The European Commission welcomed the political agreement reached on the proposed Youth Guarantee Recommendation at the EU's Council of Employment and Social Affairs Ministers on 28th February. The Youth Guarantee implies that member states should put in place measures to ensure that young people up to age 25 receive a good quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within four months of leaving school or becoming unemployed.

The Youth Guarantee Recommendation, proposed by the Commission in December 2012 as part of the Youth Employment Package, was moved forward following the political agreement reached at the EU's Council of Employment and Social Affairs Ministers on 28th February. According to the Commission, it gives member states a clear benchmark and precise guidelines for establishing their own Youth Guarantee scheme.

The Youth Guarantee national schemes should be based in establishing strong partnerships with all stakeholders; ensuring early intervention and activation to avoid young people becoming or remaining NEETs (not in employment, education or training); taking supportive measures that will enable labour market integration; making full use of EU funding to that end; assessing and continuously improving the Youth Guarantee; and implementing the scheme rapidly.

The Commission confirmed its readiness and disposal to make available substantial financial contributions from the European Social Fund and other EU structural funds. At the same time, the Commission also underlined that in the 2013 Annual Growth Survey adopted in late 2012, Youth Guarantee schemes are key measures that should be prioritised within growth-friendly fiscal consolidation. For the Commission, investment in Youth Guarantee schemes is crucial expenditure if the EU wants to preserve its future growth potential.