Werkgelegenheid jongeren belangrijk gedurende Hongaars voorzitterschap (en) - Hoofdinhoud
Creating better job opportunities for young people and promoting an employment-friendly economic growth will be a priority issue at the informal meeting of employment ministers on 16-18 January in Gödöllo. The Hungarian Presidency treats employment policy as a key matter, since the Europe 2020 Strategy appropriates several tasks in this area.
The first workshop of the informal meeting, will review employment policy issues related to European youth. The crisis gave rise to a situation in the labour market, which is more unfavourable for the younger generations than ever before. EU member states now have five million registered young people unemployed, a third more than immediately before the crisis.
A high number of under-qualified or disadvantaged young people are ousted from the labour market, while those with higher qualifications are having considerable more difficulty in finding employment after graduation. The slow-expanding economic growth is still not offering a sufficient number of jobs.
Improving young peoples’ job opportunities
The European Commission intends to address these problems with its flagship initiative, the “Youth in Motion” programme. The key measures are included in the youth employment framework system, which outlines proposals for member states. Acting as Chairman of the Meeting, Mr Sándor Czomba, Minister of State for Employment Policy of the Ministry for National Economy, said the informal meeting will consist of an exchange of opinions both on the “Youth on the Move” initiative, and the framework system.
The Presidency will submit a proposal to discuss the measures the member states should take to overcome labour market problems, and to use the relevant sources provided by the European Social Fund. Ministers will exchange their experiences on member states’ good practises which in-turn, could improve the opportunities of young people in the labour market.
Stimulating demand for labour
The second workshop will centre on how the EU and member states could stimulate an employment-friendly economic growth. In the Presidency’s and social point of view, its not enough to just increase productivity inorder to boost economic growth in the EU. Growth should also raise labour demand.
Creating more and better quality jobs is a key matter for Europe. In the wake of the crisis, the unemployment rate is ten percent, while the employment rate has dropped to 69 percent in the EU. Under the Europe 2020 Strategy, the employment rate should rise to 75 percent, which is a considerable challenge for member states. The Council will discuss Guideline No. 7 of the Europe 2020 Strategy, whereby member states should establish an employment-friendly tax and contribution system.
The agenda will also include the utilisation of EU funds for job creation, namely economic development programmes and credit opportunities aimed at job creation and the sources of the European Social Fund. The ministers will also review how efficiently member states use sources granted by structural funds to boost job creation. The Presidency’s opening ideas for the debate are primarily related to linking economic policy, employment policy and performing job creation reforms.
Bridging the gap to less developed regions and country parts
Mr Czomba stressed, bridging the gap to less developed regions and country parts, will also be on the agenda of the Gödöllo informal meeting during the business lunch. The Minister of State said that the Hungarian Presidency intends to keep this issue on the agenda and make significant progress in the matter.
During the term of the Hungarian Presidency, five employment policy dossiers are expected to be opened, while the fate of three dossiers remains uncertain. These include the working time directive, which still requires an agreement between social partners so that the Council can start work. As for the regulations on employees exposed to electromagnetic radiation, the Presidency expects progress as soon as 7 March, at the meeting of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Protection Affairs Council in Budapest.
The term of the Hungarian Presidency will be marked by several professional conferences, including the 100th conference of the International Labour Organisation, to be held in the first half of 2011.