European Employment Strategy

The European Employment Strategy has been developed in order to encourage exchange of information and joint discussions by all Member States, thus trying to find solutions or best practices together which could help creating more and better jobs in every Member State.

The European Employment Strategy consists mainly of a dialogue between the Member States and the European Commission, on the basis of official documents like the guidelines, recommendations and the annual joint employment report. This is complemented by a dialogue between the European Commission and the social partners and also the other European institutions, including the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of Regions.

The Employment Committee, which is formed of representatives of the Member States and the European Commission, has a key role in the coordination of the objectives and priorities at the EU level. These objectives are organised along common indicators and measurable targets concerning employment.

Employment Guidelines

The Guidelines proposed by the Commission and approved by the Council, present common priorities to the Member States national employment policies.

Since 2005, the employment guidelines are integrated with the macroeconomic and microeconomic policies and are set for a three year period.

Employment Guidelines:

• Implement employment policies aiming at achieving full employment, improving quality and productivity at work, and strengthening social and territorial cohesion.
• Promote a lifecycle approach to work
• Ensure inclusive labour markets for job-seekers and disadvantaged people
• Improve matching of labour market needs
• Promote flexibility combined with employment security and reduce labour market segmentation
• Ensure employment-friendly wage and other labour cost developments
• Expand and improve investment in human capital.
• Adapt education and training systems in response to new competence requirements

Employment Committee

Mandate

The Employment Committee is a Treaty-based Committee (Art. 130 of the EU Treaty) which was formally created by a Council Decision in January 2000.

It plays an important role in the development of the European Employment Strategy.

The Employment Committee prepares discussions in the Council each autumn of the employment package: the Employment Guidelines, Joint Employment Report and Recommendations on the implementation of national employment policies.

EMCO also formulates Opinions and Contributions at the request of the Council, the Commission or at its own initiative.

The main outputs of the Committee are:

• Annual ‘Employment Package’:

– Employment Guidelines

– Joint Employment Report

– Recommendations on the implementation of national employment policies

• Key Messages Paper, Opinions and Contributions
• Cambridge Review Reports
• EMCO Reports
• Annual work programme

Working methods

The Committee has set up two sub-groups:

• The Ad hoc group: assists EMCO in promoting co-ordination between Member States on employment and labour market policies
• The Indicators group: assists EMCO on the selection and development of indicators required to monitor the employment strategy

The Committee meets regularly with the Social Partners (trade unions and employers) at EU level to discuss issues of mutual interest.

With regard to the holding of its meetings, the Committee liaises with the General Secretariat of the Council.

The Committee has developed close working relations with the EU’s Economic Policy Committee, the Social Protection Committee and the Education Committee.

The Committee participates in the Macroeconomic Dialogue (the Cologne process) both at the technical and the political level.

Source: European Commission