Language push vital to boost labour mobility

Date: 24/01/02

'A POTENT cocktail' of factors is preventing people from moving easily from one EU country to another to find work, says a new report.

The European Commission-funded study, Skills and Mobility, says language barriers and difficulties in transferring pension and social security rights are among the obstacles to 'real' labour mobility.

Simple lack of information about job options abroad can also be a problem, says the report, which was commissioned by EU employment and social affairs chief Anna Diamantopoulou.

'At present,' the Greek commissioner said, 'EU citizens find it too hard, too often, when they try to move between jobs and countries. The skills gap is a major culprit in this but there is also a potent cocktail of factors at play. No wonder some people think the EU is just a figment of someone's imagination and little use to them when it matters - for their job.'

In trying to achieve the Commission's aim of 'open and accessible' EU-wide labour markets by 2005, the report recommends that:

• all pupils should master at least two EU languages as well as their own by the end of their compulsory education;
• one-third of the curriculum of post-secondary students should be spent in another EU member state;
• a guarantee should be given that all citizens can acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills and
• a one-stop European mobility information site should be set up by the end of this year.

A European Commission-funded study, 'Skills and Mobility', says language barriers and difficulties in transferring pension and social security rights are among the factors preventing people from moving easily from one EU country to another to find work.

http://ec.europa.eu/comm/employment_social/news/2001/dec/taskforce2001_en.pdf http://ec.europa.eu/comm/employment_social/news/2001/dec/taskforce2001_en.pdf

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