Project Europe 2030

At a ceremony during the Open Day on 8 May at the premises of the European Council and the Council, Felipe González, chairman of the Reflection Group on the Future of Europe, handed over the report "Project Europe 2030 - Challenges and Opportunities" to Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council.

Herman Van Rompuy with Felipe González,
Chairman of the Reflection Group
on the Future of Europe.
© European Union, 2010

This independent Reflection Group was set up by the European Council under the chair of Mr. González to identify, analyse and propose solutions to the challenges the EU will be facing at the horizon 2030. It is composed of 12 members with outstanding expertise in their field of activity. They have also sought the opinion of experts from the academic and business worlds.

This report to the European Council lists a wide range of problems with which the EU and member states are confronted, for instance the global economic crisis and states coming to the rescue of banks, climate change and energy supply as well as the threats of terrorism and organised crime.

The Reflection Group is convinced that the EU can overcome the difficulties, if everybody - politicians and citizens - are decided to pull together and act in a decisive manner to develop this ambitious political project. It is therefore essential that citizens back up the Union and participate in its further development.

Herman Van Rompuy thanked Felipe González for the important work done summarizing: "Sometimes we have to step aside and take a distant view. We must step back from today's crisis to see clearly again. That is just what you have done in this report, taking the long perspective. You look into the future until 2030. I would then be at the very respectable age of 83, and I would rediscover your report and be able to verify, if it was right. It is time for the European Union to develop its prospective capacity. You have identified all the huge challenges, all the great opportunities for Europe, they are the keys to the future."

More information:
Project Europe 2030 
Reflection Group on the Future of Europe - Background 
Reflection Group website (en) 
Webcast of the ceremony 
Webcast of press conference with Felipe González