The European Union has been implementing the Lisbon Strategy over the last decade with the ambition of making Europe’s economy the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world. Despite this ambitious goal and the creation of 18 million new jobs, the Lisbon Strategy has not addressed certain crucial points and in SOLIDAR’s view should be re-oriented to focus in particular on the two challenges of social cohesion and climate change. In this briefing paper, SOLIDAR presents 16 recommendations to the European Commission, European Parliament and European Council on how to ensure decent work and quality jobs in Europe, and how to promote the social economy and lifelong learning for all by 2020.
The current debate to formulate a Post-Lisbon Strategy - or Europe 2020 Strategy - is taking place in the midst of a systemic economic crisis which is impacting on the financial systems, the real economy and labour markets of all European economies; and as a consequence, negatively affecting the living and working conditions of many people across Europe.
With roughly 80 million people living in or at risk of poverty in the EU, including roughly 19 million working poor, this crisis will continue to have negative impacts over the next 3 to 5 years, in particular for economically vulnerable and socially excluded people, which SOLIDAR member organisations work with and provide services for, for whom economic recovery will only take effect with a certain delay. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) predicts that we are looking at a potential jobs crisis that might last up to eight years because of rising long-term unemployment and the informalisation of the labour market.
To address these challenges, SOLIDAR urges the European institutions to orientate the Post-Lisbon Strategy towards making economically competitive and innovative societies in an increasingly globalised world by realising fundamental rights, the creation of equal opportunities and life chances, decent working and living conditions, adequate social protection and access to affordable, high quality services of general interest for all European citizens.
We need to work together to change Europe. We need to put people first and provide better living and working opportunities for all. We need to change the current paradigm to a Europe which puts economic growth and public policies at the service of a greater quality of life and sustainable development. With these 16 recommendations, we put forward our view of how to reach these aims. Together, we must try to make Europe the most competitive region in terms of social cohesion and social inclusion. Together, we must try to make Europe the most competitive region in terms of social cohesion and social inclusion. Together, we must be a force for change!
Conny Reuter, Secretary General, Solidar
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