Naslov
From the Lisbon Strategy to Europe 2020: An Introduction

Autori
Butković, Hrvoje ; Samardžija, Višnja

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Poglavlja u knjigama, znanstveni

Knjiga
From the Lisbon Strategy to Europe 2020

Urednik/ci
Samardžija, Višnja ; Butković, Hrvoje

Izdavač
Institut za razvoj i međunarodne odnose (IRMO)

Grad
Zagreb

Godina
2010

Raspon stranica
3-30

ISBN
987-953-6096-53-4

Ključne riječi
Lisbon Strategy, Europe 2020, European Union, evaluation, economic governance, member states, Croatia

Sažetak
The purpose of this paper is to set up a basic framework and provide an introduction for the contributions that follow in this book. It offers a chronological analysis of the developments within the EU Lisbon Strategy and the main challenges in its implementation, as well as studying the principal questions related to the continuation of reforms within Europe 2020, as its successor. The aim is to demonstrate that from the very beginning the Lisbon Strategy represented a pioneering and experimental process which has been reshaped and readopted on several occasions in order to provide adequate answers to the ever changing economic realities of a modern day Europe. The last “great adaptation” which took shape was the new Europe 2020 strategy, and this has largely been influenced by the unprecedented economic crisis which resulted in an increased focus of this new strategy on topics such as EU economic governance, the social dimension of prescribed reform efforts, and their wider continental and global relevance. Governance aspects of the Lisbon Strategy and its successor are also the focus of this paper. It will be argued that these strategic programmes introduced a dramatic change in EU policy making since they greatly contributed to the affirmation and development of the soft law governance mechanisms such as the Open Method of Coordination (OMC). The paper takes the position that although the Lisbon Strategy did not succeed in delivering its prescribed ambitious goals, its achievements cannot be denied. For that reason it comes as no surprise that without great opposition numerous EU actors agreed to continue the Lisbon-type reforms within the newly adopted Europe 2020 strategy. The Europe 2020 strategy has emerged with three principle tasks, while the central ideas of the Lisbon Strategy have been kept. Firstly, the EU has to continue with the Lisbon-type reforms. Secondly, on top of the existing Lisbon framework, Europe 2020 needs to develop new instruments of economic governance which should bring more policy convergence and better overall results. These new governance instruments could prove crucial in overcoming the effects of the crisis in Europe. Finally, Europe 2020 has to build its profile externally, by proving its relevance globally. The external dimension of Europe 2020 is of particular importance to the EU candidate, potential candidate and neighbouring countries, which are expected to be more closely associated with this agenda. Croatia and other countries in the Western Balkans could profit from such an approach, since it further motivates them to “look beyond” the acquis communautaire in approaching their future EU membership.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Ekonomija, Pravo, Politologija

POVEZANOST RADA