The '''Lisbon Strategy''', also known as the '''Lisbon Agenda''' or '''Lisbon Process''', is an action and development plan for the European Union. Its aim is to make the EU "the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion, and respect for the environment by 2010" set against the background of productivity in the EU being below that of the US. It was set out by the European Council in Lisbon in March 2000.

Between April and November 2004, Wim Kok headed up a review of the program and presented a report on the Lisbon strategy suggesting how to give new impetus to the process. One of the main conclusion of the Kok report was that "the promotion of growth and employment in Europe is the next great European project". <ref> European Union web site, [http://ec.europa.eu/growthandjobs/pdf/kok_report_en.pdf ''Facing The Challenge. The Lisbon strategy for growth and employment. Report from the High Level Group chaired by Wim Kok''], November 2004, Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, ISBN 92-894-7054-2, (the Kok report). </ref>

The European Commission used this report as a basis for its proposal in February 2005 to refocus the Lisbon Agenda on actions that promote growth and jobs in a manner that is fully consistent with the objective of sustainable development. The Commission's report stated that "making growth and jobs the immediate target goes hand in hand with promoting social or environmental objectives." <ref> European Union web site, [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2005/com2005_0024en01.pdf The Commission's report]. </ref> 

In its resolution on the mid-term review of the Lisbon strategy in March 2005, the European Parliament expressed its belief that "sustainable growth and employment are Europe's most pressing goals and underpin social and environmental progress" and "that well-designed social and environmental policies are themselves key elements in strengthening Europe's economic performance". <ref> European Parliament web site, [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//NONSGML+TA+P6-TA-2005-0069+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN ] </ref>

==Background and objectives==

The Lisbon Strategy intends to deal with the low productivity and stagnation of economic growth in the EU, through the formulation of various policy initiatives to be taken by all EU member states. The broader objectives set out by the Lisbon strategy are to be attained by 2010.

It was adopted for a ten-year period in 2000 in Lisbon, Portugal by the European Council. It broadly aims to "make Europe, by 2010, the most competitive and the most dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world".

==The Strategy==

The main fields are economic, social, and environmental renewal and sustainability. The Lisbon Strategy is heavily based on the economic concepts of: 

* Innovation as the motor for economic change (based on the writings of Joseph Schumpeter) 
* The "learning economy"
* Social and environmental renewal 

Under the strategy, a stronger economy will create employment in the EU, alongside inclusive social and environmental policies, which will themselves drive economic growth even further.

An EU research group found in 2005 that current progress had been judged "unconvincing", so a reform process was introduced wherein all goals would be reviewed every three years, with assistance provided on failing items.

Die '''Lissabon-Strategie''' (auch ''Lissabon-Prozess'' oder ''Lissabon-Agenda'') ist ein auf einem Sondergipfel der europäischen Staats- und Regierungschefs im März 2000 in Lissabon verabschiedetes Programm, das zum Ziel hat, die EU innerhalb von zehn Jahren, also bis 2010, zum wettbewerbsfähigsten und dynamischsten wissensgestützten Wirtschaftsraum der Welt zu machen. 

Mit dieser Strategie will die EU .<ref>[http://www.mann-europa.de/sonstige_wirtschaft/halbzeit_lissabon09-03-2005.pdf Halbzeit Lissabon]</ref>

==Ziele und Strategie==

Die Lissabon-Strategie versucht, die Produktivität und Innovationsgeschwindigkeit der EU durch verschiedene politische Maßnahmen zu erhöhen. Als Messlatte dienen die Konkurrenten Japan und besonders die USA.

Hauptfelder dieses Programms sind wirtschaftliche, soziale und ökologische Erneuerung und Nachhaltigkeit in den Bereichen:

* Innovation als Motor für Wirtschaftswachstum (basierend auf Joseph Schumpeter) 
* Die „Wissensgesellschaft“
* Soziale Kohäsion (Angleichung) und Umweltbewusstsein

Zur Umsetzung der Ziele im sozialpolitischen Bereich nahm der Europäische Rat in Nizza im Dezember 2000 die Europäische Sozialagenda an.

Der Zwischenbericht 2004<ref>[http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/employment_strategy/pdf/etf_de.pdf  Kok-Report - Mehr Beschäftigung in Europa schaffen, 2004-11]</ref> unter Federführung des ehemaligen niederländischen Premierministers Wim Kok führt diesen Vergleich mit den USA im Einzelnen durch.

Kok kritisiert: , und fordert verstärkte, koordinierte Reformanstrengungen.

Bei seinem Treffen am 22./23.&nbsp;März 2005 bekräftigte der Europäische Rat die Lissabonner Wachstumsziele. Doch da sich der Wachstumsabstand zu den USA in den letzten fünf Jahren vergrößert hatte, vermied er konkrete Zielvorgaben. Jeder Mitgliedstaat solle eigene nationale Reformprogramme erstellen.

==Kritik==