With a 10% average unemployment rate across the EU, MEPs looked into the matter with the Commission's EU 2020 strategy. It is aiming for a 75% employment rate with a green tinge to it. Some MEPs proposed sanctions for those Member States who don't stick t

Carrot and stick crisis strategy

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/15214879/N001-100310-002-EN.srt

Currently 80 million Europeans   live below the poverty line.

In 2 years the social reality   has deteriorated.

It’s in this context that the EU is preparing   its crisis busting plan: the 2020 strategy.

The aim of this strategy :   75% employment level,

set aside 3% of the national budgets   for research and development.

Plus climate goals of reducing   greenhouse gases for the 2020 deadline,

as well as better training for young people   and a significant reduction of poverty.

During today’s plenary MEPs adopted   a text highlighting their priorities.

The main idea is to construct   a European social pillar,

with financial means and resources   to have a complementary role

As a priority we must put European laws   into motion for small businesses

The crisis plan is the follow-up   to the Lisbon strategy initiated in 2000.

It aimed to make Europe the most   competitive and developed economy

in the world by 2010.   The results were not up to expectations.

A failure in part due to Member States   who did not follow the set objectives.

Some MEPs want a carrot and stick   approach to make countries fall in line.

There could be sanctions to reduce or cut   back a certain amount of structural funds,

Handing out or retraction of European   development funds will be at stake.

Sanctions are looked down upon   by Member States.

This point must be   at the top of the agenda

of the European Council   at the end of March.