Unemployment – and in particular youth unemployment – is a serious problem in most EU Member States, though significant differences exist between countries. Strengthening socio-economic convergence is an important task of the European Union, and here employment policies play a vital role. Member States carry the main responsibility in this area but the Treaty states that promoting employment is a "matter of common concern" and that Member States "shall coordinate their action in this respect".
The European Employment Strategy (EES), originally adopted by the Heads of State and Government in 1997, provides a framework for Member States to share information and best practices and coordinate their labour market and employment policies.
The EES is now closely linked to the Europe 2020 strategy, the EU's strategy for growth and jobs, and the European semester, the aim of which is to enhance the coordination of economic, employment and budgetary policies – notably by means of country-specific recommendations.
The national economic and social councils and the EESC have different roles to play in relation to promoting employment. Whilst the national bodies contribute to the national input to the European semester, the EESC supports the European process in various other ways, including by adopting opinions on the employment guidelines and the Annual Growth Survey.