Trajecten voor reïntegratie op de arbeidsmarkt (en)

Today, the informal ministerial meeting of the EU’s employment and social affairs ministers opened in Jönköping. The economic crisis and its short and long-term effects on the labour market will be discussed.

During the morning, Sweden’s Minister for Social Security Cristina Husmark Pehrsson, and Minister for Employment Sven Otto Littorin, Belgium’s Secretary of State Jean-Marc Delizée and Spain’s Minister for Employment and Immigration Celestino Corbacho met representatives of the social partners and organisations working in the social sector at EU level. The long- and short-term effects of the economic crisis on the labour market were discussed. The issue of the successor to the EU’s more longterm strategy for growth and employment, the Lisbon Strategy, was also addressed.

“We all bear responsibility for this. Politicians and social partners must work together for a labour market that takes into account the potential of each individual. By creating routes back into employment, facilitating retraining and mobility for those outside the labour market, the EU can emerge strengthened from the crisis”, said Minister for Employment Sven Otto Littorin after the meeting.

The discussions also addressed the need for an active labour market and social security policy, in order to meet both the short- and long-term challenges facing the EU Member States. An important tool for achieving good results in all countries is exchanging experience and learning from the mistakes that were made during the crisis in the 1990s.

“We all agreed that the economic crisis must not result in an increase in long-term exclusion. People who can work should be given the opportunity to do so. This is especially important for those who have a reduced capacity to work”, said Minister for Social Security Cristina Husmark Pehrsson.

Key facts

Informal meetings of the EU’s Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) are arranged two or three times a year by the country holding the EU Presidency. The purpose of these meetings is to provide an opportunity for the ministers concerned to discuss and exchange experience with one another, both on current and longterm issues. However, decisions are made at formal Council meetings that are held around four times a year in Brussels or Luxembourg.

Besides the EU’s employment and social affairs ministers, invitations are extended also to ministers from the candidate countries (Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey), the EES and EFTA countries, as well as representatives of institutions including the European Parliament.