Brussels, 17/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Union needs to implement solid initiatives to develop work-based training in order to respond to youth unemployment, which is steadily rising. This was the observation made by participants of a high-level conference held on 12 and 13 June by Cedefop (the European Centre for development and professional training), in Thessaloniki.
In her speech, Androulla Vassiliou, the commissioner responsible for education, culture, youth and multilingualism, said that there was a very real risk of a “lost generation”, adding that the European Union and its member states were doing all in their power to put Europe back on the road to jobs and growth. Amongst other things, the Commissioner referred to the forthcoming launch of the “European Alliance for Apprenticeships”, stressing that apprenticeships are a “win-win” process. Apprentices are right in the professional environment, where they can test their skills and learn, and the employer can put the abilities of potential employees to the test whilst allowing them to contribute directly to the company's productivity. Vassiliou argues that “it will only be by pooling the efforts of EU member states, social partners, business, other relevant actors and the European Commission that we will be able to develop high-quality apprenticeships across Europe”. (IL/transl.fl)