Lisbon Agenda

The so-called Lisbon Agenda or Strategy, which is aimed at turning the EU into the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion by 2010, was adopted by the European Council in 2000 and remains the key strategy driving the economic development agendas in most European countries. In the UK, important national and regional strategies such as full employment, higher skill provision and wider and better use of modern technologies have been influenced by the Lisbon Agenda. The strategy will doubtless be a driving force for European competitiveness, and will influence the progress towards a more attractive and competitive Europe.

It is vitally important to ensure that the main elements of the Lisbon Strategy are integrated in the Structural Funds Framework developed for 2007-2013.

After the mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy carried out in 2005, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) are recognised as making a crucial contribution to the achievement of this goal.

The reviewed strategy cites the following priorities in the so-called three pillars (economic, social and environmental) of the Lisbon Agenda:

A “partnership for Growth and Jobs” (supported by an EU Lisbon Action Programme and National Action Programmes)
Promoting entrepreneurship and skills
Improving SMEs access to markets
Boosting research and technological development
Ensuring open and competitive markets, thus completing the Single Market
Cutting red tape
Removing obstacles to labour mobility
Modernising social models
Ensuring sustainable development (see Gothenburg Agenda)

Commissioner Danuta Hübner talks about the Lisbon Agenda in the South West:
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/06/324&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Lisbon Agenda Document (122 pages):
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/enterprise_policy/competitiveness/doc/industrial_policy_and_economic_reforms_papers_1.pdf

Regional Policy and the Lisbon Strategy:
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/regional_policy/themes/lisbon/lisbon_en.htm

BBC on the Lisbon Agenda:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4373485.stm