Following the European Commission publication of the ‘EU2020’ strategy, the EU strategy for sustainable growth and jobs for the years 2010-2020 (for more information, read the EFC briefing ), MEPs highlighted issues that should have been given greater emphasis in the strategy at their plenary session on 10 March.

Stronger European governance

The Parliament welcomed the decision to set fewer targets but to make them clearer, more realistic and quantifiable. MEPs argued that the EU 2020 strategy should provide an ambitious and more coherent and target-based approach to the economic crisis, ensuring greater coherence between overlapping strategies, such as the Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) and the Stability and Growth Pact (SGP), to help build a fair, sustainable and prosperous Europe.

MEPs stressed the need for better cooperation with national parliaments and civil society, arguing that involving more actors will increase the pressure on national administrations to deliver results.

The Parliament also called upon the Commission to put forward new legal measures, such as regulations and directives, and possible sanctions for those Member States that do not implement the EU 2020 strategy and incentives for those that do.

Promoting SMEs and jobs

According to the Parliament, the Commission should have placed a greater emphasis on promoting and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), since most jobs are created in this sector and its innovation and technological progress play a crucial role in reinvigorating EU economy. MEPs agreed that the EU's current budget is not geared to tackling 21st century challenges, and urged the Commission to retain the target of investing 3% of Gross Domestic Product in Research and Development

MEPs further underlined that the ageing of Europe's population requires lifelong learning policies and a more flexible retirement age (where employees opt for this), so as to keep a sufficient number of active people in the labour market and enhance their social inclusion.

The Parliament stressed that the employment potential of older people and disabled workers is often neglected, and asked the Commission to draft proposals aimed at enhancing their potential and to put forward a strategy to combat youth unemployment.

Unemployment: a key issue

Unemployment is now the core issue in discussion of the crisis, argued MEPs. In order to fully address high and growing unemployment, the Parliament called upon the EU to implement an ambitious social agenda and a strong gender equality strategy and integration policy. The EU should make efforts to promote longer and healthier lives, to combat poverty and social exclusion, to reduce early school leaving, to foster lifelong learning and to fight discrimination and promote gender mainstreaming, gender equality and workers’ rights, said the Parliament.

MEPs also encouraged Member States to tackle unemployment by creating more training opportunities and internships for young people, while protecting them against unfair employment practices.

For further details, please read the resolution here .