1. Council of European
Municipalities and Regions

2. Fighting youth unemployment in the EU
‘EU-Starter’, a collaborative initiative for 1 Million young people

3. Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)
The broadest organisation of local and regional authorities in Europe.
Members: 55 national associations of municipalities and regions from 41 European countries.
Together these associations represent
some local and regional
Authorities ( in the EU)

4. Our work is organised around two main pillars:
Influence European legislation and policy
Provide a forum for debate and cooperation
Five thematic areas
Democracy, citizenship and enlargement
Resource efficiency and environment
Partnership, cooperation and world affairs
Economic, social and territorial cohesion
Local and regional governments as employers and service providers

5. EU Starter: CEMR initiative
The EU-Starter is in line with the Youth Guarantee approach, proposed by the European Commission
Aim: provide 1 million young Europeans with an activity in local services of general interest
Target group: young people aged between years old, without job, training or education
Remuneration: Minimum remuneration depending on national context - cost of living, standard remuneration: between €200-€500 paid by EU budget (from the Compact for Growth and Jobs or ESF)

6. Areas of activity:
Services in public authorities
Public institutions
NGOs
Local services of general interest (elderly homes, libraries, kindergartens, youth centres, hospitals, museum, sport facilities, schools…)

7. These offers should not replace existing jobs, but should provide extra services and prepare young people for the labour market
Flexibility: young people can work part-time and dedicate the other part to training or work with job centres

8. Benefits of EU-Starter
young Europeans could find their feet in working life, taking on a meaningful task and at the same time gaining practical, working experience. This learning-by-doing and the feeling that they are actually needed will help increase their employability
Improve the service of public facilities and non-profit organisations, which in turn is a benefit for our citizens
Promote the establishment of a civil society in the individual countries and encourage self-responsibility in the various cities
European solidarity for the young people and boosts the social cohesion within the EU

9. Local initiatives already launched
Sweden: Swedish Job guarantee
Finland: Finnish Youth guarantee, Training guarantee
France: Pacte pour l’emploi des jeunes in Poitou-Charentes Region; Pacte pour l’avenir et l’emploi des jeunes en Conseil régional of Nord-Pas de Calais Germany: Stuttgart
The Netherlands: the Work Experience Grant (« Startersbeurs ») in Rotterdam and Tilburg

10. How could EU-Starter be launched?
The EU-Starter is meant to be organised through a common commitment from local and regional authorities and their representative association, the national governments and the EU.

11. Next steps National Ministerial support: Czech Republic France Greece
Germany
Test phase in Greece: the Greek government, the association of Greek municipalities (KEDKE-EETA) and CEMR want to launch the EU-Starter in Greece as a test in spring It could concern up to 40,000 young Greeks

12. The initiative will need the support of all actors including ESF managing authorities.
European Commission and the European Council.
The CEMR secretariat and the CEMR member
Associations in all EU Member States are willing to
engage to promote this initiative and mobilize
local and regional authorities.

13. Useful links
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Moving Youth into Employment, 05 Dec 2012,
Proposal for a COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION On Establishing a Youth Guarantee, 05 Dec 2012,
European Labour Force Survey, last updated: 01 Feb 2013,
European Social Fund,

14. Youth Unemployment in Europe, Theoretical Considerations and Empirical Findings, Hans Dietrich, July 2012,
Helping Young Workers during the Crisis: Contributions by Social Partners and Public Authorities, Eurofound, 2011,
Région Poitou-Charentes,
Le Pacte pour l’avenir et l’emploi des jeunes en Nord-Pas de Calais,