EUROPE 2020 : STRATEGY DRAWS MIXED REACTIONS.

PositionEuropean Environmental Bureau

The business world (BusinessEurope, Eurochambres and UEAPME) welcomed on the whole the new ten-year growth strategy, Europe 2020', presented by the European Commission, on 3 March. The European Environmental Bureau (EEB), on the other hand, is very disappointed with the objectives set for climate and energy efficiency.

For the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (UEAPME), the strategy is "an impressive policy agenda [ ] that puts the accent on identifying bottlenecks and delivering results". The association particularly welcomes its recognition of the quality of regulation systems and the importance of SMEs, while regretting that the importance of effective public administrations is given little attention.

BusinessEurope considers the paper a useful basis for developing a strategy to strengthen Europe. Its Director-General, Philippe de Buck, commented that "a growth strategy is the answer if we want to achieve a sound European Union, with strong companies and jobs for many people". The organisation nevertheless adds that the sense of urgency should be reinforced.

On behalf of chambers of commerce and industry, Eurochambres describes the strategy as solid, but warns that its priorities and objectives will be meaningless if national governments do not pursue them rigorously through domestic agendas. "National budgets, priorities and actions must be...

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