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Europe 2020 plan agreed for sustainable European growth. On Thursday, June 17, at a meeting
in Brussels, Belgium, the European Council adopted upon the plan known as Europe 2020.
This represents the European Union’s new outline for structural reforms regarding jobs,
climate change, education and poverty elimination. Heads of state from the European Union’s
27 nations had convened to discuss the 10-year plan, which is meant to ensure both financial
stability and sustainable growth. Goals include a 70% employment rate of residents between
the ages of 20 and 64; reducing greenhouse gas emissions 20% from 1990 levels; improving
opportunities for education, research and development, and reducing the number of those
vulnerable to poverty by 20 million.
José Manuel Barroso, EC President (M): In fact today we have already had an agreement
on some of the most important orientations in terms of economic governance in Europe.
We believe it is important to conclude this work as soon as possible so that we can have
a new system ready for the beginning of the next year.
Speaking with our correspondent was Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who conveyed
another goal, which is the European member states’ pledge to increase donated assistance
to developing nations, expressed as a percentage of the market value of the European countries’
goods and services in a given year.
(In English) Jean-Claude Juncker - Prime Minister of Luxembourg
(M): We have agreed today that we’ll stick to the decisions we have taken on June 5.
That means that the European development effort has to be brought to a level of 0.57 and in
2015 to 0.7. The European Council has re-endorsed this commitment and will come back on the
basis of an annual report year after year to that issue.
VOICE: Member states were also encouraged to finalize national goals and begin implementing
the reforms needed to meet the Europe 2020 objectives.
Jerzy Buzek – President of the European Parliament (M): In time of crisis we need
to do the right thing and not just the convenient thing. And we should always remember that
with solidarity comes responsibility.
José Manuel Barroso, EC President (M): Today, the European Council has rolled up its sleeves
and shown we can act together when there is a joint political will by the Member States.
Our accolades, European Council members, for your forward-thinking initiatives to improve
lives for all citizens. May your efforts continue to bear fruit in bringing evermore harmony
and stability across Europe and the world�