Event location change: This event is now taking place in the Henry Jones Room in the Old Library. Enter the Old Library shop, go up the stairs on the left and walk through the Long Room and you will find the Henry Jones room.

European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Laszlo Andor, will give a talk entitled ‘Youth, Jobs and Europe’, followed by questions and a discussion with students on the 15th of February at noon. 

As the European Union continues to face unprecedented economic and social challenges resulting from the Great Recession, employment figures remain weak across Europe and growth is stilted. Europeans are experiencing declines in general optimism and life satisfaction and a growing number are having difficulty making ends meet.

In this context, Europe’s policymakers have moved to address some of these areas of concern. The Employment Package, which was launched by the European Commission last year, outlined a series of initiatives aimed at boosting growth and employment across the 27 Member States.  The Youth Package, launched in December of last year, outlined further measures targeted at young people – particularly those not in employment, education or training (NEETs). A further Social Investment Package is set to be adopted on 13 February this year which will introduce initiatives to offset the looming problems of social exclusion and disengagement caused by unemployment and economic hardship.  

So what are these initiatives and are they enough? Will they really generate growth and jobs across the European Union? Where will these jobs be and for whom? What is the future for Europe’s so-called ‘lost generation’?