# Council Decision of 6 May 2014 on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States for 2014 (2014/322/EU)

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U.K.

# Council Decision

# of 6 May 2014

# on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States for 2014

# (2014/322/EU)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 148(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament(1),                        

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee(2),                        

After consulting the Committee of the Regions,

Having regard to the opinion of the Employment Committee,

Whereas:

(1)Article 145 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) provides that Member States and the Union are to                              work towards developing a coordinated strategy for employment and particularly for promoting a skilled, trained and adaptable                              workforce and labour markets responsive to economic change with a view to achieving the objectives defined in Article 3 of                              the Treaty on European Union.

(2)The Europe 2020 strategy proposed by the Commission enables the Union to turn its economy towards smart, sustainable and inclusive                              growth, accompanied by a high level of employment, productivity and social cohesion. On 13 July 2010, the Council adopted                              its Recommendation on broad guidelines for the economic policies of the Member States and of the Union(3). Furthermore, on 21 October 2010, the Council adopted its Decision 2010/707/EU(4) (‘employment guidelines’). Those sets of guidelines form the integrated guidelines for implementing the Europe 2020 strategy                              (‘integrated guidelines’). Five headline targets, listed under the relevant integrated guidelines, constitute shared objectives                              which guide the action of the Member States, taking into account their relative starting positions and national circumstances                              as well as the positions and circumstances of the Union. The European Employment Strategy has the leading role in the implementation                              of the employment and labour market objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy.

(3)The integrated guidelines are in line with the conclusions of the European Council of 17 June 2010. They give precise guidance                              to the Member States on defining their national reform programmes and on implementing reforms. The employment guidelines should                              form the basis for any country-specific recommendations that the Council may address to the Member States under Article 148(4)                              TFEU, in parallel with the country-specific recommendations addressed to the Member States under Article 121(2) TFEU. The                              employment guidelines should also form the basis for the establishment of the Joint Employment Report sent annually by the                              Council and the Commission to the European Council.

(4)The examination of the Member States' national reform programmes, contained in the Joint Employment Report adopted by the                              Council on 28 February 2013, shows that Member States should continue to make every effort to address the following priorities:                              increasing labour market participation and reducing structural unemployment, developing a skilled workforce responding to                              labour market needs and promoting job quality and lifelong learning, improving the performance of education and training systems                              at all levels and increasing participation in tertiary education, promoting social inclusion and combating poverty.

(5)The employment guidelines should remain stable until the end of 2014 to ensure a focus on their implementation. Until the                              end of 2014, any updating of the employment guidelines should remain strictly limited. In 2011, 2012 and 2013 the employment                              guidelines were maintained. They should be maintained for 2014,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

# Article 1U.K.

The guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States, as set out in the Annex to Decision 2010/707/EU, are maintained                     for 2014 and shall be taken into account by the Member States in their employment policies.                  

# Article 2U.K.

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 6 May 2014.

*For the Council*                            

*The President*                            

G. Stournaras                            

1

Opinion of 26 February 2014 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

2

Opinion of 21 January 2014 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

3

OJ L 191, 23.7.2010, p. 28.                           

4

Council Decision 2010/707/EU of 21 October 2010 on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (OJ L 308, 24.11.2010, p. 46).