Lisbon Agenda Implementation: the Example of Slovenia Most countries set out the goal of achieving a common employment rate. These goals on average exceed the current employment rates by 2 to 3 percentage points, which would mean around 10 million additional jobs by 2008. The Danish“flexicurity” approach was pointed to as a case of good prac­tice, combining flexible rules for hiring and firing workers with high un­employment benefits and efficient active employment policies as well as incentives for additional education and training. Member states indicated the goal of high growth in total expenditures for R&D by 2010. However, it remains uncertain whether an all-European goal of having 3% of GDP earmarked for R&D can be attained by 2010; currently it is exceeded only in Sweden and Finland. Almost all countries foresee an increase in public funding of R&D. The low level of participation of the private sector remains a problem since there is still no clear answer as to how to create a business environment encouraging, in particular, industrial enterprises to invest more in R&D. The foreseen 7th Research Framework Programme will no doubt contribute to the promotion of research and innovation. The long-term sustainability of public finances presents a great challenge, with the problem of the ageing population placing a growing strain on public finances. In the coming decades, the share of the European population aged above 65 years will rise further in proportion to the size of the working-age population. Many member states foresee further pension and health-care reforms to ensure public finance sustainability. The financial sustainability of the pension insurance system is to be assured by gradually prolonging the retirement age(e.g. in Germany to 67 years), by introducing flexible forms of retirement encouraging longer participation in the labour market, and by reducing pensions upon early retirement. Progress has been made in creating a business-friendly environment. Member states focused their efforts on improving the regulatory framework and reducing administrative barriers. A third of the countries foresee introducing a preli­minary impact assessment of regulations and laws on the economy while as many as three quarters of countries quantified their goals in terms of easing administrative barriers. Although member states do not mention enhancing competition as their key goal, the strengthening roles of the competition protection offices in many countries is indeed a positive sign of improvement. The measures presented in the NRPs are a good starting point for a new Lisbon Strategy, but obviously mere programmes are no guarantee of the goals actually being met. There is a need for a political commitment to structural reforms and their consistent delivery. The main challenge ahead is therefore to strengthen national strategies, notably by: stepping up the ambitions for reforms; matching 97