Brussels, 19/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - The informal employment meeting on 17-18 January in Gödöllõ finished with an appeal from the Hungarian Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers to the EU member states: create more jobs and improve coordination of economic and employment policies.
Sándor Czomba, the employment representative to the Hungarian ministry for the national economy, informed the press at the end of the meeting that “an increase in GDP alone will not be enough to find a way out of the crisis because such a rise is not always synonymous with job creation”. The employment ministry delegate explained that all the different tools available should be put in place to help attain the objectives set out in the EU 2020 strategy to reach the 75% employment rate target. Czomba pointed out that in the EU, the current average of those in work is 69%. Despite the differences of points of view between member states on the question of how to use these different tools, Czomba highlighted the importance of creating long-term stable jobs, as well as helping regions and workers most in need of aid.
László Andor also noted that “despite the fact that the process for finding an economic crisis exit strategy had begun, economic growth is not yet solid enough to boost expansion in the labour market”. The employment commissioner said that improving the situation of young people on the labour market had to be a priority objective. It is quite clear that in many member states, young people are those most losing out from the economic and financial crisis. Use of European funds, particularly the European Social Fund (ESF) is extremely important for boosting job creation.
Speaking within the Presidency trio's cooperation framework (Spain, Belgium and Hungary), the Spanish secretary of sate for employment, Maria Luiz Rodriguez, underlined the importance of education and training for helping solve the problem of young people finding jobs. She also said the issue of education and training particularly affected young workers.
The Belgian vice prime minister responsible for employment, Joëlle Milquet, was on the same lines as Maria Luiz Rodriguez and highlighted the need to put the question of employment at the heart of macroeconomic policy.
On Monday 17 January, European social partner representatives underlined the absolute necessity of investing in skills for combating unemployment. The NGOs working with the social platform also presented their working document on the social crisis and the situation affecting young people on the labour market (EUROPE 10295/10294). (G.B./transl.fl)