€1bn for youth unemployment and kicking off Energy Union

The College of Commissioners proposed today (4 February) to make 1 billion euro from the Youth Employment Initiative available and launched its work on the Energy Union.

Today (4 February 2015), the European Commission proposed to make 1 billion euro from the Youth Employment Initiative available as early as this year. This change will increase by up to 30 times the pre-financing Member States receive to boost youth employment - reaching up to 650 000 young people and helping them get into work, faster.

The College of Commissioners also launched today work on the Energy Union, which is a fundamental step towards the completion of single energy market and reforming how Europe produces, transports and consumes energy. The Energy Union with a Forward-looking Climate Change Policy is one of the key political priorities of the Juncker Commission i. After more than 60 years from the founding of the Coal and Steel Community, the Commission today drew a plan for reorganising European energy policies and kicked off work for European Energy Union. The Energy Union framework strategy is scheduled for adoption on 25 February. This strategic policy document will be accompanied by the "Road to Paris" Communication spelling out the EU's intended climate contribution as well as a Communication reporting on EU's progress towards the minimum electricity interconnection target of 10%.