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Jobs and training are priorities, say Peeters and Thyssen

09:17 14/11/2014

Kris Peeters, the Belgian minister for work, economy and consumer affairs, met European Commissioner for work Marianne Thyssen earlier this week to discuss policy priorities for the coming years. Belgium and the European Union are united on the key importance of creating jobs and providing training, they said.

Both Peeters and Thyssen belong to the Flemish Christian democrat party, although Thyssen has spent much of her career in the European Parliament. Earlier this year, Peeters gave up any chance of becoming the country’s prime minister by backing Thyssen as a European Commissioner (as the same party could not have won two prestigious posts).

Thyssen met Peeters in his office at the beginning of a round of meetings with all 28 ministers for work from EU member states. “Job creation and training are the key priorities for both Belgium and Europe,” they said in a joint statement.

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker recently announced that the EU would invest €300 billion in projects that improve Europe’s competitive edge and tackle high unemployment levels.

Belgium has much to gain from drawing on this fund, Peeters said. “This huge investment plan can help to boost to the economy. It could also encourage the private sector to invest and so generate more jobs.”

Thyssen said that the EU had focused in recent years on reducing debt and putting the economy on a sound footing. But the European Commission aims to put the creation of jobs and social welfare at the heart of policymaking.

The same goes for Belgium. “I am pleased to see that EU Commissioner Marianne Thyssen has repeated her message that job creation is a key priority at a European level,” said Peeters.

Combining job creation and social welfare requires a consensus to be reached, he continued, between employers and employees within Belgium and the EU. The ultimate goal is to create a functioning European job market that is not open to abuse. “Belgium has a historical role to play in implementing this policy,” Peeters said.

 

photo courtesy VTM

Written by Derek Blyth

Comments

AJ

“Belgium has a historical role to play in implementing this policy,” Peeters said.

Since this country has about the highest costs on employment in Europe, it does not look like a good example of best practice.

Nov 14, 2014 14:50
Mikek1300gt

The best way to create jobs is to leave business alone. The EU and Belgium in particular seem to have a problem with this. Instead, they will create more rules and red tape in order to create jobs. The EU is fecked.

Nov 15, 2014 08:25
acsonline

Hallelujah! The great Mikek and friends know best. You put us all to shame...

Dec 4, 2014 16:14