The FINANCIAL -- The dramatically high youth unemployment rates in Europe call for
immediate action by Member States. One of the priorities for action is
to ensure a smooth school-to-work transition for young people.
Two studies undertaken for the European Commission on apprenticeships and traineeships in all EU Member States recommend that these schemes should be more responsive to labour market requirements, better adapted to business needs and offer more guarantees in terms of quality and perspectives for young people.
European Commissioner of Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion László Andor said: "The European Council has underlined the importance of apprenticeships and traineeships for young people, especially in the context of youth guarantees and new mobility schemes. These new studies shed more light onto these schemes and help us to prepare our upcoming initiatives on improving the transition from school to work. Apprenticeships and traineeships can build bridges for young people to enter the labour market and so help to tackle Europe's excessive levels of youth unemployment. But such apprenticeships and traineeships must ensure that youngsters are given the best possible chance of getting a sustainable job afterwards. We also support this through more targeted use of the European Social Fund."
As EUROPA reported, the studies' results will provide input to the preparation of two Commission initiatives by the end of 2012; a draft Council Recommendation on Youth Guarantees, to ensure that young people are either in employment, education or training within four months of leaving school, and the definition of a Quality Framework for Traineeships.
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