Ahead of the EU summit, PES President Sergei Stanishev meets today with Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta as part of a progressive effort to push for a Youth Guarantee in the European Council. With over 5,6 million young unemployed in Europe, the need to adopt a European Youth Guarantee is a priority for the PES and must be reflected in the EU summit.

Mr. Stanishev stated that; “the European Youth Guarantee must be part of the summit conclusions. The effects of the crisis are hitting young people hardest and, if we sit and do nothing, we risk losing an entire generation. The EU Council, and specially Conservatives, must move from empty rhetoric to action. More importantly, the Youth Guarantee must be legally binding and based on EU structural funds. It needs to be a top priority in tomorrow’s summit”.

The PES together with ECOSY and PES Women have launched on 11 May the campaign “Your future is my future – a European Youth Guarantee now!” From Romania to Portugal, and from Sweden to Spain, the PES has received strong support and commitment to a European Youth Guarantee all over Europe.