Because of the ‘Memorandum’ policies imposed by the Troika and creditors, Greece has become Europe’s ‘unemployment champion’
| 4 June 2015 |
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| Question for written answer to the Commission Rule 130 Notis Marias (ECR) |
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Articles 9 and 147, paragraph 2, TFEU provide that the Union shall contribute to the promotion of a high level of employment which shall be taken into consideration in the formulation and implementation of Union policies and activities.
The brutal fiscal adjustment policy, austerity, the extortionate tax policy and the other ‘Memorandum’ policies imposed on Greece by the Troika have led to soaring unemployment, making Greece the unemployment champion of Europe.
According to recent Eurostat data of 2015, unemployment in Greece is running at 25.4%, with women’s unemployment at 29.1% and men’s at 22.4%. Unemployment among young people aged 15-24 stands at 50.1%, the highest in the EU, and the absolute number of unemployed is 1.206 million, while the unemployment rate in EU-28 stands at 9.7% and 11.1% in the euro area.
In view of the above, will the Commission say:
| — | In its negotiations, as a member of the Troika, with the Greek Government, will it ultimately continue to insist on the above failed ‘Memorandum’ policies which have led to soaring unemployment in Greece? |
| — | What steps will it take, as an EU institution, while duly respecting the responsibilities of the Greek authorities, to help tackle unemployment and support the unemployed, particularly women and young people? |
Source: European Parliament
After several years of severe economic downturn, the mild recovery observed in 2014 lost momentum in the context of capital controls and bank holiday. Greece has requested support from its European partners, to restore sustainable growth, and address the risks to financial stability. The programme signed between the Hellenic Republic and the Commision on behalf of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) on 19 August 2015 covers an amount of EUR 86 billion over three years in support of policies to achieve these objectives. Once confidence returns, investment and reforms should be the trigger for a sustained path towards jobs and growth.
The programme, which benefitted from an assessment of the social impact, keeps a strong focus on employment and jobs. Several schemes financed with EU structural and investment funds (ESIF) are already in place to help young and long-term unemployed. Actions in 2015 include public works schemes for 50,000 unemployed, subsidisation of jobs for long-term unemployed in private enterprises, voucher schemes for training, and measures for reconciliation of professional and family life. Under the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), about 84,000 unemployed youth benefited in 2015.
Moreover, the European Commission is coordinating support from Member States to help building the capacity of the Greek Employment service with the objective to provide effective public employment service for jobseekers and employers.
Source:European Parliament
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