Europe 2020, the EU's new strategy to boost growth and competitiveness, is running into criticism from member states unhappy with some of the proposed targets.

EU leaders are scheduled to approve the plan at their meeting in Brussels on 25-26 March – including its five targets of raising employment, promoting innovation, responding to climate change and energy use, boosting education, and reducing poverty.

Member states have already voiced opposition to the specific goal of lifting 20 million people out of poverty by 2020. They argue that the most effective way to reduce poverty is by achieving higher economic growth and creating job opportunities. Some view this target as little more than a gesture to social issues by José Manuel Barroso, the European Commission's president.

Germany is the most outspoken of the member states that see problems with the education targets – particularly cutting early school leaving to less than 10%, and ensuring that at least 40% of young people have a university degree or diploma.

Angela Merkel, Germany's chancellor, has warned Barroso that her government will not sign up to anything in this area that has not been agreed by the regional governments of the Länder, which are responsible for education.

Poland is urging a stronger focus on policies that drive economic growth. Mikolaj Dowgielewicz, Poland's state secretary for EU affairs, told journalists in Brussels on 15 March that there should be a target for energy and information technology infrastructure, and that Poland favoured a numerical target that linked population density to infrastructure provision. The strategy should also stress the importance of cohesion policy in helping countries boost economic development, Dowgielewicz added.

The conclusions of the finance ministers meeting in Brussels on Tuesday (16 March) merely “took note” of the Commission's communication on the 2020 strategy, rather than welcoming it – language that reflects reluctance to endorse the Commission's document at this stage.

Ministers will discuss the strategy on Monday (22 March) with Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, to prepare the summit, which Van Rompuy will chair.