Brussels, 11/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - EU labour ministers had no difficulty on Thursday 11 December in agreeing to the compromise text proposed by the Italian Presidency of the Council of the EU on the reform of the EURES network (the European employment services network), which operates essentially through a website, a virtual window onto the European labour market. Negotiations with the European Parliament are expected to be opened at the start of next year.
The task assigned the EURES network, which will see its capacity strengthened, is to promote worker mobility in the EU. The ultimate goal is very ambitious: “Our proposal aims to ensure that the EURES portal should become the natural first choice for any European citizen interested in, or considering working in another European country”, stated Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility Commissioner Marianne Thyssen, after the Council meeting. In the enhanced network, an automated system will match vacancies with job applications and workers and employers with good prospects of finding a job or filling a post will receive tailor-made assistance.
The debate over recent months has been difficult (see EUROPE 11104) but the Council has just agreed a common position which seems to be to everyone's satisfaction. Luxembourg was the only country to express slight concern. An administrative-bureaucratic monster must not be the result and encouraging mobility without security of employment must be avoided at all costs, especially now that EURES will be able to advertise offers of training courses, said Luxembourg minister Nicolas Schmit.
Thyssen congratulated the Council on the compromise reached, even though it differs on a number of points from the European Commission's initial proposal (see EUROPE 11204). She was especially pleased that employment services will have their part to play in EURES and that public services in general will have to do likewise. However, there will be exceptions. While apprenticeships and training fall within the scope of the regulations, they can only be offered to those who are no longer in education. Apprenticeships and training which are part of a member state's active labour market policies are also excluded. (JK)