COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Accompanying the document COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Moving Youth into Employment
Date: 2012-12-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, access to a profession, job access, labour mobility, traineeship, young person, youth employment, youth unemployment

EUROPEAN 
COMMISSION 

Brussels, 5.12.2012  
SWD(2012) 406 final 

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 
Accompanying the document 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 

Moving Youth into Employment 

{COM(2012) 727 final} 

EN 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
  
 
COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 
Accompanying the document 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 

Moving Youth into Employment 

This  Staff  Working  Document  accompanies  the  Communication  "Moving  Youth  into 
Employment"1  and  gives  more  detailed  information  on  the  implementation  of  the  Youth 
Opportunities Initiative (YOI)2
 at EU level and in the Member States as well as an overview 
of youth specific country recommendations. 

This Staff Working Document has three annexes: 

1. 

IMPLEMENTATION OF YOI ACTIONS 

It contains a detailed table on the state of play on the implementation of Youth Opportunities 
Initiative, one year after being adopted (Annex I). 

2. 

YOUTH-RELATED COUNTRY SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS (CSR) 

In  2012,  nearly  all  Member  States  received  CSRs  specifically  aimed  at  improving  the 
situation of young people (An overview can be found in Annex II). 

3. 

28 COUNTRY FICHES 

These fiches contain individual data from the 27 Member States and Croatia on current trends 
in youth unemployment (the youth unemployment situation in 2012 is represented through the 
latest  available  monthly  unemployment  rate  for  those  aged  15-24  in  seasonally  adjusted 
terms),  commitments  made  with  a  view  to  combating  and  preventing  youth  unemployment 
(mostly  done  under  the  YOI),  progress  in  the  implementation  of  these  commitments,  the 
mobilisation  of  funds  and  amendments.  The  country  fiches  were  prepared  on  the  basis  of 
Member States' replies to a questionnaire sent to them in July 2012 (Annex III). 

1 
2 

COM(2012) 727 of 5 December 2012 
COM(2011) 933 final of 20 December 2011 

EN 

2 

   EN 

 
                                                 
Annex I: Implementation of the Youth Opportunities Initiative (YOI) – State of play November 2012 

YOI Action Box 

Action already taken 

Next steps 

Mobilising  the  ESF  to  support  skills  development  and  school-
to-work transitions 

1 

Several  Member  States  could  make  greater use of  available  EU 
funding,  including  through  re-programming  and  accelerating 
implementation,  to  create  larger  scale  support  schemes  for 
young  people  focusing  on  fighting  early  school  leaving  and 
developing  employability.  This  is  particularly  important  for 
Member States where youth unemployment and disadvantage are 
very high. The Commission is ready to work with Member States 
using  fast-track  procedures  for  operational  programmes 
modifications,  provide  technical  assistance  from  the  EU  and 
fast-track recovery of unspent money. 

"Action teams" and "bilaterals" with 15 
Member States in February 2012 

Reporting  of  preliminary  results  in 
SWD YOI of April 2012 

Questionnaire to MS in July 2012 

Country  fiches  prepared  and  will  be 
annexed to the chapeau Communication 

Fiches for all MS plus Croatia in Annex III of this SWD 

2 

The Commission will use: 

Call  for  Tenders  TA  Apprenticeship 
published, bids received and evaluated 

Contracting 

EUR  1.3  million  of  ESF  Technical  Assistance  to  support 
setting  up  apprenticeship-type  schemes  through  the  ESF, 
while another  

EUR 3 million of ESF Technical Assistance will focus, among 
others,  on  setting  up  support  schemes  for  young  business 
starters and social entrepreneurs.  

3 

The Commission will support Member States on defining youth-
related  measures  in  the  preparation  of  their  programmes  for 
the next ESF period. 

Call  for  Tenders  TA  Support  Schemes 
under preparation 

Launch Call for Tenders 

Sending of Position Papers to MS 

Papers 

Commission 
to 
Position 
Member  States  are  under  preparation 
since 
in 
November  foreseen.  They  will  be 
presented  to  and  discussed  with  MS  in 
the course of programming preparation 

finalisation 

June/July; 

EN 

3 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
for the 2014-2020 period. 

Supporting the transition from education to work 

4  Member States, in cooperation with social partners, should strive 
to substantially increase the supply of apprenticeships in the 
EU  and  ensure  that  they  represent  real  opportunities  for  young 
people to gain specific, on-the-job training and work experience 
leading to more stable forms of employment. An increase by at 
least  10%  in  the  EU  by  the  end  of  2013  would  add  a  total  of 
370,000 new apprenticeships.3 

Some bilateral initiatives are under way 
in  the  EU,  mainly  between  DE  and 
other MS (ES, IT) 

ESF  has  been  reprogrammed  in  many 
MS, 
to  support  more 
traineeships and apprenticeships. 

inter  alia, 

5 

6 

Social  Partners  should  examine,  where  appropriate  with  the 
Member  States'  authorities,  how  best  to  implement  the  specific 
objective of 'promoting more and better apprenticeships and 
traineeship contracts' as part of their autonomous agreement on 
'inclusive labour markets' (2010). 

The Commission will substantially reinforce support to learning 
mobility of higher education and vocational training students. By 
gearing  funds  as  much  as  possible  towards  placements  in 
enterprises,  an  additional  30%  of  placements  would  be  within 
reach,  targeting  at  least  130,000  placements  in  2012  under 
ERASMUS and Leonardo da Vinci.  

The  EU  social  partners'  2012-2014 
work  programme  (adopted  in  March 
2012)  includes  joint  work  on  youth 
employment.  The  social  partners  have 
started  negotiations  on  a  framework  of 
actions on youth in September 2012. 

1st  stage  SP  consultation  on  Quality 
Framework  for  traineeeships  (QFT)  in 
Sept 2012 

EUR 120 million additional funds were 
made  available  for  mobility  under  the 
2012 Budget with the main objective to 
fund more placements.  

This objective has been relayed to the 
participating institutions and 
organisations.  

Set up of a European Alliance for Apprenticeships 

2nd stage SP consultation on a QFT 

With  continued 
in  Leonardo  and  Erasmus 
mobility,  the  2012  target  of  130,000  is  expected  to  be 
reached by the end of the academic year. 

increase 

In  2012 
placements 

there  have  been  83,090 
the 

selected 

through 

European Commission (2012), Apprenticeship supply in the Member States of the European Union. 

3 

EN 

4 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
The  Commission  will  launch  a  EUR  1.5  million  campaign 
addressed  to  enterprises  in  early  2012  to  raise  business 
awareness of ERASMUS and Leonardo da Vinci placements 
and  encourage  potential  host  companies  to  host  European 
trainees. 

Leonardo  programme  and  more  than 
45,000 traineeships are expected to take 
place  under  Erasmus  during 
the 
academic year 2012/2013.  

Launch  event  of 
Business" Campaign in April. 

the  "We  Mean 

The  website  is  up  and  running,  with 
help  for  companies  and  advice  on  how 
to get involved. There is press campaign 
around  the  national  events  and  a  social 
media campaign. 

The  final  website  will  also  be  transferred  across  to  the 
Europa  website.  A  mapping  of  potential  services  that 
bodies can give in each Member State will also be put on 
the  website.  A  contact  group  might  be  set  up  amongst 
several National Agencies.  

The  Commission  will  present  in  2012  a  quality  framework 
supporting  the  provision  and  take-up  of  high  quality 
traineeships, 
traineeships 
including  an  EU  panorama  on 
increasing  the  transparency  on  the  conditions  for  trainees 
throughout the EU. 

Public  Consultation  April  2012  with 
more than 250 replies 

2nd stage SP consultation 

1st stage SP Consultation Sept 2012 

7 

8 

9  Member States and labour market actors need to step up efforts 
to implement the Youth Guarantee ensuring that young people 
are either in a job, education or (re-)training within four months 
of  leaving  school,  especially  for  early  leavers  from  education 
and  training  and  other  vulnerable  youth.  The  Commission  will 
launch  in  2012  a  preparatory  action  for  "Activation  measures 
targeting  young  people  -  implementing  Youth  on  the  move 
initiative" focusing on Youth Guarantees with a budget of EUR 
4 million.  

10  The  Commission  will  invest  a  significant  share  of  the  EUR  6 
million  budget  for  social  innovation  in  innovative  projects, 
targeting youth in disadvantaged situations and areas.  

Call  for  Proposals  launched  August 
2012 

Selection of projects until beginning of 2013  

Signature of grant agreements in the first trimester of 2013 

Call  for  proposals  on  social  policy 
experimentation:  award  of  three  grants 
to  proposals 
experimenting  youth 
activation measures. 

Launch of another call for proposals for 

Follow-up of proposals selected in 2012 and evaluation of 
applications to the 2012 call. 

EN 

5 

EN 

 
  
 
policy 

experimentation 

social 
in 
November  2012:  promotion  of  youth 
activation  measures  is  one  of  its  three 
priorities. 

11  The  budget  allocation  for  the  European  Voluntary  Service  will 
be  reinforced  in  order  to  provide  at  least  10,000  volunteering 
opportunities in 2012. 

Supporting labour market mobility  

12  EURES  and  the  European  Job  Mobility  Portal  is  currently 
posting  over  1.2  million  vacancies  and  700,000  CVs.  In  the 
course  of  2012,  Member  States  should  put  in  place  specific 
EURES recruitment services and support measures to ensure that 
at  least  100,000  of  these  EURES  jobs  are  successfully  filled 
by young people, hence making an intensified use of EURES.  

13  Starting  in 2012,  the  "Your first  EURES job"  scheme  launched 
by the Commission in 2011 will financially help directly around 
5,000 young people to fill vacancies in other Member States 
during  2012-2013.  This  will  serve  as  a  pilot  for  further 
developing  the  scheme  and  increasing  the  number  of  job 
placements. 

On-going  implementation  by  the  network  of  National 
Agencies  implementing  the  Youth  in  Action  Programme 
(2012 outputs available in 2013) 

Revision  of  the  2012  budget  of  the 
Youth  in  Action  Programme,  with  a 
view to increasing the share allocated to 
the European Voluntary Service  

Increase  (vs.  2012  revised  budget)  of 
the  share  allocated  to  the  European 
Voluntary Service in the 2013 budget of 
the Youth in Action Programme  

The  members  of  the  EURES  network 
have been strongly encouraged to focus 
on and give priority to the placement of 
young  jobseekers. There  are  currently 
no  statistics  available  regarding  the 
achievement  of  this  particular  action 
point. 

The  Commission  will  continue  to  monitor  placements  of 
youngsters  through  the  annual  reports  of  the  EURES 
Network in the context of the current exercise 2009-2013. 
Once  the  EURES  reform  comes  into  effect,  PES  will  be 
requested  to  carry  out  much  more  targeted  placement 
actions for jobseekers, including youth, and it is hoped that 
this will help to achieve the target of 100.000 mentioned in 
the Employment Package by 2020. 

Four  EU  employment  services  (DE, 
DK, ES and IT) selected and granted in 
the  follow  up  of  the  2011  call  for 
proposals. 

The scheme was officially launched by 
the Commission in May 2012. Further 
info at: 
http://ec.europa.eu/social/yourfirsteuresj
ob 

Evaluation of second call for proposals. Signature of grant 
agreements with selected applicants by early 2013 

Evaluation of tender bids (in progress) 

Kick-off of the evaluation in January 2013 (16 months) 

Monitoring of projects and results (on-going) 

Launch of third call for proposals in 2013 

EN 

6 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
14  Erasmus for entrepreneurs is expected to finance around 600 

further exchanges in 2012. 

Job  placement  activities  are  already 
being implemented 

Second  call  for  proposals  closed  on  20 
September 2012  

Restricted  tender  for  the  evaluation  of 
'Your  first  EURES  job'  published  in 
October 2012  

The  Programme 
is  already  running 
since  2009.  Cycle  3  of  the  Programme 
will  come  to  an  end  on  31st  October 
2012,  whilst  cycle  4  has  started  on  1st 
May  2012  and  will  run  until  31st 
January 2014.  

The  results  of  this  year's  call  (for  Cycle  5)  will  soon  be 
published. Cycle 5 will start on 1st February 2013 (for 24 
months). Another call for proposals will be launched in the 
first quarter of 2013. 

Out  of  the  600  planned  exchanges 
for 2012,  415  have  already  been 
reached by end of September.  

With the current trend of 20-25 new exchanges agreed per 
week, it is considered that the objective of 600 exchanges 
in 2012 can be achieved. 

Strengthened policy delivery as part of the European Semester 

15  The Commission will carry out further assessment and analysis 
of  the  measures  taken  by  the  Member  States  to  fight  youth 
unemployment and will report on this to the informal Council of 
Employment and Social Affairs Ministers in April 2012. 

SWD  (2012)  98  "Implementing  the 
Youth  Opportunities  Initiative:  first 
steps  taken"  as  part  of  Employment 
Package 

completed 

16  The  Commission  invites  Member  States  to  discuss  the 
necessary  adjustments  to  their  education  and  training 
the  Strategic  Framework  of  European 
systems  within 
Cooperation in Education and Training ("ET2020"). 

EN 

A report with key findings to inform the work in ET 2020-
working groups in the field of higher education and VET  

A  report  with  new  empirical  evidence  and  analysis  (the 
"Education  and  Training  Monitor")  that  assesses  Member 
States'  progress  in  improving  the  performance  of  their 

Adoption of a list of priority areas to be 
translated  into  action  in  the  course  of 
the  period  2012  -  2014;  many  of  these 
areas are directly relevant for improving 
the  opportunities  of  young  people  (e.g. 
improving  the quality  and  efficiency  of 
eduation and training).  

Commission  has 

entered 

into 

a 

7 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
17  The  Commission  will  provide  specific  guidance  to  Member 
States  on  measures  to  fight  youth  unemployment  during  the 
bilateral  contacts  preparing  the  National  Reform  Programmes 
2012.  

18  The  Commission  will  address  the  youth  dimension  in  its 
country  specific  recommendations  to  Member  States  in  May 
2012. 

discussion  on  the  outcome  of  the  2012 
European Semester and in particular the 
key  challenges  identified  in  the  2012 
CSRs. 

European 
Competences 

Survey 

on 

Language 

Bilateral  meetings  with  Member  States 
in  early  2012,  including  technical  level 
discussions. 

Policy  recommendations  from  the  ESF 
Youth Network 

The Commission presented and debated 
in  EMCO  two  studies  related  to  youth 
employment: apprenticeship supply and 
traineeship  arrangements  in  Member 
States.  

education systems  

Multilateral surveillance in the governance of employment 
and  social  policies  will  be  strengthened  through  thematic 
and  country  peer  reviews  in  the  Employment  and  Social 
Protection  Committees.  Thematic  reviews  will  be  an 
opportunity  to  look  into  how  the  Member  States  have 
addressed the CSRs or MoU commitments. 

Bilaterals were/are going to be held with Member States: 
- in October to take stock and go through the 2012 CSRs, 
to understand how Member States intend to implement the 
CSRs in their policies and in next year's budget; 
- in December/January 2013 to review the state of play of 
the  implementation  of  the  2012  CSRs  and  discuss  with 
each  Member  State  how  they  will  react  to  the  Annual 
Growth  Survey  and  how  its  priorities  will  be  reflected  in 
their National Programmes.  
-  in  April  2013  following  the  Spring  European  Council 
endorsement/adjustment  of  the  2013  Annual  Growth 
Survey  priorities  to  hear  how  Member  States  intend  to 
finalise  their  National  Reform  Programmes  and  cross-
check  with  each  Member  State 
the  Commission's 
preliminary analysis in key areas. 

22  youth-related  CSRs  on 
skills 
development,  adapting  education  and 
training  systems  and  young  people`s 
labour  market  needs, 
skills 
apprenticeships, 
of 
availability 
incentives  for  companies  to  hire  young 

the 

to 

on  Member  States’ 

As  part  of  the  upcoming  thematic  reviews  and  bilateral 
meetings 
towards 
implementing the 2012 CSRs, the Commission will follow 
up  on  the  progress  made  by  Member  States  on  the 
priorities  related  to  youth  employment  as  set  by  the 2012 
Annual Growth Survey package and the CSRs. 

progress 

EN 

8 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
people,  promotion  of  self-employment, 
etc.  (Overview  in  Annex  II  of  this 
SWD) 

Youth  will  be  a  key  priority  set  out  in  the  2013  Annual 
Growth Survey Package (tbc) and in the CSRs of the 2013 
European Semester. 

EN 

9 

EN 

 
  
 
Annex II: Overview of the country-specific recommendations (CSRs) 

adopted by the Council on 10 July 2012 

Country 

Council doc n°  Youth-specific CSRs (employment, education, social inclusion) 

Austria 

11241/12 

(5) Continue to implement measures to improve educational outcomes, especially of 
disadvantaged  young  people.  Take  measures  to  reduce  drop-outs  from  higher 
education. 

Belgium 

11244/12 

(5)  […]  Pursue  the  initiated  reform  of  the  unemployment  benefit  system  to  reduce 
disincentives to work and strengthen the focus of employment support and activation 
policies on older workers and vulnerable groups, in particular people with a migrant 
background. Take advantage of the planned further regionalisation of labour market 
competencies to boost interregional labour mobility and to strengthen the coherence 
between  education,  lifelong  learning,  vocational  training  and  employment  policies. 
Extend existing activation efforts to all age groups. 

Bulgaria 

11245/12 

(3) Accelerate the implementation of the national Youth Employment Initiative. […] 

(4) Speed up the reform of relevant legal acts on schools and higher education and of 
accompanying  measures  by  focusing  on  modernising  curricula,  improving  teacher 
training, and ensuring effective access to education for disadvantaged groups. […] 

Cyprus 

11247/12 

(5)  […]  Take  further  measures  to  address  youth  unemployment,  with  emphasis  on 
work placements in companies and promotion of self-employment. […] 

Czech 
Republic 

11248/12 

(6)  Adopt  the  necessary  legislation  to  establish  a  transparent  and  clearly  defined 
system  for  quality  evaluation  of  higher  education  and  research  institutions.  Ensure 
that the funding is sustainable and linked to the outcome of the quality assessment. 
Establish an improvement-oriented evaluation framework in compulsory education. 

Denmark 

11250/12 

(3) Implement announced measures, without delay, to improve the cost-effectiveness 
of  the  education  system,  reduce  drop-out  rates,  in  particular  within  vocational 
education, and increase the number of apprenticeships. 

Estonia 

11251/12 

(2) […] Increase the participation of the young and the long-term unemployed in the 
labour market. 

(3) Link training and education more effectively to the needs of the labour market, 
and enhance cooperation between businesses and academia. […] 

Finland 

11252/12 

(3)  Implement  the  on-going  measures  to  improve  the  labour  market  position  of 
young  people  and  the  long-term  unemployed,  with  a  particular  focus  on  skills 
development. […] 

France 

11253/12 

(3)  […]  improve  youth  employability  especially  for  those  most  at  risk  of 
unemployment,  by  providing  for  example  more  and  better  apprenticeship  schemes 
which effectively address their needs […] 

Germany 

11255/12 

(3)  […]  Take  measures  to  raise  the  educational  achievement  of  disadvantaged 
groups,  in  particular  through  ensuring  equal  opportunities  in  the  education  and 
training system. […] 

EN 

10 

   EN

 
 
Greece 

Programme 
country 

Hungary 

11257/12 

Ireland 

Programme 
country 

Italy 

11259/12 

Latvia 

11261/12 

Lithuania 

11262/12 

Luxembourg 

11263/12 

(6)  Prepare  and  implement  a  national  strategy  on  early  school-leaving  by  ensuring 
adequate  financing.  Ensure  that  the  implementation  of  the  higher  education  reform 
improves access to education for disadvantaged groups. 

(3) Take further action to address youth unemployment, including by improving the 
labour-market relevance of education and facilitating transition to work, also through 
incentives  for  business  start-ups  and  for  hiring  employees.  Enforce  nation-wide 
recognition of skills and qualifications to promote labour mobility. Take measures to 
reduce tertiary education dropout rates and fight early school leaving.  

(4)  Adopt  the  labour  market  reform  as  a  priority  to  tackle  the  segmentation  of  the 
labour market and establish an integrated unemployment benefit scheme. […] 

(3)  Take  measures  to  reduce  long-term  and  youth  unemployment  by  fighting  early 
school  leaving,  promoting  more  efficient  vocational  education  and  training  and  its 
apprenticeship  component,  enhancing  the  quality,  coverage  and  effectiveness  of 
active  labour  market  policy  and  its  training  component  and  through  an  effective 
wage subsidy scheme. 

(7)  Continue  reforms  in  higher  education,  inter  alia,  by  implementing  a  new 
financing  model  that  rewards  quality,  strengthens  links  with  market  needs  and 
research institutions, and avoids fragmentation of budget resources. […] 

(3) Tackle high unemployment, in particular among youth, low-skilled and long-term 
unemployed, by focusing resources on active labour market policies while improving 
their  efficiency.  Enhance  the  effectiveness  of  apprenticeship  schemes.  Amend  the 
labour  legislation  with  regard  to  flexible  contract  agreements,  dismissal  provisions 
and flexible working time arrangements. 

(4)  Increase  work  incentives  and  strengthen  the  links  between  the  social  assistance 
reform  and  activation  measures,  in  particular  for  the  most  vulnerable,  to  reduce 
poverty and social exclusion. 

(4)  Continue  efforts  to  reduce  youth  unemployment  by  reinforcing  stakeholders' 
involvement, and by strengthening training and education measures, in particular for 
those  with  low  education  levels,  with  the  aim  of  better  matching  young  people's 
skills and qualifications to labour demand. 

Malta 

11265/12 

(3) Take steps to reduce the high rate of early school leaving. Pursue policy efforts in 
the education system to match the skills required by the labour market. […] 

The 
Netherlands 

11275/12 

none 

Poland 

11267/12 

(3) To reduce youth unemployment, increase the availability of apprenticeships and 
work-based  learning,  improve  the  quality  of  vocational  training  and  adopt  the 
proposed lifelong learning strategy. Better match education outcomes with the needs 
of the labour market and improve the quality of teaching. To combat labour market 
segmentation  and  in-work  poverty,  limit  excessive  use  of  civil  law  contracts  and 
extend the probationary period to permanent contracts. 

EN 

11 

   EN

 
 
 
 
Portugal 

Romania 

Programme 
country 

Programme 
country 

Slovakia 

11271/12 

Slovenia 

11272/12 

Spain 

11273/12 

Sweden  

11274/12 

United 
Kingdom 

11276/12 

(4) Enhance the administrative capacity of public employment services with a view 
to improving the targeting, design and evaluation of active labour market policies to 
ensure more individualised employment services for the young […] 

(5) Adopt and implement  the youth action plan, in particular as regards the quality 
and labour market relevance of education and vocational training, including through 
the  introduction  of  an  apprenticeship  scheme.  Improve  the  quality  of  higher 
education by strengthening quality assurance and result orientation. 

(6)  Take  active  measures  to  improve  access  to  and  quality  of  schooling  and  pre-
school  education  of  vulnerable  groups,  including  Roma.  Ensure  labour  market 
reintegration  of  adults  through  activation  measures  and  targeted  employment 
services, second-chance education and short cycle vocational training. 

(4) Adjust employment protection legislation as regards permanent contracts in order 
to  reduce  labour  market  segmentation,  in  consultation  with  social  partners  and  in 
accordance with national practices. Further tackle the parallel labour market caused 
by student work. 

(5) Improve the matching of skills with labour market demand, particularly of low-
skilled workers and tertiary graduates, and continue reforms of vocational education 
and training. 

(6)  […]  Implement  the  Youth  Action  Plan,  in  particular  as  regards  the  quality  and 
labour market relevance of vocational training and education, and reinforce efforts to 
reduce  early  school-leaving  and  increase  participation  in  vocational  education  and 
training through prevention, intervention and compensation measures. 

(3)  Take  further  measures  to  improve  the  labour  market  participation  of  youth  and 
vulnerable  groups,  e.g.  by  improving  the  effectiveness  of  active  labour  market 
measures,  facilitating  the  transition  from  school  to  work,  promoting  policies  to 
increase demand for vulnerable groups and improving the functioning of the labour 
market. Review the effectiveness of the current reduced VAT rate for restaurants and 
catering services in support of job creation. 

(3) Continue to improve the employability of young people, in particular those not in 
education,  employment  or  training,  including  by  using  the  Youth  Contract.  Ensure 
that  apprenticeship  schemes  are  taken  up  by  more  young  people,  have  a  sufficient 
focus on advanced and higher-level skills, and involve more small and medium-sized 
businesses. Take measures to reduce the high proportion of young people aged 18-24 
with very poor basic skills.  

The documents for all countries are available at:  

http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/making-it-happen/country-specific-recommendations/index_en.htm 

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 Annex III: Country fiches 

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AUSTRIA 

1. Trends in youth unemployment  

Youth  unemployment  situation 
2012  

9.9% (September 2012) 

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate  
Early  Leavers  from  Education 
and Training  
Tertiary Education Attainment  23.8 

2011 (%) 
8.3 
5.0 
6.9 
8.3 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
+0.3 
+0.1 
-0.2 
-1.8 

+1.6 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment 

In its 2011 National Reform Programme Austria made two commitments in the area of youth 
employment:  

• 

• 

“Training Guarantee” for apprentices: young people until the age of 18, who cannot 
find a company-based apprenticeship, are invited to learn an apprenticeship trade in a 
supra-company training institution; 

“Future for Youth” programme: targeted PES measures to fight unemployment in the 
age group of 19 to 24 years.  

In  2012,  the  commitments  were  extended  by  several  other  measures  such  as  “Production 
Schools”,  youth  and  apprentice  coaching,  apprenticeship  support  measures,  and  youth 
foundations. 

3. Progress in the implementation of the commitments  

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

In  2011,  11,465  young  people  up  to  25  years  benefitted  from  subsidised  employment  and 
96,861  from  a  qualification  measure  offered  by  the  Public  Employment  Services  (PES).  In 
addition, the Federal Social Welfare Service offered employment, qualification and assistance 
measures to about 18,000 young people with disabilities in 2011.  

A “Training Guarantee” for future apprentices until the age of 18 was introduced in 2008 and 
gives young people who cannot find a company-based apprenticeship the opportunity to learn 
an apprenticeship trade in designated training centres financed by the PES. In the school year 
2011/2012, 14,814 young people participated in this measure. The budget used in 2011 was 
EUR  150  million,  EUR  140  million  are  foreseen  for  2012.  Within  this  measure  3,100 
apprentices with special needs benefitted from an integrated training scheme involving partial 
or prolonged apprenticeships in 2011.  

“Production Schools”  aim at reintegrating young  people  having  dropped  out  from  school  or 
apprenticeship  into  the  education  and  training  system  and  the  world  of  work.  So  far  20  of 
those schools have been established in Austria with a capacity of 3,000 pupils. On average, 

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two  thirds  of  the  participants  have  a  migration  background  and  one  fifth  has  not  completed 
compulsory school.  

A pilot project called “Youth Coaching” started in 2012 in Vienna and Styria and is planned 
to be extended to the rest of Austria in 2013. It aims at early intervention against school drop-
out and supporting young people in their transition from school to work. The target groups are 
young people in their last year of compulsory education, NEETs until the age of 19 and young 
people  with  special  educational  needs  or  disabilities.  In  these  first  months,  2,500  young 
people have participated in the measure. 

The revisited concept of Youth Placement Foundations targets registered unemployed in the 
age group of 19 to 24 years. Companies having trouble to find adequate staff for certain posts 
cooperate with PES in finding the best suitable participants in order to subsequently provide 
them with closely job-related qualification measures. Enrolment has only just started.  

3.2. Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

Alongside basic subsidies, quality-related and labour market-related incentives are offered to 
encourage employers to establish additional apprenticeship places and improve the quality of 
training for ca. 130,000 apprentices per year. In addition, the PES supports the integration of 
disadvantaged  groups  and  young  women  who  take  up  apprenticeships  in  male-dominated 
professions (8,800 young people between January and July 2012). 

A  pilot  project  called  "Apprentice  Coaching"  is  starting  in  the  provinces  of  Upper  Austria, 
Styria,  Tyrol  and  Vienna  providing  additional  support  to  apprentices  and  to  companies 
offering  apprenticeship  places  including  legal  advice  services,  mediation  and  crisis 
intervention. In addition, training manuals have been drafted for some of the most important 
sectors  with  best  practice  examples  about  ways  of  designing  training  within  a  company.  A 
central clearing office for final apprenticeship exams and a certificate for examiners are being 
developed.  Traineeships  abroad  are  supported  by  reimbursing  the  relevant  apprenticeship 
remuneration to the sending companies. 

3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

In  2011,  approximately  5,400  young  people  participated  in  the  integration  subsidies 
(temporary  limited  wage  cost  subsidies  at  the  time  of  hiring).  About  430  young  people 
participated  in  the  business  start-up  programme  of  the  PES.  In  addition,  about  4,000  young 
people benefitted from employment in social enterprises in 2011. 

3.4. Mobilisation of funds 

The  budget  spent  on  active  and  activating  labour  market  policy  for  youth  was  EUR  452 
million  in  2011.  The  ALMP  funds  together  with  those  provided  for  additional  measures  to 
support labour market integration of youth (see chapters above) add up to a total of EUR 632 
million spent in 2011. EUR 638 million are foreseen for 2012. 

Even  though  there  is  no  budget  allocation  for  young  people  in  the  Austrian  ESF,  it  is 
estimated  that  about  one  third  of  the  funds  of  the  Employment  Operational  Programme  is 
invested  in  measures  for  this  target  group  and  about  one  fifth  of  the  ESF  Phasing  Out 
Programme for Burgenland (ESF and national co-financing by the end of 2011: EUR 255.6 
million and EUR 7.4 million respectively). Programme changes were made in reaction to the 
financial and economic crisis in 2009, putting the focus among others on young people with 
placement difficulties. 

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3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 
people 

No developments have been reported. 

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BELGIUM 

1. Trends in youth unemployment 

Youth unemployment situation 
2012  

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate  
Early Leavers from Education 
and Training  
Tertiary Education Attainment 

18.0% (September 2012) 

2011 (%) 
18.7 
6.0 
11.8 

12.3 

42.6 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
+0.7 
unchanged 
+1.7  

+0.3 

+0.3 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment 

Among  the  various  elements  put  forward  by  the  Belgian  authorities  in  recent  official 
publications (NRP, NSR, etc.), the following key priorities are laid out: 
• 

Strengthening  incentives  for  young  unemployed  to  take  up  work  by  tightening 
eligibility conditions for the tide-over allowance (in force since 1 January 2012); 
Closer follow-up and guidance of job-seeking efforts of youth by the regional PES; 
Enhancing support to self-entrepreneurship; 
Increasing investment in vocational training and in-company traineeships to enhance 
employability and remedy skill mismatches. 

• 
• 
• 

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk4 

At  the  end  of  July  2012,  the  Federal  government  budgeted  the  means  to  create  10,000 
subsidised  traineeships  as  of  2013  for  youngsters  exiting  the  education  system  without  a 
secondary  education  degree,  to  be  implemented  in  close  cooperation  with  the  regions. 
Implementation arrangements are still under discussion. The government has also committed 
the resources necessary to increase the existing reductions of social security contributions for 
low-qualified young job seekers as of 2013. A new social security contribution reduction will 
be introduced for medium qualified youngsters. 
Although the various regional PES offer labour market mediation services to all age groups 
below the regional ceiling5, the intensity and type of support offered varies according to the 
risk profile of the job seeker in question. Typically, young job seekers (especially those with 
low educational attainment level and/or an educational background for which demand on the 
labour  market  is  low)  are  followed  up  more  rapidly  and  intensely  to  prevent  long-term 
unemployment  and  remedy  skill  mismatches.  At  the  regional  level,  the  main  novelty  is  the 
renewed Flemish "Career Agreement" for 2012-2014, which provides for closer follow-up of 
low-qualified youth.6

4

5

6

Answers provided by Federal government, Wallonia (WAL), Flanders (FL), Brussels (BRU) and German-speaking Community 
and complemented on the basis of Commission sources. 
50y in WAL and BRU, 58y in FL. 
As of 2008, young jobseekers with low and medium skills are invited for a collective information session on career orientation 
possibilities,  available  vacancies,  counselling  trajectories,  etc.  This  is  followed  by  an  individual  dialogue  with  a  personal 
counselor, no later than 4 months after registration as jobseeker. A similar procedure was implemented for young job seekers with 

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3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships7 
Support  for  apprenticeships  is  provided  in  all  regions  and  communities,  notably  through 
various  schemes  of  subsidised  Individual  Vocational  Traineeships.  The  regional  government 
subsidises the apprentice's wages and social contributions provided certain conditions with regard to 
training  and  ulterior  employment  are  met.  The  concrete  modalities  and  amount  of  government 
support vary by region and by target group. As part of the Career Agreement, Flanders has 
earmarked  a  total  of  EUR  3.9  million/year  and  has  set  at  17,000  the  total  number  of 
traineeships to be subsidised by 2014 (around 12,250 in 2011). 
3.3. Support to job creation (incl. entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes8
The  Walloon  Region  has  started  to  implement  the  "Plan  Airbag"  (June  2012),  aiming  to 
provide financial support to the launching of self-employment activities (for people below 30 
or  above  50).  To  date,  70  dossiers  have  been  introduced.  The  administrative  side  of  the 
initiative  is  dealt  with  by  the  PES.  In  Flanders,  the  Flemish  Agency  for  Entrepreneurial 
Training  (SYNTRA)  provides  young  people  aged  15-25  with 
to  become 
training 
entrepreneurs. In 2012, this type of training has been provided to 547 youngsters. 
3.4. Mobilisation of funds9 
The Federal Government only allocates means from its own budget. Until end-2011, around 
EUR 1.3 billion have been disbursed across all the measures currently under way. 
In Brussels, young people are a priority target in the framework of the ESF OP, but a precise 
figure  for  the  support  to  actions  targeting  young  people  is  not  available10.  In  the  Walloon 
Region, ESF also supports young people, mainly through individualised guidance (former Job 
Tonic initiative). For the period 2009-2011, around EUR 1 million (of which 50% from ESF) 
has  been  disbursed  in  support  of  this  initiative.  Flanders  relies  on  ESF  for  a  series  of 
measures  targeting  young  people,  including  the  Career  Agreement  referred  to  above,  the 
"Work@telier" (budget of around EUR 350,000, of which one third is ESF support), targeted 
at long-term unemployed youth11, and measures for work placement and traineeship to early 
school leavers. The German-speaking Community has allocated roughly EUR 1 million of 
its ESF programme to measures focused on young job seekers (15 different initiatives).  

3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 

people12 

Since  January  2012,  the  reform  of  the  tide-over  allowance  is  implemented  (Federal  level). 
Eligibility conditions are tightened in several ways: (i) the 9-month 'waiting period' becomes a 
12-month ‘vocational development phase’, during which significant steps should be taken to 
find  a  job,  (ii)  a  regular  evaluation  of  the  efforts  conditions  the  extension  of  the 
unemployment benefit scheme and (iii) the duration is limited to 3 years (with exceptions). In 
the  Walloon  Region,  the  implementation  of  the  "Plan  Airbag"  initiative  has  called  for  the 
adoption  of  legislative  measures  at  regional  level.  No  changes  are  reported  for  Flanders  in 
2012. 

a higher education degree since January 2009. As of January 1, 2013 the youth with no degree , who did not manage to build up 
any  significant  work  experience,  will  be  guided  towards  the  existing  vocational  training,  in-company  training  and/or 
apprenticeship schemes. The ambition is to have the entire target participate in an intensive activation trajectory (work experience 
or vocational training) by June 2013. 
Answers provided by FL and German-speaking Community only and complemented on the basis of own sources. 
Answers provided by WAL, FL and German-speaking Community only. 
Answers provided by Federal government, WAL, FL, BRU and German-speaking Community. 
The PES of BRU, WAL, Germany and Austria are involved in a PROGRESS project “Labo Jeunes” (2011-2013), aiming at 
better understanding school-to-work transitions. 
i.e. for more than six months. 
Answers provided by Federal government, WAL and FL. 

7

8

9

10

11

12

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BULGARIA 

1. Trends in youth unemployment 

Youth unemployment 
situation 2012  

29.7 % (September 2012) 

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate  
Early Leavers from Education 
and Training  
Tertiary Education 
Attainment 

2011 (%) 
25.0 
7.3 
22.6 
12.8 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
+13.1 
+3.5 
+5.2 
-2.0 

27.3 

+0.2 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment 

In  response  to  the  Europe  2020  strategy  and  the  Youth  Opportunities  Initiative,  Bulgaria 
adopted a national initiative "Employment for Youth" in March 2012. It presents a coherent 
policy  framework  for  the  implementation  of  wide-scale  measures  targeting  youth.  In  the 
framework of the initiative, largely funded by the ESF, Bulgaria has committed to decrease 
the  youth  unemployment  rate  (15-24  years)  to  23%  and  the  share  of  young  people  who  are 
neither in employment, nor in education or training (15-24 years) to 19% by the end of 2013. 
It  has  been  agreed  with  Bulgarian  authorities  that  speeding  up  ESF  implementation  should 
remain the key priority, which will help achieve the above targets. 

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

A  recently  signed  (June  2012)  national  agreement  “First  job”  has  united  the  efforts  of  the 
government  and  the  social  partners  towards  increasing  youth  employment  by  promoting 
opportunities for first professional experience. As a result, about 22,000 young people under 
the age of 29 will be involved in employment measures during 2012-2013. In particular, the 
social partners have committed to guide and encourage employers to hire unemployed people 
(aged up to 29 years) under an employment (permanent, temporary, or a traineeship) contract 
for  a  period  not  less  than  six  months  in  order  to  acquire  initial  work  experience  following 
their  secondary  or  higher  education  studies.  An  Agreement  on  exchange  of  information 
between the Ministry of Education, Youth and Science (MEYS) and the Ministry of Labour 
and  Social  Policy  (MLSP)  was  signed  in  July  2012  to  facilitate  the  implementation  of  the 
“European  Youth  Guarantee”.  Within  four  months  of  leaving  school,  young  people  will  be 
offered  employment  mediation  services,  training  and  subsequent  employment.  In  the  period 
January-July  2012,  6,753  young  people  under  the  age  of  29  were  included  in  employment 
measures funded by the national budget and 2,077 inactive young people under the age of 29 
were activated.  

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3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

Under national budget measures, 421 young people were employed as trainees in the first half 
of  2012.  Under  the  ESF-supported Human Resources  Development Operational  Programme 
(HRD  OP)  there  are  four  on-going  operations  promoting  youth  traineeships,  including  for 
disadvantaged groups. The operations target 53,670 secondary school and 73,300 university 
students who will be involved in traineeships and apprenticeships until the end of 2013; 9,500 
young  people  will  receive  mediation  services;  and,  8,550  trainees  are  expected  to  be 
employed. Up to July 2012, 2,100 people under 29 (of which 988 under 24) were employed 
under the ESF operations. 

3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

Two operations were launched in the second half of 2012 under the HRD OP to boos youth 
employment: "First job" and "New working place". Both operations strive to provide jobs for 
young unemployed under 29 by ensuring incentives to employers for their recruitment. Main 
activities include providing vouchers for vocational training and key competencies training as 
well as providing funds at the amount of the minimum insurable income and the employers' 
social  security  payments  for  6  to  12  months.  Expected  results  in  2012-2014  include:  4,530 
young  people  involved  in  training  and  4,100  young  people  employed  after  training. 
Unemployed young people who wish to start their own business are included in the training 
and have access to specialised services (provision of start-up capital and relevant vocational 
training) under the scheme "Promotion of self-employment" within HRD OP. Approximately 
2,400 people under 29 were included since the launch of the project. 

3.4. Mobilisation of funds 

EUR  4.9  million  were  allocated  from  the  national  budget  for  the  implementation  of  youth 
employment measures in 2012 and EUR 2.3 million were disbursed until the end of July. For 
its part, the ESF HRD OP (2007-2013) has so far allocated EUR 106 million (ESF: EUR 90 
million,  National  Funding:  EUR  16  million)  supporting  youth  employability  directly  or 
indirectly.  The  total  amount  of  contracts signed  under  ten  on-going  operations  is  EUR  70.5 
million.  Most  operations  are  in  the  beginning  of  their  implementation  and  the  payments  to 
beneficiaries  account  for  EUR  2  million.  The  target  group  includes  more  than  0.5  million 
young people.  

More than EUR 39 million was allocated for the implementation of the agreement “First job”, 
of  which  about  75%  from  ESF  and  25%  from  the  national  budget.  As  regards  traineeship 
measures, EUR 392,638 from the national budget was spent during January-July 2012. HRD 
OP  support  to  traineeships  extends  to  EUR  69  million  (ESF:  EUR  58.6  million,  national 
funding:  EUR  10.4  million)  over  2010-2014.  HRD  OP  support  to  job  creation  under  the 
above-mentioned  key  operations  amounts  to  EUR  19.4  million  (ESF:  EUR  16.5  million, 
National Funding: EUR 2.9 million). EUR 2.6 million was allocated from the national budget 
in  2012  for  a  first  job  in  public  administration  to  1,720  unemployed  university  graduates 
under the age of 29 years. During the period January-July 2012, 1,131 young people worked 
under the programme “Career Start” and EUR 1.6 million were disbursed. 

3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 

people 

A  working  group  under  the  national  initiative  "Employment  for  Youth"  has  initiated 
discussions on potential changes to the Labour Code, the Employment Promotion Act (EPA) 

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and  the  Corporate  Income  Tax  Act  (CITA).  The  Labour  Code  will  introduce  an 
apprenticeship  contract  for  people  under  29.  The  EPA  will  include  two  new  measures  to 
support  youth  employment:  part-time  employment  of  young  long-term  unemployed  (under 
29)  and  apprenticeships  for  young  people  with  low  or  no  skills.  The  CITA  will  see  the 
introduction of tax incentives for employers who hire young unemployed under 29. 

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CYPRUS 

1. Trends in youth unemployment 

Youth unemployment situation 2012  29.3% (September 2012) 

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate (15-24) 
Early Leavers from Education and 
Training 
Tertiary Education Attainment (30-
34) 

2011 (%) 
22.4 
8.5 
14.4 
11.2 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
+13.4 
+4.7 
+4.7 
-2.5 

45.8 

-1.3 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment  

• 

• 

• 

Setting up a new incentive scheme for the employment of the long-term unemployed 
and the young; 

Establishing post-secondary Institutes of Vocational Education and Training; 

Establishing a new Apprenticeship System. 

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

The "Scheme for the Job Placement and Training of Tertiary Education Graduates" (Human 
Resource  Development  Authority,  HRDA)  is  a  consolidated  programme  focused  on  the 
integration of highly qualified young people into the labour market by providing  on-the-job 
experience  in  a  company  for  a  period  of  12  months.  During  2009-2011,  2,432  graduates 
participated in it. For 2012, the target is to have 670 participants. The scheme is considered to 
be a good  practice since  it helps  graduates find suitable employment and, at  the same time, 
helps host  companies increase their awareness of new knowledge. According  to  an external 
ex-post  evaluation  study,  93.5%  of  graduates  who  participated  in  2009-2010  were  still 
employed after completing the scheme, and 84.1% were employed by the same enterprise. 
The  HRDA  is  implementing  a  number  of  training  programmes  for  improving  the 
employability  of  the  unemployed.  Under  the  accelerated  initial  training  programmes  for 
newcomers  and  other  unemployed  people  in  occupations  currently  in  demand,  priority  is 
given to young people under 25 years. During 2011, there were 392 participants. Under the 
scheme  for  improving  the  employability  of  the  unemployed  through  training  and  work 
experience programmes, which is implemented with ESF support, the aim is for at least 30% 
of participants to be under 30 years of age. During 2011, there were 997 participants.  
Under the ESF co-financed Operational Programme, post-secondary Institutes of Vocational 
Education  and  Training  are  to  be  established  (Ministry  of  Education  and  Culture).  During 
2012-2013, it is expected that around 200 people will be enrolled. Young unemployed people 
will be awarded extra points, to facilitate their enrolment in a study programme.  

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3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

A  subsidy  scheme  co-financed  by  the  ESF  and  implemented  by  the  Cyprus  Productivity 
Centre (CPC) is in place to promote employment and in-company training of apprenticeship 
students. From June 2011 to July 2012, 81 students aged 15-18 participated in the scheme. 
The HRDA subsidises wages paid by employers to apprentices who attend classes in technical 
schools. In 2011, 111 apprentices participated in the scheme. The HRDA also funds practical 
training of final year students who follow the practical direction of technical schools. In 2011, 
188 students participated in this scheme. The enterprise-based practical training of students of 
the Higher Hotel Institute of Cyprus is also subsidised by the HRDA. 142 students took part 
in the scheme in 2011.  

3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

Young  people  are  offered  grants  to  promote  their  integration  in  the  labour  market  through 
entrepreneurship.  Moreover,  in  general,  efforts  are  made  to  create  an  environment  of 
cooperation with employers that will help youth into employment or training. 
A new incentive scheme for the employment of the long-term unemployed and the young has 
been set up by the Labour Department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance in the 
framework of the ESF co-financed OP “Employment, Human Capital and Social Cohesion”, 
with  a  budget  of  EUR  8  million.  It  targets  young  people  up  to  29  years  who  have  been 
registered  as  unemployed  for  at  least  3  months,  and  people  registered  as  unemployed  for  at 
least 7 months. 19 people between 15-24 years and 114 people over 24 years participated in 
the scheme until 1 August 2012.  

3.4. Mobilisation of funds  

Until August 2012, EUR 276,344 of ESF and national funding was committed to the incentive 
scheme for the employment of the long-term unemployed and the young. EUR 176,545 has 
been  committed  to  the  CPC  scheme  for  apprentices.  The  HRDA  2012  budget  for  measures 
relevant to youth employment and employability amounts to approximately EUR 14 million, 
out of which EUR 5.7 million is committed to the scheme on job placement and training of 
tertiary  education  graduates.  The  budget  allocation  for  the  post-secondary  Institutes  of 
Vocational Education and Training amounts to EUR 4.4 million (ESF and national funding).  
The  ERDF  co-financed  intervention  "Promotion  of  Youth  Entrepreneurship"  (Ministry  of 
Commerce, Industry and Tourism) has a total budget of EUR 6 million. The ERDF also co-
finances  a  number  of  interventions  with  a  youth  component:  "Women  entrepreneurship" 
(EUR  5  million),  "SMEs  in  the  manufacturing  sector"  (EUR  23  million),  "Promotion  of 
innovative actions in SMEs" (EUR 4 million), "Research and innovation" (EUR 53 million), 
"Agrotourism" (EUR 15 million).  
In  the  framework  of  the  planned  modification  of  the  two  Operational  Programmes,  the 
Cypriot  authorities  are  currently  exploring  the  possibility  of  shifting  funds  between  Priority 
Axes, which will allocate additional funding to youth measures.  

3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 

people 

No recent developments can be reported. 

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CZECH REPUBLIC 

1. Trends in youth unemployment 

Youth unemployment situation 2012  

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate  
Early leavers from education and training  
Tertiary education attainment 

19.3% (September 2012) 
2011 (%)  Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
18.1 
5.4 
8.3 
4.9 
23.8 

+ 8.2 
+ 2.3 
+ 1.6 
- 0.7 
+ 8.4 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment  

No specific commitments were made by the Czech Republic. However, within the framework 
of the Europe 2020 strategy, the Czech Republic set the following national targets for 2020 
concerning youth: the number of early-school leavers at 5.5%; tertiary educational attainment 
at 32%; and reducing youth unemployment by a third.  

The 2012 Czech National Reform Programme foresees:  

• 

• 

• 

strengthening active employment policy, putting emphasis on youth employment and 
expanding the use of flexible working arrangements to facilitate the reconciliation of 
professional and family life; 

developing  innovative  tools  for  active  labour  market  policy,  implementing 
innovative  projects  focused  on  staff  training,  retraining  vulnerable  groups  and 
supporting  youth  employment  by  interlinking  education,  vocational  training  and 
counselling during the transition from school to work;  

completing  the  National  Qualifications  Framework  and  the  National  Occupations 
Framework and introducing a lifelong career counselling system by the end of 2015. 

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

Young people are defined as a priority group within the active employment policy. Individual 
Action Plans are being used which define the procedure and timetable for implementation of 
measures  to  increase  job  opportunities.  It  is  elaborated  and  signed  if  a  job  applicant  is 
registered as unemployed continuously for more than 5 months. 

3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

In order to offer the possibility of gaining work experience, a new ESF-funded project called 
'Traineeships  in  Companies  -  education  through  practice'  is  to  be  implemented  between 
September 2012 and October 2014 providing several-months internships in companies. It will 
have  a  budget  allocation  of  approx.  EUR  32  million  and  will  cover  a  minimum  of  5,000 
participants. The project is focused on sectors of the future and will involve mainly graduates, 
but also other groups who lack work experience to complete their skills profiles. If the project 

EN 

24 

   EN

 
 
proves  to  be  successful,  the  internships  might  become  a  'standard'  offer  of  assistance  to  the 
unemployed. 

3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

Youth is a priority group of active labour market policy, including job creation programmes 
(e.g.  investment  incentives  etc.),  but  data  broken  down  by  the  number  of  young  people 
covered is not available. 

3.4. Mobilisation of funds 

The second priority axis of the ESF Human Resources Operational Programme predominantly 
focuses on achieving the objective of reducing unemployment among young people up to 25 
years of age. By August 2012, EUR 54.9 million were allocated, EUR 46.6 million committed 
and EUR 20 million disbursed. 

The Education for Competitiveness Operational Programme contributes to integration into the 
labour  market  and  reducing  unemployment  of  young  people  through  all  of  its  priority  axes. 
By  August  2012,  EUR  820  million  were  allocated,  EUR  678  million  committed,  EUR  353 
million disbursed. 

The  Prague  Adaptability  Operational  Programme  attempts  at  increasing  the  quality  of 
education  and  vocational  training, directly targeting  young  people.  It  also  addresses,  among 
others,  disadvantaged  people,  including  youth.  Furthermore,  the  Programme  supports 
activities  aiming  at  developing  lifelong  learning  systems  and  strategies  in  businesses, 
professional training and services for employees, promoting entrepreneurship and innovation, 
as  well  as  supporting  self-employment.  By  August  2012,  EUR  32.5  million  were  allocated, 
EUR 22.7 million committed and EUR 16 million disbursed. 

The revisions of the ESF Programmes in 2011 and 2012 focus on strengthening priority axes 
and areas of intervention when youth is one of the target groups. 

There is no information provided on the ERDF funding to youth employment measures. 

3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 

people 

The amendment to the Employment Act enables a person getting prepared for a future job (so 
excluding only pupils within compulsory education) to register at the Labour office to get a 
full spectrum of its services, thus improving a possibility to acquire professional practice even 
during studies. 

The Amendment to the Labour Code introduced since January 2012 differentiates severance 
pay  according  to  the  length  of  employment  (lower  severance  pay  for  employment  relation 
shorter  than  2  years).  This  is  aimed  to  encourage  employers  to  hire  young  workers,  while 
reducing firing costs. 

As of January 2013 the current lower statutory minimum wage levels applicable to those aged 
18 to 21 shall be eliminated which may adversely affect the employability of young people to 
some extent. 

EN 

25 

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DENMARK 

1. Trends in youth unemployment  

Youth  unemployment 
2012  

situation 

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate  
Early  Leavers  from  Education  and 
Training  
Tertiary Education Attainment 

14.2 % (September 2012) 

2011 (%) 
14.2 
9.6 
6.3 
9.6 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
+6.2 
+3.8 
+2.0 
-2.9 

41.2 

+2.0 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment  

The budget agreement for 2012 placed emphasis on increased employability of young people 
by making additional resources available for education/training and labour market experience 
of young people. In August 2012, the Danish Government proposed a Youth Package for the 
2013 draft budget agreement with a total value of EUR 90 million. The aim is to help more 
young  people  (aged  18  to  30)  into  education,  internship  and  work.  The  Youth  Package 
includes the following initiatives: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

bridging  education  programmes  for  uneducated  young  people  (EUR  6  million/600 
young people); 

placing  internship  consultants  in  schools  to  help  young  people  find  an  internship 
(EUR 2.1 million); 

improving adult apprenticeship schemes also covering young adults (EUR 24 million 
/1,050 people); 

allocating  funds  for  long-term  unemployed  skilled  and  un-skilled  young  people 
(EUR 3.5 million /1.500 young people); 

improving the job rotation scheme (EUR 36 million/2,100 young people); 

developing graduate job partnerships (EUR 0.8 million/600 young people). 

3. 

Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. 

Youth  guarantee  schemes  and  other  measures  targeting  youth  neither  in 
employment, nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

Young  people  under  30  are  entitled  to  a  first  interview  at  a  jobcentre  within  one  month  of 
unemployment. Everyone has a right – and duty – to receive active labour market measures 
within three months of unemployment. Young people under 25 receive lower benefits in order 
to  create  an  incentive  to  take  up  education  or  find  a  job.  In  addition,  the  2013  draft  budget 

EN 

26 

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agreement,  proposed  by 
apprenticeship guarantee should be offered within the vocational youth education system. 

the  Danish  Government,  provides 

that  an  education  and 

3.2. 

Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

In  order  to  increase  the  employability  of  young  people  and  lower  the  drop-out  rates,  the 
Danish  Government  proposed  to  better  target  vocational  youth  education  towards  the  needs 
on  the  labour  market.  Since  2009,  the  Danish  Parliament  has  agreed  upon  five  agreements 
focusing  on  increasing  training  places  in  companies.  The  latest  agreement  from  November 
2011 ('Increased efforts for more company training places in 2012’), which has a budget of 
approximately EUR 347 million, entails: 

• 

• 

the creation of 7,400 internships and 3,000 school-based training positions in 2012 (a 
25% increase compared to 2009); 

the continuation of a bonus of up to EUR 9,333 to private and public employers who 
enter into a training agreement with a trainee.  

3.3. 

Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

In  2010/2011,  25  %  of  the  252,000  young  people  in  upper  secondary  education  and  in 
vocational education and training participated in education programmes or competitions in the 
field  of  entrepreneurship.  In  the  same  period,  1,908  teachers  at  the  same  education  system 
levels  participated  in  entrepreneurship  courses.  In  2010/2011,  6.3%  of  the  students  in 
Bachelor and Masters-level programmes participated in entrepreneurship courses. In addition, 
Denmark's  overall  innovation  strategy  aims  to  enhance  creativity  and  entrepreneurship 
throughout  the  education  system,  including  in  adult  education.  The  ESF  is  involved  in 
activities to promote the entrepreneurial spirit in the education system. 

3.4. 

Mobilisation of funds 

Denmark is among the countries which has relatively low levels of youth unemployment and 
which continues to target young people through the ESF. According to recent figures, young 
people  (15-24  years)  account  for  40  %  of  the  participants  in  ESF-funded  measures  (as  of 
December  2011,  11,205  young  people  had  participated  in  ESF  projects).  For  young  people 
aged  15-24  years a  total  of  EUR  17.4 million has  been  disbursed  for  projects  with  activities 
related  to  youth  employment  and  educational  and  vocational  training in  the  Danish  ESF 
programme. This includes a  disbursement of  EUR  9.2 million  towards  activities  for  young 
people with special needs. 

The Danish ESF programme for the 2007-13 period aims to strengthen youth education and 
increase employability by adapting youth education to labour market needs. The first results 
of  several  ESF  projects  aiming  to  reduce  drop-out  rates  in  youth  education  have  been  very 
positive  (for  example  mentoring  schemes,  induction  periods  and  apprenticeships).  In  2011, 
the Danish ESF programme was modified in order to reallocate resources towards youth. 

The ERDF may also invest in measures aiming at ensuring a qualified workforce in relation to 
the  three  focus  areas  of  the  ERDF;  innovation  and  knowledge  sharing,  use  of  new 
technologies  and  entrepreneurship.  There  is  no  specific  targeting  on  youth  in  the  ERDF 
programme (and there are no statistics on youth participation in the ERDF). 

EN 

27 

   EN

 
3.5. 

Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for 
young people 

The Danish Government has taken considerable steps to combat rising youth unemployment, 
such as the Youth Packages 1, 2 and 3 from 2009 – 2011 and the recent youth package from 
August 2012 (see section 2 above). 

EN 

28 

   EN

 
ESTONIA 

1. Trends in youth unemployment  

Youth unemployment 
situation 2012  

20.2% (August 2012) 

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate (18+24) 
Early Leavers from Education 
and Training  
Tertiary Education 
Attainment 

22.3 
9.1 
11.8 
10.9 

40.3 

2011 (%) 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
+ 10.2  
+ 4.1  
+ 3.0  
- 3.1  

+ 6.2  

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment  

Estonia  has  set  a  national  target  in  the  NRP  at  10%  in  2020  (15%  in  2015)  on  combating 
youth unemployment. Under the EuroPlus Pact 2012, it furthermore made a commitment to 
develop  new  programmes  for  improving  employment  among  young  people  with  low 
competitiveness.  Programmes  will  be  developed  to  offer  formal  education  to  young  people 
aged 16-29 who lack specialised education, as well as for outreach to at-risk youth and their 
inclusion in active labour market measures and education. 

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

Public employment services’ intervention is provided on the basis of individual action plans. 
Also,  in  cooperation  with  youth  centres  and  organisations  11  youth  targeted  workshops 
named  “tööklubi”  ("work  clubs")  took  place  with  300  participants  during  the  first  half  of 
2012. As regards ESF support, roughly 23% of all projects have been supported under open 
calls for proposals since 2009, directly addressing young unemployed participants. In 2010-
2011, two special calls for projects targeted youth. In 2011, 31,994 youngsters participated in 
the activities of the ESF programme “Development of Youth Work Quality”, (15,588, 1st half 
of 2012). 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 
nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

The KUTSE programme, co-financed from ESF invites students who have dropped out from 
vocational  education  back  to  school  to  finish  their  studies.  The  TULE  programme,  also  co-
financed  by  ESF  allows  university  drop-outs  to  finish  their  higher  education  studies  free  of 
charge.  The  wage  subsidy  is  the  main  incentive  measure  for  employers  to  recruit  long-term 
unemployed people. Young unemployed people (aged 16-24) are entitled for a wage subsidy 
under more favourable conditions. 

3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

The  process  of  entering  the  labour  market  for  young  people  is  most  effectively  supported 
through  career  counselling  services  and  work  practice  schemes  provided  by  the  PES.  An 
apprenticeship  training  scheme  offers  unemployed  people  practical  work  experience  and 
improves  their  professional  skills  and  knowledge.  Nine  pilot  projects  are  running  for  youth 
aged 16-29 without any professional education. 

EN 

29 

   EN

 
 
 
3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

Business  start-up  grants  of  maximum  4,474  euro  are  paid  to  registered  unemployed  people 
who are at least 18 years of age and have completed business training, etc.  

In  order  to  create  business  incentives  among  undergraduate  students,  a  business  plan 
competition  “Ajujaht”  (“Brainhunt”)  has  been  carried  out  under  the  Enterprise  Estonia 
awareness  programme  co-funded  by  the  ESF.  The  competition  is  open  for  teams  of  1-7 
members of which 50% must have Estonian residency and be aged 17-3513.  

The  new  curricula  for  general  education  includes  an  entrepreneurship  subject.  An  internet 
portal for the entrepreneurial education14 was introduced in January 2012. 

Youth entrepreneurship and self-employment is also supported through the Youth in Action 
programme (youth initiatives sub-programme: 31 projects in 2011) and the state programme 
for youth work camps (about 6,000 young people every summer). 

3.4. Mobilisation of funds 

ESF  resources  allocated  to  ALMPs  through  ESF  programme  ‘Increasing  the  supply  of 
qualified  workforce  in  2007-2013’  amounts  to  EUR  97,349,162.  Additionally  ESF  has  co-
financed  employment  related  vocational  training  projects  EUR  2,143,610  (disbursed:  EUR 
475,743). Also ESF funds have been allocated to open calls under the measure “Developing 
Learners-Centred  and  Innovative  Vocational  Education  and  extending  the  opportunities  for 
Lifelong Learning” EUR 3,459,285. ESF resources allocated to other projects targeting youth 
unemployment were  EUR  2,204,788 (disbursed: EUR 670,487). Under the  ESF  programme 
“Development of Youth Work Quality”, EUR 1,020,490 were committed and EUR 776,343 
were  disbursed.  ESF  resources  allocated  to  the  Programme  for  Continuing  Studies  in 
Vocational  Education  –  KUTSE  EUR  1,629,747  and  to  the  Programme  for  Continuing 
Studies in Higher Education- TULE EUR 4,553,705. 

ERDF investments allocated to non-formal learning infrastructure (e.g. youth centres, hobby 
schools) were EUR 20,199,276 (disbursed: EUR 15,165,487). 

3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 
people 

In  December  2011  the  Government  approved  the  Employment  Programme  2012-2013, 
whereby among other target groups young unemployed can benefit from new measures under 
the  programme  that  are  aimed  at  supporting  readiness  for  work  including  work  clubs,  job 
search workshops, voluntary work etc. 

Estonia  has  an  EPP  commitment  to  modernise  vocational  education  curricula,  making  them 
outcome-based and linked with the qualification framework with practical studies becoming 
even more important. By spring 2013 the necessary methodological and legislative basis for 
the  new  curricula  will  be  in  place  and  the  new  Vocational  Education  Institutions  Act  will 
come into force in September 2013. 

13 
14 

http://www.ajujaht.ee/english  
http://www.ettevotlusope.ee  

EN 

30 

   EN

 
                                                 
FINLAND 

1. Trends in youth unemployment  

Youth unemployment situation 2012  

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate  
Early Leavers from Education and 
Training  
Tertiary Education Attainment 

18.9% (September 2012) 
2011 (%) 
20.1 
10.1 
8.4 
9.8  

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
+3.6  
+1.3  
+0.6  
0 

46 

+0.3 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment  
A  revamped  Youth  Guarantee  for  young  people15  will  be  launched  in  January  2013:  each 
person younger than 25 and each recent graduate under 30 will be offered work, a traineeship, 
or  a  study,  workshop  or  labour  market  rehabilitation  place,  within  3  months  of  becoming 
unemployed.  The  Guarantee  also  includes  an  “Education  Guarantee”:  each  comprehensive 
school  graduate  will  be  guaranteed  a  place  in  further  education,  workshop  activity, 
rehabilitation  or  similar.  A  temporary  “Skills  programme  for  young  adults”  will  be 
implemented in 2013-2016: additional places will be targeted for those 20-29 year olds who 
have only attended comprehensive school.  

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

The  Youth  Guarantee  is  aimed  at  reducing  the  time  a  young  person  spends  as  a  NEET. 
Finland also uses youth outreach work to reach young people under the age of 29 at risk of 
exclusion as early as possible and to direct them to low-threshold services that promote their 
growth  and  independence  as  well  as  access  to  education  and  work.  About  70%  of  young 
people reached out to by youth workers have only basic education. 
Youth  workshops  provide  young  people  with  the  opportunity  to  work  under  guidance  and 
support as well as a tailored pathway to education, help towards completing one’s education 
by working together with the education provider, or support finding employment through the 
open labour market. In total, 73% of participants have not completed vocational education. At 
the moment there are 196 workshops and their activities cover 80% of the municipalities in 
Finland  but  they  are  being  extended  to  cover  the  whole  country.  In  addition,  more  training, 
language  courses  and  counselling  will  be  provided  to  reduce  the  NEET  risk  among  young 
immigrants for whom this risk is four to five times higher than for other young people. 
Other  measures  being  implemented  include  more  study  places  in  vocational  education, 
regional re-distribution of the study places according to changes in age groups, changes of the 
acceptance criteria for vocational education & training, additional resources and more career 
counselling  for  young  job  seekers  in  the  employment  offices,  increased  municipal 
responsibility in counselling comprehensive school graduates.  

15 

See http://www.tem.fi/files/33973/English_version.pdf  

EN 

31 

   EN

 
 
 
                                                 
3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

There  were  around  3,200  people  under  the  age  of  25  in  traineeships  with  labour  market 
subsidy  in  2011.  Furthermore,  the  Education  Guarantee  includes  an  apprenticeship  training 
pilot  project  that  supports  both  the  training  organiser  and  the  employer  by  providing 
additional resources. The pilot project's objective is to develop apprenticeship training into a 
suitable form of training for young basic education graduates. The training compensation for 
employers of young people covered by the guarantee will rise to EUR 800/month, while the 
students’ number will be around 500.  

3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

The  so-called  Sanssi  ("chance")  Card,  a  wage  subsidy  measure  for  lowering  employers' 
threshold for hiring young people, was introduced in 2010 and will now be made permanent. 
The Sanssi Card supports employment of recently graduated young people under the age of 
30 through a pay subsidy system. The card has made pay subsidy more visible for both youth 
and  employers.  Between  June  2010  and  the  beginning  of  2012,  the  Card  was  granted  to 
around  24,000  young  people  of  whom  around  5,300  got  a  job  (some  3,100  men  and  2,200 
women). 
Start-up  grants  of  EUR 670–1,080  may  be  granted  for  up  to  18  months.  The  percentage  of 
young  people  from  all  applicants  awarded  a  start-up  grant  is  approximately  10%,  which  is 
about  800  young  people  per  year.  Finland  estimates  that  of  all  labour  policy  measures,  the 
start-up grant is one of the most effective ways to get a position in the labour market.  

3.4. Mobilisation of funds 

the  Youth  Guarantee 

EUR 60 million/year  will  be  given  for 
in  2013–2016,  and 
EUR 27 million  in  2013  and  EUR 52 million/year  in  2014-2016  for  the  temporary  “Skills 
programme for young adults”.  
Priority 2 of the Finnish ESF OP covers e.g. training for young people and school drop-outs, 
preventing discrimination in education, training and access to jobs. The share of people under 
25 years participating in measures under this priority has been considerably higher than in the 
others. The ESF and national co-funding allocated by August 2012 is circa EUR 140 million. 
The amount of ESF and national co-funding paid by August 2012 is circa 57 million euros.  
The monitoring system does not allow for reporting on ERDF funding to youth employment 
measures  that  usually  have  an  indirect  effect  on  youth  employment.  No  reallocations  or 
reprogramming have been made or are foreseen in the context of the YOI. 

3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 

people  

No recent developments can be reported in this respect. 

EN 

32 

   EN

 
FRANCE 

1. Trends in youth unemployment  

Youth unemployment situation 
2012 

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate  
Early Leavers from Education 
and Training  
Tertiary Education Attainment 

25.7% (September 2012) 

2011 (%) 
22.9 
8.4 
12.0 
12 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
+3.6 
+1.3 
+1.8 
+0.5 

43.4 

+2.2 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment  

As the last YOI bilateral meeting between French authorities and the Commission coincided 
with French presidential elections, no specific commitment was made by France at the time as 
regards  youth  unemployment.  Nonetheless,  in  the  context  of  the  Euro  Plus  Pact,  France 
announced  it  would  increase  the  number  of  young  people  in  combined  work  and 
traineeship/apprenticeship programmes from 600,000 today to 800,000 in 2015. 

Moreover, youth has been at the core of the new government's priorities and policy. Two of 
its major reforms target unemployed and disadvantaged young people. The 150,000 full-time 
"Emplois d'avenir" (100,000 in 2013, 50,000 in 2014) are meant for young people aged 16-25 
with no or low qualification, living in urban or rural deprived areas with high unemployment 
rates.  They  will  be  open-ended  contracts  or  one-year  contracts,  renewable  over  three  years, 
mostly in non-commercial sectors and in areas with social utility and sustainable recruitment 
perspectives (such as green jobs, social economy or tourism…). The State will pay for 75% of 
the young person's gross remuneration for three years. The second measure, the "Contrat de 
génération",  aims  to  promote  both  young  and  older  workers’  employment,  by  providing 
training for young people (aged under 30) delivered by senior colleagues. It is currently under 
negotiation with the social partners, who, amongst others, are invited to reflect on means to 
ensure  young  people's  effective  entry  into  the  enterprise  (training,  interns,  work-training 
combinations or alternance).  

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

A few projects have been operational for several years and have provided low-skilled young 
people with personalised support.  
The "Contrat d'insertion dans la vie sociale" (CIVIS) is a contract between a young person 
and  a  local  authority,  responsible  for  integrating  young  people  both  professionally  and 
socially. 135,000 young people have received a grant from the State with CIVIS in 2012 and 
850,000 have been followed up by local bodies (“missions locales”). 

EN 

33 

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The "Contrat d'autonomie" is present in 11 French "départements16" where young people face 
major  difficulties  in  accessing  employment.  It  consists  in  guidance  towards  employment,  a 
training  leading  to  qualifications  or  entrepreneurship,  within  six  months.  It  has  involved 
15,000 young people in 2012. 
The "Ecoles de la deuxième chance" ("second-chance schools") target young people under 26 
who left the education system without a diploma or professional skills. 12,000 young people 
have attended such schools in 2012. 
20  centres  "Défense  deuxième  chance"  offer  guidance  and  training  to  2,430  young  people 
with  no  skills or diploma. They  are  managed by the "Etablissement public d'insertion de la 
Défense",placed under the authority of the Ministry of Defence. Since February 2012, it has 
also been taking care of young, underage offenders. 

3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

In  France,  there  are  two  types  of  contracts  blending  training  and  work  experience:  the 
"Contrat d'apprentissage" (apprenticeship contract), for young people aged 16 to 25, and the 
"Contrat  de  professionnalisation"  (youth  aged  26  years  or  more).  These  contracts  apply  to 
almost 600,000 young people (430,000 and 160,000 respectively). 
New  measures  were  announced  in  March  2011  to  foster  apprenticeships  and  work-training 
combinations  ("alternance")  for  young  people,  mostly  consisting  of  financial  incentives  to 
enterprises and more flexibility. Apprenticeship in enterprises is based on a system of quotas: 
in case of an insufficient number of apprentices, the company has to pay a fee. Since March 
2011, this quota has been raised.  

3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

There  are  no  specific  programmes  in  France  targeting  young  entrepreneurs.  However,  the 
programme "Nouvel accompagnement pour la création et la reprise d'entreprise" (NACRE) 
supports  entrepreneurship  for  people  facing  employability  issues  and  job  seekers.  It  allows 
them to build or take over a business through provision guidance at each stage of the process 
over 3 years. Young people account for 8% of the participants. 

3.4. Mobilisation of funds 

Young people have accounted for 39% of the ESF beneficiaries in France. EUR 473 million 
out  of  the  total  ESF  amount  spent  since  the  beginning  of  the  current  programming  period 
(EUR 1.5 billion) have been dedicated to youth measures. Taking into account programmed 
actions, the ESF will involve 3.4 million young people for a total amount of EUR 1.1 billion, 
out  of  the  EUR  3.5  billion  total  ESF  allocation.  Young  people  also  benefit  from  non-age 
targeted  projects.  Out  of  17,963  operations,  12,600  involve  young  people  while  1,998  are 
designed exclusively for them. 

Both  "Ecoles  de  la  deuxième  chance"  and  the  centres  "Défense  deuxième  chance"  are 
supported by the ESF with EUR 33 million and EUR 62 million respectively. 

3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 

people 

No information available. 

16 

The administrative subdivision corresponding to level NUTS 3 

EN 

34 

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GERMANY 

1. Trends in youth unemployment  

Youth unemployment 
situation 2012  

8.0 % (September 2012) 

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate  
Early Leavers from Education 
and Training  
Tertiary Education 
Attainment 

2011 (%) 
8.6 
4.5 
7.5 
11.5 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
-2.0 
-1.0 
-0.9 
-0.3 

30.7 

+3.0 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment  

• 

• 

Implementing the National Training Pact, signed between the Federal Government, 
the Länder and the representative employers' organisations; 

Adapting  and  extending  existing  instruments  (career  start  coaches,  placement 
officers) to support and promote young people. 

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

Some  2,000  schools  can  now  profit  from  the  assistance  of  career  start  coaches  under  the 
Career Entry Support programme to help their students successfully complete the transition to 
career training. Until March 2012, 87,000 school students participated in the programme. 
In addition, Public Employment Services (PES) supported 232,406 young people in preparing 
and  getting  qualifications  needed  on  the  labour  market.  Finally,  38,240  participants  with 
disabilities could get the assistance. 
The  initiative  "Jugend  Stärken"  aims  to  give  individual  support  to  disadvantaged  young 
people and to integrate them in the labour market.17
 Some 35 municipalities take place in this 
initiative.  

3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

The well-established dual apprenticeship system attracts 61% of pupils to pursue vocational 
training.  In  2011,  600,000  apprenticeships  were  offered  and  570,000  Vocational  Education 
and Training (VET) contracts were concluded. 
The National Training Pact aims at increasing the educational attainment of young people. It 
aims at offering a training or apprenticeship option to every young person who is interested in 
vocational  training  and  who  fulfils  necessary  requirements.  Every  year,  60,000  additional 

17 

http://www.jugend-staerken.de/ 

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35 

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apprenticeships are agreed to be provided and the number of training-companies is aimed to 
be raised by 30,000 per year.  
Furthermore, 30,000 additional entry-level qualifications will be provided (plus 10,000 entry 
level+  qualifications  for  less  performing  people).  Entry-level  qualifications  offer  6  to  12 
months  of  company-based  pre-training  courses  in  order  to  qualify  individuals  for 
apprenticeships and to improve the matching between applicants and companies. Participating 
companies receive up to EUR 216 per month to cover the social security contributions. 
The Federal Government has doubled the number of placement officers assigned to the ESF 
programme  for  matching  traineeships  with  companies  seeking  trainees.  The  "Abschluss  und 
Anschluss  –  Bildungsketten  bis  zum  Ausbildungsabschluss"  initiative  aims  to  support  young 
people entering the workforce and to prevent long transition periods from school to work 
With the Initiative to Support Structural Change, low-skilled individuals are helped to acquire 
vocational  qualifications  or  learn  employable  skills  through  modular  courses  if  it  is  not 
possible for them to complete a full vocational programme in one go. 

3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

Employers can get a wage subsidy for less performing workers in order to compensate their 
lower productivity. Unemployed people who start a business can get initial financial support 
as well as an investment grant to start up a business. Additionally, self-employed people can 
be supported by grants and subsidies, as well as by receiving counselling. These schemes are 
open to everybody. 

3.4. Mobilisation of funds  

The budget line for youth employment measures in Germany is about EUR 3.74 billion (EUR 
2.05 billion from the ESF and EUR 1.69 billion from national co-financing). 

EUR  1.64  billion  of  the  ESF  shares  have  been  already  committed  and  EUR  963.2  million 
have been already paid.  

From the co-financing, more than a half (EUR 939.9 million) is already disbursed. 

3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 

people 

The Career Entry Support became a regulation instrument as of April 2012 (codified in social 
code III). 
The legal obligation to give career guidance to pupils with special need has been introduced in 
social code III – in line with the inclusion principle of the UN-convention on rights of people 
with disabilities. 

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36 

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GREECE 

1. Trends in youth unemployment 

Youth unemployment 
situation 2012  

57.0% (August 2012) 

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate  
Early Leavers from Education 
and Training  
Tertiary Education 
Attainment 

2011 (%) 
44.4 
13.0 
17.4  
13.1 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
+22.3 
+6.3 
+ 5.7 
- 1.7 

28.9 

+ 3.3 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment  

• 

• 

Expansion/reinforcement  of  existing  initiatives  co-funded  by  the  EU  funds 
operational  programmes  to  support  youth  unemployment,  and  a  re-allocation  of 
resources  across  operational  programmes  (away  from  non-performing  actions 
towards youth actions); 

Preparation  of  an  action  plan  consisting  of  targeted  interventions  to  boost 
employment and entrepreneurship among young people, to be mainly supported with 
funds under the Greek National Strategic Reference Framework 2007 – 2013. 

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments  

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

Various schemes, largely co-financed by the ESF, aim to promote youth employment. These 
schemes comprise various training programmes for skills acquisition, job search assistance to 
unemployed  youth  through  the  Greek  Manpower  Organisation  (OAED),  career  guidance 
services offered by vocational training and tertiary education institutions, acquisition of first 
work  experience  for  vocational  education  and  training  graduates  and  employment  subsidy 
schemes. Furthermore, an on-going ESF co-funded operation is offering work-based training 
opportunities for students in the upper secondary, post-secondary and tertiary education.  

3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

The  Greek  PES  (OAED)  operates  51  vocational  education  schools  combining  in-class 
education  and  remunerated  apprenticeships  in  undertakings  of  both  the  private  and  public 
sector. In addition, OAED provides incentives to employers to accept students for internships 
(where the employer pays 80% of the wage of an unskilled worker to the trainee and OAED 
reimburses the employer up to 50% of the total amount/wage paid). 
The Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, Sport and Culture operates work-based training 
schemes  for  tertiary  education,  as  well  as  for  vocational  training  students.  An  ESF  co-
financed scheme for post-secondary maritime education students is also running.  

EN 

37 

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3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

The  Ministry  of  Education,  Religious  Affairs,  Sport  and  Culture  operates  with  ESF  support 
career  offices  at  vocational  education  and  tertiary  education  institutions,  as  well  as 
entrepreneurship units for tertiary education students.  

A  significant  part  of  the  Structural  Funds'  financial  envelope  is  currently  allocated  to  the 
promotion of entrepreneurship and business creation opportunities for young unemployed and 
young professionals (in general up to 35 years of age). 

Moreover, several schemes, mostly ESF co-financed, provide subsidies for employers to hire 
unemployed  people.  Although  most  of  these  schemes  are  targeted  to  the  unemployed  in 
general, selection criteria often present priority for youth.  

Three  schemes  are  targeted  in  particular  to youth:  a)  an  ESF  co-financed  scheme  providing 
support  to  employers  to  hire  young  people  aged  15-24  years  old,  with  a  total  budget  of 
approximately  EUR  27  million  addressed  to  5,000  beneficiaries,  b)  an  ESF  co-financed 
scheme providing support  to employers to hire unemployed university graduates aged up to 
35  years  of  age,  with  a  total  budget  of  approximately  EUR  68  million,  addressed  to  5,000 
beneficiaries,  and  c)  an  ESF  co-financed  scheme  aiming  to  enhance  access  to  employment 
and  business  creation  for  people  threatened  by  unemployment,  unemployed/job-seekers  and 
inactive people. The scheme is addressed to women and youth between 18-35 years of age, 
has  a  total  budget  of  EUR  52  million  and  the  expected  number  of  beneficiaries  is  meant  to 
reach 5,000.  

3.4. Mobilisation of funds 

A total of EUR 786 million under the ESF is reportedly committed to actions supporting job-
creation, the acquisition of skills and work experience, the promotion of entrepreneurship, and 
overall  facilitating  access  to  employment.  However,  it  is  noted  that  this  amount  does  not 
correspond to actions targeted only at youth. 
Comprehensive information on ESF reallocation/reprogramming actions is not yet available. 

3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 

people 

The Economic Adjustment Programme for Greece puts emphasis on the rapid adjustment of 
labour costs to help overcome the high unemployment rates. In this frame, minimum wages in 
the private sector for workers under 25 years old have been reduced by 32% compared with 
previous values defined  in  the  latest General National Collective Agreement  (10  percentage 
points  lower  than  for  workers  older  than  25  years  of  age).  Any  benefits  connected  to  the 
GNCA  are  also  reduced  proportionally  i.e.  unemployment  benefits,  remuneration  for 
apprenticeships  and  so  forth.  Other  reforms  aiming  at  rendering  the  labour  market  more 
flexible have also been implemented, but are not targeted only at youth.  

EN 

38 

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1. Trends in youth unemployment 

HUNGARY 

Youth unemployment situation 
2012  

29.0 % (August 2012) 

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 

2011 (%) 
26.1 
6.4 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
+6.2  
+1.4 

NEET rate  
Early Leavers from Education 
and Training  
Tertiary Education Attainment 

13.3  
11.2 

28.1 

+1.8 
-0.5  

+5.7 

2. Commitments with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment  

• 

• 

• 

Development  and  implementation  of  various  initiatives  and  programmes  to  support 
employability of young people; 

New measures for the development of the vocational training system; 

A  modification  of  the  ESF  Operational  Programme  aimed  at  reallocating  more 
sources to Active Labour Market Policy. 

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

Public Employment Services implement their major active labour market policy programmes 
aimed  at  improving  employability  of  disadvantaged  people,  including  youth.  Job-seekers 
receive  tailor  made  support  including  training,  employment  subsidies  and  job-search 
assistance. According to recent plans, housing subsidy will be introduced in order to promote 
mobility among others of young people. Young job-seekers will represent 23% (ca. 21,000) of 
the participants. 
Furthermore, advisory system and career services will be provided to students and pupils in 
order to better plan their education path and prevent early drop-out.  

3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

The  Traineeship  programme  gives  opportunity  to  young  career  starters  to  gain  work 
experience  as  trainees  at  2,000  –  4,000  SMEs.  The  call  for  proposals  will  be  published  in 
September 2012. 

3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

The  National  Employment  Fund  finances  the  "START  programme"  aiming  at  providing 
contribution allowances to employers employing young job-seekers. Thanks to the initiative, 
around 25,000 young entrants were employed in April 2012. 
Building on the good experience of the START schemes, in the framework of an action plan 
to  protect  jobs,  employers  who  employ  people  under  the  age  of  25  will  be  eligible  for  tax 

EN 

39 

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relief as of 2013. Relevant legislation is under preparation. It is estimated that around 200,000 
young employees could benefit from the initiative.  
Another  programme  ("First  job  guarantee")  financed  by  the  Employment  Fund  supports 
young job-seekers to gain work experience by ensuring full wage compensation to employers. 
The  programme  was  launched  in  September  2012  and  will  last  until  the  end  of  the  year.  It 
may contribute to the employment of 3.000-3.500 young job-seekers. 
A programme to support entrepreneurship provides complex support to young people willing 
to start their own business. Training programmes start in the 4th quarter of 2012 and financial 
support  will  be  available  as  of  2013.  The  programme  is  expected  to  reach  at  least  3,200 
participants in training and 1,500 newly established ventures until 2014.  
Young people are encouraged to obtain a first job experience in NGOs. The call for proposals 
is  to  be  launched  in  the  3rd  quarter  of  2012  targeted  to  around  2,000  young  career  starters. 
Hungary  is  also  going  to  implement  innovative  projects  supporting  –  among  others  –  the 
labour market entry of youth, where strict  follow-up of the number  of  young  participants  is 
required. 
In  addition  to  the  ESF,  EAFRD  and  ERDF  are  also  used  to  finance  youth  employment 
programmes. EAFRD programme aims at encouraging young farmers to start an own venture 
in  the  agricultural  sector,  whereas  ERDF  supports  job  creation  in  SMEs  by  increasing 
intensity rate of aid to 70% (from 50%) if at least half of the new employees are young job-
seekers.  

3.4. Mobilisation of funds 

From  national  funding,  EUR  152.8  million  has  been  allocated  and  EUR  28.4  million 
disbursed to youth employment measures. 
By ESF co-financed measures, an amount of EUR 189.9 million was allocated and EUR 19.8 
million disbursed for the same purposes. 
In addition, the ERDF contributed to the target by allocating EUR 32.1 million and EAFRD 
by EUR 14.2 million to youth employment measures. 
A modification of the ESF Operational Programmes has been finished successfully, no further 
reallocation  is  envisaged.  A  total  amount  of  EUR  96.5  million  has  been  reallocated  to  the 
priority axis aiming at increasing employability of the labour force. In the priority axis aiming 
at  increasing  adaptability,  EUR  30.4  million  have  been  reallocated  to  establish  a  new 
traineeship programme for youth.  

3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 

people 

There have been several amendments and new initiatives introduced in Hungarian labour law 
concerning  the  legal  basis  of  youth  employment,  aiming  at  increasing  the  flexibility  in  the 
labour market thus enabling a higher rate of employment including young workers. The new 
Act  on  vocational  training  aims  at  establishing  a  more  effective,  dual  vocational  training 
system.  Measures  like  lowering  the  compulsory  age  in  education  as  well  as  putting  more 
emphasis on practice-oriented approaches in vocational education and training enable young 
people to acquire a qualification and step into the labour market already at the age of 17. This 
goes together with a decrease in the time allocated to acquiring key competences in vocational 
education  and  training.  The  representatives  of  economic  players  and  chambers  will  play  a 
more important role in the new vocational education.  

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IRELAND 

1. Trends in youth unemployment 

Youth unemployment 
situation 2012  

34.5% (September 2012)  

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate  
Early Leavers from Education 
and Training  
Tertiary Education 
Attainment 

2011 (%) 
29.4 
11.7  
18.4 
10.6 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
+ 16.1  
+ 5  
+3.6  
-0.7 

49.4 

+3.3  

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment  

• 

• 

Modification  of  the  ESF  Operational  Programme,  requested  in  December  2011,  to 
shift EUR 25 million to “Youthreach” activity to maintain 3,700 training places for 
early school leavers until end 2013;  

A  New  Labour  Market  Education  and  Training  Fund  will  be co-financed  by  the 
European Social Fund (ESF) and create up to 6,500 training places, in particular for 
the long-term unemployed. Four targeted, sectoral themes have been set out for the 
provision of this funding, one of which is aimed specifically at those aged under 25.. 

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

The Irish Government is tackling unemployment generally through the twin strategies: Action 
Plan for Jobs and Pathways to Work. The aim of the Action Plan for Jobs is to support the 
creation  of  100,000  net  new  jobs  by  2016,  while  the  objective  of  Pathways  to  Work  is  to 
provide those who are unemployed with the appropriate training and skills to avail of the job 
opportunities  which  will  arise  as  the  economy  recovers.  The  Government  is  committed  to 
supporting over 85,000 job placements, work experience and Back to Education beneficiaries 
in 2012, including through the “JobBridge” internship programme. Many young people will 
benefit from these opportunities. In addition, over 450,000 education and training places will 
be provided in the higher education, further education and training sectors. These places will 
include provision for school leavers, although the long-term unemployed are a priority target. 

Young  people,  who  are  unemployed,  once  they  have  been  on  the  Live  Register  for  three 
months,  are  referred  to  the  employment  service  for  a  guidance  interview  and  additional 
support in order to identify and address specific difficulties they face in securing employment. 
The aim is to profile newly unemployed people when they enter the Live Register, as a basis 
for immediate referral of those most needing assistance. 

Young  people  leaving  education  with  Leaving  Certificate  or  higher  qualifications  who  face 
difficulty  in  finding  work  can  register  with  the  employment  service  for  assistance  with  job 
search.  Access  to  training  and  other  labour  market  programmes  is  not  made  available 

EN 

41 

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immediately after leaving education, to ensure that labour market programmes are not seen to 
encourage exit from education. 

For early school leavers (under 18 years and with no Leaving Certificate) who seek to register 
with the employment service, the emphasis is on encouraging them to stay on at school and 
complete  it.  If  this  is  not  possible,  they  are  considered  eligible  to  register  with  the 
employment service and may be referred to specifically designed training programmes, such 
as Community Training Centres or “Youthreach”.  

3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

The  total  population  of  registered  apprentices  at  the  end  of  May  2012  is  11,653  of  which 
4,309 are redundant.  

For  2012,  587  apprentices  were  registered  at  end  of  May  2012.  The  main  areas  with  an 
increase in registrations are in the Engineering, Electrical and Motor Family of Trades. 

A special Redundant Apprentice Placement Scheme was continued in 2012 and at the end of 
May 2012, 717 redundant apprentices are currently placed with employers and 227 redundant 
apprentices have completed an on-the-job placement. In addition, 43 redundant apprentices of 
Electrical,  Plumbing  and  Carpentry  &  Joinery  are  to  complete  on-the-job-training  in 
Magdeburg/Germany. A further group of apprentices will follow on in September 2012. 
The  "Action  Plan  for  Jobs"  confirmed a  commitment  to initiate  a  review of  the Irish 
apprenticeship model which is now underway. 

Traineeships  programmes  provide  entry-level  occupation-specific  training  and  integrate 
formal  training  from  the  Irish  National  Training  and  Employment  Authority  (FÁS)  and 
workplace  coaching  with  a  host  employer.  All  programmes  are  fully  certified.  Traineeships 
are  open  to  all  unemployed  people  including  young  job  seekers.  Funding  for  circa  5,000 
beneficiaries has been allocated to this programme in 2011 and a similar level of funding has 
been allocated for 2012.  

The national “JobBridge”18 programme provides work experience placements for 6-9 months. 
The national budget allocation to the “JobBridge” internship programme is EUR 65.7 million 
in 2012 and 5,000 people participated until end of July 2012. 
All these measures are financed through national funding only. 

3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

Ireland is implementing a number of measures to enable young people to get access to a first 
job  (see  section  3.2)  but  there  are  no  specific  measures  to  enhance  entrepreneurship  or  job 
creation  for  youth.  Young  people  can  however  make  use  of  the  general  support  for  self-
employment/small  business  start-up:  Back  to  Work  Enterprise  Allowance,  entrepreneurship 
training and advisory and financial support through local County Enterprise Boards. 

3.4. Mobilisation of funds 

The committed budget allocation to youth employment measures is EUR 102.6 million from 
the ESF and EUR 102.6 million from national funding (EUR 205.22 million in total) (see also 
information under section 2 above).  

18 

JobBridge is explained in more detail in part II of the questionnaire on good practices 

EN 

42 

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3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 

people 

No amendments have been reported. 

EN 

43 

   EN

 
ITALY 

1. Trends in youth unemployment 

Youth unemployment situation 2012  

35.1 % (September 2012) 
2011 (%) 

2008/2011 

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate*  
Early  Leavers  from  Education  and 
Training 
Tertiary Education Attainment  

29.1 
8 
19.8 
18.2 

20.3 

Variation 
(pp.) 
+7.8 
+1.4 
+3.2 
-1.5 

+1.1 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment 

The  Italy  YOI  action  team  meeting  identified  a  number  of  actions  to  boost  education  and 
employment of young people, including: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

supporting  actions  in  the  field  of  education  for  convergence  regions  through 
transferring  regional  resources  to  the  national  "Education"  operational  programme 
(worth  some  EUR  300  million);  reprogramming  the  Sicily  regional  operational 
programme (worth EUR 452 million) in order to launch a Youth Action Plan; 

extending  the  tax  credit  scheme  to  encourage  companies  to  hire  young  people  and 
promoting youth entrepreneurship (currently worth EUR 100 million); 

promoting apprenticeship schemes; supporting mobility through the co-financing of 
Erasmus and Leonardo Da Vinci mobility schemes; 

making  better  use  of  available  funds  to  improve  the  quality  of  Public  Employment 
Services; 

supporting care services for children and the elderly. 

3. Progress in the implementation of the commitments 

3.1  Support  to  youth  guarantees  and/or  other  measures  targeting  NEETs  or  other  young 

people at risk 

The Italian Government programme provides for an education and apprenticeship guarantee 
to  young  people  within  the  vocational  education  system.  In  addition,  under  the  June  2012 
Labour  Market  Reform,  public  employment  services  must  provide  people,  within  3  three 
months after losing their job, with a set of basic services (including vocational training). The 
Labour  Market  Reform  also  includes  new  provisions  to  combat  early-school  leaving  and 
improve the situation of NEETs. The Ministry of Labour allocated EUR 10 million to work 
placements of up to 6 months for young people aged 24-35 in the four convergence regions 
(Campania,  Puglia,  Calabria  and  Sicily).  Some  122,000  NEET  could  benefit  from  this 
measure in fields such as cultural heritage, tourism and social services. 

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44 

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Practically  all  the  regions  have  taken  specific  measures  to  address  the  situation  of  NEETs. 
Actions range from providing orientation and guidance to promoting transition to work (e.g. 
by  increasing  participation  to  apprenticeship-like  vocational  training),  giving  incentives  to 
hire young people and fostering self-employment. Several of them are taken in the framework 
of wider "youth plans", which may encompass other Community/national/regional funds. 

3.2 

Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

In  order  to  implement  the  2011  reform  on  apprenticeships,  the  Labour  Ministry  has  put  in 
place a series of support measures under the AMVA programme ("Apprendistato e Mestieri a 
Vocazione Artigianale") worth around EUR 100 million (co-financed by the ESF), including 
support  to  employment  services,  identification  of  skills  requirements,  promotion  of 
apprenticeships and financial incentives to companies. 
In  addition,  the  FIXO  programme  ("Formazione  e  Innovazione  per  l'Occupazione")  aims  to 
facilitate  school-to-work  transition  by  providing  guidance  services  and  other  active  labour 
market  policies.  The  programme,  worth  36  million  EUR,  will  involve  365  schools  (55,000 
secondary  school  graduates),  70  universities  (35,000  university  graduates)  and  800  PhDs. 
Companies can receive support to hire apprentices in higher education or research. In addition 
to national initiatives, several regions have taken measures to promote apprenticeships. 
Italy  has  also  used  the  EU  Lifelong  Learning  Programme  to  support  traineeships  abroad. 
Some  14,500  young  people  in  vocational  education  and  12,238  active  young  people  have 
taken part in mobility schemes. 

3.3 Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment) 

Apart from the AMVA programme mentioned under section 3.2, Italy adopted a new measure 
to promote entrepreneurship: people aged under 35 years may start a limited liability company 
with only EUR 1 capital. In addition, almost all the regions have taken measures to promote 
entrepreneurship  and  self-employment  ranging  from  integrated  paths  for  business  start-up, 
support to the creation of spin-off companies, to micro-credit. 

3.4 Mobilisation of funds 

Italy adopted a Cohesion Action Plan to speed up implementation of structural funds in Italy's 
southern regions. The first phase (December 2011) focused on reprogramming resources from 
regional  operational  programmes  towards  four  priorities  (education,  employment,  railways, 
and digital agenda) and amounted to EUR 3.7 billion (of which EUR 1.4 billion for actions 
aimed  at  boosting  education  and  employment).  The  second  phase  (May  2012)  focused  on 
reprogramming  resources  from  national  and  interregional  operational  programmes  and 
amounted  to  EUR  2.3  billion  (including  EUR  600  million  for  actions  directed  at  young 
people).  Actions  of  particular  relevance  under  the  Cohesion  Action  Plan  include:  a  youth 
action plan in Sicily (EUR 452 million); promoting transition from education to work (EUR 
99  million);  supporting  linguistic  internships  abroad  (EUR  186  million);  tackling  early 
school-leaving and developing key-competencies (EUR 125 million). 

3.5 

Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for 
young people 

inclusive 

Italy  adopted  a  major  labour  market  reform  in  June  2012  aiming  to  promote  an  efficient, 
dynamic  and 
labour  market 
labour  market.  Measures  focus  on 
segmentation,  adapting  employment  protection  legislation,  reducing  the  excessive  use  of 
atypical  contracts,  adapting  social  protection  (unemployment  benefits)  to  the  needs  of  the 
labour  market.  The  reform  provides  for  a  series  of  measures  which  will  contribute  to 

tackling 

EN 

45 

   EN

 
facilitating young people's access to the labour market, including promoting apprenticeships 
as the main route to employment and better regulating internships. 

EN 

46 

   EN

 
LATVIA 

1. Trends in youth unemployment  

Youth unemployment situation 2012  29.0% (June 2012) 

2011 (%) 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 

Youth unemployment rate  

Youth unemployment ratio 

NEET rate  

Early Leavers from Education and 
Training  

31.0 

11.2 

15.7 

11.8 

Tertiary Education Attainment 

35.7 

+16.5 

+5.6 

+4.3 

-3.7 

+8.7 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment  

As  a  part  of  the  YOI,  Latvian  authorities  took  commitments  to  support  around  25  thousand 
young people through: 

• 

• 

A  range  of  Active  Labour  Market  Policy  activities  to  promote  inclusion  into  the 
labour market; 

Education  activities  to  prevent  early  school  leaving  and  bring  early  school  leavers 
back to education.  

Latvian  authorities  have  no  plans  to  use  ESF  to  support  student  mobility  grants  under  the 
Life-Long Learning programme. 

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

In order to target the groups at risk, Latvian authorities have implemented multiple projects 
funded by several funding sources. The ESF supports the improvement and implementation of 
vocational  education  programme;  promotion  of  primary  vocational  education;  support 
measures  for  social  exclusion  decrease  for  youth  and  integration  of  disabled  youth  into 
education (2,000 more youth participants were attracted to vocational training programmes). 
The national budget finances measures to improve education programmes for primary schools 
(introduction  of  new  education  content  is  planned  starting  with  2013/2014  academic  year); 
development  of  general  education  programmes  for  distance  learning;  promotion  of  career 
consulting  in  11  vocational  schools  to  reduce  number  of  early  school  leavers;  informative 
measures  on  creative  and  innovative  youth  initiatives  and  youth  work  (182  participants); 
general training measures for youth (1,470 participants). 
The  Swiss  Financing  Instrument  cooperation  project  „Support  for  Development  of  Youth 
Initiatives  in  Peripheral  or  Disadvantaged  Regions"  supported  10  seminars  organised  for 
youth  (incl.  unemployed)  on  stimulation  of  youth  initiative  and  activity,  attracting  191 
participants) in 2012. 
Studies  of  Latvian  students  in  Valga  Vocational  education  centre  to  obtain  professional 

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47 

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qualification  beginning  from  2012-2013  have  been  funded  under  a  cooperation  agreement 
between the Latvian Ministry of Education and Science and Estonian Ministry of Education.  

3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

Youth  traineeship  and  apprenticeships  have  been  facilitated  by  three  projects  (ESF  and 
national  budget  funded):  the  “Training  and  practice  for  State  Employment  Agency  (SEA) 
assistants”  project  (planned  79  participants  in  2012,  EUR  250,376),  within  which  young 
unemployed  participate  in  a  5-day  theoretical  training  course  and  then  have  an  18  months 
internship at the SEA.  
The "Support to volunteer work" project (planned 1,563 participants, EUR 404,428) includes 
participation  of  young  people  in  voluntary  work  activities  thus  improving  their  competences 
and competitiveness.  
The  "Workplace  for  young  people"  project  (planned  539  participants,  EUR  329,068)  gives 
young unemployed people the chance to be employed for a trial period of up to 9 months in 
order  to  acquire  work  experience  and  to  continue  in  permanent  employment  after  the  trial. 
Priority is given to young people who have been unemployed for more than 4 months, who 
are  trying  to  return  to  the  labour  market  after  a  break  for  childcare  reasons  or  who  are 
disabled.  Employment  is  based  on  a  work  contract  remunerated  at  no  less  than  the  national 
minimum  wage,  while  the  employer  should  pay  social  contributions.  Employers  receive  a 
decreasing subsidy (its amount is initially higher at the beginning, to compensate the lack of 
skills) to cover payment of the young person and a contribution to the costs of a trainer. 
Another  activity  “Youth  workshops”,  allowing  to  try  three  different  vocational  fields  (for 
maximum 3 weeks each), will be introduced at the end of 2012. 

3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 
General measures to support job creation are funded under two activities of the OPs19: support 
to  entrepreneurship  and  self-employment  (ESF  co-financed)  and  measures  to  encourage 
innovations  and  business  start-ups  (ERDF  co-financed).  In  addition,  a  Micro  Crediting 
Programme for Latvian SMEs, a Crediting Programme of Latvia and Switzerland and the SME 
Growth  Loan  Programme  are  also  available.  However,  none  of  these  programmes  are 
providing more privileged conditions for youth. 

3.4. Mobilisation of funds 

By  1  August  2012,  EUR  32.93  million  has  been  disbursed  to  youth  measures  related  to 
education and EUR 496,127 to employment-related active labour market policy measures. To 
provide support for youth initiative measures, the over-commitments from the national budget 
of  EUR  90.2  million  were  assigned  to  projects  implemented  under  the  ESF  OP  (EUR  26.3 
million)  and  one  ERDF  OP  (EUR  63.9  million)  in  2012-2014.  ESF  and  ERDF  have  been 
reprogrammed to reach more young people within the existing activities. 

3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 

people 

In 2012, the Ministry of Education and Science has drafted a Regulation on traineeships and 
apprenticeships  for  vocational  education  students  promoting  the  attractiveness  of  vocational 
education  and  developing  the  quality  of  traineeships  and  apprenticeships  to  attract  young 
people  to  the  education  process  and  urge  them  to  obtain  a  professional  qualification  that  will 
promote their competitiveness on the job market. 

19 

Due to identified deficiencies by the Commission auditors in both activities using Financial Engineering 
instrument, these activities are pending possible financial correction 

EN 

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LITHUANIA 

1. Trends in youth unemployment 

Youth unemployment situation 
2012 

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate  
Early Leavers from Education and 
Training  
Tertiary Education Attainment 

26.0% (September 2012) 

2011 (%) 
32.9 
9.6 
12.5 
7.9 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
+19.5 
+5.5 
+3.6 
+0.5 

45.4 

+5.5 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment  

• 

• 

• 

• 

Extend, refocus or make more attractive to young people the existing ESF measures; 
create  new  or  redesign  ESF  measures  (pilot  scheme  for  young  volunteers,  wage 
subsidies instead of social security reduction scheme  for the first job, improvement 
of apprenticeship and internships);  

By  refocusing  of  ESF  funding,  provide  support  to  around  18,000  additional  young 
people (facilitated access to the first job, improved access to finance for start-ups or 
self-employment, relevant vocational training, wage subsidies etc.); 

Reallocate  ERDF  resources  to  support  youth  to  commercialise  business  ideas  and 
improve  accessibility  of  financial  resources.  Overall,  some  12,000  young 
entrepreneurs would be mentored or coached and some 25,000 young people would 
be better informed on business financing opportunities;  

Reform  the  labour  law  in  order  to  remove  disincentives  for  employers  to  take  on 
more  staff.  In  particular:  facilitate  temporary  work  contracts  for  up  to  two  years; 
flexibility in setting working hours; teleworking; transparent and equal remuneration 
for work (as agreed during the Youth Action team visit in February 2012). 

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

In  April  2012,  the  ESF  project  “Integration  into  Labour  Market”  was  refocused  on  youth, 
offering vocational training programmes to about 6,000 young people. From the ERDF, EUR 
1.3  million  were  transferred  to  measure  “Assistant-3”  and  EUR  12.45  million  to  measure 
“Invest LT-2”for actions dedicated to young entrepreneurs and various business services for 
young people.  

3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

The Ministry of Education and Science is implementing several ESF projects with the aim to 
create modern traineeship organization models (systems) for undergraduate students and the 

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49 

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students  of  integrated  studies  in  companies  and  (or)  non-profit  organisations,  including  the 
preparation  of  students’  supervisors  (tutors),  increasing  their  competences,  introducing 
information systems at traineeship places, trial traineeship of students in accordance with the 
developed traineeship organisation model (system). 
Lithuania is also implementing several ESF projects aimed to improve study programmes and 
traineeships. It is planned inter alia for postgraduate students to go through a complementary 
traineeship  in  educational  institutions,  in  Lithuanian  or  European  companies  or  foreign 
universities.  The  complementary  traineeship  refers  to  additional  practical  independent 
activities (no less than 320 academic hours) offered for postgraduate students.  
Several ESF projects, aiming to improve the qualification of scientists and other researchers 
offer  additional  scientific  practices,  scientific  research  projects  and  traineeships  for  doctoral 
students in foreign scientific centres. 
ERDF projects  invest in infrastructure,  which is necessary for practical studies: the renewal 
and  establishment  of  educational  laboratories,  practical  bases,  practical  training  centres, 
purchase  of  equipment  for  educational  laboratories,  establishment  of  mobile  scientific  and 
demonstrative laboratories etc.  

3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

The Entrepreneurship Promotion Fund (ESF EUR 14.5 million), currently provides loans and 
training  services  for  start-ups  and  self-employment,  with  youth  among  the  prioritised  focus 
groups  under  this  measure.  A  new  ESF  measure  (EUR  3  million),  “Subsidies  for 
entrepreneurship  promotion”,  has  been  approved  recently  by  the  government  in  order  to 
increase the attractiveness of loan schemes provided for start-ups and self-employment. 
In  August  2012,  the  project  "Be  active  on  the  labour  market"  (providing  first-job  skills  for 
young  participants)  was  extended  until  1  September  2013  and  its  budget  was  increased  by 
EUR 6 million (ESF), with a view to supporting around 6,000 young people. 
Another  new  ESF  measure  (EUR  9.3  million)  “Support  for  the  first  job”  has  been  recently 
approved,  replacing  the  existing  social  security  reduction  scheme  for  the  first  job  by  wage 
subsidies. 
Several  ESF  projects  are  being  implemented  with  the  aim  to  promote  entrepreneurship  in 
higher  education,  developing  entrepreneurial  knowledge  and  skills  of  students,  including 
developing  teachers'  knowledge,  providing  necessary  pedagogical  tools,  etc.  The  study 
programmes  under  these  projects  shall  involve  2,560  students  of  higher  education  and  323 
lecturers. Similar projects are being implemented in secondary schools. 

3.4. Mobilisation of funds 

In  the  2007-2013  ESF  programmes,  EUR  240  million  are  committed  to  actions/projects 
particularly  dedicated  to  youth.  Under  ERDF  programmes,  EUR  157  million  are  currently 
committed to youth employment measures. Around EUR 31 million were recently mobilised 
for  youth  employment  measures  by  amending  programmes  or  making  internal  reallocations 
between measures.  

3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 

people 

On 30 June  2012, with the view to facilitating youth integration into  the labour market, the 
Lithuanian Parliament adopted Labour code amendments. The possibility to conclude a fixed-
term work contract for permanent jobs in newly established work places was prolonged until 
31  July  2015.  It  is  expected  that  this  amendment  will  facilitate  youth  integration  into  the 
labour market and will have a positive impact on employment of young people, in particular 
of those without job experience. 

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LUXEMBOURG 

1. Trends in youth unemployment  

Youth unemployment situation 2012   18.6 % (September 2012) 

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate  
Early  Leavers  from  Education  and 
Training  
Tertiary Education Attainment 

2011 (%) 
16.4 
4,2 
4.720 
6.221 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
- 0.9 
- 1 
- 1,1 (compared to 2009) 
- 1.5 (compared to 2009) 

48.2 

+ 1.6 (compared to 2009) 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment 

The  Luxembourg  Government  has  demonstrated  a  strong  commitment  to  combat  youth 
unemployment. An ambitious action plan for youth employment has been announced, which 
envisages  a  "Youth  Guarantee"  (Garantie  Jeune):  a  job,  an  apprenticeship  or  a  tailor-made 
training  scheme  in  the  first  four  month  after  unemployment  registration.  The  PES'  Youth 
Employment Service responsible for the employment measures of the young unemployed will 
see a staff increase and become more decentralised. Other measures will include: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

3. 

3.1. 

Employment measure for (very) unqualified young job seekers (18-25): "social" 
training  of  two  months  followed  by  either  returning  to  education,  practical  work 
experiences (such as an apprenticeship) or other individualised outcomes; 

Major reforms of the education system: e.g. consolidation and extension of basic 
education,  new  orientation  procedures  for  the  school  year  2012/2013.  Orientation 
and professional initiation courses are foreseen for the under 18 years old who cannot 
access directly the professional education system, as well as promotion of language 
courses organised by associations and communes; 

Creation of a "Maison de l'Orientation (Counselling House)": regrouping the key 
public  orientation  services  in  a  same  place  and  therefore  allowing  a  better 
coordination and creating synergies. Its creation is linked to both educational reforms 
and changes in the management of youth unemployment; 

A Youth pact 2012-2014: inter-ministerial pact for national actions targeting youth. 

Progress in implementation of the commitments 

Youth  guarantee  schemes  and  other  measures  targeting  youth  neither  in 
employment, nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

The government introduced, as maintaining in employment measure, specific contracts to help 
young  people  acquire  practical  experience  (i.e.  Initial  Employment  Contract-Practice). 
According to national data, published by the Employment Ministry, more than 1,500 young 

20 
21 

Uncertain data due to small sample size 
Uncertain data due to small sample size 

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51 

   EN

 
 
 
                                                 
people (1,000 in the private sector) benefit from specific contracts. A large number of them 
are  catapulted  into  permanent  employment.  A  majority  of  young  jobseekers  are  non-
Luxembourgers  with  linguistic  difficulties  in  education  and  on  the  employment  market.  An 
evaluation  of  employment  measures  for  youngsters  ("employment  support  contract"  and 
"employment initiation contract") have been undertaken and the results will be used this year 
by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to decide if and in which way the measures will 
be modified. The above mentioned "Youth Guarantee" will establish schemes to offer further 
education, (re)training or activation measures to the younger jobseekers within four months of 
unemployment registration. The "Action locale pour les jeunes" (Ministry of Education) is in 
charge of the follow-up of early school leavers. A "second chance school" opened in 2011 for 
the 16-24 years old school leavers who face difficulties to return to the education system. The 
education is individualised and the support reinforced. The duration varies between 1 and 4 
semesters according to the individual needs 

3.2. 

Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

In response to the EU2020 country-specific recommendations, Luxembourg  introduced new 
financial  incentives  for  employers  in  order  to  increase  the  number  of  apprenticeships  (from 
27%  to  40%).  The  measure  is  temporary  and  applies  only  to  the  category  of  apprentices 
studying  for  a  "Certificate  of  professional  capacity"  (Certificat  de  capacité  professionnelle, 
CCP). Traineeships and apprenticeships cover, in 2011, 1,582 young people.  

3.3. 

Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

Support  to  job  creation  covered,  in  2011,  1,330  young  people.  The  association  "Jonk 
Entrepreneuren" aims to promote entrepreneurship spirit and allows students of all levels of 
education in Luxembourg to learn how to start and manage a business. The Junior Chamber 
International Luxembourg offers people aged between 18 and 40 the possibility to engage in 
projects that affect society in a positive way. The business and entrepreneurial world are one 
of the primary subjects. 

3.4. 

Mobilisation of funds 

The national budget allocation to youth employment measures was EUR 35.8 million (2012) 
and EUR 31 million disbursed (2011). Support to job creation measures amount to EUR 18.6 
million. The budget for traineeships and apprenticeships measures was EUR 12.5 million in 
2011.  
As regards ESF, one of the ESF funding priorities is support to young people (in particular the 
low-skilled  and  non-EU  nationals),  through  guidance,  preparation  and  training,  to  get  their 
first job and get on in their first job. In 2011 funds were reallocated to increase the budget of 
objective  1.3  "Facilitate  youth  insertion  in  the  labour  market".  For  2007-2011,  EUR  2.9 
million has been committed under this objective; extension until 2015: EUR 6.6 million EUR 
2,2 million disbursed. The idea of a cross-border project with Germany to fight against youth 
unemployment is envisaged and considered for co-financing by the ESF (job monitoring and 
job  coaching).  The  government  created  an  Employment  and  labour  market  observatory  to 
better  understand  the  functioning  of  the  job  market  and  to  evaluate  measures  promoting 
employment. The observatory has a budget of EUR 1.8 million, allocated equally over three 
years (2011-2013). The project will be co-financed by the ESF in the amount of half of the 
budget, or EUR 900,000.  

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3.5. 

Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for 
young people 

The  reform  of  the  public  employment  service  ADEM  is  still  on-going  and  based  on  a  new 
legal  framework  (i.e.  opening  of  three  new  regional  agencies  and  34  additional  councillors 
within  ADEM).  Improved  supervision  of  job  seekers  will  be  accomplished  through 
personalised monitoring. 

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MALTA 

1. Trends in youth unemployment  
Youth unemployment situation 
2012 (latest possible figure) 

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate  
Early Leavers from Education and 
Training  
Tertiary Education Attainment 

16.2% (September 2012) 

2011 (%) 
13.8 
7.1 
10.6 
33.522 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
+1.6 
+0.7 
+1.1 
-4.6 

21.1 

+0.2 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment  

Malta  is  addressing  the  youth  employment  issue  through  a  number  of  measures  aimed  at 
assisting  youth  in  training  and  seeking  employment,  such  as  initiatives  undertaken  by  the 
Employment and Training Corporation (ETC): 

• 

• 

• 

Dedicated  Youth  Employment  Advisors  who  offer  individualised  career  guidance 
and personalised action plans for employment; 

Schemes and Programmes, which also target youth, of which the Work Trial Scheme, 
Bridging the Gap Scheme and the ESF Employment in the Social Economy Project;  

The  Youth  Employment  Programme  (YEP)  is  a  programme  co-funded  under  the 
European  Social  Fund  (ESF)  and  designed  to  increase  the  employability  of  young 
people and facilitate labour market integration of youth through the services provided 
through a number of professions. 

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 
nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

Malta launched several projects and initiatives targeting young people, especially NEETs or 
other groups at risk. By August 2012, 101 individuals participated in the ESF funded project 
‘Care Creates Change in People’s Lives and the Environment’. This project seeks to create 
employment opportunities in the area of products and waste. The target groups for this project 
include  domestic  violence  victims,  young  drop-outs,  asylum  seekers,  ex-convicts  and 
substance abusers. The ESF funded project ‘E4L – Embark for Life’ registered a total of 254 
participants  as  at  end  of  June  2012.  The  project  provides  individualised  intervention  and 
skills-based  workgroups  to  institutionalised  youths,  homeless  young  people  or  those  in 
inappropriate housing. It aims to help young people to develop the necessary skills for their 
inclusion in the labour market and maintaining stable employment, among others. 

22 

The  Maltese  series  on  'early  leavers  from  education  and  training'  are  under  review  by  the  Maltese 
Statistical Office and Eurostat. The review is about the classification of people of certain qualifications 
at secondary level ('O levels') and not in further education and training. The weight of this group in the 
current series is about 8 percentage points on average. 

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The  ETC  also  manages  the  Employment  Aid  Programme  (EAP).  The  project  contributes 
towards  the  integration  of  disadvantaged  and  disabled  people  in  the  labour  market  by 
facilitating  access  to  employment  through  financial  assistance  and  upgrading  the  skills  of 
those furthest away from the labour market through work experience. To date, the EAP has 
contracted over 1,666 grants. The ETC also offers a wide range of services that are beneficial 
to young people, including the Work Trial Scheme which targets young jobseekers aged 16-
24,  and  the  Entrepreneurship  Scheme  (INT)  through  which  jobseekers  are  offered  the 
possibility of starting their business by providing a package of counselling, entrepreneurship 
training, mentoring and financial assistance. Registered unemployed mentees, whose business 
plans are approved and who have all official documents/permits in order, are awarded EUR 
5,000  as  an  enterprise  grant.  Finally,  the  ETC  also  offers  the  scheme  ‘Bridging  the  Gap’ 
which offers registered disabled person, including young people, a period of work exposure 
with an employer to enable them to demonstrate the skills needed for a particular job.  
3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 
The ETC manages two apprenticeship schemes namely the Extended Skills Training Scheme 
(ESTS) and the Technician Apprenticeship Scheme (TAS). One of the aims of these schemes is 
to  support  youngsters  so  that  they  receive  adequate  training  prior  to  entering  the  labour 
market. The apprenticeship format is a combination of on-the-job and off-the-job training. A 
total of 648 candidates were registered with ETC as active apprentices under both schemes. 
Traineeships are also organised under the Employability Programme funded through the ESF. 
By end July 2012 a total of 153 young people participated in this programme.  
3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 
The  ESF-funded  Youth  Employment  Programme  aims  to  increase  the  employability  and 
labour  market  integration  of  young  people  and  as  at  end  of  June  2012,  the  total  number  of 
young  people  participating  in  this  project  amounted  to  2,827.  ETC  also  operates  the 
Entrepreneurship  Scheme  (INT)  through  which  jobseekers  are  offered  the  possibility  of 
starting  one’s  own  business  by  providing  a  training  and  financial  assistance.  So  far  this 
project has involved 3 young participants. The ESF-funded ME2 – Integration of people with 
disability  in  the  labour  market  project  aims  to  engage  disabled  people  in  education  and 
employment. In doing so, the ME2 Co-op Limited was created and was officially launched in 
April 2012. The aim of this co-operative is to serve as an opportunity to enhance a disabled 
person’s  skills  to  become  more  independent,  to  empower  and  to  promote  inclusion  into  an 
integrated society. The number of young participants as at end July 2012 amounted to 55.  
3.4. Mobilisation of funds 
Since  the  ESF  Operational  Programme  (OP)  is  rather  flexible,  if  it  is  deemed  necessary  to 
have  more  youth-oriented  measures,  it  has  the  capacity  to  do  so  without  the  need  for 
reallocation and/or reprogramming within the OP. Throughout the programming period all the 
calls for project proposals were open to projects addressing specific initiatives targeting YOI. 
3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 
people 
There have been no changes to the legal framework. 

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THE NETHERLANDS 

1. Trends in youth unemployment 

Youth unemployment situation 
2012  

9.7% (September 2012) 

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate  
Early Leavers from Education 
and Training  
Tertiary Education Attainment  41.1 

9.1 

2011 (%) 
7.6 
5.3 
3.8 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
+ 1.3 
+ 1.4 
+ 0.4 

- 2.3 

+ 0.9 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment  

Among  the  various  elements  put  forward  by  the  Dutch  authorities  in  the  recent  official 
publications (mainly NRP), the following priorities have been set out: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Measures  to  improve  matching  of  education/employee  skills  and  labour  market 
demand; 
An  integrated  regional  approach  in  which  municipalities,  educational  institutions, 
companies (the labour market) and youth care institutions work together in order to 
help  vulnerable  youth  in  their  transition  from  school  to  work  and  to  prevent  early 
school leaving; 
Measures to increase the quality of education and limit high drop-out rates especially 
in tertiary education; 
Increased support to self-entrepreneurship. 

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

The Dutch government has implemented a range of general measures with a special focus on 
improving  the  transition  from  education  to  work  and  to  prevent  early  school  leaving. 
Municipalities  are  made  increasingly  responsible  in  the  process  of  combating  youth 
unemployment  given  their  ability  to  adapt  to  local  labour  markets  and  regional  conditions. 
Youth  care  and  outreach  programmes  are  available  especially  for  vulnerable  youth,  for 
example from families facing multiple risks. 
In  the  period  2009-2011  the  "Action  Plan  Youth  Unemployment"  was  carried  out.  This 
boosted  regional  cooperation  between  municipalities,  education,  employers,  employment 
services  and  knowledge  centres.  In  addition,  government  measures  stress  on  the  young 
person's own responsibility to actively search for a job and in the case of NEET, to register at 
employment agencies. Successful approaches that have been strengthened by the Action Plan 
Youth Unemployment are now being continued.  

3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

In  secondary  vocational  education,  apprenticeships  or  internships  are  mandatory.  In  higher 
education  they  are  not  mandatory  but  recommended.  Education  and  business  are  brought 

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together  in  the  Foundation  for  cooperation  on  vocational  education,  training  and  the  labour 
market  (SBB).  One  of  the  aims  of  the  SBB  is  to  optimise  the  connection  between  the 
education  system  and  the  labour  market.  Quality  of  apprenticeships  is  seen  as  an  important 
aspect.  Therefore  it  is  required  by  law  that  the  institutions  that  provide  apprenticeships  and 
internships  are  accredited  for  offering  a  good  and  safe  working  and  learning  environment. 
According to the SBB the number of internships/apprenticeships has declined, but, given the 
economic conditions, is still adequate (220.000). 

3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

The  Netherlands  encourages  entrepreneurship  through  several  projects.  The  Ministry  of 
Education,  Culture  and  Science  and  the  Ministry  of  Economic  Affairs,  Agriculture  and 
Innovation  has  launched  the  action  programme  "Education  and  Entrepreneurship".  This 
programme focusses on stimulating, facilitating and professionalising educational institutions 
with regard to entrepreneurship on all education levels. The programme includes for example: 

• 
• 
• 
• 

• 

Investing in 78 regional or sector networks to stimulate entrepreneurship; 
Evidence-based research and showing good practices; 
Development of Centres of Entrepreneurship (universities and business sector); 
Organising  events  like  Global  Entrepreneurship  Week  and  the  National  Student 
Entrepreneurship Prize; 
Providing  options  for  self-employment  for  the  unemployed.  After  business  start-up 
people are able to maintain their benefits for a maximum of six months. In addition, 
municipalities  have  the  possibility  to  provide  social  assistance,  coaching  and 
microloans  based  on  the  Social  Assistance  Decree  for  the  Self-employed.  An 
evaluation of this system has shown that 74% of starters are no longer dependent on 
benefits four years after start-up. 

3.4. Mobilisation of funds 

Only details regarding ESF funding have been provided by the Dutch government's reply to 
the questionnaire. No details were provided regarding ERDF or national funding. 
A large part of the ESF budget in the Netherlands is reserved for actions aimed at youth. For 
example,  EUR  194  million  is  reserved  for  training  with  a  vocational  focus  for  the  special 
education sector (VSO and PRO; mainly for disabled children, children with serious learning 
problem or behavioural problems and children with low IQ) and for the "Action Plan Youth 
Unemployment"  (see  3.1).  Another  EUR  63  million  is  reserved  for  projects  aiming  at 
improvement of the labour market position of detainees. In these projects roughly 75% of the 
budget  is  spent  on  the  education  of  people  in  youth  detention.  The  job  creation  measures 
described under 3.3 above are not ESF-supported. 

3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 

people 

Some amendments were stated in the reply: 

• 

• 

• 

An amendment of the ESF national rules in 2009 to enable the implementation of the 
"Action Plan Youth Unemployment"; 
Amendment  of  the  Social  Assistance  Act  in  order  to  encourage  young  people  to 
search more actively for a job themselves and to complete education; 
Plans  for  simplification  of  the  dismissal  procedures,  making  it  easier  for  young 
entrants to the labour market to obtain a job (plans are not yet implemented and will 

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depend  on  the  outcomes  of  government  formation  after  the  September  2012 
elections).  

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POLAND 

1. Trends in youth unemployment  

Youth unemployment 
situation 2012  

26.5% (September 2012) 

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate  
Early Leavers from Education 
and Training  
Tertiary Education 
Attainment 

2011 (%) 
25.8 
8.7 
11.6 
5.6  

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
+8.5  
+3.0  
+2.6 
+0.6 

36.9 

+7.2 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment  

• 

• 

Development of active labour market policy instruments and programmes addressed 
to young unemployed and job seekers; 

Expansion/reinforcement  of  existing  initiatives  co-funded  by  the  ESF  Operational 
Programme.  

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

In  2011,  the  Public  Employment  Services  (PES)  offered  various  vocational  activation 
instruments to 104,800 unemployed young people. In addition, the Ministry of Employment 
prepared  a  programme  "Youth  on  the  labour  market"  aimed  at  preventing  and  combating 
youth  unemployment.  The  Programme  is  composed  of  a  number  of  activation  measures 
addressed to people aged up to 30 and registered in the labour office. The Programme will be 
implemented from May 2012 to November 2014 and the expected number of participants is 
minimum 3,000. 
Support  to  young  people  at  risk  of  social  exclusion  is  delivered  by  the  Voluntary  Labour 
Corps  operating  in  the  structure  of  the  PES.  In  2011,  nearly  0.5  million  young  people 
participated  in  the  labour  market  services  offered  by  the  Labour  Corps,  including  180,000 
benefiting from job placements (100,000 of them had subsequently been employed).  

One  of  the  targets  of  the  ESF  Operational  Programme  is  to  improve  the  situation  of  young 
people on the labour market. There are no specific measures targeted to NEET, however the 
project  selection  criteria  adopted  annually  by  the  Monitoring  Committee  favour  inactive 
young people or those at risk of social exclusion. The scale  of the Programme is extensive, 
with over 282,000 people aged 15-24 participating so far. 

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3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

Traineeships and apprenticeships are financed from national resources for the unemployed up 
to 25 years old or for the unemployed graduates up to 27 years old. In 2011, traineeships were 
the most popular form of vocational activation with 62,800 young people participating.  
The  Programme  "Youth  on  the  labour  market"  introduced  an  apprenticeship  voucher  for 
unemployed young people who will find an apprenticeship place. The employer, who accepts 
an apprentice, has to employ this person for the next 6 months.  
Support to traineeships and apprenticeships is also provided by the ESF, with 27,125 students 
of vocational schools participating by the end of 2011.  

3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

The maximum amount of ca. EUR 5,000 can be granted by PES to the unemployed (including 
youth)  who  want  to  start  economic  activity.  Similar  amount  can  be  granted  similarly  to 
entrepreneurs who are willing to create new job places (whether for youth or not). In 2011, ca. 
EUR 148 million were disbursed for this purpose allowing for establishing 26,108 businesses 
and creating 10,657 job places.  
Besides,  start-up  grants  for  job  creation  with  the  maximum  amount  of  EUR  100,000  are 
financed  by  the  ESF.  By  the  end  of  2011,  21,314  young  people  received  such  grants  and 
started they own economic activity. 

3.4. Mobilisation of funds 

Under  the  ESF  Operational  Programme  approximately  EUR  3.4  billion  will  be  allocated  to 
support  to  youth  policies,  with  EUR  1.327  billion  allocated  directly  to  youth  employment 
measures. By 1st August 2012, EUR 2.3 billion have already been committed, including EUR 
1.027 for youth employment measures. By the same month, over EUR 1.6 billion have been 
spent, including EUR 789 million for youth employment measures. 
The  ESF  Managing  Authority  is  expected  to  submit  the  amendments  to  the  Operational 
Programme  which  will  include  proposals  for  the  reallocation  of  EUR  75  million  towards 
measures addressed to support young people. Furthermore, another modification is expected 
in 2013, including a subsequent reallocation of EUR 34 million for the same purpose.  

Poland  decided  to  use  the  ESF  to  support  students'  mobility  grants  under  the  Lifelong 
Learning  Programme.  Respectively,  changes  are  to  be  introduced  to  the  Operational 
Programme.  

There  is  no  information  provided  by  Poland  on  ERDF  funding  to  youth  employment 
measures. 
In 2011, around EUR 212 million were spent on youth traineeships programmes.  

3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 

people 

Poland  introduced  changes  to  the  Law  on  Employment  Promotion  and  Labour  Market 
Institutions concerning the Voluntary Labour Corps but details on the amendments are not yet 
available.  

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PORTUGAL 

1. Trends in youth unemployment  

Youth unemployment situation  
2012  

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 

NEET rate  
Early Leavers from Education and 
Training  
Tertiary Education Attainment 

12.7 
23.2 

26.1 

35.1% (September 2012) 

2011 (%) 
30.1 
11.7 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
+9.9 
+4.9, note: break in series in 
2011 
+2.4 
-12.2 

+4.5 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment  

In  the  context  of  the  YOI,  the  Portuguese  Government  developed  a  strategic  programme  to 
foster the employability of young people, called “Impulso Jovem”, which was launched as of 
August 2012 and is co-financed by European structural funds (both ESF and ERDF): 

Measures to be co-financed by ESF that are meant to cover 56,000 young people: 
• 

“Employment Passports”: professional internships in key areas of the economy and 
which  can  promote  territorial  cohesion.  These  professional  internships  have  a 
duration of 6 months and establish compulsory provision of vocational training and 
the attribution of an integration bonus in case a subsequent employment contract is 
signed. The measure targets young people aged between 18 and 30 years old (up to 
35 years in case of internships in the agriculture sector) who have been enrolled as 
unemployed in PES for at least 4 months; 
Professional internship programme in public administration; 
Support to contracting via reimbursement of employer's social security contributions.  

• 
• 

Measures to be co-financed by ERDF that are meant to cover 33,000 young people: 
• 

“Employment  passports”:  professional  internships  in  the  areas  of  industrialisation, 
innovation and internationalisation, under the same conditions as mentioned above; 
Measures to support contracting and foster entrepreneurship; 
National microcredit programme; 
Support to investment directed at small and medium-size enterprises. 

• 
• 
• 

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

Some of the internships contained in “Impulso Jovem” are targeted at NEETs as well as the 
measure  of  support  to  contracting  via  reimbursement  of  social  security  contributions.  The 
same applies to the National Microcredit Programme. 

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3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

“Impulso  Jovem”  initiative  created  a  new  range  of  internships  (“Employment  Passports”) 
which  are  available  for  a  larger  amount  of  young  people,  targeting  those  who  have  been 
unemployed for 4 months and focusing on industries related to tradable sectors. This initiative 
complements  the  traineeships  programme  already  in  place,  which  focuses  on  professional 
qualification.  

3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

On  top  of  the  already  existing  measures  that  support  self-employment,  the  following  ones 
were  created  as  part  of  “Impulso  Jovem”  programme:  Entrepreneurship  Employment 
Passport,  Entrepreneurial  Portugal/Network  of  Perception  and  Business  Management, 
COOPJOVEM (Creation of cooperatives for Youth). 
The  National  Microcredit  Programme,  which  already  existed,  was  adapted  within  “Impulso 
Jovem”,  assigning  priority  to  projects,  which  are  either  promoted  by  young  unemployed  or 
that promote hiring of young unemployed. 

3.4. Mobilisation of funds 

90,000  young  people  are  expected  to  be  covered  by  different  measures  contained  in  the 
strategic  “Impulso  Jovem”  programme.  The  overall  allocation  of  structural  funds  for  this 
programme  amounts  to  EUR  344,133,702  and  is  to  be  co-financed  by  both  ESF  (EUR 
143,269,421) and ERDF (EUR 200,864,282). 

3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 

people 

In  the  context  of  “Impulso  Jovem”  programme,  the  government  has  adopted  the  above 
mentioned  internships  as  well  as  a  measure  of  support  to  contracting  via  reimbursement  of 
social  security  contributions  to  employers,  conditional  to  net  job  creation.  The  target 
beneficiaries  are  unemployed  people,  aged  between  18  and  30  years  old,  who  have  been 
enrolled for at least 12 months in PES. 
In  addition,  the  measure  “Estímulo  2012”  was  published  in  February  2012.  It  will  provide 
financial support to companies who hire people who have been enrolled in PES for at least 6 
months. The financial support is higher in case the company hires a person under 25 years old 
- 60% of the worker's wage – and is given during the first 6 months of work, subject to net 
employment creation. The employers are obliged to provide training to the employee.  
Portugal  has  also  adopted  a  restructuring  of  its  PES,  officially  published  on  09/02/2012, 
which aims to increase the match between supply and demand of jobs and it is also targeted at 
young people, namely to address the new profile of young unemployed with higher levels of 
education (tertiary education). Recently, it has also been adopted the measure “Vida Ativa”, 
whose implementation started by the end March 2012, which consists of high-employability 
training  modules  targeted  at  the  young  unemployed,  with  the  aim  of  promoting  their 
employability and consequently their transition to the labour market. 
Portugal  is  also  reforming  its  labour  law  -e.g.  the  definition  of  individual  fair  dismissals  is 
eased, working time flexibility is increased- and severance payments have been reduced from 
30  to  20  days  per  year  with  the  aim  of  improving  the  efficiency  of  the  labour  market  and 
reducing labour market segmentation, which severely affects the younger population.  

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ROMANIA 

1. Trends in youth unemployment 

Youth unemployment situation 
2012  

23.0% (June 2012) 

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate  
Early Leavers from Education 
and Training  
Tertiary Education Attainment  20.4 

2011 (%) 
23.7 
7.4 
17.4 
17.5 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
+5.1  
+1.7 
+5.8 
+1.6 

+4.4 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment  

• 

• 

Reallocation  of  EUR  216  million  inside  the  ESF  Human  Resources  Development 
Operational Programme (HRD OP) in order to assist 329,000 young people; 

in 

the  Employment  Stimulation  Law  aiming  at  more 

Changes 
flexible 
conditionalities  in  case  of  subsidies  granted  for  employing  young  graduates, 
increasing  the  age  and  reviewing  the  categories  of  young  people  eligible  for 
solidarity contracts; 

• 

Adoption of a National Jobs Plan focused on improving the situation of youth. 

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

The National Employment Agency provides personalised services through solidarity contracts 
for young people aged 16-25 at risk of social exclusion. Employers, who agree to hire them, 
can receive grants of a maximum amount of 75% of the average wage for a period of up to 2 
years.  They  can  also  receive  a  monthly  grant  equal  to  50%  of  the  unemployment  benefit  if 
they  hire  the  young  employees  under  an  open-ended  contract.  In  January-July  2012  almost 
500 young people facing social exclusion were employed (budget: EUR 130,000). 
Within  the  ESF  HRD  OP  projects  are  being  implemented  aiming  at  promoting  social 
inclusion,  developing  the  social  economy  and improving  access  of  vulnerable  groups  to  the 
labour market. The current number of young participants aged 15 – 24 is 23,222 (24% of all 
participants).  There  are  also  measures  implemented  in  order  to  prevent  and  reduce  early 
school leaving addressed to 2,014 people aged 15 – 24.  

3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

Young people  can get  a  job opportunity  for  1  to 3 years  through  an  apprenticeship contract 
and the employer has the obligation to provide theoretical and/or practical training. So far 43 
apprenticeship contracts have been concluded. 
ESF projects finance smoother transition from school to work through developing work skills 
of apprentices, students and young graduates in their first job. Almost 70,000 people under 25 

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participated in education and training projects so far. It is estimated that in 2011 – 2013 about 
2,700 students will take part in traineeships in other EU Member States, with support from the 
Leonardo  da  Vinci  Programme  and  16,000  young  people  would  be  involved  in  projects 
implemented within the Youth in Action initiative. Finally, in the academic year 2011/2012, 
in 
1,215  Romanian  Erasmus 
organisations/companies in other EU countries. 

students  benefited 

for  placements 

from  grants 

3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

Job subsidies are offered for a period of 12 months to employers who hire young graduates 
with  the  obligation  to  keep  contractual  relations  for  additional  2  years  after  the  subsidised 
period. The number of graduates employed in January-July 2012 was 1,960. 
Special  allowances  are  granted  to  those  graduates  registered  with  employment  agencies  if 
they  conclude  a  working  contract  exceeding  12  months  while  receiving  the  unemployment 
benefit. The number of young people who so far benefited from these measures was 543.  
A  special  programme  for  students  and  pupils  to  get  a  fixed-term  job  during  holidays  is 
implemented. By end-July 2012, 325 people benefited from this measure.  
The  Government  created  about  5,500  jobs  by  developing  and  implementing  in  2011  a 
programme to stimulate the creation and development of start–up micro–enterprises by young 
entrepreneurs.  
By the end of July 2012, 86,331 young participants were registered in projects in the areas of 
promoting active employment measures and entrepreneurial culture financed from the ESF.  

3.4. Mobilisation of funds 

Under the ESF HRD OP, at the end of July 2012, the total amount allocated for the key area 
of intervention "Developing and implementing active employment measures" (aimed directly 
- but not exclusively – to young people) was EUR 298.46 million, with an ESF contribution 
of  EUR  257.49  million.  The  total  amount  committed  was  EUR  259.74  million  (ESF 
contribution:  EUR  207.96  million),  while  the  total  amount  disbursed  was  EUR  131.35 
million. In addition, the Managing Authority finished the process of reallocation of EUR 216 
million within the priority axis "Linking lifelong learning and labour market", but no calls for 
proposals have been launched yet. Romania envisages using ESF in order to support mobility 
programmes under the lifelong learning programme. Under the HRD OP a special Technical 
Working Group for Youth has recently been created. 
Almost EUR 130,000 was spent in the first seven months of 2012 for the measures related to 
solidarity contracts. 
Funding  allocated  under  Leonardo  da  Vinci  and  Youth  in  Action  for  the  above  measures 
amounted to EUR 19.8 million in total, while EUR 2.6 million were spent for Erasmus grants. 
The  total  resources  (both  ESF  and  national)  spent  for  the  job  creation  measures  described 
under section 3.3 above were EUR 320.86 million. 

3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 

people 

The  Law  regarding  the  apprenticeship  at  work  was  amended  and  supplemented  in  2011  in 
order to provide an adequate framework for increasing the work opportunities of youth with 
low or no qualification. 
By  the  Government's  decision  of  July  2012  a  state  aid  scheme  has  been  established  for 
investments promoting regional development by using ICT technologies and creating at least 
200 jobs.  

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SLOVAKIA 

1. Trends in youth unemployment  

Youth unemployment situation  
2012  

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate  
Early Leavers from Education and 
Training  
Tertiary Education Attainment 

28.4 % (September 2012) 

2011 (%) 
33.5 
10 
13.8 
5 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
+14.2 
+3.8 
+2.7 
-1 

23.4 

+7.6 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment  

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

ESF: Reallocation of EUR 70 million from the Education Operational Programme to 
the Employment and Social Inclusion Operational Programme to create 13,000 new 
jobs for young people in regions with high unemployment; 

ERDF: Reallocation of EUR 170  million  from  the  Information Society Operational 
Programme  and  of  EUR  55  million  from  the  Transport  Operational  Programme  to 
the  Competitiveness  and  Economic  Growth  Operational  Programme  to  support 
SMEs in creating 1,000 jobs mostly for young people; 

Speeding up the implementation of the Education Operational Programme with a call 
for proposals worth EUR 118 million in 2012 for i.a. making Vocational Education 
and Training, and higher education more relevant to labour market needs; 

Financing additional lifelong  learning traineeships  under the Education  Operational 
Programme; 

Reform  of  the  active  labour  market  policies  including  measures  supporting  young 
graduates ('Graduate's practice' scheme); 

Further exploration of the support to possible projects on dual apprenticeship system, 
including via greater cooperation with Austria.  

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

The Act on Employment Services covers active labour market measures for vulnerable groups, 
including  young  people  (school  leavers  younger  than  25  who  have  completed  education 
within last two years). Public Employment Services offer individual consultation services and 
prepare action plans for young people. Training could be also offered to young unemployed 
people, with costs for accommodation and travel covered.  

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A  measure  "Graduate's  practice"  is  being  implemented  offering  young  graduates  (under  26 
years old) a possibility of getting a first job experience for up to 6 months for 20 hours per 
week. In 2011, approximately 17,300 graduates took part in the measure, out of which 7,620 
found a job. In the first half of 2012, another 9,372 young people participated. 

For most vulnerable people living under the minimum income level, the activation allowance 
(63 EUR/month) is available. It is a social assistance tool to help them to continue education 
or to maintain their employability by offering participation in small communal public works. 
However, no statistics on young people receiving this support is available. 

3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

The  system  of  Vocational  Education  and  Training  (VET)  in  Slovakia  formally  does  not 
foresee apprenticeships. The vocational part of VET is provided through schools and practical 
training  centres.  Apprenticeships  in  companies  are  exceptional  since  the  legislative 
framework provides few incentives to employers to accept apprentices. 
Only  very  few  students  (less  than  1%)  receive  grants  for  international  mobility  financed 
within lifelong learning programmes. Slovak companies do not offer this possibility to foreign 
students.  

3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

Young  people  can  receive  grants  for  starting  up  business.  In  2011,  around  4,700,  and  until 
June 2012 another 770 people aged 18-29 established their own company. 
They  can  also  receive  an  allowance  for  commuting  to  work  (up  to  135  EUR  per  month) 
and/or a work reallocation grant (EUR 1,327 once per two years) if they will find employment 
or establish a company outside their place of living.  

Two projects are to be launched by the end of 2012: "Support to employment of young people 
in self-governing bodies" targeting around 4,700 participants under 29 and "Promotion of job 
creation" addressed to at least 7,100 young people. Employers will be reimbursed 95% of the 
labour  costs  (wages,  social  contributions,  training  and  equipment)  provided  that  they  will 
retain a workplace for at least 6 months.  

3.4. Mobilisation of funds 

EUR 70 million from the ESF was re-allocated from the Education Operational Programme to 
the Employment and Social Inclusion Operational Programme. EUR 31.8 million within the 
Programme  have  been  earmarked  to  finance  the  "Graduate's  practice"  scheme,  while  EUR 
23.9 million have been already disbursed.  
Within the ERDF, a decision has been adopted on the reallocation of EUR 170 million from 
the Information Society Operational Programme and of EUR 55 million from the Transport 
Operational Programme to the Competitiveness and Economic Growth Programme.  

3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 

people 

No changes implemented however a reform of active labour market policy has been planned 
since 2011.  

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SLOVENIA 

1. Trends in youth unemployment  

Youth unemployment 
situation 2012  

17.2% (September 2012) 

2011 (%) 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate  
Early Leavers from Education 
and Training  
Tertiary Education 
Attainment 

15.7 
5.9 
7.1 
4.223 

37.9 

+ 5.3 
+ 1.4 
+ 0.6 
- 0.9 

+ 7.0 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment  

In  the  2012  National  Reform  Programme  Slovenia  indicated  measures  targeting  young 
people.  In  the  framework  of  Active  Labour  Market  Policy  special  programmes  adapted  to 
young people are to be developed, the form of student work arrangements is to be modified 
and a programme for promoting self-employment to be continued.  

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

Project "Learning for young adults", addressed to unemployed people under 26 years of age 
who left school, includes a number of activities to improve participants’ general and practical 
knowledge necessary for successful reintegration in school environment and everyday life. In 
2012, 200 people were included in the project. 
Furthermore, Slovenia implements a range of projects that – although targeted to unemployed 
in general – can also bring a positive impact on the situation of youth neither in employment, 
nor in education and training.  

3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

A project "First challenge" was introduced to encourage employment of the unemployed and 
of the first job seekers under 30. This measure helps to integrate participants in the working 
environment and improves their job possibilities. The programme began in August 2012, the 
budget is EUR 9 million. 
The purpose of the project "On-the-job training" is to obtain and strengthen the competences, 
knowledge, skills and aptitude of unemployed people who cannot find a job on the basis of 
their  existing  work  experience.  Out  of  1,633  people  under  30  who  took  part  in  the 
programme,  909  found  employment  in  2011  and  an  additional  270  in  2012  (72%).  A  new 
edition of the project for 2012/2013 was published in March 2012. Until the end of July, 199 
young people had enrolled in the programme.  

23 

Uncertain data due to small sample size 

EN 

67 

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Another project assists up to 500 first-time job seekers with a degree in social assistance in 
traineeships  for  a  maximum  period  of  12  months  in  social  welfare  entities  (humanitarian 
organisations,  geriatric  care  centres  and  working  with  the  disabled).  Until  now,  262 
unemployed graduates have been enrolled. The budget is EUR 10.103 million for a five-year 
period.  

3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

The purpose of the Self-employment Programme is to encourage entrepreneurship among the 
unemployed  through  self-employment  subsidies.  In  2011,  1,124  young  people  under  30 
applied for the subsidy and 816 of them are now fully employed. For the implementation of 
this measure EUR 83,701,469 is allocated. 
The "Employ me" Initiative targets young people, first job seekers and young people under 30 
with higher education by offering the companies a subsidy for employing such person. Until 
August 2012, about 12 young people participated in the project. The budget allocated is EUR 
61,700,634. 

3.4. Mobilisation of funds 

Within  the  ESF  Operational  Programme  for  Human  Resources  Development  various 
instruments target young people up to 24 years and first job seekers. Considering a constantly 
increasing  number  of  young  unemployed  and  adverse  labour  market  conditions,  additional 
instruments were prepared this year.  
The following programmes specifically target young people: 

• 

• 

• 

Regional scholarship schemes (EUR 14.7 million); 

Promoting employment of first job seekers in the area of social assistance (EUR 10.2 
million); 

First challenge (EUR 9 million). 

3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 

people 

In  addition  to  the  Act  on  Labour  Market  Regulation,  the  Act  on  Promotion  of  Balanced 
Regional Development and the Competitiveness and development support programme for the 
region Pokolpje 2012-2016 were adopted. They target employment through certain tax relief 
measures, mainly through reimbursement of social security contributions for newly employed 
people. 

EN 

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SPAIN 

1. Trends in youth unemployment  

Youth unemployment situation  
2012 

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate  
Early Leavers from Education and 
Training  
Tertiary Education Attainment 

54.2% (September 2012) 

2011 (%) 
46.4 
19 
18.5 
26.5 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
+21.8 
+7.3 
+4.1 
-5.4 

40.6 

+0.8 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment 

• 

• 

• 

the 
Examine  a  reallocation  of  ESF  financing 
employability  of  young  people;  support  public  employment  services  to  develop 
active labour market policies including for young people and reinforce the measures 
to  combat  early  school  leaving  and  promote  vocational  training;  explore  the 
possibility  of  pilot  projects  for  dual  vocational  training;  explore  ideas  of  financing 
additional Leonardo/Erasmus traineeships under the ESF Ops; 

towards  actions 

to  support 

Refocus EUR 400 million (ERDF) on a reindustrialisation aid scheme on investment 
loans primarily for SMEs; create a working capital fund for SME finance (up to EUR 
155  million  estimated  funding);  support  innovative  SMEs  in  the  agri-food  sector 
(with significant scope for youth employment with low skills); establish measures to 
seed  capital  and  micro-credit  to  support  an  upcoming  Law  on  Entrepreneurship; 
increase investment in education infrastructure in Andalusia; 

Examine  whether  subsidies  for  the  newly  introduced  apprenticeship  contract  could 
benefit from EU structural funds' support. 

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

Although  there  is  not  a  youth  guarantee  scheme  in  Spain,  the  Spanish  system  provides  for 
concrete  measures  regarding  apprenticeship  and  training,  such  as  the  "on  the  job  training 
contract" and a new "training account" for each young unemployed. Furthermore, the labour 
market  reform  of  February  2012  established  a  new  individual  right  to  professional  training 
(20  hours  per  year).  ESF  co-finances  specific  measures  for  disadvantaged  young  people, 
mainly through the national OP Fight against Discrimination. 

3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

The  Royal  Decree  1543/2011  of  31  October  2011  introduced  traineeships  in  enterprises 
without the obligation of a subsequent job offer, for 3-9 months, aimed at young unemployed 
people  aged  18-25  who  have  a  specific  academic  degree  or  a  professional  accreditation 

EN 

69 

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certificate.  The  participants  receive  a  grant  for  at  least  80%  of  the  current  minimum  wage 
(EUR  641/  month).  The  labour  market  reform  of  February  2012  introduced  a  "training  and 
learning  contract"  (1-3  years)  which  foresees  a  system  of  alternating  remunerated  work  and 
vocational  training  activity  for  workers  aged  16-25  who  lack  professional  qualification  and 
seek  an  internship.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Spanish  government  approved  on  8  November  a 
Royal Decree which implements the contract for training and learning and provides the basis 
of dual vocational training. 

3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

Spain  is  currently  finalising  the  preparation  of  the  National  Youth  Entrepreneurship  and 
Employment Strategy 2012-2015. The Strategy will recall the measures already introduced by 
the  Labour  Market  reform  of  February  2012  (see  section  3.5).  Other  upcoming  legislative 
measures  to  support  entrepreneurs  aim  to  promote  an  entrepreneurship  culture  in  schools, 
lower the administrative burden for starting up a business, and introduce financial incentives 
and mechanisms to access credit and to support business’ internationalisation.  

3.4. Mobilisation of funds 

In  the  current  programming  framework,  all  ESF  Spanish  operational  programmes  include  a 
series  of  both  general  and  specific  actions  that  have  benefited  young  people.  Under  the 
national OP Fight against Discrimination approximately EUR 384 million were dedicated to 
vulnerable  young  person's  measures  until  30  June  2012.  According  to  national  data,  in  the 
period  from  01/01-30/06/2012  total  costs  of  EUR  233  million  (estimated  sum  over  22  OP) 
were  spent  on  youth  employment  measures.  The  Spanish  authorities  estimate  that,  between 
2012 and 2015, this figure will rise to EUR 2.5 billion. 
In 2012, several ESF Spanish OPs were modified, particularly driven by the YOI and in the 
context  of  the  aggravating  youth  unemployment  situation.  ESF  reallocation  focused  on 
support  to  the  PES  to  develop  active  labour  market  policies,  including  for  young  people, 
redirecting  overall  135  million  under  the  national  OP  “Adaptabilidad  y  Empleo”.  Some 
regional OPs increased also support to actions targeted at young people at a total of EUR 33.8 
million (Madrid, Navarra, Asturias, Melilla, Baleares, País Vasco) and the national thematic 
OP “Lucha contra la Discriminación” (EUR 50 million). Other regional ESF OPs increased 
attention  to  early  school  leavers  and  vocational  training  (Murcia  6.8  million,  Baleares  7.9 
million).  Andalucía  will  also  reinforce  actions  addressing  early  school  leaving.  Spanish 
authorities do not consider it feasible to support the Leonardo Programme with ESF funding 
during the present programming period. 

3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 

people 

The  labour  market  reform  of  February  2012  entails  a  comprehensive  set  of  measures 
intending  to,  among  others:  Reform  apprenticeship  and  training  contracts  by  extending  the 
age  limit  ceiling  to  30  years  beyond  31.12.2013  so  long  as  unemployment  stays  at  15%  or 
higher;  create  a  permanent  contract  for  "Entrepreneurs"  addressed  to  SMEs  providing  fiscal 
and  other  financial  incentives  to  hire  unemployed  aged  under  30;  re-organise  incentives  for 
hiring  indefinitely  young  people,  support  part-time  indefinite  contracts,  introduce  a  dual 
training-employment model for young people; introduce an individual "training account" (20 
hours/year) and a reform of vocational training; increase support to young self-employed and 
microenterprises  through  a  single  unemployment  insurance  instalment  for  young  people  to 
become  self-employed.  The  Ministry  of  Education,  Culture  and  Sport  has  developed  the 
Organic Law for the Improvement of Educational Quality, now under discussion, expected to 
be adopted in early 2013.  

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SWEDEN 

1. Trends in youth unemployment 

Youth unemployment 
situation 2012  

23.4% (September 2012) 

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate  
Early Leavers from Education 
and Training  
Tertiary Education 
Attainment 
 1: Provisional data 

2011 (%) 
22.9 
12.0 
7.51 
6.61 

47.51 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
+2.7 
+1.3 
-0.31 
-5.61 

+5.51 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment  

• 

• 

The Commission invited the Swedish authorities to set a much more ambitious target 
for support to young people in the next programming period, particularly in view of 
Sweden's persistent high youth unemployment rates;  

During  the  finalisation  of  the  2012  Country  Specific  Recommendations  Sweden 
committed itself to take further measures to improve the labour market participation 
of  youth and  other vulnerable groups, e.g.  by improving the effectiveness  of active 
labour  market  measures,  facilitating  transition  from  school  to  work,  promoting 
policies  to  increase  labour  demand  for  vulnerable  groups  and  improving  the 
functioning of the labour market.  

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

Since  the  ‘job  guarantee’  for  young  people  had  not  achieved  the  activity  and  quality  levels 
intended,  the  Swedish  government  has  provided  the  Public  Employment  Service  (PES) 
additional resources 2012 to increase the staff for executing the guarantee. Until mid-June the 
PES had increased the number of case handlers for the ‘job guarantee’ to the extent that the 
number of young people handled by a case handler (on average) was reduced to 57, from 80 
in  October  2011.  The  full  quality  effect  of  the  staff  increase  is  only  expected  to  become 
effective  in  the  second  half  of  2012,  after  the  full  introduction  of  the  new  case  handlers.  In 
July 2012 some 30,400 young people participated in the guarantee programme.  

3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

Since  the  autumn  of  2011,  following  the  adoption  of  the  new  Education  Act,  in  vocational 
upper secondary education more time is devoted to vocational subjects in the curriculum. A 
Vocational  Diploma  can  be  attained  either  throughschool-based  vocational  programmes, 
where  at  least  15  per  cent  is  work-based  training,  or  alternatively  through  apprenticeship 
programmes,  where  at  least  50  per  cent  is  work-based  training.  State  grants  of  up  to  EUR 

EN 

71 

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2,750, per pupil and year, have been introduced to stimulate the provision of apprenticeship 
positions in work places. 
The  Government  recently  presented  its  budget  bill  proposal  for  2013,  including  budget 
forecasts  also  for  the  years  2014  –  201624.  In  line  with  the  “Youth  Pact”  (2013-2016),  the 
government  proposes  to  spend  some  EUR  240  million  ‘extra’  in  2013  to  combat  youth 
unemployment,  of  which  80%  should  be  used  for  funding  some  18,000  additional  student 
places in various regular education institutions to balance the weak economy and demand for 
labour.  In  addition,  a  strengthened  state  grant  to  further  stimulate  the  provision  of 
apprenticeship positions is proposed. The extra spending is forecast to continue in the years 
2014 to 2016.  

3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

A lower VAT on restaurant and catering services was introduced from January 2012 to make 
it  easier  for  young  people  to  get  a  first  job,  often  in  the  restaurant  and  catering  services 
sectors. 
Entrepreneurship education is an integrated part of school education, vocational training and 
higher education programmes. As part of the support to entrepreneurship among young people 
a  programme  for  promoting  innovation  among  the  young  has  been  developed  (“Youth’s 
innovation  power”),  with  a  budget  of  EUR  1.9  million  per  year,  during  2010–2012.  The 
programme is to be continued in 2013-2014. 

3.4. Mobilisation of funds 

In  March  2012  99%  of  the  ESF  funds  available  for  Sweden  in  the  current  period  had  been 
allocated  to  projects.  26,560  unemployed  youth  had  participated  in  ESF  supported  projects, 
already exceeding the target for this period (15,000). The final number for the whole period is 
estimated to reach some 35,000. Thus, changes in the current period have not been discussed. 
Preparatory  discussions  in  Sweden  for  the  next  period  have  started,  but  will  only  be 
concluded in 2013.  

3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 

people. 

No commitments were made for this area. 

24 

http://www.regeringen.se/sb/d/2548, 20 September 2012 

EN 

72 

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UNITED KINGDOM 

1. Trends in youth unemployment  

Youth unemployment situation 
2012 

20.4% (July 2012) 

2011 (%) 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio  
NEET rate  
Early Leavers from Education 
and Training  
Tertiary Education  
Attainment 

21.1 
12.4 
14.3 
15 

45.8 

+6.1 
+ 3.2 
+2.2 
-2.0 

+6.1 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment  

The  UK  Government  launched  in  April  2012  the  "Youth  Contract"  with  total  funding  EUR 
1.3 billion over three years (2012-15). It includes: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

160,000  wage  incentives  for  employees  recruiting  18-24  year  olds  from  the  Work 
Programme;  

250,000 additional work experience or sector-based work academy places; 

20,000 additional apprenticeship grants; 

Extra adviser support through Jobcentre Plus for all 18-24 year olds. 

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

The "Youth Contract" started in April 2012 to help young people to prepare for and find long-
term sustainable employment. It provides 0.5 million places and includes wage incentives to 
employers  to  recruit  18-24  years  old  and  voluntary  work  experience  places.  There  is 
additional  support  for  Jobcentre  Plus  and  for  advisor  time.  The  “Youth  Contract”  offers 
funding for private providers (paid by results) to target disengaged young people aged 16-17. 
National  Careers  Services  are  to  be  started  in  2012  providing  advice,  guidance  on  careers, 
skills and labour market prospects. 
Northern Ireland developed a strategy towards NEETs for 16-18 and then for 18-24 years old. 
"Training  for  Success"  addresses  personal  and  development  needs  and  helps  youth  to  gain 
skills  and  a  vocationally  related  qualification  at  Level  1  in  order  to  be  able  to  gain 
employment  or  to  progress  to  pre-apprenticeship  or  apprenticeship.  Programme-led 
apprenticeships  gives  16  and  17  year  old  school  leavers  (and  up  to  24  years  for  those 
requiring  additional  support)  the  opportunity  to  gain  a  full  apprenticeship  qualification  in  a 
chosen  skill  area.  This  provision  is  running  parallel  to  the  'employer-led'  apprenticeships 
programme and is partially financed by the European Social Fund. 

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3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

Access  to  apprenticeships  started  in  2011  providing  extra  support  and  skills  development 
open to NEETs and some 10,000 places were expected in the first year of implementation.  
A  substantial  budget  has  been  allocated  by  the  Government  to  fund  apprenticeships. 
Employers  benefit  from  the  lower  minimum  wage  rate  for  apprentices,  which,  at  GBP  2,50 
(+/- EUR 3,11) per hour, is much lower than that for other UK workers. October 2011 figures 
show 50,000 apprenticeships more compared to 2009/2010.  

3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

Wage incentives were launched in April 2012. There are up to 160,000 incentives worth up to 
EUR 2,590 available over the three years of the "Youth Contract".  
The New Enterprise Allowance (NEA), available across Great Britain since the end of August 
2011, helps unemployed people to start their own business. It is available to people aged 18 
and over who have been claiming jobseeker's allowance for three months or more. It provides 
access to business mentoring up to 13 weeks and offers financial support. Till end of February 
2012,  12,050  claimants  have  started  working  with  a  NEA  business  mentor  and  4,560 
claimants have started claiming the NEA weekly allowance. 
Sector-based  work  academies,  introduced  in  August  2011  in  England  and  January  2012  in 
Scotland,  support  employers  to  take  on  unemployed  people  through  a  package  of  pre-
employment  training,  work-experience  and  a  guaranteed  job  interview.  It  is  not  aimed 
specifically  at  young  people,  but  is  available  for  their  support.  From  August  2011  to  May 
2012,  14,340  people  have  started  on  the  pre-employment  training  of  a  sector-based  work 
experience. 
Work experience is a scheme aiming at young people aged 16 to 24 years (in justified cases 
aged  25  years  and  over)  on  jobseeker’s  allowance.  Until  May  2012,  64,680  people  have 
started on a work experience opportunity. 
From  April  2012,  the  "Youth  Contract"  will  provide  funding  for  250,000  additional  work 
experience and sector-based work academy places over three years. 

3.4. Mobilisation of funds 

The budget for the "Youth Contract" is EUR 1.3 billion funded from national resources.  
From  the  current  ESF  funding,  more  than  EUR  700  million  are  committed  to  youth 
employment  measures  (this  includes  only  provision  targeted  mainly  at  15-25  year  olds). 
Young people are also helped as part of priorities/measures that are not targeted by age, and 
this funding cannot be disaggregated by age. 
The Scottish and the Welsh Government aim to award remaining ESF and ERDF support to 
traineeships and apprenticeships project supporting youth employment. The exact amounts are 
not known yet.  
The UK does not envisage using the ESF to support student mobility grants under the Life-
long Learning Programme. 
3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 
people 
No changes reported. 

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CROATIA 

1. Trends in youth unemployment  

Youth unemployment 
situation 2012  

39.5% (September 2012) 

Youth unemployment rate  
Youth unemployment ratio 
NEET rate  
Early Leavers from Education 
and Training  
Tertiary Education 
Attainment 

2011 (%) 
36.1 
11.3 
15.7 
4.125 

Variation 2008/2011 (pp.) 
+14.2 
+3.7 
+5.6 
+0.4 

24.5 

+6 

2. Commitments made with a view to combating and preventing youth unemployment 

In  order  to  decrease  youth  unemployment,  particularly  in  the  crisis  period,  Croatia  made 
commitments  during  the  pre-accession  JIM  (Joint  Inclusion  Memorandum)  and  JAP  (Joint 
Assessment  of  the  employment  policy  Priorities)  processes.  The  following  measures  are 
planned:  

• 

• 

• 

Raising awareness of employment possibilities after secondary school education and 
improving  the  link  between  the  labour  market  and  the  education  system  through 
apprenticeships and probationary employment; 

Development  of  incentives,  tax  reliefs  and  other  incentives  for  recruiting  young 
people (by introducing special credit lines and incentives for young entrepreneurs); 

Stimulating the decentralised model of housing for youth through subsidised housing 
construction,  distribution  of  land  for  construction  and  inexpensive  rent  and  buy-off 
of apartment property. 

3. Progress in implementation of the commitments 

3.1. Youth guarantee schemes and other measures targeting youth neither in employment, 

nor in education or training (NEET) or other groups at risk 

The Croatian Employment Service (CES) pays special attention to career guidance for people 
with disabilities and other hard-to-reach groups as well as to vocational guidance of students 
with  disabilities.  As  a  measure  to  prevent  long-term  unemployment,  CES  is  taking  “early 
intervention”  activities  among  which  a  set  of  vocational  guidance  services,  such  as 
information and counselling, aimed at students in their final years of school, VET or tertiary 
education. 
Particular attention is paid to students who, according to evaluations, face particular problems 
to enter the labour market after completing their education, e.g. students with health problems, 
learning  disabilities  and  behavioural  disorders.  During  the  period  January-July  2012,  5,986 
secondary education students were involved in individual career guidance activities and 1,171 

25 

Uncertain data due to small sample size 

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75 

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students were involved in group career guidance. Children in foster care are involved in career 
guidance  performed  by  CES  in  cooperation  with  civil  society  organisations.  Former  drug 
addicts  are  involved  in  a  support  system  for  their  rehabilitation,  managed  by  the 
Governmental Office for Combating Drug Addictions. During the first semester of 2012, 120 
former drug addicts were involved in career guidance, 24 in subsided education and 19 were 
employed. 

3.2 Youth traineeships and apprenticeships 

Occupational  training  for  people  with  no  work-experience  is  conducted,  whereby  the 
employer provides a mentor for the participant and is reimbursed on the obligatory monthly 
pension insurance contributions, while the participant receives financial aid from the CES. In 
2011 there were 4,760 participants in this measure and 2,502 participants until August 2012. 
In the framework of the Leonardo da Vinci programme, 198 young Croatian VET students got 
the opportunity to participate in international traineeship activities. Another 306 are about to 
start their training activities.  

3.3. Support to job creation (including entrepreneurship and self-employment schemes) 

Employment  aid  for  first-time  jobseekers  is  provided  to  employers  who  meet  the  criteria 
under  state  aid  rules.  The  employer  receives  a  lump-sum  payment  of  the  subsidy  which 
amounts to up to 50% of the annual gross wage cost. The employer is obliged to retain the 
person  in  employment  for  12  months.  There  were  1,147  young  people  in  subsidised 
employment in 2011 and 694 people in 2012 (until August). 
Furthermore,  a  self-employment  subsidy  is  allocated  to  unemployed  people  willing  to  start 
their  own  business.  This  subsidy  varies  according  to  the  education  level  and  falls  under  the 
category of state aid for employment. In 2011 self-employment was subsidised for 79 people 
under 25, and till August 2012 for 62 people. 
During 2011, 1,107 people under 25 were employed in public works programmes and 1,180 
more till 1 August 2012.  

3.4. Mobilisation of funds 

Croatia  is  currently  implementing  the  Instrument  for  Pre-Accession  (IPA  Component  IV, 
Human Resources Development). The problem of youth unemployment is being particularly 
addressed  through  the  operation  Youth  in  the  Labour  Market.  This  grant  scheme  enabled 
implementation  of  31  projects  with  the  objective  to  reduce  youth  unemployment  at  the 
regional  level  and  to  promote  and  foster  employment  of  youth  (following  partnership 
approach)  through  measures  that  could  facilitate  their  easier  labour  market  entry.  The  total 
amount allocated to this operation is EUR 1.5 million. Youth unemployment is also addressed 
in other operations under Priority Axis for Education and Social Inclusion. 

3.5.  Amendments  to  the  legislative  framework  facilitating  labour  market  entry  for  young 

people 

In  May  2012,  the  Employment  Incentive  Act  expanded  the  possibilities  for  a  wider  target 
group  of  unemployed  people  to  gain  work  experience  through  on-the-job  training. 
Additionally  it  provided  obligatory  health  and  pension  insurance  contribution  relief  for  a 
period  of  up  to  two  years  for  the  recruitment  of  people  with  no  work  experience  in  their 
professional field. 

EN 

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   EN