This article presents a statistical view of the Europe 2020 strategy of the European Union (EU), aimed at creating a smarter, greener and more inclusive economy and society. Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU, has created eight headline indicators and three sub-indicators to monitor progress towards the strategy targets. A comprehensive overview of available data can be found in the online publication Smarter, greener, more inclusive - indicators to support the Europe 2020 strategy, also downloadable as PDF file.
The Europe 2020 strategy
In its role of a leading provider of official statistics on the European Union (EU) and in response to the growing interest in data on the Europe 2020 strategy, Eurostat produces and disseminates statistical data to support the strategy. Progress towards the strategy targets is monitored by means of eight headline indicators and three sub-indicators. The data on Europe 2020 headline indicators are disseminated through Eurostat dedicated web section.
In EU policy context there is a synergy between Europe 2020 strategy and the long-term strategy of the EU – the Sustainable development strategy (SDS). Europe 2020 headline indicators are a core part of the indicators monitored by Eurostat in the publication Sustainable development in the European Union - Monitoring report of the EU sustainable development strategy.
On 1 October 2012, Eurostat issued a short publication, from the series Statistics in Focus: Europe 2020 Strategy – towards a smarter, greener and more inclusive EU economy?. The publication presents trends and latest data for each of the headline indicators, in the principal areas of the strategy, at EU and Member State level.
The Europe 2020 strategy adopted by the European Council on 17 June 2010 is the EU's common agenda for the current decade. It emphasises smart, sustainable and inclusive growth as a way to overcome the structural weaknesses in Europe's economy, improve its competitiveness and productivity and underpin a sustainable social market economy.
The key objectives of the strategy are expressed in the form of five headline targets at the EU level:
- 75 % of the population aged 20-64 to be employed
- 3 % of the EU's GDP to be invested in research and development (R & D)
- Climate change and energy targets:
- To reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 % compared with 1990
- To increase the share of renewable energy sources in final energy consumption to 20 %
- To improve energy efficiency by 20 %
- The share of early school leavers to be under 10 % and at least 40 % of those aged 30-34 to have completed tertiary or equivalent education
- Reduction of poverty by lifting at least 20 million people out of the risk of poverty or social exclusion.
In order to achieve the EU targets, Member States have committed to reach national targets, as defined in the National Reform Programmes.
See also
- Articles on sustainable development indicators
- Employment statistics
- Energy production and imports
- Greenhouse gas emission statistics
- Renewable energy statistics
- School enrolment and early leavers from education and training
- Smarter, greener, more inclusive - indicators to support the Europe 2020 strategy
Further Eurostat information
Publications
- Smarter, greener, more inclusive - indicators to support the Europe 2020 strategy (online publication, also downloadable as PDF file)
Main tables
Dedicated section
Methodology / Metadata
- Towards robust quality management for European Statistics - Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council COM(2011) 211 final
Other information
- Regulation 223/2009 of 11 March 2009 on European statistics