YOUTH EMPLOYMENT : SOCIAL PARTNERS WANT ACTION, NOT WORDS.

European social partners are concerned by the rise of youth unemployment and are calling on the EU to adopt key measures, including in the field of education and training. Such is the message sent out by BusinessEurope, the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (UEAPME), the European Centre of Employers and Enterprises providing Public services (CEEP) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) ahead of the informal 30 January summit of the heads of state and government of the EU in Brussels.

At a high-level meeting with the European Commission, on 23 January, the social partners stressed their commitment to combatting youth unemployment. They welcomed the initiative on the employment perspectives of youth, presented on 20 December 2011 by the Commission, while calling for measures that will lead to concrete actions. "The fight against youth unemployment cannot be confined to an announcement. It is far too serious a problem. The European Trade Union Confederation calls for concrete actions, which involve the social partners," said Bernadette Segol, ETUC's secretary-general.

The CEEP welcomes the fact that the Commission's communication identified important problems for public service employers. "The CEEP welcomes, for example, the fact that skills mismatches have been identified as an important aspect. In times of fiscal...

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