Decision 2022/2296 - Guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 304/67

Member States and the Union are to work towards developing a coordinated strategy for employment and particularly for promoting a skilled, trained and adaptable workforce, as well as labour markets that are future-oriented and responsive to economic change, with a view to achieving the objectives of full employment and social progress, balanced growth, a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment laid down in Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). Member States are to regard promoting employment as a matter of common concern and are to coordinate their action in that respect within the Council, taking into account national practices related to the responsibilities of management and labour.

The Union is to combat social exclusion and discrimination, and promote social justice and protection, equality between women and men, solidarity between generations and the protection of the rights of the child as laid down in Article 3 TEU. In defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union is to take into account requirements linked to the promotion of a high level of employment, the guarantee of adequate social protection, the fight against poverty and social exclusion, a high level of education and training and protection of human health as laid down in Article 9 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

In accordance with the TFEU, the Union has developed and implemented policy coordination instruments for economic and employment policies. As part of those instruments, the guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (the ‘Guidelines’) set out in the Annex to this Decision, together with the broad guidelines for the economic policies of the Member States and of the Union set out in Council Recommendation (EU) 2015/1184 (4), form the Integrated Guidelines. They are to guide policy implementation in the Member States and in the Union, reflecting the interdependence between the Member States. The resulting set of coordinated European and national policies and reforms are to constitute an appropriate overall sustainable economic, employment and social policy mix, which should achieve positive spill over effects for labour markets and society at large, and effectively respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the rising cost of living.

In order to enhance economic and social progress, to facilitate the green and digital transitions and to achieve inclusive, competitive and resilient labour markets in the Union, Member States should promote quality education, training, upskilling and reskilling, as well as lifelong learning, future-oriented vocational education and training and improved career opportunities by strengthening the links between the education system and the labour market and recognising skills, knowledge and competences acquired through non-formal and informal learning.

The Guidelines are consistent with the Stability and Growth Pact, existing Union legislation and various Union initiatives, including Council Directive 2001/55/EC (5), Council Recommendations of 10 March...