Brussels, 24 -27 May 2011

Resource efficiency means using the Earth's limited resources in a sustainable manner. It means producing more with fewer inputs, lessening our impact on the environment, and consuming in a more intelligent fashion.

It is an idea with major implications for the structure of the EU economy, and it affects resources of every variety - from materials and natural resources such as food, water, timber and biodiversity to energy, our atmosphere and land. The problem is that while some of these resources are crucial to our well-being and our economy, they are also finite and so supplies are limited. Rising global demand for finite resources is increasing pressure on the environment, and competition for some of the most valuable resources could lead to security risks and instability.

The message is simple: we cannot continue to consume these resources in the manner of previous generations, as there will not be enough of them to go round. We need a smarter approach that helps us safeguard our own future, using resources more efficiently.

It is an approach that forms an important strand of the EU 2020 Strategy, which sets the course for the EU economy for the next decade. EU 2020 integrates environmental considerations and economic policy, with a view to delivering smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in a resource-efficient environment that people actually want.