Netherlands performs above average on themes Europe 2020

The Netherlands performs relatively well on the policy themes as laid down in the Europe 2020 strategy. Within the European Union (EU), the Netherlands performs above average with respect to tackling poverty and social exclusion and also regarding employment, Research & Development (R&D) and higher educated. The 2020 objective with respect to higher educated has already been met, but when it comes to renewable energy, the Netherlands is underperforming compared to most EU countries and the target is still far away.

Achievements Netherlands and EU (target for the Netherlands in 2020=100), 2012 or 2013

People in the Netherlands run lowest risk of poverty and social exclusion

In 2012, people in the Netherlands had the lowest risk of poverty and social exclusion in the EU. In the Netherlands, 15 percent of residents were at risk of poverty and social exclusion, versus nearly 25 percent for the EU as a whole.
In the framework of the Europe 2020 strategy, the Netherlands aims to reduce the number of people at risk of poverty and social exclusion. The Dutch government hopes to achieve this goal by reducing the number of people in low work intensity households, but due to the recession, their number has risen from 8.2 percent in 2008 to nearly 9 percent in 2012.

Share persons at risk of poverty or social exclusion, 2012

Renewable energy target still far away

With a share off 4.5 percent of renewable energy sources in total energy consumption, the Netherlands performed poorly in Europe. Only Malta, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom had smaller shares. The Dutch target for 2020 is 14 percent. In 2013, the share for the Netherlands was the same as in 2012.

Renewable energy expressed as a proportion of total energy consumption, 2012

Netherlands performs well with respect to higher educated, jobs and R&D

The Netherlands occupied third place in the EU in 2013 when it comes to employment, tenth place in R&D expenditure in 2012 and eleventh place in the share of higher educated in 2013. Currently, the Netherlands already exceeds the 40 percent target of higher educated 30 to 34-year-olds set for 2020. With respect to employment (76.5 percent in the population aged between 20 and 65 participate on the labour market) and R&D expenditure (2.1 percent of the GDP), the Netherlands is approaching the targets set at 80 and 2.5 percent respectively.
 
Pascal Ramaekers, Lydia Geijtenbeek and Jurriën de Jong