Europe’s Economic priorities 2010 - 2015 : Memos to the new Commission
Bruegel, Edited by André Sapir.
Bruegel is an International Economic think-tank based in Brussels since 2005.It seeks to contribute to European and global economic policy-making through open, fact-based and policy-relevant research, analysis and debate. It produces a range of publications that go from The Bruegel Blueprint which is devoted to central questions at the moment to the Bruegel Policy Briefs that are directed to policy makers and specialists or the Policy Contribution, which contributes to particular policy debates or responds to political consultation papers. Additionally Bruegel publishes books, working papers, and collaborative papers with other organizations. Bruegel also organizes a number of events that together with its annual research programme is supported by European governments as well as leading international corporations and institutions.
The first of September 2009, Bruegel published a collection of twelve Memos addressed to the new Commission that had still to take office at the time[N1]. In a context of crisis, the expectations on the new Commission are particularly high. These memos aim at pointing out what key priorities the European Union should focus on. They underline the mayor importance of correctly defining the Commission’s new agenda which has to balance the short-term repercussions of the crisis with long-term issues (economic, social and political). The crisis has to be put in the broader context of a long-term European strategy, as challenges such as environmental issues and aging population will still be there after the crisis and even with greater intensity. André Sapir, during a press conference on 20 September 2009 highlighted that the real issue in the crisis is to make the right choices.
The twelve strategic memos, edited by Andre Sapir, Senior Research Fellow at Bruegel, gather contributions from eleven different authors. These contributions focus on four broad economic areas:
The first covers the crisis and post-crisis management. It deals mainly with macro-economic issues, the financial sector and coordination of exit strategies. There is also the issue of unemployment. This first set of articles provides an incisive angle on how to foster the integrity of the Internal Market.
Secondly, there are three contributions on the Internal Market, focusing more on the longer term issues and highlighting that the Internal Market is the main pillar of our economic strategy. What kind of financial system are we going to have for the longer term? What kind of stability do we want? As stated before, there are choices to be made and to be discussed.
The third subject is about new sources of growth. Two of the pillars that can lend new growth are clearly knowledge and climate change control. Actions in this domain will consolidate the EU’s international position as a global actor. This is especially important before the crucial international meeting in Copenhagen this December. Actions must also define more precisely the EU as a knowledge economy on the international stage.
Finally, the fourth area focuses on regional and global policies, in other words, enlargement and neighbourhood policy, trade policy and development policy. Those are three policies that are very strong at the moment, but they also need some strategic rethinking. Again, there are choices to be made.
Concerning the trade issue, the first priority is to conclude the Doha round. But what comes after Doha ? What vision for Europe ? What is the European vision for the international trade system ? Those questions are important to tackle knowing that Europe has this year become the largest trading partner in the world.
[N1]OFFICIALLY THERE IS NO NEW COMMISSION UNTIL JANUARY OR SO, we only have “running matters” commission now
Tags: 11th Issue
