MEPs adopted a resolution calling on EU employment ministers to agree in February 2013 to a Council recommendation that all member states introduce "Youth guarantee" schemes to ensure that no young person in the EU goes without a job, education or training for more than four months.

The European Parliament urged EU employment ministers to launch in February 2013 "Youth guarantee" schemes to ensure that no young person in the EU goes without a job, education or training for more than four months. Youth guarantee schemes aim to ensure that all young EU citizens, legal residents up to 25 years old and recent graduates under 30 receive a good-quality offer of employment, continued education or apprenticeship within four months of becoming unemployed. In December 2012, the European Commission also recommended to member states the introducing the Youth Guarantee.

MEPs stressed that Youth Guarantee schemes should be eligible for EU funding, in particular from the European Social Fund, which should therefore be allocated at least 25% of EU structural funds. Parliament also calls on the Commission to help those member states that are in dire financial straits to introduce the schemes.

EU youth unemployment averaged 23.7% in November 2012. It exceeded 15% in all but four countries (Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Denmark), 30% in Portugal, Italy, Slovakia and Latvia, and 50% in Greece and Spain. The UK rate was 20.2 and Ireland's 29.7.