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4.5.2012 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
119/47
COUNCIL DECISION
of 26 April 2012
on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States
(2012/238/EU)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
The European Employment Strategy plays the leading
role in the implementation of the employment and
labour market objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy.
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
In 2011, the employment guidelines were maintained.
Union, and in particular Article 148(2) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
(3) The
integrated
guidelines
are
in
line
with
the
conclusions
of the European Council of 17 June 2010. They give
precise guidance to the Member States on defining
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (
their national reform programmes and on implementing

1 ),
reforms, reflecting interdependence and being in line
with the Stability and Growth Pact. The employment
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and
guidelines should form the basis for any country-
Social Committee (
specific recommendations that the Council may address

2 ),
to the Member States under Article 148(4) of the TFEU,
in parallel with the country-specific recommendations
After consulting the Committee of the Regions,
addressed to the Member States under Article 121(2) of
the TFEU. The employment guidelines should also form
the basis for the establishment of the Joint Employment
Having regard to the opinion of the Employment Committee,
Report sent annually by the Council and the Commission
to the European Council.
Whereas:
(4) The
examination
of
the
Member
States’
draft
national
reform programmes, contained in the Joint Employment
(1)
Article 145 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the
Report adopted by the Council on 17 February 2012,
European Union (TFEU) provides that Member States
shows that Member States should continue to make
and the Union are to work towards developing a coor
every effort to address the following priorities: increasing
dinated strategy for employment and particularly for
labour market participation and reducing structural
promoting a skilled, trained and adaptable workforce
unemployment; developing a skilled workforce
and labour markets that are responsive to economic
responding to labour market needs and promoting job
change with a view to achieving the objectives defined
quality and lifelong learning; improving the performance
in Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).
of education and training systems at all levels and
increasing participation in tertiary education; promoting
social inclusion and combating poverty.
(2) The
Europe
2020
Strategy
proposed
by
the
Commission
enables the Union to turn its economy towards smart,
sustainable and inclusive growth, accompanied by high
level employment, productivity and social cohesion. On
(5) The
employment
guidelines
adopted
in
2010
should
13 July 2010, the Council adopted its Recommendation
remain stable until 2014 to ensure a focus on their
on broad guidelines for the economic policies of the
implementation. In the intermediate years, until the end
Member States and of the Union (
of 2014, their updating should remain strictly limited.

3 ). Furthermore, on
21 October 2010, the Council adopted its Decision
2010/707/EU on guidelines for the employment
policies of the Member States ( 4 ) (the ‘employment guide
(6)
Member States should explore the use of the European
lines’). Those sets of guidelines form the integrated
Social Fund when implementing the employment guide
guidelines for implementing the Europe 2020 Strategy.
lines,
Five headline targets, listed under the relevant integrated
guidelines, constitute shared objectives which guide the
action of the Member States, taking into account their
relative starting positions and national circumstances as
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
well as the positions and circumstances of the Union.
Article 1
( 1 ) Opinion of 15 February 2012 (not yet published in the Official
Journal).
The guidelines for the employment policies of the Member
( 2 ) Opinion of 22 February 2012 (not yet published in the Official
States, as set out in the Annex to Decision 2010/707/EU, are
Journal).
( 3 ) OJ L 191, 23.7.2010, p. 28.
hereby maintained for 2012 and shall be taken into account by
( 4 ) OJ L 308, 24.11.2010, p. 46.
the Member States in their employment policies.

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L 119/48
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
4.5.2012
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official
Journal of the European Union.
Article 3
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Luxembourg, 26 April 2012.
For the Council
The President
M. GJERSKOV

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