UE resolution to fight youth unemployment
16:10
Over 500 European parliamentarians voted for a resolution that would funnel resources into fighting youth unemployment in European countries. Unemployment of young adults in EU countries has reached an average of 23 percent, the highest rate ever. Within the EU, 5.3 million people below the age of 25 remain unemployed. In some countries, youth unemployment is as high as 50 percent, according to a European Parliament press release.
The parliament has vouched to standardize apprenticeship and pay norms for young workers. The current EU funds committed to supporting youth employment amount to €6 billion and the parliament calls for an increase of this amount.
EU member states should take advantage of the existing European Social Fund as well as the ERASMUS+ program. The resolution underlines the importance of young people gaining a breadth of experience in preparation for entry into the job market. This may include learning IT skills, managerial skills, critical thinking and foreign languages. Member states should streamline administrative obstacles for the self-employed and small and medium entrepreneurs.
