Workshop 3

WORKSHOP 3 – ON THE MOVE FOR YOUTH AND JOB CREATION Chair: Leila Kurki, President of the Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship (SOC) Venue: Room JDE 51 - Interpretation from: EN,ES,FR,DE into: EN,ES,FR,DE
Despite the Europe 2020 target of 75% of 20-64 years olds in employment by 2020, labour market prospects look dim across Europe. The employment rate has fallen during the crisis; more than one people out of ten are out of work and some 17 million additional jobs need to be created to meet the employment target. Young people in particular have been hit hard. There is a real risk that austerity measures implemented by Member States will negatively affect economic growth, which in turn could reduce internal demand and further undermine stabilisation and job creation. It is vital that the European Union break free of the austerity-growth deadlock. In its "Employment package", the Commission sets out a number of actions to generate a job-rich recovery, taking the view that there is sufficient potential for job creation in the green economy, health and new technology sectors. The "Compact for growth and jobs" decided on by EU leaders in June is presented as a means to boost growth and jobs in Europe. But will the measures proposed by the Commission and the European Council make any real difference in resolving Europe's jobs crisis or are they old wine in a new bottle? This question will be at the heart of the workshop.
10.30 a.m. – 10.40 a.m.	Opening of the workshop
	Leila Kurki, President of the Section for Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship (SOC)
10.40 a.m. – 12 p.m.	"Towards a job-rich recovery" – a good enough solution for Europe?
	Moderator: Leila Kurki, President of the SOC Section
10.40 a.m.	Challenge for the debate
	Gabriele Bischoff, EESC member , Rapporteur for the EESC opinion on " Towards a job-rich recovery"
	Vladimíra Drbalová, EESC member, Rapporteur for the EESC opinion on " New skills for jobs"
10.50 a.m.	Panellists
	Francisco González de Lena, Director of the President's Private Office, Economic and Social Council of Spain
	Max Uebe, Head of Unit (Unit C3)
	Renee Laiviera, Member of the Executive Committee of the European Women's Lobby
11.40 a.m.	General debate

12.15 p.m. – 12.50 p.m.	Punchy proposals for growth and jobs
	Moderator: Leila Kurki, President of the SOC Section
12.15 p.m.	Panellists
	Thérèse de Liedekerke, Managing Director, BUSINESSEUROPE
	Luca Visentini, Confederal Secretary, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
	Francesca Ungaro, Spokesperson of the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (UEAPME) Young Entrepreneurs’ Movement
	Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Member of the board of the European Youth Forum, responsible for Development, Children's Rights, European youth funding, Sustainable Development and Health Policy
12.35 a.m.	General debate

12.55 p.m. – 1 p.m.	Conclusions from the workshop
	Krzysztof Pater, President of the Labour Market Observatory (LMO)

EESC Opinions

Pick up some ideas from recent EESC opinions!

Youth on the move
The EESC proposes that more emphasis be placed on developing social capital and better youth participation in European civil society.
(CESE 530/2011, rapporteur: Pavel Trantina, Various Interests Group – Czech Republic; co-rapporteur: Juan Mendoza Castro, Workers Group – Spain)
Link to opinion (EN): http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.soc-opinions.14760

An agenda for new skills and jobs
The EESC calls for a stronger link between improving and updating skills and higher labour market productivity.
(CESE 1172/2011, rapporteur: Vladimíra Drbalová, Employers Group – Czech Republic; co-rapporteur: José María Zufiaur Narvaiza, Workers Group – Spain)
Link to opinion (EN): http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.soc-opinions.15046

European platform against poverty and social exclusion
The EESC calls for coordinated emphasis on an integrated active inclusion strategy based on the three pillars of an inclusive labour market, access to quality services and adequate income support.
(CESE 1000/2011, rapporteur: Maureen O'Neill, Various Interests Group – United Kingdom)
Link to opinion (EN): http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.soc-opinions.14953

The economic crisis, education and the labour market
The EESC makes the point that investment in education and training is vital as these are essential tools to overcome the crisis and integrate young people into the labour market.
(CESE 1173/2011, rapporteur: Mário Soares, Workers Group – Portugal)
Link to opinion (EN): http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.soc-opinions.14938

Youth employment, technical skills and mobility
The EESC points out that synergies between practical activity, workplace learning and classroom work make young people more employable. This requires Member States to modernise their labour markets and improve their take-up capacity.
(CESE 149/2012, rapporteur: Dorthe Andersen, Employers Group – Denmark)
Link to opinion (EN): http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.soc-opinions.19327

Social impacts of the new economic governance legislation
The EESC calls for a social investment pact anchored in a pro-growth budgetary policy with sustainable investments in skills, infrastructure and products and with a stronger focus on the social economy, social enterprise and social services.
(CESE 476/2011, rapporteur: Gabriele Bischoff, Workers Group – Germany)
Link to opinion (EN): http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.soc-opinions.19329

Employment guidelines
The EESC argues that education must remain a priority area as it is key to better integration in the labour market and to overcoming the crisis.
(CESE 479/2012, rapporteur: Wolfgang Greif, Workers Group – Austria)
Link to opinion (EN): http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.soc-opinions.20530

Participatory processes in the implementation of Europe 2020
The EESC calls on the European institutions and national governments to make a renewed political commitment to step up the involvement of the social partners, civil society organisations and other stakeholders in the Europe 2020 strategy and the European Semester. The Committee tables specific proposals on improving the participatory aspect of the strategy as well as on employment, poverty and exclusion.
(CESE 1586/2012, rapporteur: Heidi Lougheed, Employers Group – Ireland)

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