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EP urges Commission to tackle Youth Unemployment

On the 10th March, the European Parliament passed a resolution urging the Commission to make combating youth unemployment a priority.

The resolution was a follow-up of the 11th February Informal European Council, organised by President Herman Van Rompuy in which the details and focus of the EU 2020 strategy were discussed by EU Heads of State. In its paragraph 32 and within its broader section on the promotion of SMEs and jobs, the resolution demands of the Commission to pay particular attention to youth unemployment. It is also noted that unemployment is a core issue to be taken into consideration in the context of the crisis and calls for an ambitious EU social agenda. Early school leaving, fostering lifelong learning and gender mainstreaming are seen as key concerns.

Finally, Member States are encouraged to create more training opportunities and internships for young people, and to protect their youth against unfair employment practices. 

The European Youth Forum has been calling for a strong approach to combating youth unemployment in the EU 2020 strategy. In February, Giuseppe Porcaro, Secretary-General of the European Youth Forum, together with a delegation from the Spanish Youth Council, met with Spanish Minister for Labour and Immigration Celestino Corbacho Chaves in Madrid to discuss the issue. Furthermore, the European Youth Forum wrote an open letter to Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Laszlo Andor, in which it urged to make the current situation of unprecedentedly high youth unemployment a priority of the Commission.