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European Youth Pact

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about European Youth Pact

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Education training youth sport > Youth

European Youth Pact

Document or Iniciative

Commission Communication of 30 May 2005 on European policies concerning youth: Addressing the concerns of young people in Europe – implementing the European Youth Pact and promoting active citizenship [COM(2005) 206 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

The Communication draws attention to the three strands of the Pact adopted by the European Council in March 2005:

employment, integration and social advancement;
education, training and mobility;
reconciliation of family life and working life.

The measures to be taken in these three areas will have to be fully incorporated into the revised Lisbon Strategy, the European Employment Strategy, the Social Inclusion Strategy and the ” Education and Training 2010 ” work programme.

For the purpose of implementing the different measures, the Member States will draw on the “integrated guidelines for growth and employment”, within the framework of the Lisbon Strategy.

The Commission’s text highlights the aspects of the integrated guidelines and the Community Lisbon programme that are relevant to the Pact.

Measures for the employment, integration and social advancement of young people

The following guidelines have the most relevance for young people:

promotion of a life-cycle approach to work (entailing, inter alia, renewed efforts to build employment pathways for young people and to reduce youth unemployment, in tandem with resolute action to eliminate gender gaps in employment, unemployment and pay);
creation of inclusive labour markets for job-seekers and disadvantaged people;
improvement in the matching of labour market needs;
expansion of investment in human capital;
adjustment of education and training systems in response to new skills requirements.

The Member States will receive financial assistance from the European Social Fund and the European Investment Bank for implementing the necessary measures. The Commission wants the Member States to devise tailor-made action plans providing job search assistance, guidance services and training. The Communication also proposes that:

the Commission and the Member States give priority to young people in the mutual learning programme on employment in 2005;
the Commission and the Member States, through the Social Inclusion Strategy, improve the situation of the most vulnerable young people;
the Commission launch a study on the social integration of highly disadvantaged young people in 2005.

Measures for education, training and mobility

The priorities are:

reducing the number of early school leavers;
widening access to vocational, secondary and higher education, including apprenticeships and entrepreneurship training;
defining common frameworks to make qualification systems more transparent;
tackling the validation of non-formal and informal learning;
implementing the Europass decision;
developing a “Youthpass”.

The Commission intends, during 2005 and 2006, to:

adopt a Communication on entrepreneurship education;
propose a European Qualifications Framework;
adopt a Recommendation on key competences.

The Communication looks at ways of enhancing young people’s mobility, highlighting a number of initiatives:

in 2006, the European Year of Worker Mobility, specific initiatives will be taken for the benefit of young people entering the job market;
from 2007, there will be follow-up to the 2002-05 action plan of the Commission and the Member States for skills and mobility;
the Member States will be asked to boost implementation of the Recommendation on the mobility of students, persons undergoing training, volunteers, teachers and trainers;
the Commission will adapt tools such as EURES and PLOTEUS with a view to enhancing the opportunities for young people to work and study abroad;
the Commission will, in 2005, make recommendations on a mobility card for young people in Europe;
the Commission will think about extending the “Working holidays” initiative;
the Commission and the Member States will, in 2007, implement new forms of European Voluntary Service.

Measures for reconciling family life and working life

The Communication makes it clear that a better balance is needed between work and family life in order to tackle the problems associated with demographic ageing and a low birth rate. With a view to better reconciling family and working life, the Commission will encourage:

the Member States to make provision for quality accessible and affordable childcare facilities and care for other dependants;
the Member States, assisted by the Commission, to develop new forms of work organisation, such as flexitime, tele-working, maternity and parental leave.

Following on from the Green Paper on Europe’s changing demographics, the Commission has launched a process of consultation with the aim of identifying policies to be pursued or reinforced at European and national levels.

THE ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP OF YOUNG PEOPLE

The citizenship of young people is a focal point of the open method of coordination. With a view to improving participation, information, voluntary activities and knowledge of youth issues, the Council adopted 14 common objectives in 2003 and 2004. In its Communication of October 2004 [COM(2004) 694 final], the Commission gave a positive evaluation of the activities conducted at European level, while stressing the need for suitable measures at national level to consolidate the common objectives.

The Pact and associated actions ought to give rise to better understanding and greater knowledge of youth in the areas concerned, namely:

employment;
integration and inclusion;
entrepreneurship;
mobility;
recognition of youth work.

THE YOUTH DIMENSION IN OTHER POLICIES

The Communication draws attention to other policies which are relevant to young people:

since 2005, the European campaign “For Diversity – Against Discrimination” has been extended to young people;
a European initiative for the health of children and young people is planned for 2006;
studies focusing specifically on youth will be undertaken as part of the Sixth Research Framework Programme;
the Seventh Research Framework Programme will include youth-related research, which could focus on the impact of young people’s participation in representative democracy and voluntary activities;
the Commission will launch, in 2005, a public consultation on sport.

SUPPORT PROGRAMME

Policy actions targeting young people should be accompanied by programmes supporting projects that encourage young people to become active citizens. Various European programmes support such projects:

European Social Fund;
European Regional Development Fund;
Rural Development Fund;
” Youth ” and “Youth in Action”;
Integrated Lifelong Learning Programme;
” Citizens for Europe “;
Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme;
Marie Curie Programme;
European Science Education Initiative.

INVOLVEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE

As far as the Pact itself is concerned, the European Council has emphasised the need to consult young people and their organisations both on the development of national reform programmes for the Lisbon Strategy and on follow-up action. National youth councils should, in any event, be among those consulted.

The Commission also intends to consult young people and the European Youth Forum on youth policy. This consultation process will culminate in the holding of a Youth Assembly in 2005. In addition, the Commission hopes that this assembly will be a precursor of “annual encounters” between young people and Commissioners.

BACKGROUND

This Communication builds on the European Youth Pact adopted by the Heads of State or Government during the European Council of March 2005.

Adoption of the Pact coincides with the completion of the first cycle of implementing the White Paper on a new impetus for European youth, published in 2001.

Related Acts

Resolution of the Council of 24 November 2005 on addressing the concerns of young people in Europe — implementing the European Pact for Youth and promoting active citizenship[Official Journal C 292/5 of 24.11.2005]
The Council invites the Member States to develop structured dialogue with young people and their organisations at national, regional and local level on policy actions affecting them, with the involvement of researchers in the youth field. It calls on the Member States and the Commission to:

encourage the recognition of non-formal and informal learning, for example through developing a “Youthpass” and considering its inclusion in Europass, and consider the validation of such learning;
identify obstacles to and exchange, develop and apply good practice concerning young people’s mobility in order to make it easier for them to work, volunteer, train and study throughout the European Union and further afield;
evaluate the framework for European cooperation in the youth field in 2009.

Conclusions of the Council Presidency at the end of the European Council meeting on 22 and 23 March 2005

The European Council called on the Member states, within the framework of the European Employment Strategy and the Social Inclusion Strategy, to improve the education, training, mobility, vocational integration and social inclusion of young people, while facilitating the reconciliation of working life and family life.

The Pact should ensure the overall consistency of initiatives to be taken in these different areas. Its success depends on the involvement of all parties concerned, first and foremost youth organisations.

The European economy: 2004 Review

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The European economy: 2004 Review

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about The European economy: 2004 Review

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Economic and monetary affairs > Stability and growth pact and economic policy coordination

The European economy: 2004 Review

Document or Iniciative

The EU Economy 2004 Review – Summary and main conclusions [COM(2004) 723 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

The communication reviews economic progress in the European Union in 2004. It influences the mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy by analysing first macroeconomic developments in the euro area and then four major topics: convergence, employment, productivity and the environment.

Belated recovery of the economy and its resilience to economic shocks

The Commission notes that economic prospects brightened in 2004 against the background of a favourable international environment. Growth was driven mainly by exports, while domestic demand in the euro area gathered pace. However, the two main components of domestic demand, investment and private consumption, remained too unsteady to speak of a secure recovery.

In spite of the improvement in economic prospects, the rebound of the EU economy is belated and sluggish compared with the other major economies such as the United States. The Commission wonders about the euro area’s economic resilience. Is it more sensitive than other regions to economic shocks? Are its economic structures less favourable to economic resurgence?

Analysis shows that, although adverse economic events have impacted on economic confidence indicators, their effects on industrial production were short-lived and not particularly deep. Rather, structural rigidities have been a more significant factor in the late cyclical adjustment in the euro area. These rigidities impact mainly on investment activity. Thus, the speed of the return to potential output will be determined by how much these rigidities continue to weigh on investment once the cyclical impact of a lack of demand and financial constraints holding back investment growth have worn off.

The slow price adjustments in the euro area stem from wage rigidities and imperfect competition.

Making the Union competitive by 2010

In the communication the Commission focuses on the four areas that hold the key to making the Union competitive by 2010. These are:

Convergence: On 1 May 2004 ten new Member States joined the Union. The Commission examines the conditions that will enhance their capacity to catch up economically and in terms of convergence since they start from income levels significantly below the EU average. Admittedly, the new Member States have already embarked on a major economic convergence process, but this has been entirely driven by investment and productivity. The Commission takes the view that the fairly low employment rates in those countries will have to be increased and domestic savings progressively mobilised in order to complement foreign direct investment. Macroeconomic stability will have to be further entrenched and public deficits reduced. To this end, domestic reforms must continue. The Commission considers that the EU’s Structural Funds can help to foster convergence provided that there is more targeted geographical and thematic concentration.

Employment: For the Commission it is difficult to see how the employment objectives of the Lisbon Strategy, namely the increase in employment rates envisaged by 2010, can be achieved. This is partly because of the economic slowdown but also because progress on structural reforms has been slow and insufficient. The Commission does though note progress in some areas, such as improving female employment. It takes the view that the strategy is clear but reminds Member States that much remains to be done as regards reforms: wage differentiation, labour market regulations, improvement in education and training, etc. These reforms must be country-specific, taking into account the mix of labour market and social protection regulations.

Productivity: The EU economy must not only achieve a higher labour input but also enhance productivity growth. The productivity slowdown is structural, reflecting low productivity growth in mid-tech industries, the relatively small size of the EU’s information and communication technologies (ICT) production industry, etc. In addition, the higher returns which can be earned outside Europe on the back of globalisation and increased international capital mobility may exert pressure on capital productivity within the EU. These developments could be part of the explanation as to why labour productivity growth has declined. The Commission notes that total factor productivity is determined by the competences of workers and the technological level of capital equipment. It would like to see the knowledge-based economy better entrenched in Europe and the gap with the United States closed. The US economy has shifted towards high-productivity growth industries such as the ICT-producing and ICT-using sectors. Thanks to its superior innovation system and the larger amount of resources allocated to research, the United States is in a better position to cope with the globalisation-induced competitive and technological pressures evident since the mid-1980s. Reforms which would allow new and innovative firms to develop and the process of internal integration to be pursued are particularly needed.

Environment: Protection of the environment and economic growth are often seen as competing aims, but the demand for environmental protection has risen along with economic growth. Environmental policy aims to place these resources under a common-property regime by providing for restrictions on activity which is hazardous or damaging to the environment. Public action, market forces and the growth of the service sector have triggered a reduction in the pollution intensity of economic activity in the EU. The Commission notes that the increase in environmental protection has not taken place because pollution has been exported through large-scale relocation. Environmental policies cause an adjustment of economic structures, for example by adapting the property-rights regimes for natural resources to take account of their increased scarcity and new scientific insights. They must also take account of the health risks to which the public is exposed.

The renewed social agenda

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The renewed social agenda

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about The renewed social agenda

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Employment and social policy > Priorities and objectives: the social agenda

The renewed social agenda

Document or Iniciative

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 2 July 2008 – Renewed social agenda: Opportunities, access and solidarity in 21st century Europe COM(2008) 412 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

This Communication establishes the priorities which should direct European social policy for the period 2008-2010. The renewed social agenda is based upon the results of the Lisbon Strategy with regard to economic stability and employment. Furthermore, so as to better respond to the socio-economic challenges of the XXIst century, its scope is extended to new areas of policy action structured around three goals:

creating new opportunities in the employment market;
facilitating access to education, social protection, health care and quality services for all;
developing solidarity at the heart of European society, so to foster social inclusion and equal opportunities for all.

These goals will be achieved, at Community level, through the implementation of legislation, appropriate financing and the cooperation of Member States. The Commission supports the renewal of the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) in the area of youth and the reinforcement of the OMC in the areas of social protection and social inclusion as well as the development of social dialogue, civil dialogue and active European citizenship.

PRIORITY AREAS FOR ACTION

Children and youth

Quality education systems adapted to the needs of the employment market should contribute to the inclusion of young people in society. New initiatives from the Commission should, in particular, target the protection of the rights of the child and the fight against child poverty.

More and better jobs and the enhancement of skills

In line with the Lisbon Strategy and the European Sustainable Development Strategy, the social agenda encourages the modernisation of employment markets. To this end, Member States should apply common principles relating to flexicurity and promoting lifelong education and training.

In particular the Commission proposes to improve the functioning of European Works Councils. The Commission announces a new initiative for the assessment of labour market and skills needs up to 2020. It also promotes entrepreneurship and the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

Mobility

The Commission should pursue actions promoting the free movement of workers, the protection of their social rights and their working conditions, as well as the total suppression of obstacles to their free movement within the European Union (EU). Social partners must take an active part in achieving the objectives of the European Job Mobility Action Plan.

The Commission proposes action in favour of the mobility of knowledge, notably with the aim of facilitating the mobility of researchers, young entrepreneurs, students and volunteers.

Improving the quality of life and the inclusion of the elderly

In the context of an ageing European society, Member States should be able to ensure quality, viable and accessible health systems. The Commission proposes, in particular, the development of patients’ rights to cross-border health care. It supports the development of ICTs in the field of health care, personal services and research.

The fight against poverty and social exclusion

The social agenda anticipates an integrated strategy of active inclusion of the most disadvantaged such as the unemployed, the handicapped, the elderly and women. It aims at encouraging income support, access to employment and services, the information society, education and training.

The fight against discrimination

The Commission pursues the reinforcing of the legal framework with regard to the fight against discrimination both within and outside the field of employment. Community policies specifically target equal treatment between men and women, notably through the promotion of access by women to the labour market and equal pay between men and women.

The promotion of social rights at worldwide level

The EU plays a role at international level in promoting high social standards protecting workers, consumers and the environment. The action is carried out within the framework of external cooperation agreements, trade policies, development assistance and EU accession negotiations. The Commission also encourages Member States to apply the conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

CONTEXT

In 2007 the Commission launched a public consultation in order to take stock of social reality in Europe. The renewed social agenda takes into account the global economic slowdown, the ageing population and the latest technological progress.

The goals and measures in the social agenda will be reviewed in 2010 together with the Lisbon Strategy.

Implementation of the partnership for growth and jobs

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Implementation of the partnership for growth and jobs

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Implementation of the partnership for growth and jobs

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Regional policy > Review and the future of regional policy

Implementation of the partnership for growth and jobs (first report)

Document or Iniciative

Communication from the Commission of 25 January 2006 to the Spring European Council – Time to move up a gear – Part 1: The new partnership for growth and jobs [COM(2006) 30 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

The partnership for growth and jobs needs to be converted into a genuine reform with the help of the Community Lisbon Programme and the national reform programmes (NRPs). The Commission reviews their progress here.

Community Lisbon Programme

The Commission has already adopted two-thirds of the planned measures. However, certain measures have yet to be adopted by the European Parliament and the Council or rely for funding on an agreement on the financial framework (2007-2013). Some noteworthy measures have been added to those already planned:

a communication on research and innovation;
the development of an integrated industrial policy;
initiatives to improve the tax and customs environment;
investigations into more competitive markets in energy and financial services;
a proposal to create a single payment area in Europe;
new Community funding available for SMEs to improve energy supply and demand.

National reform programmes

All Member States have drawn up NRPs and appointed national Lisbon coordinators. Some have streamlined internal coordination in order to improve policy coherence. The Commission does not consider it necessary at this stage to adapt the integrated guidelines and feels it is too early to propose formal, country-specific recommendations. The emphasis at this stage must be on implementing the partnership and the specific measures proposed at Community and national levels. The Commission draws the Member States’ attention to the individual evaluations of each NRP, drawing conclusions on the macroeconomic, microeconomic and employment aspects, and on specific points which will require particular attention (weaknesses).

Macroeconomic aspects

Analysis of the NRPs from a macroeconomic point of view shows that:

many factors complicate short-term and long-term budgetary discipline, making the macroeconomic problem more serious for Member States;
Member States are trying to cut spending rather than increase taxes. However, it has yet to be clearly defined where and how savings can be made;
the measures proposed in the “euro zone” are geared mainly towards future public finances but do not aim to support labour market adjustments or to create more competitive internal markets;
despite recognition of the problem of ageing populations in Europe, NRP measures appear to be piecemeal or insufficient;
only some Member States have taken an integrated approach in planning their NRP.

Microeconomic aspects

The following conclusions may be drawn with regard to microeconomic issues:

the NRPs reflect the need to increase investment in research and promote innovation;
18 of the 25 Member States have set investment targets relative to GDP which at EU level will equate to 2.6% by 2010, falling short of the overall target of 3%. This figure is currently 1.9% for the EU;
initiatives relating to transport infrastructure and communication technologies could receive support from the cohesion and rural development funds;
access to internal markets (energy and services) deserve greater attention. The application of Community Directives in this area is a beginning;
initiatives to foster a more positive attitude towards entrepreneurship do not go far enough. Education can help to reduce the stigma of failure;
Member States need to adopt a more integrated approach in order to improve the rule-making which affects business and at the same time supplement action at Community level;
comprehensive and coordinated implementation of the different microeconomic policies may achieve much greater benefits than the sum of the individual policies put together.

Employment

The Commission draws the following conclusions with regard to employment:

the proposed employment objectives are inspired by Community objectives but are often piecemeal and do not take the life cycle approach;
greater attention should be given to “flexicurity”, facilitating the transition from one job to another with adequate social protection and a reliable lifelong learning system;
the reform of education systems concentrates mainly on the quality and transparency of qualifications, as well as access to them. Investment needs to be stepped up.

Overall conclusions

The NRPs are a good basis for implementing the partnership for growth and jobs, but not all are of equal quality:

some have set clear targets and timetables, with specific measures and budget details. Others lack such information;
the three dimensions (macroeconomic, microeconomic and employment) could be more closely integrated so that one measure would benefit several sectors;
only some Member States provide for measures to remove obstacles to market access;
the cohesion and rural development funds will be needed to achieve the Lisbon objectives, although the macroeconomic repercussions of using these funds will need to be taken into account. Coordination mechanisms need to be put in place for planning the use of these funds and drafting the NRPs.

Key areas

The Commission calls on the Member States to implement their national reform programmes fully and on time. To correct the shortcomings which emerged from the evaluations, it proposes four integrated actions which it intends to implement by the end of 2007:

Action 1: Investing more in knowledge and innovation

The Lisbon objective was to boost R&D spending to 3% of GDP by 2010 (1% from the public sector, 2% from the private sector). Member States must increase public spending and make it more effective through wider use of fiscal incentives and closer coordination with the other Member States with regard to spending. Public procurement has a part to play in transforming the results of research into innovation. At the same time, more competitive markets encourage businesses to be more innovative.

The private sector must be able to make a greater contribution to funding for higher education, and the link between universities and business must be strengthened. The objective should be to increase investment in higher education to 2% of GDP.

Action 2: Unlocking the business potential of SMEs

By 2007, every Member State should have set up a one-stop shop to assist would-be entrepreneurs to fulfil administrative requirements all in one place – electronically, where possible. They must set up similar one-stop shops for VAT and for the recruitment of a first employee. The time taken to set up a business should be cut in half, and start-up fees should be as low as possible.

By that date they must also adopt a methodology for measuring administrative costs for national rules and regulations. This exercise should facilitate initiatives to reduce these administrative costs. The Commission will propose similar initiatives at Community level.

Action 3: Responding to globalisation and ageing

Member States must help people to work longer, and they need to reform pension schemes, for example by changing the statutory retirement age, enhancing financial incentives for older workers to remain in work, offering more training opportunities to workers over the age of 45 or allowing gradual retirement. Disability schemes, together with health care and long-term care systems, should also be reviewed to make them more effective.

The entry of young people into the labour market, in line with the Youth Pact, is another important factor. By 2007, young people who have left school should be offered a job or additional training within 6 months, or within 100 days by 2010.

The Commission wishes to consult the social partners on better ways to reconcile family and professional life. It also plans to present a report in order to seek agreement on ‘flexicurity’ by the end of 2007, comprising the following elements:

reduction of labour market segmentation and undeclared work;
Member States to establish lifelong learning strategies to prepare people for change, supported by the European Social Fund and the Globalisation Adjustment Fund;
removal of obstacles to worker mobility by reaching a political agreement on the portability of supplementary pension rights.

Action 4: Moving towards an efficient EU energy policy

The Commission is proposing an energy policy designed to ensure that energy is secure, competitive and sustainable. The security of supply will be improved by:

strengthening and deepening the internal energy market (in particular completing the energy market by 1 July 2007), by promoting more competition in the electricity and gas markets, and by more integration between the gas pipeline systems of the Member States);
exploiting the potential of renewable energy sources and promoting more efficient use of energy;
developing a more focused, coherent and integrated approach to ensuring the security of energy.

A Green Paper has been published on ways to achieve these objectives.

Implementation

The Commission intends to involve national (and regional) parliaments, local authorities and other stakeholders in the implementation of the NRPs, particularly where there has not been sufficient time to do so during the preparation of the programmes. It proposes to involve the social partners by holding an extraordinary Social Summit. The NRPs must be further developed and strengthened by mutual learning among Member States. Those Member States which have not yet set targets with regard to future R&D spending and the employment rate should do so. The Commission and Member States will ensure that the open method of coordination, in the areas of education and training, social protection and social inclusion, also makes a strong contribution to the objectives.

With regard to the implementation of the Community Lisbon Programme, the Commission has proposed a roadmap setting out the major steps required for measures supplementing the NRPs.

The European Union institutions and the Member States need to define a communication strategy to improve understanding of the challenges and opportunities of the new partnership for growth and jobs at local, regional and national levels. This is essential in order to develop a sense of ownership on the part of all involved.

Background

As provided for at the Spring European Council in 2005, the Commission has drawn up the first report on the implementation of the new partnership for growth and jobs. With this report, the 2006 Spring European Council will be able to review progress made and comment on any adjustments to the integrated guidelines, which serve as a basis for the national reform programmes and the Community Lisbon Programme.

Action plan for an integrated maritime policy

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Action plan for an integrated maritime policy

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Action plan for an integrated maritime policy

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These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Maritime Affairs And Fisheries > Maritime affairs

Action plan for an integrated maritime policy

Document or Iniciative

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 10 October 2007 on an Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union [COM(2007) 575 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

The creation of an integrated maritime policy requires a precise management framework. The Commission has created a Maritime Policy task force to analyse the interactions between the sectoral policies and coordinate them. It has also requested help from the Agencies of the European Union (EU) with maritime-related functions to draw up new policies. In addition, the development of new maritime policies involves consultation of civil society and all stakeholders as well as comprehensive impact assessments.

Objectives

The prime objective of an integrated maritime policy for the EU is to maximise sustainable use of the oceans and seas while enabling growth of the maritime economy and coastal regions. In order to ensure the competitiveness, safety and security of the sector, the European Commission commits to:

creating a strategy to alleviate the consequences of climate change in coastal regions;
enhancing professional qualifications and studies in the maritime field to offer better career prospects in the sector;
creating a European maritime space without administrative or customs barriers as well as a comprehensive maritime transport strategy for 2008-18 to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of maritime transport in Europe;
issuing guidelines on the application of environmental legislation relevant to ports and proposing a new ports policy taking account of the multiple roles of ports;
encouraging the formation of multi-sector clusters and promoting technological innovation in the shipbuilding and energy sector to ensure economic competitiveness without harming the environment;
supporting international efforts to reduce pollution of the atmosphere and greenhouse gas emissions attributable to ships;
taking steps against discharges into the sea, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and any other destructive practices.

A second key objective is building a knowledge and innovation base for the maritime policy. Marine science, technology and research enable analysis of the effects of human activity on marine systems and put forward solutions to alleviate environmental degradation and the effects of climate change. The European Commission plans to:

present a comprehensive European strategy for marine and maritime research;
improve understanding of maritime affairs for the 7th framework programme;
support the creation of a European marine science partnership with the aim of establishing dialogue between the scientific community, the industry and policy makers.

An integrated policy also has the objective of delivering a higher quality of life in coastal and outermost regions, reconciled with economic development and environmental sustainability. The Commission therefore aims in particular to:

encourage coastal tourism;
prepare a database on Community funding for maritime projects and coastal regions;
create a Community disaster prevention strategy in these regions;
develop the maritime potential of outermost regions and islands.

The EU intends, moreover, to promote its leading position in international maritime affairs. An integrated policy enables improved management of maritime affairs and the creation of EU priorities in this field. This is of particular importance given the global character of the problems encountered by the maritime sector. Therefore, the Commission will encourage:

cooperation in maritime affairs under the European Enlargement Policy, the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Northern Dimension and structured dialogue with major partners. The application of international agreements by partners is essential;
the Member States to ratify and apply the relevant instruments.

The final objective of this integrated policy is raising the visibility of Maritime Europe and improving the image of this sector’s activities and professions. To this end, the Commission proposes positive actions and tools such as:

launch of educational tools (Atlas of the Seas) and instruments to highlight our common maritime heritage;
celebration of an annual European Maritime Day from 2008.

Instruments

Three instruments are of particular importance for creating common maritime policies:

a European network for maritime surveillance to ensure the safe use of the sea and the security of the EU’s maritime borders, as these problems are transnational in nature. The Commission particularly encourages cooperation between coastguards and the relevant agencies, and undertakes to improve the interoperability of surveillance systems;
integrated coastal zone management (land and sea) to enable maritime spatial planning. While it is the Member States who have competence in this field, Europe-wide commitment is essential. The Commission will propose a roadmap in 2008 to facilitate the development of this instrument;
a complete and accessible source of data and information on natural and human activity on the oceans to facilitate strategic decision-making on maritime policy. Measures will be taken to establish a European Marine Observation and Data Network and to create multi-dimensional mapping of Member States’ waters.

Background

The Communication follows on from the consultation launched in the Green paper on a Maritime Policy for the EU, by which the European Council of June asks the Commission to develop an action plan.

Related Acts

Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 October 2010 establishing a Programme to support the further development of an Integrated Maritime Policy [COM(2010) 494 final – Not published in the Official Journal].
This Proposal establishes a programme aimed at supporting the measures planned to further the development and implementation of the Integrated Maritime Policy. It is part of the continuation of preparatory actions and pilots projects to be launched between January 2011 and December 2013. The programme will provide financial resources for achieving the objectives and priorities set out in the action plan which was adopted in 2007.
Codecision procedure (COD/2010/0257)

Commission Communication of 8 October 2010 – Marine Knowledge 2020: marine data and observation for smart and sustainable growth [COM(2010) 461 – Not published in the Official Journal].
This Communication details an action plan which makes up one of the three cross-cutting tools provided for by the EU’s Integrated Maritime Policy. This action plan is divided into three strands aimed at improving the reliability of marine data, making it more user-friendly and less expensive and stimulating competitiveness amongst the users of this data.

Commission Communication of 15 October 2009 – Towards the integration of maritime surveillance: A common information sharing environment for the EU maritime domain [COM(2009) 538 – Not published in the Official Journal].
This Communication relates to the second cross-cutting tool provided for by the EU’s Integrated Maritime Policy. It sets out guiding principles for the development of a common information sharing environment for the EU maritime domain and launches the process towards its establishment. To achieve this, coordination and coherence between the European Commission, the Member States and interlocutors should be enhanced.

Communication from the Commission of 25 November 2008 – Roadmap for Maritime Spatial Planning: Achieving common principles in the EU [COM(2008) 791 final – Not published in the Official Journal].
Maritime Spatial Planning is an instrument of the Integrated Maritime Policy which helps to improve coordination between the parties involved and optimises the use of the seas and oceans. This Communication defines a set of fundamental principles inspired by current practice and existing legislation. These principles will serve as the basis for the discussions leading to the drafting of a common approach concerning Maritime Spatial Planning.

Report from the Commission of 15 October 2009 – Progress report on the EU’s integrated maritime policy [COM(2009) 540 final – Not published in the Official Journal].
The Commission reviewed progress carried out under the framework of the Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP) since the adoption of the 2007 Communication and defined the six strategic directions for the future:

integration of maritime governance: EU institutions, Member States and coastal regions shall establish effective structures for the purpose of cross-sectoral collaboration and consultation with stakeholders. These structures shall enable the potential of all the synergies between maritime-related sectoral policies to be used. As much as is possible, it should prevent sectoral policies from being isolated from each other.
development of cross-cutting policy tools such as maritime spatial planning, exhaustive knowledge and databases on maritime spaces and integrated maritime surveillance. These tools can unlock considerable economic investments and improve the management of European maritime spaces.
definition of the boundaries for maritime activities in order to ensure sustainability: in the context of the Framework Directive “Strategy for the marine environment”, these boundaries take into consideration the impact of the development of maritime activities on the seas and oceans.
sea-basin strategies: these strategies contribute to the success of the IMP. They enable the priorities and tools of the policy to be adapted to the specific geographic, economic and political context of each large European sea-basin.
strengthening the international dimension of integrated maritime policy: the EU must take a leading role in improving global maritime governance, as it has done in the matter of piracy or with regard to destructive fishing practices.
sustainable economic growth, employment and innovation: the EU shall define overall, coherent economic priorities in order to promote the development of intra-EU maritime transport, stimulate investment, advance the concept of clean ships and promote energy generation from the sea, etc. It shall also ensure that maritime policy and coastal areas are fully taken into account in the debate on territorial cohesion.

The Commission shall publish a document on the implementation of these six strategic directions in 2010.

Reform of the universities in the framework of the Lisbon strategy

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Reform of the universities in the framework of the Lisbon strategy

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Reform of the universities in the framework of the Lisbon strategy

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Education training youth sport > Lifelong learning

Reform of the universities in the framework of the Lisbon strategy

Document or Iniciative

Communication from the Commission of 20 April 2005 – Mobilising the brainpower of Europe: enabling universities to make their full contribution to the Lisbon Strategy [COM(2005) 152 final – Not published in the Official Journal]

Summary

Despite reasonably good teaching quality, European universities have failed to unleash their full potential so as to stimulate economic growth, social cohesion and improvement in the quality and quantity of jobs. The Commission invites the Member States to present measures which will allow the universities to play their full role in the relaunched Lisbon strategy. It also calls on the Council to adopt a resolution to establish a new type of partnership between governments and universities and to invest sufficiently in higher education.

Europe must strengthen the three poles of its knowledge triangle: education, research and innovation. Universities are essential in all three. Investing more and better in the modernisation and quality of universities is a direct investment in the future of Europe and Europeans.

This Communication is largely based on converging messages from the consultation process, which identified three main challenges for European higher education: achieving world-class quality, improving governance, and increasing and diversifying funding.

Within the Lisbon strategy, the Commission focuses on three pillars:

university initiative;
national enabling action, by urging the Member States to deregulate so as to allow universities to reform;
European support.

The quality and attractiveness of the universities

The rate of access to higher education and its attainment is higher in the United States, Canada and South Korea. Although it accounts for the largest number of researchers, the European Union does not employ enough. A tendency to uniformity in the national systems often privileges the academically best-qualified learners and excludes those who do not conform to the standard model. The fragmented nature of the European university system and its insularity from industry also adversely affects entrepreneurship on the part of graduates and keeps them remote from the labour market.

Following consultation with the European universities, the Commission stresses the need to:

ensure much more diversity than hitherto with respect to target groups, teaching modes, entry and exit points, the mix of disciplines and competencies in curricula, etc.;
establish an across-the-board “culture of excellence” by concentrating on funding, not just of centres and networks that are already excellent in a particular area of research or training, but also those which have the potential to become excellent; it is a matter of overcoming insularity and supporting less-advanced regions to build up high quality in specific areas.;
ensure more flexibility and openness to the labour market in teaching/learning by fully exploiting the potential of information and communications technology (ICT);
broaden access, support student commitment and raise the success rate thanks to greater programme diversity and more mobility, improved guidance and counselling, flexible admission policies and cheaper fees (scholarships, loans, affordable accommodation, etc.);
facilitate the recognition of degrees;
strengthen human resources at the universities by promoting a favourable professional environment based in particular on open, transparent and competitive procedures;
create a European framework for higher education qualifications and a network of quality assurance agencies.

The Commission encourages quality, notably via the Marie-Curie programme for the career development and mobility of researchers and by supporting the post-doctoral programme at the European University Institute in Florence. It also intends to create a European Institute of Technology.

Governance

Over-regulation and nationally defined courses hinder modernisation and the effective management of universities in the EU. To reform their governance, European universities are calling for more autonomy in preparing their courses and in the management of their human resources and facilities. They also want to reinforce public responsibility for the strategic orientation of the whole system. Hence it is not a call for the withdrawal of the State but for a new allocation of tasks.

The Commission invites the Member States to relax the regulatory framework so as to allow university leadership to undertake genuine change and pursue strategic priorities.

Funding

Although on a par with Japan, European university funding represents 1.1 % of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is considerably less than that of the United States or Canada. To bridge this gap, the Commission calls for the investment of an additional EUR 150 million each year at European level. The Commission estimates that a total investment of some 2 % of GDP is the minimum required to achieve the desired objectives. While in the European Union (EU) the higher education system is mainly based on public funding, in competing countries funding is diversified, with a larger contribution on the part of industry and households.

Universities should first try to ensure that existing resources are efficiently used in order to obtain fresh funding. Additional funds should encourage innovation and reform so as to deliver high quality in teaching, research and services. The Commission also addresses the question of tuition fees accompanied by a sound student aid system for those from lower income groups and the development of lasting partnerships between university and industry.

The Commission invites the Member States to close the funding deficit in higher education to achieve the Lisbon strategy. The mix of funding should vary depending on the university traditions of the individual Member States. It is also important to encourage partnerships between businesses and universities via tax incentives. In all cases, fair access should be guaranteed for all.

The Commission calls for reinforcement of Structural Fund aid and aid from the European Investment Bank (EIB). In the context of the programme ” Education and Training 2010 ” it will support reforms via the exchange of best practices, surveys and studies or mutual learning between policy makers. The proposed Integrated Lifelong Learning Programme for 2007-2013 will in particular stimulate mobility and university-industry cooperation.

Context

This text follows up the Commission Communication on ” The role of universities in the Europe of knowledge ” and the subsequent debate. Its aim is to ensure that European universities play a key role in achieving the strategic objective laid down at the Lisbon European Council, namely to make the European Union the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world.

If the birth and growth of the economy and the knowledge society depend on the combination of four interdependent elements, namely production of new knowledge, its transmission via education and training, its dissemination via ICT and its use in new industrial procedures or services, European universities are the main players in this new process.

The Commission will supplement this Communication with an action plan on university research.

Related Acts

Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 February 2006 on further European cooperation in quality assurance in higher education [Official Journal L 64/60 of 04.03.2006]

Communication from the Commission of 5 February 2003 – The role of the universities in the Europe of knowledge [COM(2003) 58 final – Not published in the Official Journal]

Communication from the Commission – Investing efficiently in education and training : an imperative for Europe [COM(2002) 779 final – Not published in the Official Journal]

Council Recommendation (EC) No 561/98 of 24 September 1998 on European cooperation in quality assurance in higher education [Official Journal L 270 of 07.10.1998]

I2010: Information Society and the media working towards growth and jobs

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i2010: Information Society and the media working towards growth and jobs

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about i2010: Information Society and the media working towards growth and jobs

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Information society > Digital Strategy i2010 Strategy eEurope Action Plan Digital Strategy Programmes

i2010: Information Society and the media working towards growth and jobs

i2010 is the European Commission’s new strategic framework laying out broad policy guidelines for the information society and the media. The purpose of this new, integrated policy is to encourage knowledge and innovation with a view to boosting growth and creating more better-quality jobs. It forms part of the revised Lisbon Strategy.

Document or Iniciative

Communication from the Commission of 1 June 2005 to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions entitled “i2010 – A European Information Society for growth and employment” [COM(2005) 229 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

Through i2010 the Commission is taking an integrated approach to the information society and to audio-visual media policies in the European Union. It aims to coordinate the actions undertaken by Member States to facilitate digital convergence and to respond to the challenges associated with the information society. In developing this strategy, the Commission has drawn on wide stakeholder consultation concerning previous initiatives and instruments such as and the Communication on the eEurope and the Communication on the future of European regulatory audio-visual policy.

The Commission proposes three priorities for Europe’s information society and media policy to be achieved by 2010: creating a Single European Information Space; promoting innovation and investment in research into information and communication technologies (ICT); achieving an inclusive European information and media society.

A Single European Information Space

In order to foster an open and competitive internal market for the information society and the media, the first objective of i2010 is to establish a Single European Information Space offering affordable and secure high-bandwidth communications, rich and diverse content and digital services. The Commission aims to achieve four main objectives:

to increase the speed of broadband services in Europe;
to encourage new services and on-line content;
to promote devices and platforms that “talk to one another”; and
to make the Internet safer from fraudsters, harmful content and technology failures.

In order to create the Single European Information Space the Commission intends to:

review the regulatory framework for electronic communications; this includes defining a strategy for efficient spectrum management;
create a consistent internal market framework for information society and media services by:
- modernising the legal framework for audio-visual services, starting by revising the Television Without Frontiers Directive (2005);
- making any necessary adaptations to the Community acquis affecting information society and media services (2007);
- promoting fast and efficient implementation of the existing and updated acquis.
continue to support the creation and circulation of European content such as the eLearning and eContentplus programmes and their successors;
define and implement a strategy for a secure European Information Society, mainly by raising awareness of the need for self-protection, being vigilant and monitoring threats, and responding rapidly and effectively to attacks and system failures;
identify and promote targeted actions on interoperability, particularly digital rights management.

Innovation and investment in research

In order to boost innovation and investment into ICT research, the Commission wants to encourage world-class performance in research and innovation in ICT by closing the gap with Europe’s leading competitors by:

increasing Community ICT research support by 80% by 2010 and inviting Member States to do the same;
prioritising the key technology pillars of the 7th Framework Programme for research and technological development (FPRD), such as technologies for knowledge, content and creativity, advanced and open communication networks, secure and dependable software, embedded systems and nanoelectronics;
launching research and deployment initiatives to overcome key bottlenecks such as interoperability, security and reliability, and the management of identity and rights, which require both technological and organisational solutions;
defining complementary measures to encourage private investment in ICT research and innovation (2006);
making specific proposals on an “information society for all” in the Community Strategic Guidelines on Cohesion for the period 2007-13;
defining e-commerce policies aimed at removing technological, organisational and legal barriers to ICT adoption with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);
developing tools to support new patterns of work that enhance innovation in enterprises and adaptation to new skill needs.

Inclusion, better public services and quality of life

The Commission wishes to boost social, economic and territorial cohesion by establishing an inclusive European information society. It intends to promote growth and jobs in a manner that is consistent with sustainable development and that prioritises better public services and quality of life. To achieve its aim of an inclusive information society, offering high-quality public services and improving quality of life, the Commission plans to:

issue policy guidance on e-accessibility and broadband coverage to make ICT systems easier to use for a larger number of people (2005);
propose a European initiative on e-inclusion, addressing issues such as equal opportunities, ICT skills and regional divides (2008);
adopt an Action Plan on eGovernment as well as strategic guidelines to encourage the public services to use ICTs. It will launch demo projects to test, at an operational scale, technological, legal and organisational solutions to bringing public services on-line;
launch three flagship ICT initiatives to improve quality of life: caring for people in an ageing society, safer and cleaner transport (and, in particular, the “intelligent car”) and digital libraries to encourage cultural diversity.

Governance

The Commission intends to develop proposals to update the regulatory frameworks for electronic communications, and information society and media services. It also proposes using the Community’s financial instruments to stimulate investment in strategic research and to overcome bottlenecks obstructing ICT innovation. Lastly, it aims to support policies to address inclusion and quality of life.

Member States, through the National Reform Programmes, have committed themselves to adopting information society priorities in line with the Integrated Guidelines for growth and jobs by mid?October 2005. They aim to:

ensure rapid and thorough transposition of the new regulatory frameworks affecting digital convergence with an emphasis on open and competitive markets;
increase the share of ICT research in national spending to develop modern, interoperable ICT-enabled public services;
use investment to encourage innovation in the ICT sector;
adopt ambitious targets for developing the information society at national level.

Member States have reported on their achievements within the framework defined by the review of the Lisbon Strategy.

The Commission will also ask other stakeholders to take part in dialogue in support of developing the information society. The Commission will target industrial partners in particular to encourage them to raise investments in research and new technologies in this field.

To ensure that all stakeholders are involved, the Commission proposes using the open method of communication, which includes an exchange of good practices and annual implementation reports in respect of the Lisbon objectives.

Related Acts

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – Europe’s Digital Competitiveness Report: main achievements of the i2010 strategy 2005-2009 [COM(2009) 390 final – Not published in the Official Journal]

This Communication reports on the i2010 strategy implemented between 2005 and 2009. It concludes that ICT action during the last four years has modernised Europe both from an economic and a social point of view, and has contributed to the following results:

the number of Europeans online has increased dramatically, particularly with regard to disadvantaged groups;
Europe is now the world leader in broadband internet;
broadband connections have increased;
Europe is in first place with regard to mobile phones;
supply and use of online services has increased sharply;
progress has been made in the ICT sector in micro-electronics, nano-electronics, health care and road safety;
ICT policies have gradually been mainstreamed.

Nevertheless, the European Union still lags behind in the area of technological research and development if its results are compared with those of the United States, Japan or South Korea. In order to maintain its competitiveness, it is therefore important that Europe equips itself with a new digital agenda. To this end, the Commission has planned to launch an online public consultation on some key areas for the EU’s future ICT and media policies.

Communication of 17 April 2008 from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Preparing Europe’s digital future – i2010 Mid-Term Review [COM(2008) 199 final – not published in the Official Journal].
The Commission notes the strong growth of broadband in Europe.Over half of all European (250 million people) use the internet on a regular basis. Nearly 40 million new users were registered in 2007. Public services, including 96% of Europe’s schools and 57% of its doctors, are using broadband connections more and more. 77% of all businesses had a broadband connection. Broadband is becoming the standard mode of connectivity.
Apart from noting the strong growth in broadband use across the EU, however, the report puts equal emphasis on concrete proposals for a reorientation of the i2010 initiative for the 2008-10 period. The aim is to promote competitiveness in the more advanced countries whilst at the same time closing the gaps between Member States. More specifically, the Commission wants to kickstart joint technology initiatives to encourage ICT research. 2008 will see the publication of a guide to the rights and obligations of the users of digital technology in the EU in order to promote use of new on?line technology and lessen the digital divide between Member States. The Commission also plans to develop pan?European public services such as the electronic identity or electronic signature initiatives.

Communication of 30 March 2007 from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: i2010 – Annual Information Society Report 2007 [COM(2007) 146 final – not published in the Official Journal].

In this second report the Commission sets out a number of recommendations and actions for 2007 and 2008 including:

a review of the regulatory framework for electronic communications;
continuing the policy of innovation in ICT with the Joint Technology Initiatives, EU standardisation policy and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP);
inclusion, the ongoing improvement of public services and quality of life (e?accessibility, digital literacy, eGovernment, intelligent car, energy efficiency).

In preparation for a mid-term review in 2008, the report outlines a set of preparatory measures:

identifying future trends, in particular in through the options offered by the new internet, in cooperation with the i2010 High Level Group;
launching a public consultation involving all stakeholders;
addressing the main issues for the mid-term review at a high level i2010 event in 2008.

The outcome of these discussions will be fed into the 2008 European Spring Council, which is to address the issues relating to the next generation internet.

Another Normative about i2010: Information Society and the media working towards growth and jobs

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic

Employment and social policy > Job creation measures

i2010: Information Society and the media working towards growth and jobs

Document or Iniciative

Summary

A Single European Information Space

to increase the speed of broadband services in Europe;
to encourage new services and on-line content;
to promote devices and platforms that “talk to one another”; and
to make the Internet safer from fraudsters, harmful content and technology failures.

In order to create the Single European Information Space the Commission intends to:

review the regulatory framework for electronic communications; this includes defining a strategy for efficient spectrum management;
create a consistent internal market framework for information society and media services by:
- modernising the legal framework for audio-visual services, starting by revising the Television Without Frontiers Directive (2005);
- making any necessary adaptations to the Community acquis affecting information society and media services (2007);
- promoting fast and efficient implementation of the existing and updated acquis.
continue to support the creation and circulation of European content such as the eLearning and eContentplus programmes and their successors;
define and implement a strategy for a secure European Information Society, mainly by raising awareness of the need for self-protection, being vigilant and monitoring threats, and responding rapidly and effectively to attacks and system failures;
identify and promote targeted actions on interoperability, particularly digital rights management.

Innovation and investment in research

increasing Community ICT research support by 80% by 2010 and inviting Member States to do the same;
prioritising the key technology pillars of the 7th Framework Programme for research and technological development (FPRD), such as technologies for knowledge, content and creativity, advanced and open communication networks, secure and dependable software, embedded systems and nanoelectronics;
launching research and deployment initiatives to overcome key bottlenecks such as interoperability, security and reliability, and the management of identity and rights, which require both technological and organisational solutions;
defining complementary measures to encourage private investment in ICT research and innovation (2006);
making specific proposals on an “information society for all” in the Community Strategic Guidelines on Cohesion for the period 2007-13;
defining e-commerce policies aimed at removing technological, organisational and legal barriers to ICT adoption with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs);
developing tools to support new patterns of work that enhance innovation in enterprises and adaptation to new skill needs.

Inclusion, better public services and quality of life

issue policy guidance on e-accessibility and broadband coverage to make ICT systems easier to use for a larger number of people (2005);
propose a European initiative on e-inclusion, addressing issues such as equal opportunities, ICT skills and regional divides (2008);
adopt an Action Plan on eGovernment as well as strategic guidelines to encourage the public services to use ICTs. It will launch demo projects to test, at an operational scale, technological, legal and organisational solutions to bringing public services on-line;
launch three flagship ICT initiatives to improve quality of life: caring for people in an ageing society, safer and cleaner transport (and, in particular, the “intelligent car”) and digital libraries to encourage cultural diversity.

Governance

ensure rapid and thorough transposition of the new regulatory frameworks affecting digital convergence with an emphasis on open and competitive markets;
increase the share of ICT research in national spending to develop modern, interoperable ICT-enabled public services;
use investment to encourage innovation in the ICT sector;
adopt ambitious targets for developing the information society at national level.

Member States have reported on their achievements within the framework defined by the review of the Lisbon Strategy.

Related Acts

the number of Europeans online has increased dramatically, particularly with regard to disadvantaged groups;
Europe is now the world leader in broadband internet;
broadband connections have increased;
Europe is in first place with regard to mobile phones;
supply and use of online services has increased sharply;
progress has been made in the ICT sector in micro-electronics, nano-electronics, health care and road safety;
ICT policies have gradually been mainstreamed.

a review of the regulatory framework for electronic communications;
continuing the policy of innovation in ICT with the Joint Technology Initiatives, EU standardisation policy and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP);
inclusion, the ongoing improvement of public services and quality of life (e?accessibility, digital literacy, eGovernment, intelligent car, energy efficiency).

In preparation for a mid-term review in 2008, the report outlines a set of preparatory measures:

identifying future trends, in particular in through the options offered by the new internet, in cooperation with the i2010 High Level Group;
launching a public consultation involving all stakeholders;
addressing the main issues for the mid-term review at a high level i2010 event in 2008.

The outcome of these discussions will be fed into the 2008 European Spring Council, which is to address the issues relating to the next generation internet.

Growth and jobs

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Growth and jobs

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Growth and jobs

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Employment and social policy > European Strategy for Growth > Growth and jobs

Growth and jobs

“Employment and social policy” >

The aim of the Lisbon Strategy, launched in 2000, was to make Europe “the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion”. According to the mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy, the results are, at best, mixed. The gap in terms of productivity and growth between Europe and its economic partners has continued to widen, and the ageing population represents a further challenge.

The European Council has therefore decided to relaunch the Lisbon Strategy through a partnership for growth and jobs. The objective of this partnership will remain firmly anchored in sustainable development. However, in order to achieve it, Europe needs to focus on a more restricted number of priorities. Indeed, the achievement of stronger, lasting growth and the creation of more and better jobs would unblock the resources needed to realise our more general economic, social and environmental ambitions.

A new start for the Lisbon Strategy (2005)
The Community Lisbon Programme
The Community Lisbon Programme: proposal for 2008–2010
Strategic report on the renewed Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs: new cycle 2008-2010
Participation of young people with fewer opportunities

MAKING EUROPE A MORE ATTRACTIVE PLACE IN WHICH TO INVEST
In order to boost growth and employment, Europe needs to become more attractive as a place in which to invest. Given the significant contribution made by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to creating jobs and growth, Europe must first combat the obstacles to the creation of SMEs and stimulate entrepreneurship. Furthermore, in spite of the progress achieved since the launch of the Lisbon Strategy, there is still not enough available risk capital to launch young businesses, and the current tax provisions discourage the retention of profits to build up equity.

Financing SME Growth
The contribution of taxation and customs policies to the Lisbon Strategy

Ensuring open and competitive markets inside and outside Europe
Competition on the internal market stimulates productivity and innovation. European competition policy plays a key role in shaping competitive markets. It must be continued within an enlarged Europe and in certain markets which have not revealed all their potential. This involves the elimination of barriers to competition and the rechannelling of State aid into innovation, research and development, and risk capital. Outside the EU, commercial policy must ensure that European businesses have access to the markets of third countries and comply with the rules guaranteeing fair competition.

A proactive competition policy for a competitive Europe
State Aid Action Plan
A stronger partnership to deliver market access

Improving European and national legislation
Simplifying legislation helps business and in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by eliminating unnecessary administrative formalities. The European Commission and the Member States have already launched initiatives to reduce administrative costs. This would benefit European businesses in terms of the productivity and competitiveness, and increase their ability to adapt, innovate and create jobs. It would also make it easier to set up new businesses.

Fewer administrative formalities for more growth
Simplifying the regulatory environment

Expanding and improving European infrastructure
Investment in transport must respond to the economic, social and environmental needs of society. A modern infrastructure is an important factor in competitiveness when it comes to attracting businesses in that it facilitates exchanges and mobility. In addition, climate change highlights the need for more sustainable mobility. The aim of intermodality is to channel traffic into more environmentally-friendly means of transport which are safer and more energy-efficient. Alongside this, new technologies make for a more efficient transport system.

Keep Europe moving – Sustainable mobility for our continent. Mid-term review of the 2001 White Paper

KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION FOR GROWTH
Knowledge and innovation are essential for the growth of productivity. Productivity growth is a critical factor for Europe, because in the context of global competition it must contend with competitors benefiting from cheap labour and natural resources.
Increasing and improving investment in research and development

The European Research Area (ERA): new perspectives
An innovation-friendly, modern Europe
A broad-based innovation strategy for the EU
Placing taxation at the service of research and development

Facilitating innovation and the adoption of information and communication technologies (ICT)
In order for research to lead to growth, research results must be used for the purpose of innovation. More cooperation between universities and businesses makes for a better transfer of ideas in return for increased participation on the part of businesses in the financing of universities. The result is higher quality, more profitable research. The Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme supports actions which promote the use of information technologies, environmental technologies and renewable energy sources.

Challenges for the European Information Society beyond 2005

Innovation serving sustainable development
Innovation and technological development are key factors for environmentally friendly economic growth and for ensuring the sustainability of resources (particularly energy resources). The development of environmental technologies can also open up new markets, which will boost the competitiveness of businesses and create jobs.

Strategy for sustainable development
Action plan in favour of environmental technologies
Life sciences and biotechnology
Green Paper: A European strategy for sustainable, competitive and secure energy

Contributing to the creation of a strong European industrial base
The technological potential of European industry is still not being fully exploited. A common European approach to challenges in the field of research, regulation and financing can create synergies which make it possible to achieve large-scale progress and provide a more appropriate response to the needs of society. Furthermore, a financial contribution from the public sector can foster the sustainable development of specific products and services while improving European competitiveness on an international level. The Galileo project and mobile telephony are good examples of partnerships.

European industrial policy

CREATING MORE AND BETTER JOBS
Europe needs more and better jobs. Demographic change, which is exerting increased pressure in terms of employment needs, makes this an absolute necessity from an economic and social viewpoint.

Promoting solidarity between the generations
The demographic future of Europe – from challenge to opportunity
Green Paper “Confronting demographic change: a new solidarity between the generations”
Promoting young people’s full participation in education, employment and society

Attracting more people to the labour market and modernising social protection systems
The Member States are being called upon to set employment rates for 2008 and 2010 and adopt the measures to be implemented in their national reform programmes. The integrated guidelines for employment help them to select the most effective instruments. The challenge lies in attracting more people to the labour market and in keeping them there: particular attention is focused on the unemployed, young people and older workers. In this context, there is also a need to reform the pension and healthcare systems in order to ensure their viability and provide reliable social protection.

European values in a globalised world

Increasing the adaptability of workers and businesses and the flexibility of the labour markets
Rapidly changing economies need highly adaptable workers who must be capable of developing their skills to meet the needs of high-growth sectors. However, such flexibility must be accompanied by social security provision which also covers periods of change. Social security systems must be modernised in order to cope with these new challenges. In order to meet market needs more effectively, it is essential that obstacles to labour mobility be removed.

Green Paper on Modernising Labour Law
Workers’ mobility: facilitating the acquisition and preservation of supplementary pension rights

Investing more in human capital through better education and skills
Education and training play an essential role in a knowledge-based economy in that they support growth and employment by providing highly qualified and adaptable labour. They also strengthen social cohesion and active citizenship. Access for everyone to education and training should be ensured through the European area of lifelong learning, which should become a world reference by 2010.

European Job Mobility Action Plan (2007-2010)

The EU Cohesion policy for 2007-2013 and the role of the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund
The Community strategic guidelines lay down priorities for cohesion policy. These guidelines identify the fields in which cohesion policy can help to achieve the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy and of the integrated guidelines for growth and jobs. The programmes and national projects under the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund therefore target growth, employment, innovation and the knowledge-based economy, as well as the creation of physical infrastructure.

Research and innovation in support of the competitiveness of the European regions

Online learning: eLearning Programme

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Online learning: eLearning Programme

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Online learning: eLearning Programme

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Information society > Digital Strategy i2010 Strategy eEurope Action Plan Digital Strategy Programmes

Online learning: eLearning Programme (2004-06)

The eLearning programme was aimed at improving the quality and accessibility of European education and training systems through the effective use of information and communication technologies.

Document or Iniciative

Decision No 2318/2003/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 December 2003 adopting a multiannual programme (2004 to 2006) for the effective integration of information and communication technologies (ICT) in education and training systems in Europe (eLearning Programme).

Summary

Aims

The general objective of the programme was to encourage the efficient use of information and communication technologies (ICT) in European education and training. The aim was to promote quality education and to adapt education and training systems to the needs of a knowledge-based society and the European social cohesion model.

The specific objectives of the programme were to:

explore and promote ways and means of using e-learning to strengthen social cohesion and personal development, foster intercultural dialogue and counteract the digital divide;
promote and develop the use of e-learning in enabling lifelong learning in Europe;
exploit the potential of e-learning for enhancing the European dimension in education;
encourage better-structured cooperation in the field of e-learning between the various Community programmes and instruments and the activities organised by Member States;
provide mechanisms for improving the quality of products and services and for ensuring their effective dissemination and the exchange of good practice.

Actions

Actions taken under the eLearning programme covered:

Promotion of digital literacy. Actions in this area related to the contribution of ICT to learning, particularly for people who could not benefit from conventional education and training, owing to their geographical location, social situation or special needs. The aim was to identify good examples and build synergies between the many national and European projects for these target groups. A number of studies and a high-level expert group were to produce recommendations in this field.
Creation of European virtual campuses. Actions in this area aimed to improve integration of the virtual dimension in higher education. The objective was to encourage the development of new organisational models for European virtual universities (virtual campuses) and for exchanging resources and sharing projects (virtual mobility) by building on existing European cooperation arrangements (Erasmus programme, Bologna process) and adding an e-learning dimension to their operational tools (European Credit Transfer System, European Masters, quality assurance, mobility).
Development of e-twinning of primary and secondary schools and promotion of teacher training. Launched on 14 January 2005, action in this area aimed to strengthen and further develop school networking, more specifically through a European school twinning project designed to allow all schools in Europe to set up pedagogical partnerships with counterparts elsewhere in Europe, thus promoting language learning and intercultural dialogue and enhancing awareness of the model of a multilingual and multicultural model of European society.
Transversal actions and monitoring of e-learning. Actions in this area were dedicated to the promotion of e-learning in Europe by building on the monitoring of the eLearning action plan. The objectives were to disseminate, promote and adopt good practices and the results of the many projects and programmes financed at European level or by Member States, as well as to reinforce cooperation between the various actors involved, in particular by fostering partnerships between the public and private sectors.

Implementation of the programme also included activities to ensure the dissemination of results (provision of information on the internet, showcasing projects and other events, etc.).

Participating countries

The programme was open to the then 25 Member States of the European Community, the EEA-EFTA countries and the candidate countries for accession to the European Union (EU).

Implementation of the programme

The Commission ensured that the eLearning programme was implemented. It established synergies with other Community programmes and actions and encouraged cooperation with international organisations. The Commission worked together with a committee of representatives of Member States to draw up the annual work plan and budget, as well as all other measures necessary for the implementation of the programme.

The Member States, for their part, had the task of identifying appropriate correspondents to cooperate closely with the Commission as regards relevant information about e-learning use.

Budget

The financial framework for the period from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2006 was EUR 44 million. This budget was allocated as follows:

10 % to e-learning for promoting digital literacy;
30 % to European virtual campuses;
around 45 % to e-twinning of schools in Europe and the promotion of teacher training;
a maximum of 7.5 % to transversal actions and monitoring of the eLearning action plan;
a maximum of 7.5 % to technical and administrative assistance.

Funding was granted following invitations to tender and calls for proposals.

Monitoring and evaluation

The Commission ensured regular monitoring of the programme in cooperation with Member States. In order to assess the general impact of the programme and the relevance and effectiveness of the different actions, the eLearning programme was the subject of an external evaluation.

Background

At the Lisbon European Council of 23 and 24 March 2000, the Heads of State and Government set a new objective for the EU: “to become the world’s most competitive and dynamic knowledge economy by 2010”. Since then, Europe has already made substantial progress in introducing ICT, but much remains to be done in order to develop its educational uses. The eLearning programme aimed to plug these gaps by intensifying the efforts already undertaken.

References

Act	Entry into force – Date of expiry	Deadline for transposition in the Member States	Official Journal
Decision No 2318/2003/EC	20.1.2004 – 31.12.2006	–	OJ L 345 of 31.12.2003

Related Acts

Report from the European Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions of 6 April 2009 – Final Report on the implementation and impact of the second phase (2000-2006) of the Community action programmes in the field of education (Socrates) and vocational training (Leonardo da Vinci) and the multiannual programme (2004-2006) for the effective integration of information and communication technologies (ICT) in education and training systems in Europe (eLearning) [COM(2009) 159 final – Not published in the Official Journal].
The eLearning programme, together with Socrates and Leonardo da Vinci, was integrated into the new lifelong learning programme 2007-13. Consequently, the final evaluation of the programme for the period 2004-06 was produced jointly with the other two programmes. This report is based on that external evaluation, including an analysis of reports from participating countries.
The positive impact of the eLearning programme was apparent in:

short-term results;
the transnational cooperation between institutions;
the quality of teaching, learning and curricula;
the development of digital literacy.

Overall, the programme provided a significant impact on education and training, contributing to the creation of a European education area. The impact was both quantitative and qualitative, influencing the individual, institutional and policy-making levels. In particular, the eLearning programme provided an added value in tackling socio-economic disparities and in establishing a culture of cooperation among European institutions.
Throughout its duration, the programme funded the following activities:

eTwinning projects involving 7 813 schools (23 812 schools registered for participation);
21 projects on virtual campuses;
25 projects on digital literacy;
16 projects on transversal actions.

Decision No 1720/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 November 2006 establishing an action programme in the field of lifelong learning [Official Journal L 327 of 24.11.2006].

The eLearning programme has not been renewed as a sectoral programme, but its objectives have been integrated into the lifelong learning programme (2007-13).
The general aim of this programme is to foster interchange, cooperation and mobility between European education and training systems, so that they become a world quality reference. The development of innovative ICT-based content, services, pedagogies and practices is one of the key elements of the programme.

Another Normative about Online learning: eLearning Programme

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These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic

Education training youth sport > Education and training: general framework

Online learning: eLearning Programme (2004-06)

The eLearning programme was aimed at improving the quality and accessibility of European education and training systems through the effective use of information and communication technologies.

Document or Iniciative

Summary

Aims

The specific objectives of the programme were to:

explore and promote ways and means of using e-learning to strengthen social cohesion and personal development, foster intercultural dialogue and counteract the digital divide;
promote and develop the use of e-learning in enabling lifelong learning in Europe;
exploit the potential of e-learning for enhancing the European dimension in education;
encourage better-structured cooperation in the field of e-learning between the various Community programmes and instruments and the activities organised by Member States;
provide mechanisms for improving the quality of products and services and for ensuring their effective dissemination and the exchange of good practice.

Actions

Actions taken under the eLearning programme covered:

Promotion of digital literacy. Actions in this area related to the contribution of ICT to learning, particularly for people who could not benefit from conventional education and training, owing to their geographical location, social situation or special needs. The aim was to identify good examples and build synergies between the many national and European projects for these target groups. A number of studies and a high-level expert group were to produce recommendations in this field.
Creation of European virtual campuses. Actions in this area aimed to improve integration of the virtual dimension in higher education. The objective was to encourage the development of new organisational models for European virtual universities (virtual campuses) and for exchanging resources and sharing projects (virtual mobility) by building on existing European cooperation arrangements (Erasmus programme, Bologna process) and adding an e-learning dimension to their operational tools (European Credit Transfer System, European Masters, quality assurance, mobility).
Development of e-twinning of primary and secondary schools and promotion of teacher training. Launched on 14 January 2005, action in this area aimed to strengthen and further develop school networking, more specifically through a European school twinning project designed to allow all schools in Europe to set up pedagogical partnerships with counterparts elsewhere in Europe, thus promoting language learning and intercultural dialogue and enhancing awareness of the model of a multilingual and multicultural model of European society.
Transversal actions and monitoring of e-learning. Actions in this area were dedicated to the promotion of e-learning in Europe by building on the monitoring of the eLearning action plan. The objectives were to disseminate, promote and adopt good practices and the results of the many projects and programmes financed at European level or by Member States, as well as to reinforce cooperation between the various actors involved, in particular by fostering partnerships between the public and private sectors.

Implementation of the programme also included activities to ensure the dissemination of results (provision of information on the internet, showcasing projects and other events, etc.).

Participating countries

The programme was open to the then 25 Member States of the European Community, the EEA-EFTA countries and the candidate countries for accession to the European Union (EU).

Implementation of the programme

The Member States, for their part, had the task of identifying appropriate correspondents to cooperate closely with the Commission as regards relevant information about e-learning use.

Budget

The financial framework for the period from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2006 was EUR 44 million. This budget was allocated as follows:

10 % to e-learning for promoting digital literacy;
30 % to European virtual campuses;
around 45 % to e-twinning of schools in Europe and the promotion of teacher training;
a maximum of 7.5 % to transversal actions and monitoring of the eLearning action plan;
a maximum of 7.5 % to technical and administrative assistance.

Funding was granted following invitations to tender and calls for proposals.

Monitoring and evaluation

Background

References

Act	Entry into force – Date of expiry	Deadline for transposition in the Member States	Official Journal
Decision No 2318/2003/EC	20.1.2004 – 31.12.2006	–	OJ L 345 of 31.12.2003

Related Acts

short-term results;
the transnational cooperation between institutions;
the quality of teaching, learning and curricula;
the development of digital literacy.

eTwinning projects involving 7 813 schools (23 812 schools registered for participation);
21 projects on virtual campuses;
25 projects on digital literacy;
16 projects on transversal actions.

Delivering lifelong learning for knowledge, creativity and innovation

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Delivering lifelong learning for knowledge, creativity and innovation

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Delivering lifelong learning for knowledge, creativity and innovation

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Education training youth sport > Education and training: general framework

Delivering lifelong learning for knowledge, creativity and innovation

Document or Iniciative

2008 joint progress report of the Council and the Commission on the implementation of the ‘Education and Training 2010’ work programme – ‘Delivering lifelong learning for knowledge, creativity and innovation’ [Official Journal C 86 of 5.4.2008].

Summary

This third joint progress report on the implementation of the ‘Education and training 2010’ work programme attests that significant progress has been achieved in many areas. However, further efforts still need to be made, especially with regard to skill levels, lifelong learning strategies and the education, research and innovation “knowledge triangle”.

Overall, progress throughout Europe has not been uniform nor have reforms been realised fast enough. Yet, most of the Member States have either already put into effect reforms, or are currently doing so, with regard to the following:

development of lifelong learning strategies that define policy priorities and the relationship between different sectors, covering either all aspects of education and training or focusing only on specific systems or stages;
development of qualifications frameworks and validation of non-formal and informal learning; however, it is now essential that Member States begin the application of these tools;
pre-primary education, for which a number of Member States have run successful pilot projects on teaching content, staff training, quality assessment and financing that should now be implemented on a broad scale;
modernisation of higher education, especially in terms of increasing the autonomy of universities;
mainstreaming education and training at the European Union (EU) policy level, with progress achieved in linking operational programmes to the ‘Education and training 2010’ work programme and in the development of European reference tools, such as the European Qualifications Framework or the key competences.

The areas where progress has been insufficient include the:

implementation of lifelong learning strategies;
reduction in the number of early school leavers, increase in the number of young people completing at least upper secondary education and the acquisition of key competences;
education, continuous training and professional development of teachers;
attainment of excellence in terms of education, research and knowledge transfer, and increase of both public and private investment in higher education;
participation of adults in lifelong learning, in particular of older workers and the low skilled;
improvement of the attractiveness, quality and relevance of vocational education and training (VET), including its proper integration into the rest of the education system;
increase in transnational mobility schemes provided at national level, with a focus on facilitating mobility also in VET.

Future work should concentrate, in particular, on implementing lifelong learning strategies, emphasising the role of education in the knowledge triangle and improving governance. The Member States’ lifelong learning strategies are not necessarily coherent or comprehensive. The strategies should be better linked to policy measures, the resources should be targeted more effectively and more efforts should be made to develop learning partnerships between national institutions and stakeholders. Hence, it is essential that:

knowledge about the economic and social impact of education and training policies be improved;
efforts to secure sustainable funding be strengthened;
skills levels be raised, especially through the early acquisition of key competences and VET;
socio-economic disadvantage be addressed, with priority placed on equal access, participation, treatment and outcomes;
migrants be considered in education and training policies and systems;
professional preparation and continuing development be provided for teachers.

As one of the fundamental elements of the knowledge triangle, education contributes to boosting growth and jobs. In addition to higher education, schools and VET have a significant role in facilitating innovation. Thus, it is of utmost importance that efforts are stepped up to enable partnerships between educational institutions and businesses and that excellence and key competences are developed throughout the different levels of education and training.

To further improve governance, it is imperative to give due consideration, both at the national and European levels, to the:

setting of priorities in education and training policy with regard to lifelong learning;
interlinking of relevant policies (e.g. innovation, research, employment);
integration of developments in higher education, VET and adult learning within the ‘Education and Training 2010’ work programme;
link between the Lisbon integrated guidelines and the ‘Education and training 2010’ work programme;
monitoring of and informing on national policy developments;
role of the civil society;
development of benchmarks and indicators;
use of Community funds and programmes.

While Member States have achieved progress in reforming certain strands of their education systems, persistent as well as certain new challenges still need to be addressed. Efforts to overcome these challenges should be stepped up. It is therefore essential that work on an updated strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training for post-2010 is begun now and that this is closely associated with the future development of the Lisbon process.