(25 March 2010) The Spring Alliance the group of trade unions, environmental organizations, social action groups and development NGOs of which EPSU is a member, sent a letter to the Spring Council asking for different targets in the EU 2020 strategy. The alliance suggest:
 Improve the current greenhouse gas reduction target within the band agreed at the Climate Conference in Bali in 2007, so within 25% and 40% by industrialised countries, and this on the basis of domestic reductions.
 Set a binding target for the reduction of overall primary energy consumption of at least 20% for the coming decade. Endorse and include the biodiversity protection and restoration target adopted by Environment Ministers.
 Defend the accepted relative poverty target supported by the Social OMC (60% of median household income) but increase ambition to 50% by 2020. Agree national targets which respect different challenges, and avoid selecting only those groups that are easiest to help, setting sub-targets for key groups (including children and old people) and homeless.
  Achieve by 2020 a shift, in all Member States, of at least 10% of the revenue or taxbase away from labour to environmental pressures, resource use and capital.
 From 2010 on, prioritise investment in a transformative programme, coordinated with the economic recovery plans, which delivers new industrial policies and an economy based on less carbon, less energy use, less resource use, with more and better jobs, and services contributing to sustainable development.
 Secure social protection systems, public services and quality of jobs from now on, and commit to agree within a year on resource use reduction targets, as well as to develop specific targets on improving public services, social protection and quality of jobs.

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OPEN LETTER TO THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL