The document discusses the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs and its evolution over time. It outlines the key priorities and targets set in 2005, including 3% R&D spending and 70% employment rate. Concrete actions were agreed in 2006 in four priority areas: R&D and innovation, business environment, skills, and energy policy. By 2007 progress was being made but more was needed in some countries. The strategy would be reinforced with a new cycle of country-specific recommendations and integrated guidelines to ensure implementation of outstanding reforms. In December 2007, the Commission will deliver an integrated package consisting of strategic reports, country assessments, recommendations and guidelines to guide the 2008-2010 period.

1. Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs “ Towards Lisbon 2.1” Ljubljana, 28th September 2007 Gerard de Graaf

2. 2005: Renewed Strategy (1) Ranking of priorities -> growth and jobs Only 2 targets -> 3 % R&D spending -> 70 % employment rate

3. 2005: Renewed Strategy (2) New governance (‘partnership’): national reform programmes based on integrated guidelines Community Lisbon programme at EU Level Commission monitoring of progress: a single annual report to the Spring European Council Lisbon National Coordinators ( “ Mrs/Mr Lisbon”)

4. 2006: Giving Lisbon focus and making it concrete The 2006 Spring European Council agreed four priority areas: More R&D and innovation A dynamic business environment Equipping people to adapt to change Integrated EU energy policy As well as a few concrete actions for delivery by the end of 2007

5. 2006: An example of tangible results Member States should ensure that: they put in place a one-stop shop for start-ups; Start-up time for a new business is no more than one week; Start -up fees are low, reflecting only administrative costs; Recruitment of the first employee can be done through a single contact point in the administration; Entrepreneurship education is included in school curricula.

6. 2007: On the right track Overall good progress made with Lisbon reforms- but more in some countries than in others Member States must use economic upturn to move ahead with reforms Governance working better Country-specific recommendations to guide Member States (“differentiated approach”)

7. The way forward Reinforcing Lisbon as a dynamic, political strategy Launch new cycle without distracting from key objective = implementation of outstanding reforms Reflecting changes in the policy environment Consolidating the focus on the 4 priority areas ->new concrete and deliverable actions Integrating the external dimension (« shaping up for and shaping globalisation ») Strengthening the governance further (e.g. stronger policy co-ordination, focused CLP, strengthening ownership, exchange of best policies) => expected major outputs of the 2008 Spring European Council

8. Handling the launch of next cycle (1) What the Commission will deliver in December: One package consisting of: A strategic report with policy proposals Country assessments over 3 years Country-specific recommendations A set of integrated guidelines for 2008-2010 A more focused Community Lisbon program

9. Handling the launch of next cycle (2) Preparing the ground under Portuguese Presidency Commission to submit “vision paper” in early October for discussion at the Informal European Council in Lisbon Aim is to achieve convergence of views to ensure smooth review under Slovene Presidency Need to associate EP closely