Page 48 - european-lifelong-guidance-policies-progress-report

Section 3: EU Policy Developments

3.6 Employment sector The Commission is also urging member-states to
make better use of the European Social Fund, which
3.6.1 Key developments still has €30 billion of funding uncommitted to proj-
ects. In addition, the Commission has put forward a
Young people are particularly affected by the current set of concrete actions to be financed directly by EU
economic crisis and by the decrease in permanent funds.
jobs. Across the EU they face an unemployment Each member-state will set out in its National
rate of over 20%, which is twice as high as that of Reform Programme (NRP) the concrete measures it
the overall population, and they are also over-repre- will take to address these issues (National Job Plans);
sented among those on temporary contracts. implementation will be subject to enhanced moni-
toring in the framework of the European semester
Fighting youth unemployment (Statement, 31 January 2012).

The Council Resolution on the Structured Dialogue Employment situation
with Young People on Youth Employment, adopted on 26
May 2011, was the conclusion of the first cycle of the The Annual Growth Survey (AGS) for 2012 takes
Structured Dialogue on Youth Employment (1 Janu- stock of the employment situation and launches the
ary 2010 to 30 June 2011). The Resolution identified 2012 European Semester of Economic Governance.
the following priorities: The labour market reform for higher employment
has been taken into account by member-states in
• Easier access for all young people to youth- their 2011 NRPs. Country-specific recommendations
friendly, high-quality information about the of the Commission were endorsed by the European
labour market. Council in June 2011.
• Career-oriented training and guidance. In addition, in March 2011, the member countries
• Recognition of youth work and non-formal of the Euro area and six non-Euro-area member-
learning. states agreed on the Euro Plus Pact, which requires Policy
• Equipping young people with skills and com- these countries to make voluntary commitments in
petences and easing their access to the labour the areas of competitiveness and employment, going
market through tailored measures and a quality beyond what has been agreed at EU level. Their
framework for internships. national commitments are integrated in the NRPs
• Improved flexibility as well as security. and are assessed within the framework of the Euro-
• Equal access to mobility opportunities. pean Semester.
The Annual Growth Survey highlights lifelong
The Youth Opportunities Initiative, adopted by learning policies as essential to equip people with
the Commission on 21 December 2011, calls on the right skills for the labour market. By 2020, 35%
member-states to work on: of jobs will require higher qualifications, and the
demand for low skills will drop by 12 million jobs.
• preventing early school-leaving; The Communication on Action for Stability, Growth
• helping youngsters to develop skills relevant to and Jobs adopted by the European Commission on
the labour market; 30 May 2012 proposed a number of elements to
10
• ensuring work experience and on-the-job train-
ing;
• helping young people find a first good job. 10 http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/pdf/nd/eccomm2012_en.pdf

47