Celebrating 10 years of the European Employment Strategy: common objectives for more and better jobs

Today sees the tenth anniversary of the EU's main policy tool for creating improved work for all. The European Employment Strategy (EES) which establishes common EU objectives and priorities, and ensures coordination of employment policies across the EU has helped raise the EU employment rate from 60.7% to 64.3% since 1997 and cut long term unemployment from 5% to 3.6%. The anniversary is being marked by a major conference organised by the European Commission and the Portuguese EU Presidency, a follow-up to the successful event on Flexicurity last month.