László Andor, the European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, has welcomed the European Parliament’s resolution voted today on the Employment Package recently released by the Commission.
Andor said: “With unemployment increasing again to unacceptable levels, we need a jobs-centred approach to find real solutions to Europe’s current crisis. Therefore I welcome today’s resolution by the European Parliament on the Commission’s Employment Package which paves the way to discussions to be held by EU leaders at the upcoming European Council on EU’s jobs-rich recovery and growth. If we are to restore growth and handle major structural changes like the greening of the economy, an ageing population and technological change, the EU needs a dynamic and inclusive European labour market. The Employment Package will contribute to reaching the employment targets set out in the EU 2020 Strategy – the EU’s growth strategy.”
The Employment Package that the Commission presented in April provides a medium-term agenda for EU and Member State action to support a job-rich recovery. In particular, the Package urges Member States to focus on job creation in sectors such as the green economy, health care, and information and communications technologies. The Package also outlines ways to ‘re-balance’ EU economic governance by strengthening the coordination of employment policies and by reinforcing the involvement of social partners.
The Commission also aims to encourage mobility within a genuine EU labour market by helping to match unemployed people with particular skills and experience in one country with vacancies in other countries. In addition, the Commission is committed to improve mobility by removing obstacles such as those affecting the portability of pensions.
Andor concluded: “To tackle unemployment – the biggest social challenge we face – the Commission has taken a number of measures, including refocusing structural funds on youth employment initiative. The Employment Package shows how employment policies support job creation and drive economic growth. We need and welcome the strong support of the European Parliament on these issues. It will provide an additional political impetus for employment to be considered among the cornerstones of the Decision on “European growth pact”.”
For further details on the Employment Package: MEMO/12/252
Source of information: European Commission
