Together with the European Commission, specific issues were prepared for Thursday’s Council meeting, which is to consider the first progress report "Time to move up a gear: The new partnership for growth and jobs". The discussions will centre on how disadvantaged young people can be offered better job prospects, what initiatives can be taken to strengthen the youth dimension of the Lisbon strategy and how youth organisations can be more closely involved in the measures envisaged in the Youth Pact.
Combating youth unemployment, promoting the compatibility of family and working life and improved recognition for non-formal and informal learning are important requirements which Member States now have to incorporate in the national reform programmes for growth and jobs.
In addition, the conclusions prepared by the Austrian Presidency as the youth ministers’ contribution to the European Council in March 2006 are also to be adopted.
Among other things, the European Council will be invited to encourage further progress with regard to measures for young people by implementing the European Pact for Youth in the Lisbon strategy.
In the run-up to today’s Council meeting, Minister Haubner said: "I see in this important progress in European youth policy, for young people will be actively involved in all relevant policy areas for the first time".
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