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Strategy and policy of the European Commission
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class="ecl-breadcrumb__segment ecl-breadcrumb__current-page" data-ecl-breadcrumb-item="static" aria-current="page"><span>Strategy and policy</span></li></ol></nav><div class="ecl-page-header__info"><h1 class="ecl-page-header__title"><span>Strategy and policy</span></h1></div><div class="ecl-page-header__description-container"><p class="ecl-page-header__description">The EU's overall political goals are developed collectively by its institutions. Find out how the EU's strategy is developed and translated into policies and initiatives by the European Commission. </p></div></div></div> </div> <main class="ecl-u-pb-xl" id="main-content" data-inpage-navigation-source-area="h2.ecl-u-type-heading-2, div.ecl-featured-item__heading"> <div class="ecl-container"> <div class="ecl-row"> <div class="ecl-col-s-12 ewcms-top-sidebar"> <div> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ecl-row"> <div class="ecl-col-s-12"> <div id="block-ewcms-theme-main-page-content" data-inpage-navigation-source-area="h2, div.ecl-featured-item__heading" class="ecl-u-mb-l"> <article dir="ltr"> <div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_46507"></a> <h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">Setting strategic priorities</h2> <div class="ecl"><p>The EU鈥檚 overall political strategy is developed jointly by its institutions: the European Parliament, European Council, Council of the European Union, and European Commission.</p><p>In particular, the European Council provides the EU鈥檚 direction and goals for a 5-year period in the <a href="https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/strategic-agenda-2024-2029/">EU Strategic Agenda</a>.</p><p>Every five years, at the beginning of a new Commission term, the President of the Commission also determines the political priorities for its upcoming term of office.</p><p>Every year, in the speech on the <a href="https://state-of-the-union.ec.europa.eu/index_en">State of the Union</a>, the President of the Commission presents and debates with the European Parliament the achievements of the Commission during the previous year and announces key initiatives planned for the year to come. These initiatives are also shared with the President of the European Parliament and with the rotating Council Presidency in a so-called 'letter of intent'.</p><p>Based on this and on the 5-year overarching priorities, a plan of action for the next calendar year is set out in the Commission work programme. It describes how the political priorities will be turned into concrete actions.</p><p>Through strategic foresight, the Commission also seeks to embed future insights into its policy-making, strategic planning, and preparedness.</p></div> </div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_46512"></a> <div class="ecl-content-item-block"><div class="ecl-row"><div class="ecl-content-item-block__item contextual-region ecl-u-mb-l ecl-col-12 ecl-col-l-6 "><article class="ecl-navigation-list__item ecl-navigation-list__item--no-border" ><div class="ecl-content-block ecl-navigation-list__content-block" data-ecl-auto-init="ContentBlock" data-ecl-content-block ><div class="ecl-content-block__title"data-ecl-title-link><a href="/strategy-and-policy/how-decisions-are-made_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone" >How decisions are made</a></div><div class="ecl-content-block__description"><div class="ecl"><p>Designing EU policies and laws to benefit citizens, businesses and other stakeholders in the EU, in line with better regulation rules</p></div></div></div></article></div><div class="ecl-content-item-block__item contextual-region ecl-u-mb-l ecl-col-12 ecl-col-l-6 "><article class="ecl-navigation-list__item ecl-navigation-list__item--no-border" ><div class="ecl-content-block ecl-navigation-list__content-block" data-ecl-auto-init="ContentBlock" data-ecl-content-block ><div class="ecl-content-block__title"data-ecl-title-link><a href="/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone" >2019-2024 priorities</a></div><div class="ecl-content-block__description"><div class="ecl"><p>Six priorities of the Commission during 2019-2024 term</p></div></div></div></article></div><div class="ecl-content-item-block__item contextual-region ecl-u-mb-l ecl-col-12 ecl-col-l-6 "><article class="ecl-navigation-list__item ecl-navigation-list__item--no-border" ><div class="ecl-content-block ecl-navigation-list__content-block" data-ecl-auto-init="ContentBlock" data-ecl-content-block ><div class="ecl-content-block__title"data-ecl-title-link><a href="/strategy-and-policy/joint-priorities-eu-institutions-2021-2024_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone" >Joint priorities of the EU institutions</a></div><div class="ecl-content-block__description"><div class="ecl"><p>EU's legislative priorities for the upcoming year agreed between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission</p></div></div></div></article></div><div class="ecl-content-item-block__item contextual-region ecl-u-mb-l ecl-col-12 ecl-col-l-6 last-item-column"><article class="ecl-navigation-list__item ecl-navigation-list__item--no-border" ><div class="ecl-content-block ecl-navigation-list__content-block" data-ecl-auto-init="ContentBlock" data-ecl-content-block ><div class="ecl-content-block__title"data-ecl-title-link><a href="/strategy-and-policy/strategic-foresight_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone" >Strategic foresight</a></div><div class="ecl-content-block__description"><div class="ecl"><p>Strengthening preparedness and evidence-based anticipatory policy-making</p></div></div></div></article></div><div class="ecl-content-item-block__item contextual-region ecl-u-mb-l ecl-col-12 ecl-col-l-6 last-item-column last-item"><article class="ecl-navigation-list__item ecl-navigation-list__item--no-border" ><div class="ecl-content-block ecl-navigation-list__content-block" data-ecl-auto-init="ContentBlock" data-ecl-content-block ><div class="ecl-content-block__title"data-ecl-title-link><a href="/strategy-and-policy/strategy-documents_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone" >Strategy documents</a></div><div class="ecl-content-block__description"><div class="ecl"><p>Commission work programme, management plans, strategic plans and annual activity reports</p></div></div></div></article></div></div></div> </div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_46513"></a> <h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">Planning by departments</h2> <div class="ecl"><p>Commission departments produce strategic and management plans showing how they will contribute to the Commission's priorities and setting clear objectives and indicators for monitoring and reporting.</p><p>For all major legislative and policy defining initiatives, Commission departments prepare an impact assessment to analyse the likely economic, environmental and social effects of the proposals.</p><p>A list of planned Commission initiatives and a list of adopted Commission initiatives is updated regularly and sent to other EU institutions to help them organise their own activities.</p><p><a href="/law/law-making-process/planning-and-proposing-law/impact-assessments_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone">Impact assessments</a></p></div> </div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_46514"></a> <h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">Developing and implementing policies</h2> <div class="ecl"><p>EU policies are designed to bring benefits to citizens, businesses and other stakeholders in the EU. <a href="https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-making-process/planning-and-proposing-law/better-regulation_en">Better regulation tools</a> ensure that each new policy is based on evidence and best available practice.</p><p>The Commission develops and implements鈥疎U policies鈥痓y</p><ul><li>proposing laws to the鈥疎uropean Parliament鈥痑nd鈥疌ouncil of the European Union</li><li>helping EU countries implement EU legislation</li><li>managing the EU's budget and allocating funding</li><li>ensuring that EU law is complied with together with the Court of Justice</li><li>representing the EU outside Europe鈥痶ogether with the EU's diplomatic service, the鈥疎uropean External Action Service</li></ul><p><a href="https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone">EU policies</a></p><p><a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone">Have your say on Commission initiatives</a></p><p><a href="/law/track-law-making_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone">Track law-making</a></p></div> </div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_46515"></a> <h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">The EU budget</h2> <div class="ecl"><p>The <a href="https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/eu-budget_en">EU budget</a> is the tool that allows the EU to deliver on its policy priorities and invest in large-scale projects that EU countries could not finance on their own. By pooling resources, the EU budget creates added value, strengthens Europe鈥檚 economy and geopolitical standing.</p><p><a href="/strategy-and-policy/eu-budget/motion_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone">The EU budget in motion</a></p><p><a href="/strategy-and-policy/eu-budget/long-term-eu-budget_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone">The long-term EU budget</a></p><p><a href="/strategy-and-policy/eu-budget/eu-borrower-investor-relations_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone">The EU as a borrower - Investor relations</a></p></div> </div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_46516"></a> <h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">Reporting</h2> <div class="ecl"><p>The Commission plans and reports on its work in a yearly cycle known as the strategic planning and programming cycle. The Commission regularly publishes reports resulting from each cycle.</p><p>At the end of the budget year, all Commission departments produce an annual activity report on their performance in achieving their objectives. These reports are collated in a synthesis report communicated to the European Parliament and the Council. As of 2016, the synthesis report is included in the annual management and performance report for the EU budget.</p><p><a href="/strategy-and-policy/strategy-documents/annual-activity-reports_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone">Annual activity reports</a></p><p><a href="/publications/annual-management-and-performance-reports_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone">Annual management and performance reports</a></p></div> </div> <div class="ecl-u-mb-2xl"> <a id="paragraph_46517"></a> <h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">Evaluation</h2> <div class="ecl"><p>The Commission continuously evaluates whether EU policies have met the needs of European business and citizens. Evaluations assess a policy for effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence and EU added value. Evaluations are communicated to the public via evaluation roadmaps.</p><p><a href="/law/law-making-process/evaluating-and-improving-existing-laws/evaluating-laws_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone">Evaluating policies</a></p></div> </div> <div class="related-links"> <h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">Related links</h2> <div class="ecl-list"> <div class="ecl-content-item-block"><div class="ecl-row"><div class="ecl-content-item-block__item contextual-region ecl-u-mb-l ecl-col-12 ecl-col-l-6 "><article class="ecl-content-item" ><div class="ecl-content-block ecl-content-item__content-block" data-ecl-auto-init="ContentBlock" data-ecl-content-block ><div class="ecl-content-block__title"data-ecl-title-link><a href="/about-european-commission/role-european-commission/law_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone" >Commission's role in EU law</a></div><div class="ecl-content-block__list-container"></div></div></article></div><div class="ecl-content-item-block__item contextual-region ecl-u-mb-l ecl-col-12 ecl-col-l-6 last-item-column"><article class="ecl-content-item" ><div class="ecl-content-block ecl-content-item__content-block" data-ecl-auto-init="ContentBlock" data-ecl-content-block ><div class="ecl-content-block__title"data-ecl-title-link><a href="/about-european-commission/role-european-commission/budget-and-funding_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone" >Commission's role in budget and funding</a></div><div class="ecl-content-block__list-container"></div></div></article></div><div class="ecl-content-item-block__item contextual-region ecl-u-mb-l ecl-col-12 ecl-col-l-6 last-item-column last-item"><article class="ecl-content-item" ><div class="ecl-content-block ecl-content-item__content-block" data-ecl-auto-init="ContentBlock" data-ecl-content-block ><div class="ecl-content-block__title"data-ecl-title-link><a href="/about-european-commission/role-european-commission/international-relations_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone" >Commission's role in 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