Press Release: Commission warns Member States to maintain pressure of EU labour market reforms

The European Commission agreed an employment package on 12 September 2001 to advance reform of EU labour markets. The three-part annual package - a report on Member States' employment performance, a set of recommendations addressed to each individual Member State and policy guidelines for the future gives credit to Member State governments for positive results so far in creating new jobs and switching to job-friendly policies. The year 2000 has been the most successful since the launch of the European employment strategy, but the Commission also calls on governments, business and trade unions to persevere with reform of labour markets regardless of any cooling of the world business climate. The package will now be submitted to the EU's Council of Ministers for a decision before the end of 2001.