BRUSSELS, March 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Denmark, Sweden and Austria top the list on this year's scorecard to measure European Union (EU) states' efforts to boost competitiveness, according to a think-tank from the region.

    The result was released on Monday by the Center for European Reform (CER), a privately-funded think-tank which aims to promote new ideas and policies for the EU.

    Each year, the union issues the 'Lisbon Scorecard', which assesses progress among member states on the so-called Lisbon Agenda. The agenda, set up by the EU, aims to encourage the bloc to become the most competitive economy in the world.

    The scorecard was presented to European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso.

    "Many underlying trends are positive", the CER said in a press release. "Slowly, but steadily, the EU is moving forward in most of the areas covered by the Lisbon agenda."

    Denmark and Sweden are once again this year's top two on the scoreboard, while Austria has climbed from five to three.

    Britain and Holland took places four and five respectively, a drop of two places for the Netherlands on the list which comprisesthe EU-25 in addition to acceding states.

    The five countries topping the list performed well in innovation, research and development, according to the CER.

    The scorecard identifies "heroes" and "villains" in the area ofeconomic reform, on the basis of a set of indicators based on Eurostat figures, as well as on prospects for further reform.

    Poland has been earmarked as this year's "villain" by the London-based think-tank because of its poor performance on indicators such as long-term unemployment, but also because of itsrecent shift of government.

    Poland's government is led by the conservative Law and Justice party, which has been criticized for its protectionism, its dislike of foreign investment and its encroachment on the independence of the country's central bank.

    Malta is last on the list, but this is primarily because Eurostat indicators for the Mediterranean island are lacking.

    France and Germany occupy place eight and ten on the list respectively, with France climbing from its position last year of 11 -- primarily because of improving employment figures.

    As a whole, the scorecard reveals a "mixed picture" on the EU'sprogress in meeting its Lisbon goals, the statement said. Enditem