EUROPA - Newsroom - Latest stories - Employment and social rights

March 2013: Euro area unemployment rate at 12.1% - EU27 at 10.9%

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 10:12:00 +0200

The euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 12.1% in March 2013, up from 12.0% in February. The EU27 unemployment rate was 10.9%, stable compared with February.

Employment: Commission proposes to improve application of workers' rights to free movement

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:27:00 +0200

The European Commission has proposed measures to ensure the better application of EU law on people's right to work in another Member State and so make it easier for people to exercise their rights in practice.

Industrial relations: social dialogue under strain in Europe says new report

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:35:00 +0200

The on-going economic crisis poses a serious challenge to the dialogue between workers' and employers' representatives and governments according to a report published by the European Commission.

February 2013: Euro area unemployment rate at 12.0% - EU27 at 10.9%

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 11:23:00 +0200

The euro area (EA17) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 12.0% in February 2013, stable compared with January. The EU27 unemployment rate was 10.9%, up from 10.8% in the previous month.

EU Employment and Social Situation: Quarterly Review analyses deepening social crisis

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:21:00 +0100

The employment and social situation in the EU remained critical in the fourth quarter of 2012 with employment receding overall and unemployment rising further, while households' financial situation remained serious according to the European Commission's latest Employment and Social Situation Quarterly Review.

January 2013: Euro area unemployment rate at 11.9% EU27 at 10.8%

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 12:13:00 +0100

The euro area (EA17) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.9% in January 2013, up from 11.8% in December 2012. The EU27 unemployment rate was 10.8%, up from 10.7% in the previous month.

Council agrees on Youth Guarantee

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:34:00 +0100

The Council reached a political agreement on the establishment of youth guarantee schemes which aim to ensure that unemployed young people are quickly offered employment or training.

Health and Safety: Commission proposes to improve workers' protection against exposure to hazardous chemicals

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:20:00 +0100

The Commission has proposed to amend five existing EU health and safety Directives on protection of workers from exposure to harmful chemicals to align them with the latest rules on classification, labelling and packaging of chemicals.

Social investment: Commission urges Member States to focus on growth and social cohesion

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 12:47:00 +0100

The Social Investment Package, presented by the Commission, gives guidance to Member States on more efficient and effective social policies in response to the significant challenges they currently face. These include high levels of financial distress, increasing poverty and social exclusion, as well as record unemployment, especially among young people.

December 2012: Euro area unemployment rate at 11.7% - EU27 at 10.7%

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 11:26:00 +0100

The euro area (EA17) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.7% in December 2012, stable compared with November. The EU27 unemployment rate was 10.7%, also stable compared with November.

Unleashing Europe's entrepreneurial potential to bring back growth

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 12:16:00 +0100

The European Commission presented an action plan to support entrepreneurs and revolutionise entrepreneurial culture in Europe.

Employment and Social Developments: growing divergence and higher risks of long-term exclusion

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 23:00:00 +0100

After five years of economic crisis and the return of a recession in 2012, unemployment is hitting new peaks not seen for almost twenty years, according to the 2012 edition of the Employment and Social Developments in Europe Review.

EU rules on gender-neutral pricing in insurance industry enter into force

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 11:12:00 +0100

Under the new rules, insurers in Europe will have to charge the same prices to women and men for the same insurance products without distinction on the grounds of sex. This means that insurance prices could rise or fall in the short term for certain categories of customers while they are likely to balance out over time.

Youth employment: Commission proposes package of measures

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:42:00 +0100

Measures to help Member States tackle unacceptable levels of youth unemployment and social exclusion by giving young people offers of jobs, education and training have been proposed by the European Commission.

Commission proposes rules to make government websites accessible for all

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:06:00 +0100

The Commission's proposal for a Directive on the accessibility of public sector bodies' websites would introduce mandatory EU standardised accessibility features, from the end of 2015, for 12 types of websites.

October 2012: Euro area unemployment rate at 11.7% - EU27 at 10.7%

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:00:00 +0100

The euro area (EA17) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.7% in October 2012, up from 11.6% in September. The EU27 unemployment rate was 10.7% in October 2012, up from 10.6% in September.

Annual Growth Survey 2013: Charting the course to recovery

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:53:00 +0100

The European Commission adopted the 2013 Annual Growth Survey (AGS), setting out five priorities designed to guide Member States through the crisis to renewed growth: pursuing differentiated, growth-friendly fiscal consolidation; restoring normal lending to the economy; promoting growth and competitiveness for today and tomorrow; tackling unemployment and the social consequences of the crisis; and modernising public administration.

Employment: Commission improves EURES jobseeker mobility network

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:29:00 +0100

A Decision to modernise and improve EURES, the pan-EU job search network, has been adopted by the European Commission.

September 2012: Euro area unemployment rate at 11.6%, EU27 at 10.6%

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 11:32:00 +0100

The euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.6% in September 2012, up from 11.5% in August. The EU27 unemployment rate was 10.6% in September 2012, stable compared with August.

New Maritime Agenda for growth and jobs adopted

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 12:38:00 +0200

The agenda focuses on promising maritime sectors where there is a great potential for new jobs and growth. These sectors are: marine renewable energy, aquaculture, blue biotechnology, coastal tourism and sea bed mining.

Main results of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 19:11:00 +0200

The Council adopted several legal acts, notably on energy efficiency, better access to and improved digitisation of orphan works across the EU and minimum standards for the rights, support and protection of crime victims.

Past trends and latest data for the headline indicators of the Europe 2020 strategy

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:30:00 +0200

The key objectives of the strategy are expressed in the form of five targets on employment, research & development, climate change & energy, education and poverty & social exclusion. These targets are monitored on the basis of headline indicators that Eurostat compiles and publishes.

August 2012: euro area unemployment rate at 11.4%, EU27 at 10.5%

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:01:00 +0200

The euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.4% in August 2012, stable compared with July. The EU27 unemployment rate was 10.5% in August 2012, also stable compared with July.

Quarterly Review shows persistent labour market and social divergence between Member States

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 12:14:00 +0200

The employment and social situation in the EU remained very serious in the second quarter of 2012 with unemployment rising overall but also displaying significant differences between Member States, households' financial situation deteriorating and child poverty increasing.

EU Youth Report calls for employment and social inclusion to be top priority

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:52:00 +0200

The report, which is produced every three years by the Commission, underlines that the EU and Member States must do more to support young people, who have borne the brunt of the economic crisis.

Commission urges Member States to recognise skills gained outside school and university

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 12:29:00 +0200

The Commission's proposal aims to increase job opportunities in particular for the young unemployed and those with few formal qualifications such as older and low-skilled workers.

Employment: EU Globalisation Fund supported over 21000 workers in 2011

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:05:00 +0200

More than 21 000 workers dismissed due to the economic crisis and the effects of globalisation were helped to find new job opportunities by the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) in 2011, according to a report adopted by the European Commission.

July 2012: Euro area unemployment rate at 11.3% - EU27 at 10.4%

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 11:26:00 +0200

The euro area (EA17) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.3% in July 2012, stable compared with June. It was 10.1% in July 2011. The EU27 unemployment rate was 10.4% in July 2012, also stable compared with June.

Seabed mapping: new opportunities for blue growth and jobs in seas and oceans

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:10:00 +0200

The European Commission is proposing to create a digital seabed map of European waters by 2020 by collecting all existing data into one coherent database accessible to everyone.

June 2012: Euro area unemployment rate at 11.2%

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 13:18:00 +0200

The euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.2% in June 2012, stable compared with May. It was 10.0% in June 2011. The EU27 unemployment rate was 10.4% in June 2012, also stable compared with May. It was 9.5% in June 2011.

Public support for Europe 2020 Strategy remains strong

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:28:00 +0200

According to the Spring 2012 Eurobarometer, people’s views on the Europe 2020 strategy – which is the EU's growth strategy – are encouraging, particularly in relation to the importance of the initiatives and the level of ambition.

May 2012: Euro area unemployment rate at 11.1%

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 12:01:00 +0200

The euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.1% in May 2012, compared with 11.0% in April. It was 10.0% in May 2011. The EU27 unemployment rate was 10.3% in May 2012, compared with 10.2% in April. It was 9.5% in May 2011.

We must invest in jobs for people, says Parliament

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:49:00 +0200

MEPs call for investment measures to tap the potential for jobs and growth in the green economy, health and social services and the new technologies, in a resolution. They welcome the Commission's recent policy paper on a job-rich recovery, which advocates setting minimum wages to help the working poor.

ECJ: judgment in family benefits for migrant workers case

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 11:31:00 +0200

EU law does not prevent a Member State from granting family benefits to posted or seasonal workers in respect of whom it is not, in principle, the competent Member State.

April 2012 - Euro area unemployment rate at 11.0%. EU27 at 10.3%

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:39:00 +0200

The euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.0% in April 2012, stable compared with March. It was 9.9% in April 2011. The EU27 unemployment rate was 10.3% in April 2012, compared with 10.2% in March. It was 9.5% in April 2011.

More EU efforts needed to tackle youth unemployment, say MEPs

Thu, 24 May 2012 15:44:00 +0200

Devising a ‘European Investment Plan’ to create new jobs, reallocating EU structural funds to projects for young people, and introducing a ‘European Youth Guarantee’ to ensure that they are not without jobs for more than four months, are among the proposals set out by MEPs in a resolution.

European Commission calls on Member States to implement national plans for Roma integration

Wed, 23 May 2012 14:52:00 +0200

The European Commission has called on EU Member States, in a report adopted today, to implement their national strategies to improve the economic and social integration of Europe's 10 to 12 million Roma.

March 2012 - Euro area unemployment rate at 10.9%. EU27 at 10.2%

Wed, 02 May 2012 11:53:00 +0200

The euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.9% in March 2012, compared with 10.8% in February. It was 9.9% in March 2011. The EU27 unemployment rate was 10.2% in March 2012, stable compared with February. It was 9.4% in March 2011.

Commission presents new measures and identifies key opportunities for EU job-rich recovery

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:16:00 +0200

The proposal focuses on the demand-side of job creation, setting out ways for Member States to encourage hiring by reducing taxes on labour or supporting business start-ups more.

Growth for Greece: Commission points the way to unlock growth and create jobs

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:00:00 +0200

In a new Communication the Commission highlights the steps that need to be taken during 2012, as part of the programme and explains the huge range of support measures that it can mobilise to help Greece begin to generate new economic dynamism, job creation and social cohesion.

Commission to examine tax measures for cross-border workers

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:19:00 +0200

Member States' tax provisions are to be scrutinised to ensure that they do not discriminate against cross-border workers, in a targeted initiative launched by the Commission. It is estimated that more than 1.2 million people work cross-border in the EU.

EU sets out plans for pension system reform

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The Commission white paper proposes improving opportunities for older workers, developing private retirement schemes and introducing measures to protect and improve current pension schemes.

Learning from the economic crisis – consultation

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0100

It seeks to identify successful measures employers, workers and governments have taken to adapt to the crisis. The deadline is 30 March. Opinions will feed into upcoming EU proposals on employment.