2007/491/EC: Council Decision of 10 July 2007 on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States
Date: 2007-07-10
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU Member State, EU employment policy, European Employment Strategy

13.7.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 183/25

COUNCIL DECISION

of 10 July 2007

on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States

(2007/491/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)

The reform of the Lisbon Strategy in 2005 has placed the
emphasis on growth and jobs. The Employment
Guidelines of
the European Employment Strategy set
out in the Annex to Council Decision 2005/600/EC of
12 July 2005 on Guidelines for the employment policies
of the Member States (4) and the Broad Economic Policy
in Council Recommendation
Guidelines
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) (5) have been adopted as an
integrated package, whereby the European Employment
Strategy has the leading role in the implementation of
the employment and labour market objectives of
the
Lisbon Strategy.

out

set

(1) Opinion of 15 February 2007 (not yet published in the Official

Journal).

(2) Opinion of 25 April 2007 (not yet published in the Official Journal).
(3) Opinion of 2 February 2007 (not yet published in the Official

Journal).

(4) OJ L 205, 6.8.2005, p. 21.
(5) OJ L 205, 6.8.2005, p. 28.

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

The Union should mobilise all appropriate national and
Community resources — including cohesion policy — in
the Lisbon strategy's three dimensions (economic, social
and environmental)
their
synergies
sustainable devel-
opment.

in a general context of

in order better

to exploit

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 more people to, and retaining more people
in, employment, increasing labour supply and moder-
nising social protection systems,

— improving the adaptability of workers and enter-

prises, and

— increasing investment

in human capital

through

better education and skills.

The European Council of 23-24 March 2006 stressed the
central role of employment policies in the framework of
increasing
the Lisbon agenda and the necessity of
categories,
priority
opportunities
employment
within a life-cycle approach.
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.

In this connection,

improving

give

and

for

to

The removal of obstacles to mobility for workers, as
including the Treaties of
elaborated by the Treaties,
accession,
the
internal market and enhance its growth and employment
potential.

should strengthen the functioning of

L 183/26

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

13.7.2007

(7)

(8)

(9)

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

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

use
their use of

programming

in particular

their

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The guidelines for Member States' employment policies as set
out in the Annex to Council Decision 2005/600/EC are main-
tained for 2007 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, 10 July 2007.

In view of the integrated nature of the guideline package,
the Broad
Member States
Economic Policy Guidelines,

should fully implement

For the Council
The President

F. TEIXEIRA DOS SANTOS