European Union

More and better jobs, and equal opportunities are the watchwords of European employment and social policy. The Union wants everyone to be adequately equipped to keep up with change in a knowledge-based economy. Employment and social policy are central to what is known as the ‘Lisbon agenda’, the EU policy framework for creating growth and jobs.

The two cornerstones of employment and social policies are the European Employment Strategy on job creation and labour market reform strategies and a Social Agenda designed to ensure that the benefits of the EU’s growth reach everyone in society and every region of the EU.

The European Employment Strategy
Common priorities and individual objectives for member states' employment policies, are set out in multi-annual Employment Guidelines agreed jointly by all member states. The current guidelines cover the period 2005-2008. They are part of the Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs for 2005-2008, which also include economic management. The employment guidelines are the basis for national reform programmes and the employment component of the EU’s ‘Lisbon Programme’, which covers all EU action to promote knowledge and innovation, make Europe a more attractive place to invest and work, and create more and better jobs.
The Employment Guidelines address the need to implement employment policies which aim to achieve full employment, improve quality and productivity at work, and strengthen social and territorial cohesion. They also cover ways of improving the match of labour market needs and available skills. They recognise that labour market flexibility needs to be combined with employment security and recognise the role of social partners. They advocate employment-friendly labour cost developments and wage-setting mechanisms, expansion and improvement of investment in human capital and adaptation of education and training systems to new skill requirements.

The Social Agenda
The 2005-2010 Agenda covers policies designed to provide jobs, fight poverty and promote equal opportunities for all. In partnership with public authorities at every level from local to national, employer and worker representatives, and non-governmental organisations, the Agenda is a framework for promoting portability of pension and social security entitlements in order to create a truly European labour market, getting more people – particularly young people and women – into work, updating labour law to reflect new forms of work, such as short-term contracts, and managing restructuring through social dialogue. It is also a framework for supporting member states in reforming pensions and health care, tackling poverty and the employment and social issues emerging as populations age, as well as fostering equal opportunities, and eradicating inequality and discrimination.
The EU plays a major role in funding the necessary investment in human capital to develop both the work skills and the social skills which make it easier for people to find work or set up businesses of their own. Special attention is paid to funding for areas of the EU with particularly high levels of unemployment or low average incomes, and to combat discrimination, promote gender equality and prevent social exclusion. 2007 will be the ‘Year of Equal Opportunities for All’.

European opportunities
The DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities website: http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/index_en.html
Here you can find news about employment in Europe, Publications, Legislation, Events, Job opportunities and so on.