To the ninth meeting of the EESC’s Europe 2020 steering committee first thing this morning, chaired by Joost van Iersel (Employers’ Group, Netherlands). President Staffan Nilsson opened proceedings before the Committee went on to consider national reform programmes and the European Commission’s country-specific recommendations, potential synergies between the strategy and other flagship initiatives, and external aspects of the strategy. In his speech, Staffan Nilsson pointed to the growing convergence of opinion among policy makers throughout the globe on the need for a growth strategy before then reminding participants that Europe 2020 was already, and would remain, an important part of any sustainable growth strategy for the European Union. In September, at the President’s initiative, the Committee will be holding a special conference designed to remind and mobilise civil society actors in particular about the need for the fullest possible involvement in making the strategy a success.