The Lisbon Agenda, adopted by the European Council in Lisbon in March 2000, was set tip as a strategy of action and development plan, its aim being to make the European Union, the most dynamic and competitive, knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion, and respect for the environment by 2010". In February 2005, the European Commission made a proposal to refocus the strategy on actions that promote growth and job creation in a manner consistent with the objective of sustainable development. The present day economic turmoil has once again turned the europeans attention upon the role of scientific and technological progress in economic development; at their turn, the policy makers are aware that national administrations must be centered on providing the right market conditions: greater use of online services (e-government), tackling corruption and fraud, restructuring the area of taxation to make the single market work better and to reduce the existing barriers and the administrative burden for entrepreneurs; another essential aspect is modernization of transport and energy infrastructures throughout the European Union territory.
