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Employment: Commission urges Member States to urgently implement Youth Guarantee to help young jobless

Now is the time for Member States to put in place the structural reforms and infrastructure to make the Youth Guarantee a reality as soon as possible. This was the message to Member States from European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion László Andor to the high-level conference on youth unemployment hosted by French President Fançois Hollande in Paris on 12 November. They welcomed the fact that six Member States (Czech Republic, Croatia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland and Slovakia) have already submitted their first draft implementation plans to the Commission for comments.

"Today's youth employment summit, here, in Paris has increased the momentum for swift action by Member States. We all agree that the Youth Guarantee is the best way for Member States to help young people to get a job and to reduce the unacceptable levels of youth unemployment", stated President Barroso. "Now we have to continue to work together to make it a reality".

"We realise that it is a tough challenge to Member States to implement the structural reforms necessary to implement the Youth Guarantee", added Commissioner Andor. "But without such a targeted investment in our human capital we risk a lost generation".

What is the Youth Guarantee?

The Youth Guarantee seeks to ensure that Member States offer all young people up to age 25 a quality job, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within four months of leaving formal education or becoming unemployed. The Youth Guarantee is one of the most crucial and urgent structural reforms that Member States must introduce to address youth unemployment and to improve school to work transitions.

Full press release

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