A U (3) algebraic approach is proposed to describe 2D systems for effective potentials. Our approach is based on the 2D vibron model where the addition of a scalar boson is introduced into the 2D harmonic oscillator space. As a crucial ingredient of our approach an algebraic realization of the coordinates and momenta is obtained. This feature provides the tools to obtain the algebraic representation of a 2D Hamiltonian in terms of similitude transformation of a diagonal matrix. As an application of our approach the rotation-bending energy levels of carbon suboxide C3O2 are described in good agreement with experimental data.