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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Lisbon Strategy?
- Why was the Lisbon Strategy relaunched in 2005?
- What is the National Action Programme for Growth and Jobs 2005-2008?
- What were the European Commission’s recommendations to the Portuguese Government on the National Reform Programme?
- Which strategic objectives were the grounds for selecting the 125 specific measures foreseen in the PNACE 2005-2008?
- Doesn’t the focus on economic growth distance the Lisbon Strategy from the social model that always distinguished Europe from the rest of the world?
- What is the relation between the PNACE 2005-2008 and other governmental programmes, notably the TECHNOLOGICAL PLAN?
- How can the goals of the Lisbon Strategy be made compatible with the new financial framework of the European Union foreseen for 2007/2013?
- What solutions does the PNACE 2005-2008 offer for the areas of qualifying the Portuguese, innovation, research and science?
- What is the relation between the Lisbon Strategy, the Technological Plan and the goals of the Knowledge Economy?
- What is the Lisbon Strategy? A: The Lisbon Strategy is a set of 24 directive guidelines which aim to strengthen the competitiveness of the European Union and, in this way, guarantee the sustainability of the Modern Social State and improve the quality of the Environment. The initiative was approved during the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union in 2000 and relaunched in 2005, focusing on jobs and economic growth.Back to the top
- Why was the Lisbon Strategy relaunched in 2005? A: In the five years following its launch in 2000, the Lisbon Strategy was handled differently by the various Memeber States. Some countries, like Ireland and Finland made an effort to implement the Lisbon goals by following the specific action lines – e.g. improving education and qualification, investment in R&D and innovation, reducing red tape to further entrepreneurship – and registered a marked improvement in their social and economic indicators. In other countries, however, (including Portugal), where there was no commited application of the Strategy conceived in 2000, the employment and growth indicators were not so positive. As a result, the governments of European Union countries decided, at the European Council of June 2005, to renew the impetus of the Lisbon Strategy, focusing on the goals of Growth and Employment and using it as an instrument to place Europe back on the road to development and cohesion.Back to the top
- What is the National Action Programme for Growth and Jobs 2005-2008? A: The National Action Programme for Growth and Jobs 2005-2008 is the Portuguese government’s response to the challenges proposed by the relaunched Lisbon Strategy. It is an integrated set of 125 key measures for transformation and reform adapted to the economic and social situation of the country, focusing on three fields: the macroeconomy, the microeconomy and qualification, employment and social cohesion.Back to the top
- What were the European Commission’s recommendations to the Portuguese Government on the National Reform Programme? A: When implementing the directive guidelines of the Lisbon Strategy in Portugal, the European Commission recommended that focus was given to the following objectives: (i) the sustainability of public accounts; (ii) investment in R&D and Innovation; (iii) competition in services; (iv) a rise in the overall employment rates; (v) the organisation of the labour market; (vi) improved qualification of people, companies and institutions; and (v) life long learning.Back to the top
- Which strategic objectives were the grounds for selecting the 125 specific measures foreseen in the PNACE 2005-2008? A: The PNACE 2005-2008 was conceived with the aim of achieving four strategic goals: (i) to give renewed credibility to Portugal through consolidating the public accounts and applying strong, transparent and focussed policies; (ii) to reestablish confidence in Portugal, through economic growth, improvements in the legal and judicial system and through public investment in key sectors of the economy with a view to attracting more private investment; (iii) to increase the competitiveness of the Portuguese economy, through implementing the TECHNOLOGICAL PLAN and reducing red tape; (iv) to strengthen social, territorial and environmental cohesion through policies geared to employment, education and qualification, with specific focus on life long training.Back to the top
- Doesn’t the focus on economic growth distance the Lisbon Strategy from the social model that always distinguished Europe from the rest of the world? A: No. On the contrary, economic growth and economic competitiveness are the necessary conditions for the sustainability of the Modern Social State. Economic growth leads to an increase in jobs, improved salaries and, consequently, a more just and cohesive society. In addition, despite the importance given to economic measures, the Lisbon Strategy is also supported on other pillars such as improved education and qualification, environmental sustainability, social and territorial cohesion and better jobs, in an attempt to conjugate flexibility and security.Back to the top
- What is the relation between the PNACE 2005-2008 and other governmental programmes, notably the TECHNOLOGICAL PLAN? A: PNACE 2005-2008 is an anchor programme which contains other action plans in the area of growth and jobs: the Stability and Growth Programme (PEC) in the macroeconomic dimension; the Technological Plan in the dimension of competitiveness and qualification; and the National Employment Plan (PNE) in the employment dimension. The correlation between PNACE 2005-2008 and the National Startegy for Sustainable Development should also be stressed; this in turn illustrates priorities, such as environmental sustainability and territorial and social cohesion, but from a more specific and long term perspecitve. The PNACE 2005-2008 also took into consideration the guidelines of the National Strategic Reference Framework (QREN 2007/2013), as the framework document for interventions supported by the structural and cohesion funds. Hence, the Technological Plan forms one of the pillars for the implementation of theLisbon Strategy in Portugal; grouped in the Plan we find its most emblematic challenges: the bet in the knowledge society, the raising of competence levels, scientific and technological development and the establishment of a life long learning process.Back to the top
- How can the goals of the Lisbon Strategy be made compatible with the new financial framework of the European Union foreseen for 2007/2013? A: With this agreement affirmed during the English Presidency of the European Union in December 2005, the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy was renewed as a priority.
Although the funds for the former cohesion countries have been reduced, the overall sum of 22.5 thousand million euros to be attributed to Portugal is a positive result.
In addition, in line with the recommendations of the European Commission, the funds should be used increasingly in pursuit of the Lisbon Strategy goals; that is, the community resources in the Member States that joined before 2004 are no longer destined principally for the co-financing of infrastructures but are now essentially linked (60 to 75%) to contributing to the modernization of the economic and business fabric, as well as to qualification and vocational retraining.
The guidelines for the preparation of the National Strategic Reference Framework (QREN), which will direct the management of the funds, set out four fundamental priorities, all of which coincide with the challenges placed by the Lisbon Strategy: (i) qualifying the Portuguese – investing in knowledge and in improving the performance of the education/training system; (ii) promoting competitiveness – through technological modernisation, innovation and the renewal of the business and productive fabric; (iii) modernising public administration – reducing public costs, combating bureaucracy and providing more efficient public services; (iv) giving added value to the territory – conserving the environment, planning territorial management and rationalising the infrastructure network.Back to the top - What solutions does the PNACE 2005-2008 offer for the areas of qualifying the Portuguese, innovation, research and science? A: Specifically with regard to the areas of qualification, research and science, the PNACE 2005-2008 envisages a series of emblematic measures and policies, including: (i) creating a "Fast Track" (Via Verde) for innovative products; simplifying the support mechanisms for the creation of technologically based companies and for the supply of "initial capital" managed by the Innovation Agency and attributing the “Innovation 2000” Label annually to innovative products; (ii) restoring the System of Tax Incentives to Corporate R&D (SIFIDE); (iii) promoting support programmes for research in consortium and the hiring of people with masters degrees and PhDs in enterprises and articulating a network of centres for the valuing of R&D results; (iv) assuring that schools all over the country are connected to broad band; (v) fostering a more open school environment and facilitating students’ use of computers at home; (vi) creating the Forum for the Information Society; (vii) extending the teaching of English to all basic/primary schools; (viii) New Opportunities Initiative which aims to make the 12th year the minimum training reference for all young people; (ix) strengthening the education and training system in the framework of life long learning (ALV); and (x) introducing lessons on entrepreneurship in secondary schools.Back to the top
- What is the relation between the Lisbon Strategy, the Technological Plan and the goals of the Knowledge Economy? A: The knowledge society is based on the high qualification of human resources, on the increasing quality of jobs and on the generalised access to information; intrinsic to this is a new paradigm based on the constant innovation of methods, processes and products, increasingly incorporating intellectual capital, which imposes greater responsibilities on the education, training and employment systems.
In the new model, from the first years of schooling, the education system should raise pupils’ natural potential for creativity, as well as foster a critical spirit and rigorous reasoning, which are all so crucial to the development of a culture of lifelong learning and to the knowledge society. Boosting the participation of adults in life long learning through continuing training, stimulating people and organisations to seek learning opportunities, broadening and diversifying the supply in line with the demands of the information society are all key factors to progress and competitiveness.
By aiming at raising economic competitiveness, the Lisbon Strategy bets in the qualification of people, companies, institutions and the territory. This investment in human and scientific capital is found at a national level in the Technological Plan, in which measures are envisaged such as: InovJovem Programme, which aims to stimulate innovation and business development by creating jobs for qualified young people through work placements in companies, and InovContacto Programme, which intends to contribute to raising the competitiveness of Portuguese companies through intensive training programmes and international work placements.Back to the top
A: The Lisbon Strategy is a set of 24 directive guidelines which aim to strengthen the competitiveness of the European Union and, in this way, guarantee the sustainability of the Modern Social State and improve the quality of the Environment. The initiative was approved during the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union in 2000 and relaunched in 2005, focusing on jobs and economic growth.
Back to the top A: In the five years following its launch in 2000, the Lisbon Strategy was handled differently by the various Memeber States. Some countries, like Ireland and Finland made an effort to implement the Lisbon goals by following the specific action lines – e.g. improving education and qualification, investment in R&D and innovation, reducing red tape to further entrepreneurship – and registered a marked improvement in their social and economic indicators. In other countries, however, (including Portugal), where there was no commited application of the Strategy conceived in 2000, the employment and growth indicators were not so positive. As a result, the governments of European Union countries decided, at the European Council of June 2005, to renew the impetus of the Lisbon Strategy, focusing on the goals of Growth and Employment and using it as an instrument to place Europe back on the road to development and cohesion.
Back to the top A: The National Action Programme for Growth and Jobs 2005-2008 is the Portuguese government’s response to the challenges proposed by the relaunched Lisbon Strategy. It is an integrated set of 125 key measures for transformation and reform adapted to the economic and social situation of the country, focusing on three fields: the macroeconomy, the microeconomy and qualification, employment and social cohesion.
Back to the top A: When implementing the directive guidelines of the Lisbon Strategy in Portugal, the European Commission recommended that focus was given to the following objectives: (i) the sustainability of public accounts; (ii) investment in R&D and Innovation; (iii) competition in services; (iv) a rise in the overall employment rates; (v) the organisation of the labour market; (vi) improved qualification of people, companies and institutions; and (v) life long learning.
Back to the top A: The PNACE 2005-2008 was conceived with the aim of achieving four strategic goals: (i) to give renewed credibility to Portugal through consolidating the public accounts and applying strong, transparent and focussed policies; (ii) to reestablish confidence in Portugal, through economic growth, improvements in the legal and judicial system and through public investment in key sectors of the economy with a view to attracting more private investment; (iii) to increase the competitiveness of the Portuguese economy, through implementing the TECHNOLOGICAL PLAN and reducing red tape; (iv) to strengthen social, territorial and environmental cohesion through policies geared to employment, education and qualification, with specific focus on life long training.
Back to the top A: No. On the contrary, economic growth and economic competitiveness are the necessary conditions for the sustainability of the Modern Social State. Economic growth leads to an increase in jobs, improved salaries and, consequently, a more just and cohesive society. In addition, despite the importance given to economic measures, the Lisbon Strategy is also supported on other pillars such as improved education and qualification, environmental sustainability, social and territorial cohesion and better jobs, in an attempt to conjugate flexibility and security.
Back to the top A: PNACE 2005-2008 is an anchor programme which contains other action plans in the area of growth and jobs: the Stability and Growth Programme (PEC) in the macroeconomic dimension; the Technological Plan in the dimension of competitiveness and qualification; and the National Employment Plan (PNE) in the employment dimension. The correlation between PNACE 2005-2008 and the National Startegy for Sustainable Development should also be stressed; this in turn illustrates priorities, such as environmental sustainability and territorial and social cohesion, but from a more specific and long term perspecitve. The PNACE 2005-2008 also took into consideration the guidelines of the National Strategic Reference Framework (QREN 2007/2013), as the framework document for interventions supported by the structural and cohesion funds. Hence, the Technological Plan forms one of the pillars for the implementation of theLisbon Strategy in Portugal; grouped in the Plan we find its most emblematic challenges: the bet in the knowledge society, the raising of competence levels, scientific and technological development and the establishment of a life long learning process.
Back to the top A: With this agreement affirmed during the English Presidency of the European Union in December 2005, the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy was renewed as a priority.
Although the funds for the former cohesion countries have been reduced, the overall sum of 22.5 thousand million euros to be attributed to Portugal is a positive result.
In addition, in line with the recommendations of the European Commission, the funds should be used increasingly in pursuit of the Lisbon Strategy goals; that is, the community resources in the Member States that joined before 2004 are no longer destined principally for the co-financing of infrastructures but are now essentially linked (60 to 75%) to contributing to the modernization of the economic and business fabric, as well as to qualification and vocational retraining.
The guidelines for the preparation of the National Strategic Reference Framework (QREN), which will direct the management of the funds, set out four fundamental priorities, all of which coincide with the challenges placed by the Lisbon Strategy: (i) qualifying the Portuguese – investing in knowledge and in improving the performance of the education/training system; (ii) promoting competitiveness – through technological modernisation, innovation and the renewal of the business and productive fabric; (iii) modernising public administration – reducing public costs, combating bureaucracy and providing more efficient public services; (iv) giving added value to the territory – conserving the environment, planning territorial management and rationalising the infrastructure network.
Back to the top Although the funds for the former cohesion countries have been reduced, the overall sum of 22.5 thousand million euros to be attributed to Portugal is a positive result.
In addition, in line with the recommendations of the European Commission, the funds should be used increasingly in pursuit of the Lisbon Strategy goals; that is, the community resources in the Member States that joined before 2004 are no longer destined principally for the co-financing of infrastructures but are now essentially linked (60 to 75%) to contributing to the modernization of the economic and business fabric, as well as to qualification and vocational retraining.
The guidelines for the preparation of the National Strategic Reference Framework (QREN), which will direct the management of the funds, set out four fundamental priorities, all of which coincide with the challenges placed by the Lisbon Strategy: (i) qualifying the Portuguese – investing in knowledge and in improving the performance of the education/training system; (ii) promoting competitiveness – through technological modernisation, innovation and the renewal of the business and productive fabric; (iii) modernising public administration – reducing public costs, combating bureaucracy and providing more efficient public services; (iv) giving added value to the territory – conserving the environment, planning territorial management and rationalising the infrastructure network.
A: Specifically with regard to the areas of qualification, research and science, the PNACE 2005-2008 envisages a series of emblematic measures and policies, including: (i) creating a "Fast Track" (Via Verde) for innovative products; simplifying the support mechanisms for the creation of technologically based companies and for the supply of "initial capital" managed by the Innovation Agency and attributing the “Innovation 2000” Label annually to innovative products; (ii) restoring the System of Tax Incentives to Corporate R&D (SIFIDE); (iii) promoting support programmes for research in consortium and the hiring of people with masters degrees and PhDs in enterprises and articulating a network of centres for the valuing of R&D results; (iv) assuring that schools all over the country are connected to broad band; (v) fostering a more open school environment and facilitating students’ use of computers at home; (vi) creating the Forum for the Information Society; (vii) extending the teaching of English to all basic/primary schools; (viii) New Opportunities Initiative which aims to make the 12th year the minimum training reference for all young people; (ix) strengthening the education and training system in the framework of life long learning (ALV); and (x) introducing lessons on entrepreneurship in secondary schools.
Back to the top A: The knowledge society is based on the high qualification of human resources, on the increasing quality of jobs and on the generalised access to information; intrinsic to this is a new paradigm based on the constant innovation of methods, processes and products, increasingly incorporating intellectual capital, which imposes greater responsibilities on the education, training and employment systems.
In the new model, from the first years of schooling, the education system should raise pupils’ natural potential for creativity, as well as foster a critical spirit and rigorous reasoning, which are all so crucial to the development of a culture of lifelong learning and to the knowledge society. Boosting the participation of adults in life long learning through continuing training, stimulating people and organisations to seek learning opportunities, broadening and diversifying the supply in line with the demands of the information society are all key factors to progress and competitiveness.
By aiming at raising economic competitiveness, the Lisbon Strategy bets in the qualification of people, companies, institutions and the territory. This investment in human and scientific capital is found at a national level in the Technological Plan, in which measures are envisaged such as: InovJovem Programme, which aims to stimulate innovation and business development by creating jobs for qualified young people through work placements in companies, and InovContacto Programme, which intends to contribute to raising the competitiveness of Portuguese companies through intensive training programmes and international work placements.
Back to the top In the new model, from the first years of schooling, the education system should raise pupils’ natural potential for creativity, as well as foster a critical spirit and rigorous reasoning, which are all so crucial to the development of a culture of lifelong learning and to the knowledge society. Boosting the participation of adults in life long learning through continuing training, stimulating people and organisations to seek learning opportunities, broadening and diversifying the supply in line with the demands of the information society are all key factors to progress and competitiveness.
By aiming at raising economic competitiveness, the Lisbon Strategy bets in the qualification of people, companies, institutions and the territory. This investment in human and scientific capital is found at a national level in the Technological Plan, in which measures are envisaged such as: InovJovem Programme, which aims to stimulate innovation and business development by creating jobs for qualified young people through work placements in companies, and InovContacto Programme, which intends to contribute to raising the competitiveness of Portuguese companies through intensive training programmes and international work placements.