THE LISBON STRATEGY AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH OF EUROPE

During the meeting of the European Council in Lisbon (March 2000), the Heads of State or Government launched a "Lisbon Strategy" aimed at making the European Union (EU) the most competitive economy in the world and achieving full employment by 2010. This strategy, developed at subsequent meetings of the European Council, rests on three pillars: An economic pillar preparing the ground for the transition to a competitive, dynamic, knowledge-based economy. A social pillar designed to modernise the European social model by Investing in human resources and combating social exclusion. An environmental pillar, which was added at the Goteborg European Council meeting in June 2001, draws attention to the fact that economic growth must be decoupled from the use of natural resources. An EU research group found in 2005 that current progress had been judged "unconvincing", so a reform process was introduced wherein all goals would be reviewed every three years, with assistance provided on failing items. The Renewed Lisbon Strategy does not attempt to rewrite the Lisbon strategy, but it does Identify new actions at European and national level which will help to see Lisbon vision is achieved.