• History of the EES
• Implementation of the EES
• The future of the EES

European Employment Strategy (EES)

Implementation of the EES

Heads of State and Government agreed on a framework for action based on the commitment from Member States to establish a set of common objectives and targets for employment policy. This co-ordination of national employment policies at EU level was built around an annual process of guidelines agreed at the Council level, national plans from the Member States and a joint report by the European Commission. This process has been revised in 2005 to improve coordination between Member States and the European institutions on the one hand and, on the other hand, to better coordinate employment policies with macroeconomic and microeconomic policies of the EU. This new EES covers a three year period, from 2005 to 2008.

The European Council of March 2005 has re-launched the Lisbon strategy by refocusing on growth and employment in Europe. For the next few years, the Union is to focus and take the necessary action to promote knowledge, attract more people into the labour market and create more jobs.

In order to make this refocusing process effective, the European Council decided to launch a new cycle of governance to strengthen the consistency and complementarity of existing mechanisms. The European Council has asked the European Commission to incorporate the priority of growth and employment into new Broad Economic Policy Guidelines and new Employment Policy Guidelines. On 12 April 2005 the European Commission presented the Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs for 2005-2008

As well as promoting a co-ordinated policy approach, the EES also emphasises the importance of the involvement all key stakeholders, namely national governments, EU institutions, social partners, civil society and other actors. Efforts have also been made to achieve stronger links between the EES and other OMCs, particularly those on education, social inclusion and social protection.

In 2008, a new cycle of EGs was published with priorities to foster full employment, improve quality and productivity at work and strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion. These Guidelines are to remain valid until 2010. They are available at: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=108&langId=en

Member States are particularly asked to use their NRPs to report on their flexicurity strategies. These should reflect the priorities set out in the 2007 Communication “Towards common principles of flexicurity”: flexible and reliable contractual arrangements; comprehensive lifelong learning strategies; effective active labour market policies; and modern social security systems.

The main components of the EES are:

Integrated Employment Guidelines: following a proposal from the Commission, the European Council agrees every year on a series of guidelines setting out common priorities for Member States' employment policies.

National Reform Programmes: every Member State draws up a programme in which is described how these Guidelines are going to be designed and implemented nationally.

Joint Employment Report: the Employment chapter of the annual progress report is adopted by the Council to form the Joint Employment Report

Recommendations: The Council may decide, by qualified majority, to issue country-specific Recommendations upon a proposal by the Commission.

EU annual progress report: the Commission reviews progress made at both national and Community level, based on regular monitoring of the actions listed in the Community Lisbon Programme and on an evaluation of the implementation of the Member states national programmes. On the basis of this annual assessment, the Commission may, if necessary, identify further actions to revise the Community Lisbon Programme.