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The Agenda 2010 is a series of reforms planned and executed by the German government, a Social-Democrats/Greens coalition at that time, which aimed to reform the German welfare system and labour relations. The declared objective of Agenda 2010 was to "promote economic growth" and, thus, "reduce unemployment". ==The Agenda== On March 14, 2003, Chancellor Gerhard Schröder gave a speech before the German ''Bundestag'' outlining the proposed plans for reform. He pointed out three main areas which the agenda would focus on: the economy, the system of social security, and Germany's position on the world market. German finance minister Hans Eichel had the responsibility of implementing socially unpopular measures including tax cuts (such as a 25% reduction in the basic rate of income tax), cuts in the cost absorption for medical treatment and drastic cuts in pension benefits, and cuts in unemployment benefits. The measures were ostensibly proposed in accordance with the market liberalisation approach adopted by the EU's Lisbon Strategy. The name ''Agenda 2010'' itself is a reference to the Lisbon Strategy's 2010 deadline. The plan was strongly promoted by the Bertelsmann media group〔("Ohne Bertelsmann geht nichts mehr" ) ("Without Bertelsmann nothing works"), Heise online, 9 November 2004 〕〔In their book on the Bertelsmann AG and Bertelsmann Foundation, authors Hersch Fischler and Frank Böckelmann assert that "The Foundation succeeded through the promotion of Agenda 2010 to make their mark significantly. It is not widely unknown that the Foundation has decisively determined the academic, health, economic, and labor market policy since the start of the Schröder government." Böckelmann, Frank & Hersch Fischler, ''Bertelsmann: Hinter der Fassade des Medienimperiums'' (''Bertelsmann: Behind the facade of the media empire''); Eichborn, Germany; September 2004, ISBN 978-3821855516 〕 A series of changes in the labour market known as the Hartz plan started in 2003 and the last step, Hartz IV, came into effect on January 1, 2005. These changes affected unemployment benefits and job centres in Germany, and the very nature of the German system of social security. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Agenda 2010」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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