The Commission highlighted four main strands in its work programme:
- Tackling the economic crisis and sustaining Europe's social market economy;
- Building a citizens' agenda which puts people at the heart of European action;
- Developing an ambitious and coherent external agenda with global outreach;
- Modernising EU instruments and ways of working.
Growth and jobs
The preeminence of the fight against the economic crisis in the Commission's long-term work programme confirms expectations that the recession in Europe might be a prolonged one, particularly on the employment front.
To address the situation, the Commission had already presented its 'Europe 2020' strategy for "smart, sustainable and inclusive growth," which received only partial backing by EU leaders at their recent March summit (EurActiv 26/03/10).
To pursue the strategy's objectives, Brussels intends to present proposals on education, climate action, energy, pensions, employment and social inclusion in the coming years.
The first measures, to be presented in 2010, primarily concern the EU single market and reform of the financial sector. Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier is planning to put forward legislative proposals on derivatives markets (by the summer), credit default swaps (in the autumn) and capital requirements (by the end of the year), among others.
In the next few months, the Commission is also planning to propose a system of enhanced coordination and surveillance of eurozone members' economic policies (EurActiv 24/03/10), and options for setting up a bank rescue fund (EurActiv 22/03/10).
To address the social issues raised by the economic crisis, Brussels will propose an agenda for new skills and jobs, aimed at boosting labour mobility and creating a European platform to combat poverty.
Trade and the EU's role in the world
With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU's role as a global player is expected to improve, mainly via the appointment of Catherine Ashton as high representative for foreign and security policy and the establishment of a European diplomatic service (European External Action Service; see EurActiv LinksDossier).
The Commission says it is committed to strengthening the EU not only as a political power, but also as an economic bloc to face global financial and economic challenges.
"One of the key lessons of the global crisis is that the size of the EU and the euro area matter in influencing global policy responses," reads the Commission work programme. Brussels "will propose to consolidate European representation in international financial institutions," the paper underlines.
In the years to come, the Commission will propose "a three-stage approach to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of euro area [and] EU representation in the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank," it says.
Trade also ranks among the top priorities, with a trade strategy for 2020 expected in the autumn. The objective is to "continue working towards reducing barriers to international flows of trade and investment".
Closing the Doha Round and opening new global negotiations on "sectors of the future" such as the high-tech, environmental technology and international standardisation sectors will be crucial targets of the trade strategy.
Integrating regional policy into EU strategies
Echoing the sentiments of regional stakeholders in Brussels and beyond, the Commission committed to better integrating regional policy into 'big picture' strategies such as the 'Europe 2020' blueprint.
The new regional budget period, which will run from 2014 to 2020, is expected to be more streamlined and may deploy more precise benchmarks and indicators to ensure that the EU's hefty regional purse works towards achieving the 'Europe 2020' goals.
The Commission committed to producing a non-binding communication, which will "provide policy guidance on how to align cohesion policy objectives with the Europe 2020 vision in the field of smart growth in terms of developing regional economies based on knowledge and innovation".
