Text tabled : A7-0235/2010

  Robert Rochefort (ALDE), in writing. – (FR) While the full impact of the economic crisis on unemployment rates has not yet been felt, implementation of an ambitious European strategy on employment is essential.

I approve the target set by the Council to increase labour market participation to 75% of the European population between now and 2020, but more needs to be done. We could, for example, set a target of raising employment rates among the more vulnerable groups, such as young people aged between 15 and 25 years, older workers, unskilled active women, or people with disabilities. Or we could even further reduce school drop-out rates to below 10%.

What is more, I think specific policies should target the difficulties encountered by the long-term unemployed in entering the job market, and I call on the Council to equip itself with the resources to reduce this by at least 10% over the next 10 years. To achieve this, as suggested in Mr Őry’s report, at least 25% of all long-term unemployed should participate in an active labour market measure in the form of advanced training, education and/or occupational redeployment.