In presenting his programme for the new Commission, President Barroso set out his vision for where the European Union should be in 2020.

The Commission President believes that the exit from the current crisis should be the point of entry into a new sustainable social market economy, a smarter, greener economy where our prosperity will result from innovation and from using resources better, and where knowledge will be the key input.

To make this transformation happen, Europe needs a common agenda: the EU 2020 strategy.

Europe 2020: Commission proposes new economic strategy in Europe (3.3.2010)

This strategy should enable the EU to make a full recovery from the crisis, while speeding up the move towards a smart and green economy. EU 2020 will build on the successes obtained by the Lisbon strategy since its 2005 relaunch, which focused on growth and jobs, but will also address some of the Lisbon strategy's shortcomings.

The Commission launched a public consultation on the EU 2020 strategy in November 2009, which closed on 15th January 2010.

Around 1500 contributions have been received from a wide range of interested parties: Member States, European and national organisations, European and national social partners, regional and local authorities, business and professional federations, companies, NGOs, think tanks and academics and numerous European citizens.

Some non-EU countries and stakeholders also responded.

Already on 11 February 2010, the Heads of State and government met at an informal European Council meeting and discussed the orientations for the new strategy for Europe.

At that meeting Commission President J.M. Barroso presented his priorities for the new strategy, as illustrated with some facts and figures on Europe's current stance.

Following this meeting the European Commission will shortly present its full proposals for the new EU 2020 strategy, with a view to the EU's Heads of State and government adopting the strategy at their spring 2010 meeting scheduled for the end of March.

Europe 2020 - Background Information for the Informal European Council, 11 February 2010

Europe 2020 - Presentation of J.M. Barroso, President of the European Commission, to the Informal European Council of 11 February 2010

Contribution from the President of the European Commission to the informal meeting of Heads of State and Government: EUROPE 2020 - A strategy for sustainable growth and jobs

For further information, please consult the Commission website on the 2020 strategy.