Europe 2020 - A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

The goals of this policy are to develop an economy based on knowledge and innovation, promote a more resource efficient, greener and more competitive economy, and foster a high-employment economy delivering economic, social and territorial cohesion. This policy lays down strategies for (I) raising employment rate, (II) improving the conditions of investment for research and development by the private sector, (III) reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing the share of renewable energy and increasing energy efficiency, (IV) increasing the rate of education, and (V) reducing poverty.
The overall quality of all levels of education and training will be enhanced in the EU, combining both excellence and equity, and job opportunities for young people will be increased. Young people's entry into the labour market will be improved through apprenticeships, stages or other work experience. Policies to promote gender equality will be developed to increase labour force participation thus adding to growth and social cohesion. Social protection systems will be strengthened by increasing labour participation and reducing structural unemployment, as well as raising corporate social responsibility among the business community. Labour markets will be modernised for raising employment levels and ensuring the sustainability of the social models. EU citizens will be empowered through the acquisition of new skills to enable current and future workforce to adapt to new conditions and potential career shifts, reduce unemployment and raise labour productivity. Measures will be taken to combat poverty and social exclusion and reduce health inequalities. Social innovation will be promoted for the most vulnerable, in particular by providing innovative education, training, and employment opportunities for deprived communities, to fight discrimination, and a new agenda will be developed for migrants' integration to enable them to take full advantage of their potential.
Smart growth will be achieved by improving the quality of education, strengthening research programmes, promoting innovation and knowledge transfer throughout the Union, making full use of information and communication technologies and creating growth and quality jobs through innovative ideas. Research and development and innovation systems will be developed at the regional and national level. Innovation activities will be combined with entrepreneurship, finance, and a focus on user needs and market opportunities. A strategic research agenda will be developed focusing on challenges such as energy security, transport, climate change and resource efficiency, health and ageing, environmentally-friendly production methods and land management. The framework conditions will be improved for business to innovate, including modernization of the framework of copyright and trademarks, and improved access of small- and medium-scale enterprises to Intellectual Property Protection. Sustainable economic and social benefits will be delivered from a Digital Single Market based on fast internet and interoperable applications. A true single market will be created for online content and services. To this end, investments will be attracted in an open and competitive high speed internet infrastructure and in related services. The deployment and usage of modern accessible online services will be promoted by the Member States. A more resource efficient, greener and more competitive economy will be promoted to prosper in a low-carbon, resource constrained world while preventing environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and unsustainable use of resources.
The resilience of EU's economy to climate risks and capacity for disaster prevention and response will be strengthened to ensure sustainable growth. In order to combat climate change, emissions will be reduced by exploiting fully the potential of new technologies such as carbon capture and sequestration possibilities. Resource efficiency will be improved to help limit emissions at all sectors. Economic growth will be boosted by reducing CO2 emissions, enhancing competitiveness and promoting greater energy security. Disaster prevention and response, agricultural, rural development, and maritime policies will be strengthened to address climate change, in particular through adaptation measures based on more efficient use of resources, which will also contribute to improving global food security.