| Author (Person) | Banks, Martin |
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| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.11, No.3, 27.1.05 |
| Publication Date | 27/01/2005 |
| Content Type | News |
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By Martin Banks Date: 27/01/05 The European Union's overall employment rate has "stagnated" at 63% and the Lisbon Agenda target of 70% by the end of the decade looks "increasingly challenging", says a report from the Commission published today (27 January). The report warns that without "a spectacular increase", the target will remain unattainable. Labour productivity, "essential for the EU's competitiveness", has "fallen dramatically", says the study from the employment and social affairs department, looking at efforts made over the last year by member states to combat unemployment. The report says that progress towards the female employment rate target of 60% has "slowed" and currently stands at 55%. The report, which forms part of the Commission's mid-term review of the Lisbon Agenda, argues that: "The gap must be bridged between the employment priorities at EU level and implementation in member states." European Commissioner for employment and social affairs, Vladimir Spidla said: "Reforms in many member states are beginning to bear fruit, especially regarding pension systems and making work pay. "But member states together with the social partners need to step up their efforts to create quality jobs and raise employment." This could be achieved, he said, through increasing the provision of child care, lifelong learning and "active ageing strategies". A separate DG employment report on social protection says that 68 million people, or 15% of the EU population, are living 'at risk' of poverty. In its Joint Employment Report (JER) for 2004-2005, which was published on 27 January 2005 and was to feed into the upcoming mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy, the European Commission says that the European Union's overall employment rate had 'stagnated' at 63% and the Lisbon Agenda target of 70% by the end of the decade looked 'increasingly challenging'. |
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| Source Link | http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Subject Categories | Employment and Social Affairs |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
