An "Erasmus" program for youth unemployment ?
Peter Hartz was invited in France by the Social Democrat think tank, En Temps Réel, to present his thoughts on "A reform of the labor market in Europe" and specifically to talk about the integration of young people in the EU labour market.
Everyone has heard of Mr. Hartz, the former director of Volkswagen staff, a member of the SPD (German Socialist Party), the initiator of the reform of the labour market in Germany under Schröder government (the "Hartz reforms") . According to the French newspaper, Le Monde, his visit has caused controversy within the French socialist party, yet he has presented his project of Erasmus for young unemployed people.
He says that 25 million unemployed in Europe, including more than 5 million young people, requires strong projects by the EU. He also notes that a number of countries, whose demography is faltering, will have a significant need of labourforce in short or medium terms. So, according to him, a European youth mobility should be promoted.
Consequently, Peter Hartz proposes :
- a training account up to €50 000 for a 3 year apprenticeship in an enterprise ;
- a €50 to €100 billion budget over 10 years (or €215 billion Euros according to the French newspaper, Les Echos) financed by the EIB (European Investment Bank) through public and private investors ;
- this type of Erasmus program would fund 1 to 2 million trainings ;
- it should be coordinated by the European Commission.
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Sources : France-Info, les Échos, lefigaro.fr.
Pour en savoir plus : Lemonde : Peter Hartz, ancien conseiller de G. Schröder, boudé par la gauche française.