European Parliament makes strong commitments to combatting youth unemployment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 17th July 2014

PRESS CONTACTS: Alexandre Beddock

alexandre.beddock@youthforum.org / press@youthforum.org and tel: (+32) 2 286 94 23.

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT MAKES STRONG COMMITMENTS TO COMBATTING YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT

The Youth Forum welcomes the adoption of the Resolution of the European Parliament on youth employment today (July 17th). We sincerely hope this call to the Member States and the European Commission will ensure that the young people’s right to quality employment is fulfilled.

With the resolution adopted at a large majority, the Youth Forum is happy to note that there is a broad consensus among MEPs to recognise youth unemployment as one of the top priorities of the new European Parliament.

The European Parliament recognises the need for a rights-based approach to youth and employment and stresses the importance of core labour standards and standards related to the quality of work: working time, social security, and occupational health and safety.
The Resolution stresses that the current limitation of the youth guarantee up to the age of 25 is insufficient and encourages Member States to extend it to young people under 30 years old. This was also called for by Jean-Claude Juncker in his pre-election speech on Tuesday. These statements should now be translated into comprehensive actions to guarantee quality jobs for young people for the long run, and beyond the 6 billion Euros of the two coming years dedicated to the Youth Employment Initiative.

Young people of Europe should be guaranteed access to quality jobs that respect their rights, including the right to stability and security, socialprotection and autonomy. With almost 30% of young people at risk of poverty in the European Union, this is essential in order to avoid the pitfalls and grave consequences of social exclusion.

Quality jobs should be preceded by quality internships and apprenticeships. The Youth Forum is disappointed that the resolution does not call for further action to ensure the quality of internships.

In recent years some national governments have developed employment legislation targeting youth, underlining that their working rights have not been respected. By stating that ‘an end must be put to discrimination based on age’, the European Parliament has made a crucial commitment for the 5 coming years to ensure the right to equality for young people is respected.

Peter Matjašič, President of the European Youth Forum comments:
“The labour market discriminates against young people: young people are the worst hit by the economic and social crisis and the austerity measures, with high youth unemployment, precarious jobs and difficulty in entering the labour market.

The Eurobarometer reveals that one out of two young Europeans feel that young people are marginalized and excluded from economic and social life*. Investing in the younger generation is essential to encourage youth participation and social inclusion and give benefits to our wider society.

This vote at a large majority is a call to Member States and to the European Commission to make greater commitments to sustainable growth-oriented policies to finally and effectively tackle youth unemployment and ensure we do not leave Europe’s young people behind.”

* source here

//ENDS