Employment policy: guidelines for 2005-2008

OBJECTIVE: the adoption of guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (2005-2008).

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2005/600/EC.

CONTENT: The Council, in accordance with a mandate given by the European Council in March, adopted a set of 24 integrated guidelines for growth and jobs, consisting of two elements: broad economic policy guidelines (10667/05) and employment guidelines (10205/05), for the three-year cycle 2005/2008.

The integrated guidelines for growth and jobs will serve as the basis for national reform programmes which are to be submitted by member states by autumn 2005. This integrated approach involves macro-economic, micro-economic as well as employment policies.

Reflecting the new start given to the Lisbon economic reform strategy, the broad economic policy guidelines concentrate on the contribution of economic policies to higher growth and more jobs. They deal with the influence that macro-economic policies can play in this respect, while focusing on the measures that the member states should carry out in order to boost knowledge and innovation for growth and to make Europe a more attractive place to invest and work.

The employment guidelines aim to achieve objectives of full employment, job quality, labour productivity and social cohesion, reflected in clear priorities: to attract and retain more people in employment, increase labour supply and modernise social protection systems; to improve adaptability of workers and enterprises; and to increase investment in human capital through better education and skills.