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Europe listening to its citizens for a sustainable Europe

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Sustainable growth means that growth should be based not only on quantity but also – in fact even more – on quality, which means (a) no exploitation of the environment or of labour, (b) fair living conditions, (c) economic growth measured not only by annual flow, but also by stocks of wealth and their distribution, (d) meeting the needs of all within the means of the planet, (e) developing economies that allow us to thrive, regardless of whether or not they grow, and (f) a closed flow of income cycling between households, businesses, banks, government and trade, operating in a social and... ecological way. Energy, materials, the natural world, human society, power, and the wealth we hold in common, all are missing from the current model. The unpaid work of carers – principally women – is ignored, though no economy could function without them. As to sustainable competitiveness, it is a model that balances economic prosperity, environmental issues and social inclusiveness. In this context, the sustainability-adjusted global competitiveness index needs to take into consideration two new dimensions – environmental and social.