Press Release: Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council meeting, Brussels, 28 February 2013

The Council reached political agreement on a recommendation addressed to the member states on establishing "youth guarantee" schemes that aim to ensure that all young people under the age of 25 who lose their job or do not find work after leaving education quickly receive a good-quality
offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship. They should receive such an offer within four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education. The "youth guarantee" is intended to provide for a smooth transition between school and work, support labour
market integration and make sure that no young person is left out. This measure is a key part of the response to the worsening youth employment situation across Europe.

The Council also held a debate on the employment and social policy aspects of the 2013 European Semester exercise, with a view to contributing to the broader discussions that the European Council will have at its meeting on 14 and 15 March. In the framework of this debate, the EPSCO
Council:
– adopted conclusions providing political guidance for employment and social policies on the basis of the Annual Growth Survey for 2013 and the Joint Employment Report;
– adopted the Joint Employment Report;
– agreed that the guidelines for the employment policies of the member states, adopted in 2010, will be maintained for 2013;
– endorsed key messages on the social situation and 'trends to watch' in the Union, drafted by the EU's Social Protection Committee.