On Van Rompuy's initiative, EU leaders will meet in Brussels on 11 February to tackle the economic and social crisis.
"This is my first official working day," Van Rompuy said in a video address on Monday (4 January). "I'm already preparing the next European Council on 11 February," he said, insisting: "I took the initiative to convene this Council."
"We need more economic growth in order to finance on a sound basis our social model [and] to preserve our European way of life," he explained.
Unemployment is expected to soar in 2010, with Eurostat predicting a peak of approximately 10.3% for the EU-27 towards the end of the year (EurActiv 16/12/09).
The Baltic countries, Ireland and Spain are the EU member states that have been hit hardest, with unemployment rates doubling or worse since the economic crisis began. Youth unemployment in particular has reached new historical highs in recent months, according to a recent EU report (EurActiv 25/11/09).
The state of public finances in some European countries has also started to raise concerns. Deficits in Greece are expected to run at over 120% of GDP in 2010, surpassing Italy's for the first time in years. This prompted agency Fitch to downgrade Greece's debt to a 'B' rating for the first time in ten years (EurActiv 10/12/09).
EU '2020 strategy'
"I believe the economic issues – how best to coordinate to counter the adverse impact of the crisis on jobs and on public finances, how to plan strategies for the next stage once recovery is secured – will top the agenda of the heads of state or government for the months to come," Van Rompuy said.
Last November, the European Commission launched a consultation on the EU's new economic and social strategy for the next decade. The new strategy will replace the EU's flagship Lisbon Agenda for growth and jobs, adopted in the Portuguese capital in 2000 and which expires this year.
In its consultation document, the Commission invites member states to lead Europe towards a green, knowledge-based economy by 2020, placing the emphasis on four key priorities: innovation and knowledge, fighting exclusion, green growth and a new 'digital Europe' agenda (EurActiv 19/11/09).
Other issues on the summit's table will include the aftermath of the Copenhagen conference on climate change, energy challenges and Europe's "aspirations for greater security and justice," Van Rompuy said.
A first test for Van Rompuy
The February summit will also be Van Rompuy's first test as EU president, a job created by the Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force late last year.
Some analysts have warned that the creation of the new role, which comes in addition to existing senior EU positions, will only create confusion and lead to "institutional chaos" (EurActiv 08/12/09).
But Van Rompuy suggested he could bring greater political focus to the European Council, which gathers the 27 heads of state and government.
"We must form a group, a circle, that agrees with itself and works for the same cause, the European Union. We must also lay more emphasis on the political decisions that go beyond our traditional conclusions. We must send the public a clear and visible message. We have already worked on that, and we will continue to do so."
