Research
Reflections |
Wednesday 27 April
Economic Competitiveness and Sustainability in the EU.
In 2000 the Lisbon Strategy was launched, designed to make the EU "the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world”. The following year the Gothenburg Agenda (the Sustainable Development Strategy) added an environmental perspective and the integration of environmental protection into other Community policies became a requirement. Subsequently however environmental policies and sustainable development have come under fire, perceived as a potential burden weighing heavily on European industry in its fight to stay competitive on the global markets. Moreover a mid-term review recently concluded that little progress had been made and recommended the refocusing of the agenda on growth and employment. Critics fear that that there will now be a ‘sell-out’ to a 'neo-liberal' growth-only agenda.
The ESPON 3.3 Project, ‘Territorial Dimension of the Lisbon/Gothenburg Process’ that CUDEM is currently a partner in, aims to maintain the balance here by focusing on the opportunities for compatibility between the Lisbon Agenda and the Gothenburg Process. By looking at the specific challenges and characteristics of each region and each policy sphere, we are developing a bridging concept; “competitiveness in sustainability”. Innovation in this vital area is essential, not only for the development of a successful European strategy for the future.
Michelle Wishardt, Ian Strange and Simin Davoudi
CUDEM, School of the Built Environment
