Europe 2020 Integrated Guidelines

The guidelines for the employment policies form one part of the integrated guidelines, the other part being the broad guidelines for the economic policies of the member states, which the Council already adopted in July 2010.

The integrated guidelines is an important tool of the Europe 2020 Strategy and lays the foundations for structural reforms which the member states will have to carry out.

The integrated guidelines contain five EU headline targets, of which three belong to the guidelines for the employment policies of the member states and concern labour market participation, the fight against social exclusion and poverty, and the quality and performance of education and training systems.

The headline target on labour market seeks to increase by 2020 to 75% the labour market participation for women and men aged 20-64 through greater participation of youth, older workers and low skilled workers. The headline target on social inclusion and combating poverty aims to lift at least 20 million people out of the risk of poverty and exclusion.

The headline target for the improvement of the quality and performance of education and training systems which is to reduce drop out rates to less than 10%, and increase the share of 30-34 years old having completed tertiary or equivalent education to at least 40%.

7. increasing labour market participation and reducing structural unemployment; 8. developing a skilled workforce responding to labour market needs, promoting job quality and lifelong learning;

9. improving the performance of education and training systems at all levels and increasing participation in tertiary education;

10. promoting social inclusion and combating poverty.

The headline targets must be translated by member states into national targets, taking into account their relative starting positions and national circumstances. Member states must submit their draft national reform programmes including their national targets by 12 November. By mid-April 2011, the national reform programmes should be finalised.

The European Council will assess annually the progress made at both EU and member state level under the 2020 Strategy.

On 26 March 2010, the European Council reached an agreement on the European Commission’s EU2020 strategy.

On that basis, the European Commission drafted the economic policy and employement guidelines that Member States will have to follow when drawing and implementing National Reform Programmes:

 A Council Recommendation on broad guidelines for the economic policies of the Member States and of the Union -Part I of the Europe 2020 Integrated Guidelines;

 A Council Decision on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States –Part II of the Europe 2020 Integrated Guidelines.

These guidelines will be the basis for implementing the Europe 2020 strategy and for establishing its framework as well as reforms at the Member State level.

Using the guidelines, Member States will draw up National Reform Programmes that will outline the actions each state will take to implement the new strategy. The European Council will evaluate the progress achieved at the EU and national levels in implementing the strategy on a yearly basis. The ten guidelines are the following:

 Guideline 1: Ensuring the quality and sustainability of public finances
 Guideline 2: Addressing macroeconomic imbalances
 Guideline 3: Reducing imbalances in the euro area
 Guideline 4: Optimising support for R&D and innovation, strengthening the knowledge triangle and unleashing the potential of the digital economy
 Guideline 5: Improving resource efficiency and reducing greenhouse gases emissions
 Guideline 6: Improving the business and consumer environment and modernising the industrial base
 Guideline 7: Increasing labour market participation and reducing structural unemployment
 Guideline 8: Developing a skilled workforce responding to labour market needs, promoting job quality and lifelong learning
 Guideline 9: Improving the performance of education and training systems at all levels and increasing participation in tertiary education
 Guideline 10: Promoting social inclusion and combating poverty

In the Council Conclusions on governance the following points were made:

  The Commission plans to propose a package of country-specific recommendations based on the Integrated Guidelines, including economic guidelines.
  The importance of involving social partners in the implementation of the European Employment Strategy;
  Employment Committee is to inform the Council annual on the progress made towards the Europe 2020 headline and national employment targets;

For further information
 Council conclusions on the Governance of the European Employment Strategy in the context of Europe 2020 and the European Semester
 Europe 2020 strategy for jobs and growth: the Council adopts guidelines for the member states’ employment policies

For more information:

 Europe 2020: A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth

 A Council Recommendation on broad guidelines for the economic policies of the Member States and of the Union -Part I of the Europe 2020 Integrated Guidelines

 A Council Decision on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States –Part II of the Europe 2020 Integrated Guidelines

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