Highlights from the EurActiv Debate on the European employment crisis. This event was organized by Fondation EurActiv and hosted by MEP Pervenche Beres. It was made possible with support from EuroCiett.
The recovery from the financial and economic crisis has been sluggish in most of Europe, and the 75% employment rate target that the European Union has pledged to reach by 2020 appears to be out of reach.
While some member states struggle with joblessness, the Germand and Swedish economies are roaring ahead — some say towards full employment. Is there a recipe out of the employment crisis? What can EU member states learn from one another?
Participating in this debate are:
- Jean-Louis de Brouwer, Director Employment, Lisbon Strategy and International Affairs at DG Employment, European Commission;
- Pervenche Beres, Chairperson of the employment and social affairs committee at the European Parliament and MEP;
- Annemarie Muntz, President of Eurociett;
- Liliane Volozinskis, Director, Social Policy and Vocational Training Committee at UEAPME.
The debate is moderated by Daniela Vincenti, Managing Editor of http://www.EurActiv.com
Incoming search terms:
- crisis management labour market
EC’s Barroso unveils eurobond plan
President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, on Wednesday unveiled the Commission’s new proposal to issue eurobonds as opposed to national issuance by the 17 members of the euro zone. With this new plan, Mr. Barroso expects to decrease market fears on national sovereign debts and avoid continuous bail-outs of countries without financial stability.
“The joint issuance of debt in the euro area could bring tremendous benefits. It could lead to greater financial integration and to the creation of a much larger and more liquid bond market — comparable to that which exists for United States Treasuries.”, Barroso said. However, the Commission stated the the new plan comes together with a more intrusive national budgetary surveillance.
The new proposal comes when countries like Spain, Italy and France have seen their borrowing costs rise significantly.
Barroso’s eurobonds hasn’t so far convinced German chancellor Angela Merkel, who defends treaty changes rather than eurobonds as a more effective solution to the current debt crisis.
Barroso is calling for a public consultation to assess weather the 17 members of the eurozone could use the so-called “stability bonds” to raise money. “I would like to make an appeal for these discussions to be approached by all parties with an open mind and for them to be free of dogma.”, Barroso said.