Aylward welcomes green light given to youth guarantee scheme

Published on: 28 February 2013


Liam Aylward MEP for Ireland East has welcomed the political agreement reached today under the Irish Presidency of the European Council to give the youth guarantee scheme the go ahead.

“Across Europe 7.5 million young people are not in employment, education or training. Youth unemployment has reached chronic levels in many EU states and young people are seriously worried about what the future will hold for them.”

Under the Youth Guarantee Scheme, young people up to the age of 25 should receive either an offer of employment , further education or work-focused training at the latest four months after leaving education or after becoming unemployed.

According to the Ireland East MEP, “investment in Youth Guarantee schemes is one of the key measures to address the unemployment problem facing young people. The economic cost of youth unemployment for EU Member States is estimated at 153 billion per year for the EU.”

Implementing the Youth Guarantee requires Member States to establish strong partnerships with schools and universities, training providers, employment services, social partners, career guidance providers, youth support services and youth organisations to ensure early intervention and action.

The scheme will be funded by unspent money in the European Social Fund and the Youth Guarantee is part of the Youth Employment Initiative which as been allocated €6 billion under the future budget for the period 2014-2020. These funds will be available to Member States to implement the Youth Guarantee.

However the Ireland East MEP cautioned that: “The implementation of Youth Guarantee scheme must be managed locally at the Member State level and without delays due to red tape and administrative burdens. Member States must implement and run this scheme effectively, targeting sectors, youth training and apprenticeship schemes which will help young people enter the job market.”

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