Progress on the implementation of the Lisbon Agenda was slower than hoped for, and the Lisbon Agenda is not accorded enough importance by observers. I want to argue today that things are not really that bad. •  Europe has very successfully managed to achieve economic convergence among its present 15 Member States.
•  Europe has successfully introduced a single currency for 12 nations. •  Europe has designed an impressive agenda of structural reform at the Lisbon summit, and progress is being made. •  And Europe has shown remarkable persistence in the pursuit of its ambitious agenda of further development.