Jean Lambert, London's Green MEP, has welcomed the European Parliament's overwhelming support for a report calling for strong initiatives to promote youth access to the labour market.
The report, produced by Emilie Turunen MEP (Denmark, Socialist People's Party) for the Employment and Social Affairs Committee, and voted on last week, also calls for strengthening of traineeships, internships and apprenticeships.
Jean, who is a member of the Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee, said:
"Such strong support for the initiatives proposed in Emilie's report is enormously encouraging. Youth unemployment is where it should be, at the top of the political agenda. With 5.5 million young people under 25 unemployed across the EU, youth unemployment is one of most pressing problems facing Europe today.
"Just this week, figures released showed that the number of graduates chasing every job has surged to nearly 70, while the number of vacancies available is predicted to fall by 7 per cent. This has far-reaching social and economic consequences, from the increase in welfare costs to the erosion of the tax system, with young victims of the recession more at risk of long-term social exclusion and health problems.
"It is high time to act. Through the series of progressive and affirmative initiatives set out in this report, I believe we can begin to turn Generation Lost into Generation Hope."
Emilie Turunen added: "Youth unemployment is so critical. We risk losing a generation to social exclusion while gambling with the economic and social future of the EU. Through this vote, a large majority in the parliament have called for very concrete initiatives. It's now up to the European Commission to put it into practice. 5.5 million young people are waiting for action."
The report includes calls for:
- A European Youth Guarantee securing the right of every young person in the EU to be offered a job, an apprenticeship, additional training or combined work and training after a maximum period of 4 months' unemployment
- A European Quality Charter on Internships that sets out minimum standards for internships
- An expansion of the European Social Fund and an earmarking of a minimum of 10% for projects targeting young people, and,
- A permanent EU youth taskforce to monitor developments on youth employment, share best practice examples and initiate new policies