Informal Meeting of EPSCO: 7.1% is the Unemployment Rate in the EU

7.1% is the unemployment rate in the European Union. This is the lowest rate since 2008. Youth unemployment in the community also declines, but remains relatively high.

At present, 3 and a half million young people. i.e 16%, are outside the labour market. The data was communicated by the European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Marianne Thyssen at the informal council on employment, social policy, health and consumer affairs, held in Sofia on 17^th of April. The informal meeting of EPSCO is part of the Bulgarian Presidency calendar, chaired by Biser Petkov, Bulgaria’s Minister of Labour and Social Policy.

The EU commissioner reported that the economy in the whole of Europe is again growing, but now it is the time to invest in people and their qualifications.

Bulgaria’s Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Bisser Petkov, said that the agenda of today's meeting included topics that were part of the agenda in the social sphere of the EU and part of the priorities of the Bulgarian presidency. In particular, the discussions will focus on ensuring equal access and opportunities for realization on the labour market. This is the first part of the principles of the European pillar of social rights, he said.