EU needs wider unemployment plan: Labour MEP hopefuls

The PvdA want the European Investment Bank to provide funds to create new jobs and training positions for young people. Extra investments into renewable energy and 'green' technology in the EU should create jobs for low- and high-educated young people.

This comes from an opinion piece written in Trouw magazine by PvdA frontrunner for the European Parliament hopeful Paul Tang and number two on the list, Agnes Jongerius.

The politicos believe that European joblessness is too high to justify the lack of attention the issue is paid. To combat this, the ministers of Social Affairs of the EU member states should not get as much influence in the matter as their colleagues in Finance.

An EU standard for unemployment has been on the to-do list of the PvdA for some time. A maximum of 5 percent of the professional population should be the norm for unemployment. This idea was originated by ex-PvdA leader Ad Melkert.

According to the MEP hopefuls, European policy has been dominated by financial goals far too much in the last years. "It is highly necessary that the choices we make in Europe in the coming years are also based on peoples' daily reality, such as the fight against unemployment and a proper salary.

"The balance between financial and social policy has to be brought into balance. High unemployment, inequality, and impoverished living standards are just as much of a threat for Europe as excessive government finances."