Youth Guarantee: 17 Member States have submitted implementation plans
17 of the 28 Member States have now submitted their implementation plans for the youth guarantee, with the remaining 11 committing to submit theirs by Spring, the European Commission has confirmed. The European Youth Forum is calling on all Member States to submit ambitious Youth Guarantee implementation plans in order to fully tackle youth unemployment
The Youth Guarantee is an EU-wide reform proposed in December 2012 by the EU Commission aimed at helping all unemployed under-25s to find “employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or traineeship within four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education”. A total of 40 to 45 billion euros over three years is speculated to be invested in tackling youth employment through funds from the European Investment Bank, the European Social Fund and the Youth Employment Initiative.
Youth unemployment is a growing concern. In the European Union it currently stands at 23,6% (last figure from November 2013). With the effects of the social and economic crisis and the implementation of austerity measures, it has hit a record level of 57.6% in Spain and 54.8% in Greece.[1]
The long-term costs of unemployment are very high to society, to the economy and to the individuals concerned. Therefore designing and implementing ambitious Youth Guarantee schemes is an essential investment for the future. Members States who have already delivered their national schemes should devote a significant proportion of their European Social Fund allocations for 2014-2020 to efficiently implementing the Youth Guarantee.
Youth organisations should have a key role in the Youth Guarantee Implementations Plans.
It is essential that Member States fully engage with youth organisations in the design, the implementation and monitoring of the Youth Guarantee. Indeed, policies aimed at helping young people should be implemented in partnership with them. The European Youth Forum is disappointed that this has not been the case so far in all Member States.
[1] Eurostat: http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/3-08012014-BP/EN/3-08012014-BP-EN.PDF
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