A European Jobs Strategy That Isn’t Even Hopeful
Sally McNamara /
Tomorrow, the European Union will unveil its Europe 2020 strategy, designed to make Europe the most competitive, dynamic, knowledge-based economy by 2020. If the slogan appears familiar, that’s because it is.
In 2000, the EU launched its Lisbon Agenda, to make Europe the most competitive, dynamic, knowledge-based economy by 2010. It failed. Badly. But instead of admitting defeat, the EU has resorted to its time honored tradition – don’t let a good crisis go to waste. It has become even more hubristic, seeking to centralize greater areas of policymaking and determine a “one-size-fits-all” policy for economic growth.
The centerpiece of Brussels’ agenda is to grow a sustainable and competitive green economy in the next decade. President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, announced yesterday that the EU could save € 60 billion in oil and gas imports by 2020 and create 2.8 million jobs in the renewable energy sector.