The European Commission has adopted what will be its working priorities for year 2011 in a Programme highly focused in ensuring a sustained recovery. This programme translates the general objectives into concrete actions and  reflects the Commission’s determination to lead Europe out of the crisis.

President Barroso's State of the Union Address pronounced in the Parliament in early September 2010 initiated an open debate in which EU institutions could discuss the priorities of the Union for year 2011. As president Barroso highlighted the European Union must now put into practice policies which reflect its ongoing commitment to creating sustainable growth and jobs based on the Europe 2020 Strategy.

This is the first time the Commission adopts its Working Programme after a process which includes debates with the president of the Parliament's Committees, following the provisions for higher cooperation set by the Lisbon Treaty. The Commission will now work closely with the European Parliament and the Council, as well as stakeholders, including national parliaments to ensure a broad ownership on the overall approach as well as on individual initiatives.

The priorities for 2011 Working Programm

• Sustaining Europe's social market economy out of the crisis and beyond (examples include a legislative framework for bank crisis management, proposals to reinforce the protection of consumers of financial services and a regulation on credit rating agencies – aiming to complete the ambitious reform of our financial sector next year)
• Restoring growth for jobs (examples include new fiscal enforcement mechanisms, proposals to support the competitiveness of EU enterprises, especially SMEs, a European Energy Efficiency Plan, a Social Business initiative, legislative initiatives on posting of workers and working time to be elaborated in close dialogue with social partners, improvement of the frameworks for company taxation and VAT )
• Pursuing the citizens' agenda: Rights, Freedom and Justice (examples include strengthening of consumer rights, a Common Framework Reference for contract law, renewed Civil Protection Legislation, A Registered Travellers Programme and a new governance structure for OLAF, the EU's anti fraud office)
• Europe pulling its weight on the global stage (examples include supporting the new European External Action Service, projecting the 2020 growth objectives on the external scene and continuing to improve EU's development assistance to target those most in need)
• From input to impact: making the most of EU policies (examples include a proposal for the next Multi-annual Financial Framework, according a central importance to smart regulation and prolonging the Consultation period to 12 weeks)

Annexes to 2011 Commission work programme

• a list of 40 strategic initiatives which the Commission commits to deliver in 2011 (Annex I)
• a list of more than 140 other possible initiatives under preparation until the end of the mandate (Annex II)
• a list of simplification proposals and withdrawals (Annexes III and IV)