Malta has registered uneven progress in its efforts to reach national targets in the Europe 2020 strategy, the EU's long-term growth and jobs plan.
The Europe 2020 strategy was launched in 2010, against the background of an unprecedented crisis. It sets out a vision for sustainable and inclusive growth for Europe by 2020.
The strategy is based on five key areas: education, employment, poverty reduction, research and development, and climate change.
Targets are set at EU level, but each member state also established its own goals within the strategy. Progress towards these goals was outlined during a briefing today to the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development attended by Social Dialogue Minister Helena Dalli.
Through this public consultation, the Commission is seeking the views of all interested people and organisations on the Europe 2020 strategy.
The aim of the consultation is to draw lessons from the first four years of the strategy and to make sure it acts as an effective post-crisis strategy for growth and jobs in Europe.
On employment targets, Malta registered good progress. The original target of 63 per cent employment of people between the ages of 20 and 64 was achieved in 2011. Government then revised the target upwards to 70 per cent and projections indicate the country is on track to meet this goal.
Malta also registered progress on education, an important indicator since the country has the highest rate of early school leavers in Europe. It seems the country’s goal of reducing the rate of school leavers from 21 per cent in 2012 to 10 per cent by 2020 will be achieved.
The country’s performance on poverty reduction was not as positive. In Malta, 23 per cent are at risk of poverty, and the number has increased since 2008.
The country also did not do well on climate change targets, with only 1.4 per cent of energy coming from renewable sources showing not much progress has been achieved since 2005. Malta did register progress in energy efficiency measures.
The Europe 2020 strategy was conceived as a partnership between the EU and its Member States, and its success depends on the commitment and involvement of national governments, parliaments, local and regional authorities, social partners, stakeholders and civil society.
Public consultation on the Europe 2020 strategy is open until the end of October. The document can be accessed here.