The Council of Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs, meeting in Luxembourg on 21 October, held a policy debate and adopted the policy guidelines governing the European Employment Strategy. The three integrated guidelines concerning employment are part of the broad strategy and are completed with two additional targets belonging to the broad guidelines for economic policies of member states.

The integrated guidelines are the main tool of the Europe 2020 Strategy, the new ten-year strategy for jobs and smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, and lay the foundations for structural reforms which the member states will have to carry out. The guidelines for the employment policies form one part of the integrated guidelines, the other part being the broad guidelines for the economic policies of the member states, which the Council already adopted in July 2010.

All five headline targets include ten guidelines which must be translated by member states into national targets, taking into account their relative starting positions and national circumstances. Member states must submit their draft national reform programmes including their national targets by 12 November, and by mid-April 2011, the national reform programmes should be finalised. The European Council will assess annually the progress made at both EU and member state level under the 2020 Strategy.

Three integrated headlines for the employment policies

• Headline target on labour market: increase by 2020 to 75% the labour market participation for women and men aged 20-64 through, inter alia, greater participation of youth, older workers and low skilled workers and the better integration of legal migrants.
• Headline target on social inclusion and combating poverty: to lift at least 20 million people out of the risk of poverty and exclusion. The population is defined as the number of persons who are at risk-of poverty and exclusion according to three indicators (at-risk-of poverty; material deprivation; jobless household), leaving member states free to set their national targets on the basis of the most appropriate indicators, taking into account their national circumstances and priorities. On the basis of this definition, 120 million Europeans face currently the risk of poverty and exclusion.
• Headline target for the improvement of the quality and performance of education and training systems: to reduce drop out rates to less than 10%, and increase the share of 30-34 years old having completed tertiary or equivalent education to at least 40%.

The two remaining headline targets of the integrated guidelines belong to the broad guidelines for the economic policies of the member states.

10 Integrated Policy Guidelines

Guidelines for the economic policies of the member states and the of the Union

• Ensuring the quality and the sustainability of public finances
• Addressing macroeconomic imbalances
• Reducing imbalances in the euro area
• Optimising support for research, development and innovation, strengthening the knowledge triangle and unleashing the potential of the digital economy
• Improving resource efficiency and reducing greenhouse gases
• Improving the business and consumer environment and modernising the industrial base in order to ensure the full functioning of the internal market

Guidelines for the employment policies of the member states

• Increasing labour market participation and reducing structural unemployment
• Developing a skilled workforce responding to labour market needs, promoting job quality and lifelong learning
• Improving the performance of education and training systems at all levels and increasing participation in tertiary education
• Promoting social inclusion and combating poverty