Editor's note

 The EU leaders have to adopt a new strategy for the member states to follow during next five years. During coming European Parliament elections the citizens are going to show their support for the “EU-project”. European voters in numerous states are deeply disillusioned; the EU has to give them hope: the EU has to elaborate a perspective program for people; they want a socially sensitive EU, ambitious and innovative growth, tough approach on monopolies and protectionism and secure life. Most importantly, the EU has to make the union of strong, equal and free nations.

New five-year plan

Five years ago, the European Council defined a broad strategic agenda for the member states with further Commission’s 10 political priorities. More on the previous priorities in:  

On Commission’s 10 political priorities in:  https://ec.europa.eu/commission/priorities_en

The EU now needs new, ambitious, realistic and focused goals for the next political cycle.

In March 2017, ahead of the 60^th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome, the Commission published its White Paper on the Future of Europe, in which five EU’ possible developmental scenarios were outlined. Since then, some 1,600 citizens' dialogues and citizens' consultations took place which confirmed that citizens want the EU to tackle global challenges, be more efficient and transparent.

In 2017 State of the Union address, President Juncker unveiled a roadmap detailing the main steps towards a more united, stronger and more democratic Union. Building on this, national leaders agreed in Tallinn in 2018 on a Leaders' Agenda – a list of the most pressing issues and challenges for which solutions should be found ahead of the European elections in 2019.

More on the 2017 State of the Union in:

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/priorities/state-union-speeches/state-union-2017_en

At the Sibiu summit in Romania (9 May 2019), the EU leaders will adopt a renewed commitment to deliver on modern challenges of importance for people in the EU while reflecting on the Union's political aspirations in preparing the strategic agenda for 2019-24. 

European Commission President stressed that the EU member states facing numerous global challenges; to overcome them, they have to act collectively: i.e. “only in unity we will find the    

strength needed to preserve European way of life, sustain the planet, and reinforce European global influence” .

Since the fall in 2014, the Commission made 471 legislative proposals and carried over additional 44 initiatives, of which 348 have been adopted or agreed by the European Parliament and the Council. Remarkably, in around 90% of the drafts, the final compromise was approved by consensus in the Council of Ministers and supported by all EU-28 states.

By the end of the Commission’s term, there are 20 drafts pending and 10 key Commission’s proposals remain “unfinished business”, being still discussed in the EU institutions. 

The EU's next strategic agenda: five priorities

The EU's strategic agenda for 2019-24 focuses on 5 perspective directions:

1. Protective Europe: to pursue efforts in building an effective and genuine European Security Union and move towards a European Defense Union to make efficient defense cooperation among the EU states. This direction requires comprehensive actions at every level and a genuine EU approach built on the sharing of responsibility and on solidarity among the EU states.

2. Competitive Europe: to upgrade, modernise and implement the single market in all its aspects. The states have to focus on research and innovation towards ecological, social and economic transitions and related societal challenges. The EU will assist the states in investing into key European digital capacities and work together to boost Europe-made and human-centered artificial intelligence. Both the EU and the states have to continue to foster growth and ensure sustainable prosperity by deepening the Economic and Monetary Union. Besides, the states have to continue supporting transformation of the European labour market whilst ensuring its fairness.

3. Fair Europe: to continue to deliver on the European Pillar of Social Rights and cooperate with the states in achieving social inclusion and equality while addressing regional disparities, minorities' needs, gender issues and the challenge of the aging population. The states have to firmly uphold and promote the shared values on which the European Union is founded, such as the rule of law. The EU states need a fair and modern taxation policy with a high-quality, affordable and accessible health care and access to quality, energy-efficient affordable housing for all in Europe.

4. Sustainable Europe: to modernise the states economies in order to embrace sustainable consumption and production patterns. For this to happen, the states need to reinforce efforts to fight climate change and reverse environmental degradation. The states have to follow the transition towards a more resource-efficient circular economy by promoting green growth, bioeconomy and sustainable innovations. Besides, the states need to maximise the Energy Union's potential by addressing major remaining challenges including energy security, energy costs for households and businesses, and the impact on climate change.

5. Influential Europe: the member states need to lead in the world through consistent and strong support for a multilateral, rules-based global order, with the United Nations at its core. The EU should also make it a priority to develop strong relations with close neighbors, based on a clear balance of rights and obligations. A strengthened international role of the euro would also increase Europe's economic and monetary sovereignty.

During the next Commission’s mandate, together with other EU institutions, have to adapt to a more efficient European strategy: the lessons from the present Commission point to movements towards “nationalising achievements” and “Europeanise common decisions and policies”, the Commission suggested. 

Previous five priorities (agreed in June 2014) for the 2015-19 term included: 1. Jobs, growth and competitiveness (with improving SME's access to finance and investment, and improved infrastructure investment, as well as increasing euro area governance and economic policy coordination); 2. Empowering and protecting citizens (including reducing youth unemployment and avoiding tax evasion and fraud); 3. Energy and climate policies (including diversification of the EU energy supplies , development of energy infrastructure in the states and setting ambitious climate change targets for 2030); 4. Freedom, security and justice (including preventing and combating organised crime, corruption and terrorism, and improving judicial cooperation between EU countries; 5. The EU as a strong global actor (including better coordination between member states' and EU foreign policy goals, engaging global partners on a wide range of issues such as trade, cyber security, human rights and crisis management, and strengthening the EU's common security and defense policy

Reference: Council website “Setting the EU’s political agenda” in:

https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/european-council/role-setting-eu-political-agenda/ 

More information in the following web-links:

- Europe in May 2019: Preparing for a more united, stronger and more democratic Union in an increasingly uncertain world;

- Progress on the Economic Situation;

 - The EU's public opinion 2014-2019;

- The Top 20 EU achievements 2014-2019;

- Unfinished business: the Top 10 EU issues awaiting final agreement;

- Key figures for the EU 2014-2019; = Report: Citizens' dialogues and citizens' consultations – key conclusions.

Source: Commission press release “Strength in unity: Commission makes recommendations for the next strategic agenda 2019-24, 30.04.2019. in:

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-19-2309_en.htm?locale=en