Investeringen in Europese kenniseconomie niet in geding door financiële crisis (en)

The discussion during the two-day Presidency conference (26 – 27 February) in the Prague Congress Centre showed that most participants still consider migration and integration as key factors to Europe’s development.

Making Europe the world’s most competitive knowledge-based economy will require a number of radical reforms.

“Iin spite of the current unemployment rate the demand for labour will grow over the medium and long term due to demographic developments”, said Czech Labour and Social Affairs Minister Petr Necas. He added that “by 2030 the 25 - 64 age bracket will shrink by as many as 750 000 persons in the Czech Republic”. “We put emphasis on migration in search for jobs, not social allowances”, added the Minister. Holding our own against global competition will require simplifying conditions for business activities, making a significant effort to achieve a more flexible labour market and modernising the economy.

In addition to addressing the dysfunctional economy, the participants identified three common denominators leading to widespread and often also long-term unemployment - i.e. an overregulated labour market, obstacles to business activities and a demotivating social system. Migrants in particular are among the main risk groups hit by unemployment. The principal factors include a lack of education and training of foreigners, insufficient knowledge of the host country language and narrow or inexistent social networks. This is why there is a need for well-targeted integration programmes that will not only teach the language of the host country but also will provide social and cultural information. When it comes to the integration of immigrants into the labour market, employers must also be active. Support of various ways of recruiting workers has also proven to be crucial.

Speeches by individual speakers confirmed the positive impact of regulated immigration, such as filling the gaps in the European markets and contribution to state budgets. By the same token, the need for replacing the “brain-drain” with “circulation of brains” has been addressed. It is necessary to provide conditions that would prevent the loss of our own highly qualified workers.

An audio recording of the press conference of 26 February 2009, the opening speech by Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Petr Necas and speeches by individual speakers can be found on the website of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in the Czech EU Presidency Section.

Contact: Jana Ríhová, spokesperson of the Minstry of Labour and Social Affairs for the Presidency tel.: +420 221 922 249, mobile: +420 725 761 147 ; e-mail: jana.rihova@mpsv.cz , www.mpsv.cz