Press Release: Employment in the candidate countries : Commission reports on data and challenges

The European Commission adopted on 19 February 2003 a report on the labour market situation in twelve candidate countries (report on Turkey in preparation) and the employment policy challenges which they face in the run-up to enlargement starting in 2004. The report states that candidate countries have made progress in transforming their labour markets and in adjusting policy design towards the objectives of the European Employment Strategy and the Lisbon process. However, the report makes clear that there are significant differences between the candidate countries' performances and that there is, in general, an urgent need to increase employment rates, to increase employment in services, to reduce reliance on agriculture and traditional industrial sectors and to increase skill levels.