Future of jobs
Commission in bid to ensure ‘70% of EU adults’ have digital skills
The European Commission has laid out ambitious new goals for upskilling and reskilling its citizens by 2025, including the objective of ensuring that 70% of the EU adult population has basic digital skills.
Dutch government unveils KLM rescue plan
The Netherlands' national airline, KLM, is set for a €3.4 billion bailout package should it meet certain employment, financial and sustainability targets, the Dutch government announced on Friday (26 June). It still requires regulatory approval from Brussels.
Montchalin: €500 billion in budgetary allocations to ‘be maintained at all costs’
Ahead of tomorrow's EU summit (19 June), France's European Affairs Minister Amélie de Montchalin told EURACTIV's partner Ouest-France in an interview that the EU27, including the "frugal four", are moving towards accepting an EU recovery programme, but that it would not work without reforms and long-term investment.
Commissioner Schmit: The future of Europe is not low wages, insecure jobs
The EU is facing the worst recession in history as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. To ensure that the crisis does not turn into a social emergency, the bloc must address issues like job security, minimum wages, or youth opportunities, the Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, told EURACTIV in an interview.
Changes in education as a result of COVID-19 crisis are here to stay, experts say
As lockdown measures are relaxed and schools reopen across Europe, EURACTIV has interviewed experts on whether the pandemic could have a long-lasting impact on education systems in Europe, and they said changes are here to stay.OpinionPromoted content
Not in Education, Employment or Training… and locked out of the labour market
The coronavirus outbreak is causing major disruptions for those who are outside mainstream educational programs across Europe. While many have managed to turn to distance learning, those not in education, employment or training (NEETs) are even more excluded from support schemes.
Helping disengaged young people in times of pandemic
A European-wide project was supporting young disengaged when the COVID-19 outbreak started. EURACTIV has spoken to the organizers about how they adapted to challenging circumstances.
Germany still hesitating to link stimulus packages with climate targets
France, the Netherlands and Austria want to put environmentally friendly conditions on aid for corporations. In Germany, companies themselves are calling for a climate stimulus package, yet Economy Minister Peter Altmaier is hesitating. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Budapest promises to welcome tourists after COVID-19 pandemic
The Hungarian capital intends to return to international tourism as soon as possible after the COVID-19 pandemic. EURACTIV's partner Ouest-France reports.
New normal? Better normal!
In these times of COVID-19, the big challenge for most of us is how to protect ourselves and our families from the virus and how to hold on to our jobs. For policy-makers, that translates into beating the pandemic without doing irreversible damage to the economy in the process, writes Guy Ryder.
Germany divided over how to bail out flyers
Germany's government granted low-cost airline Condor more than half a billion euros on Monday (27 April) to help it ride out a virus-induced slump in air travel, but the fate of the much bigger flag-carrier Lufthansa is still very much up in the air.
Air France-KLM gets virus bailout, green conditions still pending
Air France-KLM will get a state-backed bailout of around €10 billion in loans and guarantees. But the lack of strict conditions in the aid packages announced by the French and Dutch governments on Friday (24 April) has already stoked criticism.
Private sector jumps in to fill youth skills gap
Youth unemployment remains a lingering issue in Europe. While the public sector has a central role to play in supporting young people in the transition from education to work, private companies can also contribute to closing the skills gap.
EU could finance €1.5 trillion recovery fund with bonds: Dombrovskis
The European Union could finance a recovery fund worth up to €1.5 trillion with bonds guaranteed by member states, European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis told German newspaper Handelsblatt.
Germany’s post-virus forecast better than expected, say top economists
Germany's five most important economic institutes insist an economic upturn is on the horizon, as part of their biannual spring forecast published on Wednesday (8 April). EURACTIV Germany reports.
France puts dividends payments into ‘confinement’ amid COVID-19 crisis
The French government intends to prohibit the payment of dividends to companies receiving state funding. While this would remain a partial ban, many are eager to see it become generalised in the context of the health and economic crisis. EURACTIV France reports.
Thyssenkrupp to scrap 3,000 steel jobs as part of coronavirus ‘crisis package’
German industrial conglomerate Thyssenkrupp on Wednesday (25 March) announced it was scrapping 3,000 jobs in its troubled steel unit as part of a coronavirus "crisis package".
‘NEETs’: A youth group at high risk of poverty and exclusion
Education and skills gaps are not only a challenge for businesses seeking to recruit, they also make poverty and social exclusion more likely among young people who are excluded from labour and education at the same time.
France’s budget deficit could skyrocket to 7% of GDP in COVID-19 aftermath
The French government continues to announce stimulus spending, as well as support measures for companies, employees and the research sector worth billions to mitigate the COVID-19 crisis. Although necessary, those measures could send the country's budget deficit through the roof, EURACTIV France reports.
Coronavirus: Macron announces drastic measures in France
France will close from Monday all nurseries, schools and universities to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus, President Emmanuel Macron said in a televised address on Thursday (12 March), calling the outbreak the nation's worst public health crisis in a century.
Jourova: Excluding women from top companies’ boards is economically stupid
While the European Commission has just presented its Gender Equality Strategy, European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency Věra Jourová insisted in an interview with EURACTIV France that the fight against stereotypes and violence against women must continue.
German family minister wants to expand gender quotas for top jobs
German Family Minister Franziska Giffey of the Social Democrats (SPD) wants to expand the quota of women in the workplace to apply to supervisory and management boards. While coalition partners have criticised her plans, she remains determined not to give up on the potential of qualified women. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Germany’s Skilled Immigration Act: Who will benefit?
Germany's new law on the immigration of skilled workers, which aims to provide easier access to the German labour market for qualified workers from non-EU countries, will come into force on 1 March. But some experts believe the new law is insufficient and NGOs consider it ignores those already living in Germany. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Commission lists regions ripe for just transition cash
The European Commission revealed on Wednesday (26 February) which specific parts of the EU are eligible to split a €7.5 billion-strong climate fund, earmarked for spending on cleaning up heavy industry and supporting workers in the fossil fuel industry.Supporter
The “NEETs in Entrepreneurship” project is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants’ Fund for Youth Employment. It is implemented by five Junior Achievement member organisations (JA Europe, JA Bulgaria, JA Italy, JA Romania and JA Spain), in addition to JA Norway who acts as an expertise partner.
By the end of the project in 2021, 1,600 young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs) in the four beneficiary countries (Bulgaria, Italy, Romania and Spain) will have received training and support to acquire the necessary skills to find a job or start their own business. In addition, the project aims to prevent another 1,000 students from becoming NEETs by giving them training and counseling.
Selection
1,600 NEETs + 1,000 VET students will develop entrepreneurial skills
Prevention
A prevention programme on school dropout will enable better cooperation between schools and students, ensuring the integration of good practices into the educational systems
Blended Learning
The programme delivered in the four beneficiary countries uses both online and live sessions
Business Development
Entrepreneurial practice will be provided to 400 NEETs through a business incubator; 40 of them will receive financing to set up their own businesses