EU to ‘revive hope’ on youth jobs, Barroso pledges

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso called on EU leaders to come up with a package against youth unemployment at the June 2013 European Council summit, promising that the EU executive would do its bit to 'revive hope, especially for young people.'

Speaking on 2 May 2013 following a meeting with businesses and unions, Barroso said the EU executive would 'earmark EU funding to strengthen the social dimension' as part of a 'roadmap' on the future of Economic and Monetary Union to be presented to leaders prior to the summit.

The announcement came after the EU statistics agency, Eurostat, revealed on the 30 April 2013 that unemployment in the eurozone increased to 12.1% in March 2013.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Eurozone unemployment at record high as inflation drops http://www.europeansources.info/record/eurozone-unemployment-at-record-high-as-inflation-drops/

ESO: Background information: Unemployment. European Youth Forum: 'We're playing with fire' http://www.europeansources.info/record/youth-unemploymnent-european-youth-forum-were-playing-with-fire/

ESO: Background information: Speech: Statement by President Barroso following the meeting of the European Commission with EU social partners http://www.europeansources.info/record/speech-statement-by-president-barroso-following-the-meeting-of-the-european-commission-with-eu-social-partners/

Spiegel Online International, 20.05.13: Jobless Youth: Europe's Hollow Efforts to Save a Lost Generation http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/europe-failing-to-combat-youth-unemployment-a-900621.html

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