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The European Commission has launched the Europe 2020 Strategy to go out of the crisis and prepare EU economy for the next decade. The Commission identifies three key drivers for growth, to be implemented through concrete actions at EU and national levels: smart growth (fostering knowledge, innovation, education and digital society), sustainable growth (making our production more resource efficient while boosting our competitiveness) and inclusive growth (raising participation in the labour market, the acquisition of skills and the fight against poverty). This battle for growth and jobs requires ownership at top political level and mobilisation from all actors across Europe. Five targets are set which define where the EU should be by 2020 and against which progress can be tracked.

In January 2010 compared with December 2009, the industrial producer price index rose by 0.7% in the euro area (EA16) and by 0.9% in the EU27. In December 2009, prices increased by 0.1% in both zones.

The annual rate of change of M3 increased to 0.1% in January 2010, from -0.3% in December 2009. The three-month average of the annual rates of change of M3 over the period November 2009 - January 2010 stood at -0.1%, unchanged from the previous period.

The euro area (EA16) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 9.9% in January 2010, the same as in December 2009. It was 8.5% in January 2009. The EU27 unemployment rate was 9.5% in January 2010, unchanged compared with December 2009. It was 8.0% in January 2009.

Organic farming in the EU27 covered 7.8 million hectares in 2008, up by 7% compared with 2007. Over a longer time period, the data available for the EU25 show an increase of 21% in the total organic area between 2005 and 2008.

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the Euro Area increased 0.8 percent and The Conference Board Coincident Economic Index® (CEI) decreased 0.1 percent in January.

Euro area annual inflation was 1.0% in January 2010, up from 0.9% in December 2009. A year earlier the rate was 1.1%. Monthly inflation was -0.8% in January 2010.

The EU economy is gradually recovering, whilst still facing headwinds. Real GDP started to grow again in the third quarter of 2009, ending the longest and deepest recession in the EU's history. The exceptional crisis measures put in place in the EU played a major role in turning the economy around. However, in line with the autumn 2009 forecast, growth eased in the fourth quarter, as the impact of some temporary factors started to fade.

In February, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) remained broadly unchanged, lingering at 97.4 (up by 0.2 points) in the EU and at 95.9 (down by 0.1 point) in the euro area. After 10 months of uninterrupted improvement, the rebound appears to have lost its momentum – though the indicator is now not far off its long-term average, especially in the EU.

Funding for 150 new posts in the European Parliament and an increase in the budget provision for hiring MEPs' assistants was approved by Parliament on Thursday. Due to Parliament's vastly increased powers and tasks under the Lisbon Treaty, extra staff are needed in Parliament's political groups, its administration, and to work with MEPs.