The European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling the Commission to propose a strategy involving botgh legislative and non-legislative measures to encourage green jobs. MEPs consider in its resolution that crisis should be addressed as an opportunity for the creation of new formulas for  sustainable growth, and that training and education systems must be tailored to match these new types of work.

At the heart of the resolution adopted by the European Parliament Employment and Social Affairs Committee, is a call to the Commission to propose by 2011 a strategy with legislative and non-legislative measures to encourage green jobs. MEPs also urge the Commission to develop specific policies to ease the transition towards a green economy, especially through the re-skilling of workers and assistance for the greening of European industry.

Employment Committee believes that the EU 2020 Strategy on growth and jobs has missed an opportunity to address the labour market potential of a sustainable economy.

Member States should use the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to implement European objectives and to promote new skills, including new sustainable "green" high-quality jobs, say MEPs. Regions should also use the European Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund to create new sustainable jobs.

Training and incentives to companies

National training and education systems must be adapted to retrain workers in sectors that will be affected by the transition towards a new sustainable economy, argues the resolution.

Lastly, incentives are needed to prompt companies to invest more in clean technologies, believe MEPs. They call for efficient funding systems and tax breaks to help small and medium-sized firms steer towards green employment policies and ensure green innovations and production.