PERSPECTIVE Europe 2020 – The European Strategy for Sustainable Growth What Does It Look Like from Outside? JAVIER PEREIRA September 2011 n The 2020 Strategy is the EU's development plan launched in 2010 with the goal of »emerging stronger from the crisis«. As the global downturn has demonstrated, the EU's growth is linked closely to the performance of other countries and regions. Consequently, whether the 2020 Strategy is able to deliver results depends not only on regional policies and measures, but also on how it deals with the global context. n From the perspective of the BRIC countries, the Europe 2020 Strategy is unlikely to help the EU reclaim its role as a leading global economic and political player. The contents and structure of the strategy are extremely inward-oriented which limits its outreach potential and its relevance in a globalised world. In order to overcome this weakness, it is important to implement the Strategy alongside a set of compre­hensive and coordinated international policies. n At the regional level, the Europe 2020 Strategy is a first, important milestone on the European path towards integrated economic and sustainable growth, reflecting the European commitment to work together for a better future. Nonetheless, many challenges remain. On the one hand, it is important to ensure that the Strategy has sufficient popular and financial support. On the other hand, the EU needs to take the necessary steps to overcome existing internal tensions and problems.