Before the crisis

Europe 2020, Europe 2030: in times of economic crisis and interconnected difficulties in the political and social areas, the EU seeks to interpret the upcoming challenges and provide concrete responses. In this framework lie the initiatives under way. On May 21 the “special task force” on recession held its meeting that will conclude with a final report presented at the European Council in October; the June summit of the EU’s Heads of Government and State will address the Europe 2020 strategy for growth and development along with the final statement of the Reflection Group on the Future of EU 2030.Four objectives. The task force on economic crisis, budgetary supervision and governance set up past March held it first meeting in Brussels. It is formed by a minister from each member State, by the president of the Central Bank Jean-Claude Trichet, by the Commissioner for monetary affairs Olli Rehn, by Euro-Group President and it is chaired by the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, who described the meeting as “very useful”, where he could “feel a sense of urgency and a spirit of cooperation around the table”. The Belgian politician said the task force “agrees on four targets”. Firstly, “we must achieve greater budgetary discipline” and “strengthen the Stability and Growth Pact and its effectiveness”. The second objective is “a reduction of the divergences in competitiveness between the Member States”. Van Rompuy continued: “Third objective: We need to have an effective crisis mechanism in order to be able to deal with problems such as those of today”, referring to the situation in Greece that has been recently addressed by the Euro area and by the EU as a whole. The fourth objective “is linked to the third: We must step up economic governance”. Learning from the past. The task force could work on a series of proposals identified by the Commission. Each Member State and the ECB are now called to contribute to the debate. The task force will present a progress report to the EU summit on June 17, while the final report will be presented at the European Council in October. “What is our goal?” said Van Rompuy after the meeting. “Our agreement is designed to bring greater economic cohesion in the EU. “This is vital for the 27 countries with a common market and for a 16 State zone sharing the same currency”. At this point the “stable” EU president linked the survey with the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy that is being drawn up by the EU to step up growth and employment by investing in knowledge, research and development. “We all want to draw lesson from this period”, added Van Rompuy -. “In the past, corrective measures were taken too late. That’s why we need to act in a number of ways: in prevention and in correction; in the fields of the budget and of competitiveness; in the eurozone and in the European Union as a whole. All Member States and all EU institutions “need to work together on this”. “I am deeply convinced that we can surmount this crisis”; the measures taken for Greece “have proven this”. A “common vision”. The works of the Reflection Group on the Future of Europe have come to a close. The Group was set up in 2008 with 12 members, chaired by ex- Spanish premier Felipe Gonzales.Tthe mandate given by the European Council pointed out in particular the following key themes: strengthening and modernising the European economic and social model, competitiveness, rule of law, sustainable development, global stability, migration, energy and climate protection, and the fight against global insecurity, international crime and terrorism. The group was invited to pay “particular attention to ways of better reaching out to citizens and addressing their expectations and needs”. The final report (46 pages, dated March 2010, consisting of a lengthy introduction and 9 chapters) will be presented at the summit in mid-June. “Our findings are reassuring neither to the Union nor to our citizens”, Felipe Gonzales explained. “But the EU will face all the challenges that lie ahead provided that we work together”, by stepping up governance, social cohesion, EU institutions and undertaking joint action on the world scenario. “Shared values” and a “common vision” will be crucial, for Gonzales, given the “new common purpose defined by the needs of the current age”.