Social democratic and socialist ministers called for increased efforts to overcome skyrocketing youth unemployment across the continent. They underlined that following the decision of the Council of Ministers; youth guarantees should be introduced in all Member States as soon as possible. To allow for new jobs created in the countries with the highest youth unemployment rates, growth measures must be improved. Michel Sapin, French Minister for Labour, Employment, Training and Social Dialogue, who hosted the meeting, underlined: "We should not waste any more time in our fight against youth unemployment. Creating more jobs for young people is an absolute priority. I believe the European Investment Bank could play a bigger role in providing the necessary funds for job-relevant investments. We must improve access to capital, especially for small and medium enterprises and the social economy."

The PES ministers agreed that an ambitious compromise in the Council on the Commission proposal to improve the implementation of the posting of workers directive must be found as soon as possible. They emphasized that this is a precondition to guarantee a better protection of those workers who are employed in another EU country. Rudolf Hundstorfer, Austrian Minister of Social Affairs, Labour and Consumer Protection, emphasized the need to improve the controls in Member States of the implementation. He stated: "Every employer who misuses the freedom of services in the EU to exploit workers needs to be penalised. I call on all my colleagues in the Council of Ministers to make quick progress on this dossier, in order to overcome social dumping in Europe."