Statement by Commissioner Marianne Thyssen on the European Parliament vote on advancing 1 billion euro in pre-financing for the Youth Employment Initiative

I welcome today's vote in the European Parliament on my proposal to make 1 billion euro available for the young unemployed as early as this year. We will increase by up to 30 times the pre-financing Member States receive. This will allow Member States to speed up their efforts to get young people into jobs, apprenticeships, traineeships or continued education. Our goal is to reach up to 650 000 young people and help them better and faster. Getting young people back to work is a top priority for me and the whole European Commission. I am glad that the Parliament has shown its strong support today and has reached agreement on this crucial legislative proposal in record speed. I now look forward to an equally swift adoption by the Council. Our youth cannot wait any longer.

STATEMENT/15/4898

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