2006/544/EC: Council Decision of  18 July 2006  on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States
Date: 2006-07-18
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU Member State, EU employment policy, European Employment Strategy

L 215/26

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

5.8.2006

COUNCIL DECISION

of 18 July 2006

on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States

(2006/544/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty
Community, and in particular Article 128(2) thereof,

establishing the European

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

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

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

Having consulted the Committee of the Regions,

Having regard to the opinion of the Employment Committee (3),

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

The reform of the Lisbon Strategy in 2005 has placed the
emphasis on growth and jobs. The Employment
Guidelines (4) of
the European Employment Strategy
and the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines (5) have
been adopted as an integrated package, whereby the
European Employment Strategy has the leading role in
the employment and labour
the implementation of
market objectives of the Lisbon Strategy.

The European Union must mobilise all appropriate
national and Community resources — including the
cohesion policy — in the Lisbon strategy's
three
dimensions (economic, social and environmental) so as
better to tap into their synergies in a general context of
sustainable development.

(1) Opinion of 4 April 2006 (not yet published in the Official Journal).
(2) Opinion of 17 May 2006 (not yet published in the Official Journal).
(3) Opinion of 27 April 2006.
(4) Council Decision 2005/600/EC of 12 July 2005 on guidelines for
the employment policies of the Member States (OJ L 205, 6.8.2005,
p. 21).

(5) Council Recommendation 2005/601/EC of 12 July 2005 on the
broad guidelines for the economic policies of the Member States
and the Community (2005 to 2008) (OJ L 205, 6.8.2005, p. 28).

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

The Employment Guidelines and the Broad Economic
Policy Guidelines should be fully reviewed only every
three years, while in the intermediate years until 2008
their updating should remain strictly limited to ensure
the degree of stability that
is necessary for effective
implementation.

The examination of the Member States' National Reform
Programmes contained in the Commission's Annual
Progress Report and in the Joint Employment Report
shows that Member States should continue to make
every effort to address the priority areas of:

— attracting and retaining more people in employment,
supply and modernising social

increasing labour
protection systems,

— improving adaptability of workers and enterprises,

and

— increasing investment

in human capital

through

better education and skills.

The European Council of 23 and 24 March 2006
stressed the central role of employment policies in the
framework of the Lisbon agenda and the necessity of
increasing employment opportunities for priority cate-
gories, within a life-cycle approach. In this connection,
it approved the European Pact for Gender Equality that
should further heighten the profile of gender main-
the
impetus
streaming
perspectives and opportunities of women on a broad
scale.

improving

give

and

to

The removal of obstacles to mobility for workers, as laid
down by the Treaties, including the Treaties of Accession,
should strengthen the functioning of the internal market
and enhance its growth and employment potential.

In the light of both the Commission’s examination of the
National Reform Programmes and the European Council
conclusions, the focus should now be on effective and
timely implementation, paying special attention to the
agreed quantitative
laid down in the
Employment Guidelines for 2005-2008, and in line
with the conclusions of the European Council.

targets

as

5.8.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 215/27

(8)

(9)

Member States should take the Employment Guidelines
their
into
of
account when
use
Community funding,
the European
Social Fund.

programming
in particular of

In view of
the integrated nature of
package, Member States should fully implement
Broad Economic Policy Guidelines,

the guidelines
the

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The guidelines for Member States' employment policies as set
out in the Annex to Decision 2005/600/EC shall be maintained

for 2006 and shall be taken into account by the Member States
in their employment policies.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 18 July 2006.

For the Council
The President

J. KORKEAOJA