. The Lisbon Strategy remains important as a reminder of the need for a coordinated and ambitious approach to address the complex and interconnected challenges facing the EU, and as a lesson on the importance of transparency, accountability, and stakeholder involvement in the policy-making process.