On June 29, the Commission formally made public its view on spending priorities for 2014- 2020. Titled A Budget for Europe 2020, the proposal makes clear that public authorities receive funds to spend on agreed European objectives rather than for their own priorities. Several principles for EU spending are set out: results - a concentration of resources the high profile objectives and targets of Europe 2020; simplification of general and specific rules; Conditionality - specifically in cohesion spending where Member States and beneficiaries will be required to demonstration contribution to the Europe 2020 objectives; Leveraging of private sector investment. Responding the Europe 2020 objective of Smart Growth, €80 billion is proposed for Research and innovation, including the priority of tackling societal challenges. Work is already underway, with the EUCLID Network (ACEVO’s European network) spearheading the Social Innovation initiative. See the Commission's website for more information. See also our section on ESF post 2013 for more information on Structural Funds.

As part of the Europe 2020 oversight process, the Commission publishes country specific recommendations in response to the submission of the National Reform Programmes and analysis of economic and labour market conditions (see the UK National Reform Programme). It suggests that a key challenge for the UK labour market is the 17.5% of children living in workless households, highest in the EU. The problem is specifically acute for single parent households: over 32% of people with care responsibilities are inactive or work part-time due to lack of care services (4% more than EU average). The Commission recommends that the UK:

• Adopt a comprehensive strategy to reduce early school leaving, by the end of 2012. Address skill shortages by increasing the numbers attaining intermediate skills, in line with labour market needs.

• Take measures to reduce the high proportion of jobless households by increasing the supply of child care provision to facilitate single parents' and second earners' labour market participation.

See the UK Country Specific Recommendations

We've put together a (draft) outline of the method of administration of the Europe 2020 strategy. It is available to download here and will be periodically updated as more information becomes available. For the background to the strategy see below.

The UK has published the first National Reform Programme under the Europe 2020 Strategy. The UK sets out its contribution to the EU headline target to 'lift 20 million out of the risk of poverty and exclusion' as follows:

• Proportion of People living in Workless Households, and;

• The Child Poverty Act 2010 committed UK Governments to ending child poverty by 2020.

The Reform Programme also states that the Government has commissioned an independent review of poverty and life chances across the UK (which reported December 2010 see here for more info)

With regard to the proportion of people living in workless households, DWP has recently announced that over £200 million of ESF will be used (2011 - 2013) for family oriented support for people in workless households.

See the UK National Reform Programme

See other Member States National Reform Programmes

See the Commission's Europe 2020 website

Following consultation last year, the European Commission proposed the successor to the Lisbon strategy - Europe 2020.

The European Strategy for smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth proposed five headline targets to be achieved by the year 2020: 75% employment (ages 20-64); 3% EU GDP investment in Research & Development; achievement of the 20/20/20 climate targets; 40% of the younger generation should have a tertiary degree, and; 20 million people lifted out of poverty.

Under the objective of Inclusive Growth, the Commission has set out two flagship initiatives: The European Platform Against Poverty; and Agenda for New Skills & Jobs. The flagship initiatives set out the strategy to achieve the headline targets of poverty reduction and Employment.

See the Commission's Europe 2020 website for the other flagship intiatives.

Consultation on EU 2020

TPrior to the adoption of Europe2020 the Commission consulted on 'EU 2020' which met with staunch criticism from civil society. See the TSEN Response to EU2020 Consultation and see the Commission's Overview of Responses to the Consultation

While Heads of State & Government agreed to the Europe 2020 strategy (see April 2010 - No Agreement on Europe 2020 Poverty Target), it took a further meeting in July to reach agreement on the education and poverty targets. The poverty target was not retained in its original form however, with a commitment now to 'lift 20 million out of poverty' (see July 2010 - European Council Adopt Poverty Target for more information).