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Government responds to Commission's EU 2020 consultation document

News item | 18-01-2010

The Netherlands is calling for leadership and ambition to get Europe’s economies moving again. Both national and European reform agendas should focus on sustainable growth and jobs.

This requires greater investment in education and training, in knowledge and innovation, in information and communications technology, and in sustainability and a greener economy. Reforms are unavoidable if we are to safeguard the sustainability of public finances and social welfare systems and secure growth, while avoiding passing on today's costs to future generations.

These were among the central points made by Minister of Economic Affairs Maria van der Hoeven and Minister for European Affairs Frans Timmermans in the government's response to the European Commission's consultation on EU 2020, a new strategy following on from the current Lisbon Strategy.

The government also feels that a tighter rein should be kept on the implementation of the economic strategies in individual EU member states. The government is not in favour of sanctions, but does feel that countries should make greater use of opportunities to learn from each other and that a clearer indication should be given of how member states put these strategies into practice. Any failure to do so properly should be raised with the countries concerned. The government therefore advocates a limited number of concrete, measurable and nationally differentiated objectives.

A prosperous, sustainable and inclusive society in 2020 demands a strategy for economic growth and structural reforms and a recognition of the need for budgetary discipline. Economies must be more resilient in the face of economic shocks. If we are to leave the crisis behind us and head towards sustainable prosperity, we need to employ sustainable, innovative and efficient solutions.