EMPLOYMENT : REPORT: NO RECOVERY IN SIGHT BEFORE 2011.

The employment situation remains unfavourable throughout the Union and the prospects are not promising either. This year witnessed the loss of 4.3 million jobs EU-wide, and while the figures differ from one member state to the next, those hardest hit tend to be young people and low-skilled migrants, says the European Commission's annual Joint employment report' that was adopted and released on 15 December. According to the report, the worst still lies ahead before a modest improvement projected for the middle or end of 2011. The countries worst hit by the employment crisis are the Baltic states, Spain, Ireland and Hungary.

The report says that the crisis response measures implemented by the EU and the member states (including financial support provided by the EU) have greatly contributed to mitigating the job crisis. While urging the member states to combine short-term...