Documents and reports
New action for growth, governance and stability
The goals driving this package – economic growth, financial stability, budgetary discipline – are linked to each other
23/11/2011
The European Commission adopted today the package enabling new action for growth, governance and stability.
The adopted package contains four elements: the 2012 Annual Growth Survey setting out the economic priorities for the coming year; two Regulations to tighten economic and budgetary surveillance in the euro area; and a Green Paper on Stability Bonds.
President Barroso stressed that: "to return to growth, Member States need to raise their game when it comes to implementing their commitments to structural reforms, as well as embrace deeper integration for the euro area." He continued: "The goals driving this package – economic growth, financial stability, budgetary discipline – are linked to each other. We need all of them if we are to move beyond the current emergency towards a Europe in which solidarity is balanced by strengthened responsibility. Implementing in the right way, the joint issuance of debt in the euro area could bring tremendous benefits."
With the adoption of this package the European Commission is accelerating its efforts for economic renewal, with moves to further strengthen euro area governance, safeguard future financial stability and boost growth and employment.
New action for growth, governance and stability
Press Material on Stability Bonds
The 2012 Annual Growth Survey: Frequently Asked Questions
Full speech by President Barroso
Annual Growth Survey 
[122 KB] 
Annex - Progress Report on the Europe 2020 strategy [156 KB]
Annex - Macro Economic Report [545 KB]
Annex - Draft Joint Employment Report [114 KB]
Annex - Growth-friendly Tax Policies in Member States and Better Tax Coordination in the EU [79 KB]
Green Paper on the feasibility of introducing Stability Bonds [293 KB]
Task force for Greece
17/11/2011
The first quarterly report of the Task Force for Greece describes the technical assistance provided to the Greek authorities to sustain economic activity by ensuring the best use of cohesion policy programmes; strengthening tax administration and sound public finance management; and implementing the structural reforms needed to improve the prospects for sustainable growth and job-creation.
Report [112 KB] 
Commission's Task Force for Greece progresses rapidly with technical assistance actions
Questions and Answers on the Task Force for Greece
First quarterly report of Commission's Task Force for Greece shows cautious optimism
European Commission's Work Programme 2012
Commission work programme concentrates on measures that will support all possibilities to counter the current difficult economic prospects
15/11/2011
The European Commission has adopted a Work Programme for the coming year, "Delivering European renewal". The programme sets out how the Commission will build on the ambitious set of proposals to respond to the economic crisis already on the table with further measures next year. It translates the political priorities identified by President Barroso in the State of the Union address into concrete actions for the next year. On this occasion President Barroso said: "In my State of the Union Address I called for a European renewal. The top priority is to adopt and swiftly implement the ambitious package of proposals to restore confidence in the European economy. The Commission work programme goes even further and concentrates on measures that will support all possibilities to counter the current difficult economic prospects".
The Commission Work Programme: documents
Roadmap to stability and growth
This roadmap charts Europe's way out of the economic crisis.
12/10/2011
European Commission President Barroso today presented a roadmap to stability and growth. In his speech to the European Parliament he underlined that "to break the vicious cycle of uncertainty over sovereign debt sustainability and over growth prospects, we need comprehensive solutions now." The President reiterated that, as he promised in his State of the Union address two weeks ago, "today we are delivering." He said: "The Commission has just adopted a roadmap to stability and growth. And we have set out concrete terms and timelines to implement it."
Link to the Communication Roadmap for Stability and Growth [39 KB]
New Code of Conduct for Commissioners
20/04/2011
When it was announced in September 2009 by President Barroso in his Political Guidelines for the Next Commission, he hoped the new Code would become a "document of reference that will inspire other EU institutions". The new rules reinforce one of the most rigorous Codes applied to holders of public office. Following several studies on good practices for preventing conflict of interest, the new Code is for example clearer on political activities and stronger on rules for Commissioners leaving the College.
European Council
Deepening and reinforcing of economic policies in the euro area will strengthen our response to the crisis
04/02/2011
At the final press conference President Barroso outlined the very important decisions taken to speed up Europe's return to economic growth and propserity, strongly inspired by the Commission. On energy and innovation he said that he is "pleased that the European Council has agreed on the four commitments that we put forward on energy policy. We need a truly integrated EU energy market by 2014. Europe also has to do more on energy efficiency. New technologies have a role to play here."
"A safe, sustainable and affordable energy supply is key to our strategic interests and growth and jobs"
At today's European Council, President Barroso will introduce the two main topics, energy and innovation (presentations will be available on this site). He will call for the Union to up its game and take decisive steps to deliver on our energy commitments. He will ask the European Council to endorse the priorities of the Commission's Energy 2020 and Energy Infrastructure Communications and will press for clear commitments to complete the internal energy market by 2014 and to put an end to energy islands by 2015.
In terms of infrastructure, President Barroso will push for the modernisation of networks and notably for better interconnections in Central and Eastern Europe. He will argue for a new impetus to our commitments on energy efficiency and to building a common EU external energy policy, which is vital for Europe's economic security. On innovation, President Barroso will push for Europe becoming the "natural home of innovation". He will call for strong backing from Member States for the Innovation Union as the key to post-crisis recovery.
Background on energy in Europe, Information prepared for the European Council, 4 February 2011 [746 KB]
EU energy projects funded under the European economic recovery programme [4 MB] 
Innovation priorities [472 KB]
Innovation background [430 KB]
Other languages available here under the "Recent documents"
President's remarks at the final press conference following the European Council
Impact assessment report by the Court of Auditors
28/09/2010
The European Commission welcomed the publication of a report by the European Court of Auditors on the Commission's Impact Assessment system. The report confirms that the system is of real value to EU decision-makers and is effective in raising the quality of proposals. While recommending some improvements, the audit shows that the Commission has the right structures in place to deliver on its smart regulation agenda.
Monti report on a new strategy for the Single Market
10/05/2010
President Barroso commended Mario Monti for his excellent report, which reconfirms the need to re-launch the Single Market now, while overcoming persisting concerns, missing links, bottlenecks and problems of enforcement. Barroso called the Single Market the EU's single most important asset and a source of growth, wealth and cohesion. He announced that the Commission will come up with a balanced, broad and fair vision of the new Single Market in July.
Read the Final Report by Mario Monti in English [442 KB] 
Adoption of the EC work programme for 2010
The work programme adopted today is an ambitious but realistic agenda for results
31/03/2010
This morning the new College adopted its work programme for 2010. "It's time to act. Business as usual is not an option," stressed president Barroso. The Commission has agreed a list of 34 strategic priorities to be implemented before the end of the year. It has also agreed another 280 major proposals under consideration during 2010 and beyond. The four main strands are: tackling the crisis and sustaining Europe's social market economy; building a citizens' agenda which puts people at the heart of European action; developing an ambitious and coherent external agenda with global outreach and modernising EU instruments and ways of working.
Read the Commission communication on the work programme [90 KB]
Women's Charter: Barroso's commitment to gender equality
05/03/2010
Ahead of International Women's Day, president Barroso alongside VP Viviane Reding presented today the Women's Charter aiming at building a gender perspective into all policies for the next five years. The Charter follows the announcement made by president Barroso in the European Parliament to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action and "represents the commitment of the Commission to making gender equality a reality in the EU." Also inside the Commission, "equal opportunities have been high on my agenda," stated Barroso. The current Commission includes 9 women out of 27 members of the College. At the level of services, he added, "we have managed to increased the share of women over time to 53% of all Commission staff."
Read the Commission’s declaration “A Women’s Charter” [21 KB]
EC College and Spanish EU Presidency meeting in Madrid
23/02/2010
After the traditional meeting between the EC College and the rotating Spanish Presidency of the Council, president Barroso stated that the European economy has to aspire to something more than just to remain afloat, but has to take a new course. To do that, the Commission will present on 3 March its formal proposal for the Europe 2020 strategy. "There is no time to waste," stressed Barroso. He thanked the Spanish Presidency for the political and intellectual contributions to the strategy, like for example the promotion of the electric car. He finally expressed his hope that at the EU-Latin America summit the agreements with Central America and the Andean community will be ready and that the negotiations with Mercosur can be launched.