The Party of European Socialists (PES) campaign ‘your future is my future’ has been fighting since its launch to ensure that the appropriate funding is allocated to the implementation of youth guarantees.
Following the huge efforts of Social Democratic and Socialist Prime Ministers, the European Council during a meeting on 8th February, it was decided to include €6 billion in the Multiannual Financial Framework (EU budget) for youth guarantees.
Thanks to the action of PES Heads of State Prime Ministers, Ministers, Commissioners and the members of the European and national parliaments, such a youth guarantee is now firmly on track.
The youth guarantee could be approved by European Social Ministers already by the end of the month on 28th February.
Labour MEP Joseph Cuschieri, who voted in favour of this resolution, is proud that this resolution was proposed by the Labour party a year ago and said that a new government will implement it.
"We have to make sure that we obtain the maximum benefit from the European Social Fund, established by the Treaty of Rome, 1957, to help the unemployed be integrated in the employment market and to ensure that they be given the competences and skills they need to succeed in their lives,” MEP Cuschieri added.
The resolution was adopted with an overwhelming majority and states that any unemployed European resident under 25 or graduate under 30 should be offered a decent job, continuing education or an apprenticeship within four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education.
MEPs have voted in favour of a resolution calling on EU employment ministers to agree in February 2013 to a Council recommendation that all member states introduce 'Youth guarantee schemes' to ensure that no young person in the EU goes without a job, education or training for more than four months.
PES stated that this is a big step forward for European youth. There are 5.7 million young people around Europe who are waiting for words to become action.
"We need to make sure that the these funds will actually be paid out, that they will be matched by national funds for youth guarantees and that they will be used to create new, decent jobs for young people and to improve education and training systems as soon as possible."
"And we need, with the European Parliament’s help, to make sure that the €6 billion dedicated to tackling youth unemployment is the start rather than the ceiling," PES spokesperson stated.
In Brussels PES Heads of State and Prime Ministers were making sure that there was €6 billion secured to start the European-wide Youth Guarantee. A budget line dedicated to young people in Europe, providing the funds to implement the youth guarantee in all European Member States was adopted
At the same time, in Dublin, EU ministers in charge of Employment and Social Affairs ministers (EPSCO) met to discuss the Commission’s proposal for a European-wide introduction of the youth guarantee. The social democratic and socialist ministers met ahead of the EPSCO to discuss a common line, ensuring that an ambitious Council recommendation is adopted as soon as possible. They are very committed to bring young people back to work as soon as possible, for example by creating new jobs, improving active labour market policies and enhancing vocational and educational training systems
PES points out however that there are some hurdles to overcome:
Funding – it is important that the agreement on a youth guarantee in Europe will be given the means to become a concrete policy. €10 billion are needed for a genuine European-wide guarantee.
Implementation – once the Council recommendation is adopted, it needs to ensure that it is actually implemented. Every national government needs to increase the pressure to introduce an ambitious youth guarantee as soon as possible.
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