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The implementation of the youth guarantee scheme : an employment booster for young Europeans?

EU countries endorsed the principle of the Youth Guarantee in April 2013. The implementation of this new approach to tackle youth unemployment started at the Member States‘ level through National Plans in 2014. The general objective is to ensure that all young people under 25 have access to a good-quality and concrete offer (adapted to each individual need and situation) of employment, continued education, apprenticeship or traineeship within a period of four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education.

This customised approach led obviously to a heavy investment, which is estimated to €21bn a year, or 0.22% of GDP in the Eurozone (ILO report – Eurozone job crisis). However, it is worth noting that inaction would be much more costly. Young people out of the employment, education or training system are estimated to cost €153bn (1.21% of GDP) a year to the EU – in benefits and foregone earnings and taxes (Eurofound report on youth unemployment). Furthermore, Member States’ actions can be supported by EU Funds specifically dedicated to the scheme implementation.

The 14th session of Policies & Practices intends to define where we stand more than three years after the EU recommendations, with the setting-up of a new Commission team and new challenges upfront. Exchange of practices and visions will lead to a lively discussion notably addressing the following issues:

• The transferability of local practices between EU Member States;
• The need for more or better EU Funds supporting the implementation of the scheme;
• The efficiency on the long-run of the scheme.

Speakers addressing these issues include:

Max Uebe, Head of Unit "Youth employment, entrepreneurship, microfinance facility" with the European Commission (DG EMPL)