PES Social Europe Network discusses EU2020

On the 2nd of February, the PES Social Europe Network discussed the PES strategy paper on Europe 2020 in the presence of outgoing commissioner Vladimir Spidla and commioner designate Laszlo Andor. ECOSY President Petroula Nteledimou and ECOSY Secretary General Janna Besamusca attended the meeting. ECOSY Secretary General Janna Besamusca urged the network members to give top priority to working conditions, especially the exploitative conditions under which young people work.

In reaction to the idea of a special initiative to deal with young people, Janna Besamusca said that this should include:

1. An action to lift childen and young people from poverty

2. A job guarantee for young people, including financial incentives for SMEs to provide paid internships for lowly educated youth; youth employment quota in public tenders and  Government funded initiatives for micro credits.

3. Improved labour legislation in line with the work of the European Parliament Employment Committee.

4. A strong initiative on education that includes action against high school drop outs, increasing university enrolment levels and a focus on disadvantaged youth in European exchange programmes.