Brussels, 16/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 15 July 2008, the EU Council of Ministers adopted guidelines for Member States' employment policies. The Member States are currently setting their employment policies and will take account of the EU guidelines and publish a report on this issue under their national reform programmes.
In its guidelines decision, the Council points out that the employment guidelines are part of the integrated guidelines for 2008-2010, which are based on three pillars that together help achieve sustainable growth and employment targets and boost social cohesion, namely macroeconomic policies, microeconomic reforms and employment policies. Member States, in cooperation with the social partners (employers and trade unions) and possibly with other partners, must pursue policies to meet the targets of full employment, improving the quality and productivity of work and strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion.
The Council stresses that equal opportunities and tackling discrimination are vital to ensuring progress. It points out that in carrying out their policies, the Member States should ensure good governance of employment and social policies and ensure that positive changes in the fields of the economy, work and social affairs feed into one another. Member States should set up a wide partnership for change by getting parliamentary bodies and relevant stakeholders fully involved in their action. The Council stresses that good governance also requires greater efficiency in earmarking financial and administrative resources. The Member States, in agreement with the European Commission, should target resources from the EU's Structural Funds, particularly the European Social Fund, to applying the EU employment strategy and take account of action carried out. It will also be necessary to strengthen Member States' institutional and administrative capacity.
The following guidelines were adopted: No. 17 (applying employment policies to achieve full employment, improve the quality and productivity of work and boost social and territorial cohesion); 18 (favouring an approach based on the lifecycle of work); 19 (ensuring labour markets favour insertion, making work more attractive and financially rewarding for job seekers); 20 (improving the response to labour market needs); 21 (favouring flexibility by reconciling it with job security and reducing labour market fragmentation by taking account of the role of the social partners); 22 (changing the cost of work and introducing salary-fixing mechanisms that favour employment); 23 (increasing and improving investment in human capital); and 24 (adjusting the education and training system to meet new skills requirements). See Council document No. 10614/08 for details of the adopted guidelines and action to be taken.
The European Parliament published its opinion on this issue in Strasbourg on 20 May 2008 (report by Belgian Socialist MEP Anne Van Lancker, see EUROPE 9666). The Council reached political agreement on the draft decision at the EPSCO Council in Luxembourg on 9-10 June 2008 (see EUROPE 9677). (G.B. /transl fl)