COMMISSION STAFF WORKING PAPER […]
Date: 2011-11-24
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU policy, economic and social cohesion, innovation, regional integration, research and development, sustainable development

EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 24.11.2011 
SEC(2011) 1372 final 

PART 1 

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING PAPER 

[…] 

Accompanying the  

Seventh Progress Report on economic, social and territorial cohesion 

{COM(2011) 776 final} 

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1. Population aged 30-34 with tertiary education,
2007-2010 

This indicator shows the proportion of population aged 30-34 with tertiary education to 
the total population 30-34 of the same age group. 

Why does this matter? 

Educational  attainment  of  the  population  is one  of  the  most  important  factors  of
economic  growth.  People  with  tertiary  education  are  more  likely  to  get  a  job,  have  a
higher  income  and  have  higher  life  expectancy.  Increasing  employment  rate  of  tertiary
educated  people  is  also  likely  to  have  positive  effects  on  productivity.  Most  of  the
increase in the share of the tertiary-educated working-age population comes from those
under  35.  Therefore,  the  Europe  2020  strategy  has  set  the  target  for  the  share  of
population aged 30-34 with tertiary education at 40%. The EU share in 2010 was 34% .
The national 2020 targets range between 60% (Ireland) and 26% (Italy). 

How do the EU regions score? 

As  well  as  in  the  case  of  other  educational 
attainment  indicators,  the  share  of  tertiary 
educated aged 30-34 varies widely in Europe. 
Considering  the  average  levels  for  the  years 
2007-2010,  one  region  in  five  has  reached 
the EU 2020 target. The top ten regions have 
shares  significantly  above  the  EU  2020 
targets  and  are  mostly  capital  regions  or 
adjoin  capital  regions.  The  bottom  ten  are 
located  in  the  Czech  Republic,  Romania, 
Portugal  and  Italy  (see  map  1.1).  Other 
regions  lagging  behind  the  European  target 
are  located  in  Greece,  Bulgaria,  Hungary, 
Slovakia and Germany.  

This table shows the ten regions with the highest 
share of population aged 30-34  with tertiary 
education - Average 2007-2010

MS

Region

ES País Vasco
UK Inner London
DK Hovedstaden
BE Prov. Brabant Wallon
BE Prov. Vlaams- Brabant
FR Île de France
SE Stockholm
NL Utrecht
UK North Eastern Scotland
ES Comunidad de Madrid

tertiary 
education %
60
59
56
56
55
52
51
51
51
49

This table shows the ten regions that are most distant from 
their national 2020 tertiary education  target in percentage 
points

MS

Region

PT Região Autónoma dos Açores
SK Západné Slovensko
SK Východné Slovensko
CZ Severozápad
PL Kujawsko-Pomorskie
DE Lüneburg
PT Alentejo
FR Corse
DE Sachsen-Anhalt
PL Opolskie

distance to 
national target, 
in pp
-29
-26
-25
-24
-24
-23
-23
-23
-23
-23

The distance to the national target is
particularly  significant 
for  Açores
and  for  some  regions  located  in
Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland
and  Germany.  Overall,  only  25
regions  across  Europe  have  reached
the national target in the 2007-2010
average, mainly in capital regions, in
northern  Spain  and  in  south  Finland
and Sweden (see map 1.2). 

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2 

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3 

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2.  Early  leavers  from  education  and  training,
2008-2010 

The  share  of  early  leavers  from  education  and  training  measures  the  number  of  people
aged  18-24  with  at  most  lower  secondary  education  and  not  attending  any  further
education or training, divided by the total population aged 18-24. 

Why does this matter? 

The  reduction  of  early  school  leavers  and  the  increase  of  educational  attainment  of  the
population  are  key  targets  of  Europe  2020.  These  two  strategies  can  provide  vital
support  to  Europe’s  employment  and  growth  objectives.  Education  contributes  to
productivity  of  an  individual  and  can  lead  to  increases  in  employment,  personal  income
and  ones’  overall  life  satisfaction.  People  without  a  complete  secondary  education  are
much  more  likely  to  be  unemployed.  The  Europe  2020  target  is  to  reduce  the  early
leaving from education and training below 10% by 2020, while the 2008-2010 average is
14.5%. National targets for this strategy range between 4.5% (Poland) and 29% (Malta).

How do the EU regions score? 

MS

Region

This table  shows the ten regions with the lowest share of 
early leavers from education and training aged  18-24 - 
Average 2008-2010

Regional  differences  in  early  school 
leaving  are  high.  Considering  a  three-
year  average  (2008-2010),  the  Europe 
2020  target  has  been  reached  in  74 
NUTS  2  regions,  around  one  in  four, 
requiring  then  a  substantial  effort  in 
many  regions  to  be  achieved.  Overall, 
the  regions  with  the  highest  shares  of 
early  school  leavers  (above  30%)  are 
located  in  Spain  and  Portugal.  Also 
Malta  is  in  the  top  ten  regions  in  this 
indicator.  Regions  with  high  shares 
(between  20%  and  30%)  are  also 
located 
Italy,  Bulgaria, 
Romania  and  United  Kingdom    (see  map  2.1).  In  contrast,  the  lowest  rates  of  early
leavers  from  education  and  training  are  registered  in  particular  in  Slovakia,  the  Czech
Republic and Poland.  

SK Bratislavský kraj
CZ Jihovýchod
CZ Praha
SK Západné Slovensko
PL Małopolskie
PL
CZ Střední Morava
PL Świętokrzyskie
PL
Podlaskie
PL Wielkopolskie

%  of early 
school  leavers
2
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4

in  Greece, 

Podkarpackie

This table shows the ten regions that are most distant 
from their national 2020 early school leavers target in 
percentage  points

MS

Region

PT Região Autónoma dos Açores

PT Região Autónoma da Madeira
ES Ciudad  Autónoma de Ceuta
PT Norte
ES Illes Balears
PT Algarve
ES Región de Murcia
ES Ciudad  Autónoma de Melilla
ES Andalucía
ES Castilla-La Mancha

distance to 
national  target, 
in pp

39

31
26
25
25
23
23
23
22
20

4 

EN 

The  distance  to  the  national  target  is
significant  in  regions  of  Spain  and
Portugal,  as  well  as  in Greece,  Bulgaria
and  Southern  Italy.  Instead,  several
regions  of  Austria,  Germany,  Italy,  the
Czech  Republic and  Slovakia  have
already reached the national target (see
map 2.2).  

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5 

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3. General expenditure on R&D (GERD), 2008 

This indicator measures the share of regional GDP invested in expenditure on research 
and development by both the private and the public sector. 

Why does this matter? 

GERD  indicates  the  resources  devoted  by  a  region  for  the  development  of  innovations
and the transformation of new ideas into market opportunities through R&D. In general,
the  majority  of  activities  related  to  R&D  take  place  within  the  private  sector  but  the
public  sector  also  plays  a  crucial  role  notably  by  supporting  fundamental  research.  The
Europe 2020 strategy includes the headline target of bringing GERD to 3% of GDP for the
EU-27  by  2020.  In  2008,  the  share  was  1.9%. Member  states,  through  their  National
Reform Programmes, set their targets between 0.5% (Cyprus) and 4% (Sweden) of their
national GDP. 

How do the EU regions score? 

MS

is 

Region

This table shows the ten regions with the highest R&D as a %  
of GDP in 2008

The  performance  on  this  dimension 
varies  widely  across  European 
regions.  A  characteristic  of  GERD  in 
developed 
the 
countries 
geographical  concentration  in  core 
areas,  typically  metropolitan  and 
the 
capital  regions.  In  Europe, 
regions  with  the  highest  GERD  to 
GDP  ratio  are  located  in  northern 
countries  (Germany,  UK,  Sweden 
and  Finland).  The  performance  is 
also  high  in  Austria  and  in  capital 
regions 
as  Hovedstaden 
(Copenhagen),  Madrid,  Lisbon  and 
Prague.  At  the  other  end  of  the  spectrum,  a  series  of  regions  mainly  in  Romania,
Bulgaria, Greece and Poland have an expenditure on R&D below 0.5% of their GDP (see
map 3.1).  

Braunschweig
East Anglia
Pohjois-Suomi
Stuttgart
Cheshire
Hovedstaden
Sydsverige
Oberbayern
Midi-Pyrénées
Dresden

Note: AT,BE,DE,DK,IE,IT,NL,SE: 2007, EL 2005 and FR 2004

6.7
5.9
5.9
5.8
5.7
5.1
4.8
4.3
4.2
4.1

DE
UK
FI
DE
UK
DK
SE
DE
FR
DE

GERD as % of 
GDP

such 

MS

Region

This table shows the ten regions that are the most distant 
from their national 2020 R&D target in percentage points
distant to 
national targ et, 
in pp
-3.8
-3.2
-3.1
-2.9
-2.9
-2.8
-2.7
-2.7
-2.7
-2.7

Åland
Mellersta Norrland
Burgenland  (A)
Småland med öarna
Ciudad Autónoma de Ceuta
Corse
Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla
Norra Mellansverig e
Salzburg
Brandenburg  - Nordost

FI
SE
AT
SE
ES
FR
ES
SE
AT
DE

Note: AT,BE,DE,DK,IE,IT,NL,SE: 2007, EL 2005 and FR 2004

Only 16 regions across Europe have
reached  the national  targets  set  by
2020, including some capital regions
like Ile de France, Berlin, Stockholm
and  Lazio  (see  map  3.2).  The
distance  to  the  EU  2020  national
targets is significant in a number of
in  Spain  and
regions 
in  countries
Portugal  but  also 
performing  well  in  this  indicator
(Germany,  France,  Austria  and
Sweden),  showing  that  a  significant
effort  is  required  also  in  the  most
developed  areas  of  Europe  in  order
to reach the national targets.   

located 

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6 

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7 

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4.  Patent  applications  per  10  million  inhabitants,
2006-2007 

Patent applications per 10 million inhabitants is calculated by dividing the total number of 
patent applications to the EPO in a metro region by the total population of the metro 
region multiplied by 10 million. A metro region1 represents an urban agglomeration of at 
least 250 000 inhabitants and consists of one or more NUTS 3 regions.  

Why does this matter? 

Patents,  by  protecting  new  inventions,  ensure that  inventors  can  get  a  return  on  their
investment someone wants to use their invention. Patents can promote more innovation,
competitiveness  and  economic  growth.  Patent  applications  per  inhabitant  give  an
indication of which metro regions operate close to the knowledge frontier. 

How do the EU metro regions 
score? 

This table shows the ten metro regions with the highest 
patent applications per 10 million inhabitants

Patent  applications  are  the  most 
concentrated  issue  discussed  in 
report.  Patent  application 
this 
rates  differ  between  the  metro 
regions  by  a  factor  of  more  then 
1 000  (hence  the  logarithmic  axis 
in  the  graph).  Even  application 
rates  between  the  country  with 
highest  rate  (Sweden  with  2 889) 
and with the lowest rate (Romania 
with 12) differ by a factor of 240. 

Patent applications per 10 
million inhabitants, 2006-2007
18,003
11,632
7,405
7,180
6,502
6,486
6,063
5,972
5,777
5,394
Note: Cambridge is not a metro region but scores 5,627

Metro region
Eindhoven
Tampere
Stuttgart
München
Mannheim
Regensburg
Heidelberg
Nürnberg
Reutlingen
Ulm

MS
NL
FI
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE

In  all  Member  States,  the  average 
region outperforms the average non-metro regions, with the exception of the UK2.  

metro

This table shows the ten metro regions with the lowest 
patent applications per 10 million inhabitants

Metro region
MS
PL
Kalisz
PL Wloclawek
Galaţi
RO
Plovdiv
BG
Opole
PL
Brasov
RO
Olsztyn
PL
Craiova
RO
Cluj-Napoca
RO
Constanţa
RO

Patent applications per 10 
million inhabitants, 2006-2007
18
18
16
14
12
12
9
7
5
0

or 

cluster 

The  top  ten  metro  regions  are  not
capital  regions.  They  tend  to  be
second  tier  and  smaller  metro
regions  with  a  highly  specialised
and/or
industry 
university. 
differences
The 
between  metro  regions  within  a
country  are  also  large,  with  a  few
scoring far above the national rate
and  many  scoring  below 
the
national  and  even  non-metro  rate.
In  several  MS,  a  second  tier  or
smaller  metro  region  outperforms
the  capital  metro  region  (see
graph). 

The  ten  metro  regions  with  the  lowest  patent  application  per  10  million  inhabitants  are
second  tier  and  smaller  metro  regions  located  in  Poland,  Romania  and  Bulgaria.

1  The capital metro region contains the national capital. The second tier consists of the bigger metro regions
just  below  the  capital  in  the  national  urban hierarchy.  Remaining  metro  regions  are  'smaller'.  For  more
information on metro regions see Regional Focus 01/2011 by Dijkstra L. and Poelman H. 
2    In  the  UK,  Cambridge  and  Oxford,  both  too  small  to  be  considered  as  a  metro  region,  have  such  a  high
number of patent applications per inhabitants (5 627 and 3 369 resp.) that they raise the average performance
of UK non-metro regions above that of the UK metro regions.

EN 

8 

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Change in greenhouse gas emissions outside the Emmissions Trading 
Scheme, 2005-2009 and Europe 2020 targets 

  % change 2005-2009

 2020 Target

-----  Distance to target

Target already reached

Reduced the distance but not yet reached their target

14

13

11

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5

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20

19

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-16

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-14

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Target = Reduction in emissions

Target = Limit increase in emissions

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Source: EEA, provisional calculation method

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11 

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6. Renewable energy 2008 

Consumption of renewable energy and distance to national 2020 targets (national). 

Why does this matter? 

This indicator shows the share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption of
Member  States.  Sources  of  renewable  energy  are  wind  power,  solar  power  (thermal,
photovoltaic  and  concentrated),  hydro-electric  power,  tidal  power,  geothermal  energy
and  biomass.  They  constitute  alternatives  to  fossil  fuels  and  their  hence  contribute  to
reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as diversifying the EU energy supply.  

Renewable  energy  is  also  a  sector  which  offers  interesting  perspective  for  the
development  of  new  technologies  and  of  new  employment  opportunities.  The  EU
Directive  on  renewable  energy  has  set  targets  for  all  Member States,  such  that  the  EU
should reach a 20% share of energy from renewable sources by 2020 and a 10% share
of  renewable  energy  specifically  in  the  transport  sector. The  share  of  renewable  energy
consumption in the EU in 2008 was 10%. 

How do the EU Member States 
score? 

This table  shows the five countries with the highest   share 
of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption in 
2008

The share of renewable energy in gross 
final  energy  consumption  is  already 
in  some  Member  States.  It 
high 
accounts for more than 44% of energy 
consumption in Sweden and more than 
30%  in  Finland.  On  the  contrary,  it  is 
extremely  low  in  other  countries  like 
for  instance  Malta,  Luxemburg  or  the 
United  Kingdom  where 
renewable 
energy represents respectively 0.2%, 2.1% and 2.2% of gross final energy consumption. 

Share of renewable energy in gross final 
energy consumption, 2008 (%)
44.4
30.5
29.9
28.5
23.2

MS
SE
FI
LV
AT
PT

However, it is generally in the Member States where the use of renewables is particularly
low that it is also growing the fastest. For instance, between 2006 and 2008, the share of
renewable energy in gross final energy consumption has grown by 133% in Luxemburg,
by  100%  in  Malta  and  64%  in  Cyprus.  The  growth  in  the  share  of  renewables  in
consumption is above 20% in all Member States where it is currently lower than 5%.  

MS
UK
IE
LV
FR
DK

This table shows the five countries that are most distant to 
their national target in 2008

The  situation  of  Member  States  also
widely varies regarding the distance to
the target they have committed. Some
countries  like  the  United  Kingdom,
Ireland, Latvia or France must increase
the use of renewables by more than 12
their
percentage  points 
targets.  Other  countries  are  already
close  to  their  2020  objective,  like  for
instance Romania, Sweden or Austria which must respectively add another 3.6, 4.6 and
5.5  percentage  points  of  renewables  into  final  energy  consumption  for  reaching  their
targets.  

Distance to target, percentage point
12.8
12.2
12.1
12.0
11.2

reach 

to 

EN 

12 

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13 

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7. Employment rate age group 20-64, 2010 

The employment rate divides the number of persons aged 20 to 64 in employment by the 
total population of the same age group. The indicator is based on the EU Labour Force 
Survey.  

Why does this matter? 

The Europe 2020 strategy aims to increase the employment rate of people aged 20 to 64
to 75% by 2020. In the EU, the rate was 69% in 2010. Increasing the employment rate
will help to reduce poverty and exclusion. It will also help to address the cost of ageing,
in  particular  in  countries  with  a  pay-as-you-go  pension  system.  To  sustainably  increase
the  employment  rate,  the  EU  will  have  to  become  more  globally  competitive.
Investments  in  human  capital  and  innovation  in  the  broad  sense,  connections  and  the
business environment can all contribute to this goal. National 2020 targets stated in the
national reform programmes vary from 62.9% in Malta to 80% in Sweden and Denmark.

How do the EU regions score? 

The  convergence  regions  have  the 
lowest  employment  rate  at  63%,  the 
transition  regions  score  slightly  better 
at  64%.  The  competitiveness  regions 
have higher rate of 72%. To reach the 
target 
the 
convergence  regions  need  more  than 
5  million  jobs,  transition  regions  need 
2.5  million 
competitiveness 
regions need 12 million jobs.  

in  2020, 

of  75% 

and 

This table shows the ten regions with the highest 
employment rate in 2010

MS

Region

FI Åland
SE Stockholm
DE Freiburg
UK North Eastern Scotland
NL Utrecht
DE Schwaben
SE Småland med öarna

Employment rate 
age group 20-64  in 
%, 2010
83.6
81.7
80.2
80.1
79.7
79.5
79.5

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and 
Oxfordshire
UK
SE Västsverige
DE Oberbayern

79.4
79.1
79.0

The  ten  regions  with  the  highest 
employment  rate  are  all  from  the 
Northwest  of  the  EU.  Their  employment  rates  are  unlikely  to  increase  much  more.  In
particular, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the UK have reached high
levels of employment. 

Most countries show stark regional differences, underlining the regional nature of labour
markets and the relatively low labour mobility within the EU.  

The  regions  with  employment  rates  below  60%  are  almost  all  southern,  eastern  or
outermost  regions  (see  map  7.1).  But
some  regions  in  the  North-West  score
low  too,  for  example  West  Wales  and
the Valleys in the UK, Border, Midland
and Western in Ireland or Hainaut and
Brussels in Belgium. 

This  table shows the ten regions which are the most distant 
to their national 2020 employm ent rate target in 2010 in 
p ercentage points

Region

MS

Distance  to national 
2020 emp loyment 
target  in pp

FR Réunion
IT Campania
ES Ciudad Autónoma d e Ceuta
ES Ciudad Autónoma d e Melilla
FR Guyane
IT Calab ria
IT Sicilia
HU Észak-Magyarország
HU Észak-Alföld
FR Guadeloupe

EN 

-25
-24
-23
-23
-22
-22
-21
-21
-21
-20

14 

The  ten  regions  most  distant  to  their
national  target  are  three  of  the  four
three
French  outermost 
two
southern 
Italian 
Hungarian  regions  and  the  Spanish
enclaves  Melilla  and  Ceuta.  The  UK
has opted  not  to  select  a  national
employment target for 2020. 

regions, 
regions, 

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EN 

15 

EN