"We need to make further progress towards the goals we have set ourselves to get out of the crisis." Thus, with a few simple words which seem to reveal an invitation to a sense of responsibility, opens the letter sent by the President of the European Union Herman Van Rompuy to the 27 heads of state and government (with the addition of the prime minister of Croatia, twenty-eighth member state of the EU as of July XNUMXst) who will participate this afternoon and tomorrow in a European Council dedicated almost entirely to highly topical economic issues. Like, first of all, the fight against unemployment, especially among young people, and the difficulty of accessing credit by businesses, mainly small and medium-sized.
The issues on the table, Van Rompuy lists them diligently in the letter, in a clear and almost anodyne form that is somewhat reminiscent of that of the teacher who dictates to the pupils the list of homework for the holidays. Issues on which European leaders are called to discuss and – hopefully – to decide in a context still characterized by the economic crisis (rich Holland and limping France, for example, are in full recession), by limited financial resources (the European budget for the next seven years is poorer than the previous one, and its definitive approval has been called into question by a European Parliament that is not at all satisfied) and by persistent conflict among the member states (accentuated by a low level of citizens' trust in of their rulers).
This is the framework in which this year's third European Council opens. Which is important, yes, since it is centered on the "problem of problems": rampant unemployment, especially youth unemployment, in most European countries. But from which few observers expect a decisive change in the direction of growth in a very short time. Which, for Italy, could start again "downhill", according to Enrico Letta's effective cycling metaphor, only next year.
A cautious wish, this one from our prime minister, rather than a short-term perspective. In fact, it is not easy to imagine – as the Minister for European Affairs Enzo Moavero Milanesi underlined in a very recent interview with Corriere della Sera – that “revolutionary” decisions could arise from this Council. Like the one, desired by a growing number of insiders (and not only in Italy), to loosen the constraints we have set ourselves in Europe.
However, as Moavero Milanesi points out in that interview, something can be expected at the end of this session of the European Council: at least a slightly more flexible interpretation of the European rules. Which have proved to be effective, of course, in re-establishing – as was done in Italy – that budget balance which has now allowed us to exit the infringement procedure opened by the European Commission when our deficit had exceeded 5%. But not – as the International Monetary Fund itself recognized, which had also imposed rigorous budgetary discipline on the countries to which it had granted credit – to avoid the negative consequences of austerity for citizens and businesses.
And yet the general picture in Europe has reached levels of seriousness such as to not be able to exclude an outburst of pride on the part of the European Council. A shot in which Van Rompuy himself must hope if he has included a preliminary meeting on the agenda with the European representatives of entrepreneurs and workers who will present proposals on unemployment and the credit crunch. And if at least part of the work will be attended by the presidents of the ECB Mario Draghi and the EIB Werner Hoyer.
Be that as it may, this European Council can (and must) achieve some positive results. As Herman Van Rompuy hopes, who in his letter lists the four key elements of the common European strategy necessary to restart the path of economic growth. The first is the maintenance of financial stability (“And here we are on the right track”, writes the president of the European Union). The second is the growth of the flexibility of national economies, supported by sound public finances and a higher level of competitiveness ("In this field we are starting to see the first results", he observes).
The third key element is the strengthening of the Economic and Monetary Union, in particular by completing the Banking Union project (“In this regard, the next few months will be crucial”, he says). The fourth, and evidently the most important, includes the fight against unemployment and support for economic growth.
"A merciless fight against unemployment remains at the top of our work agenda", Van Rompuy writes to the incoming leaders. “The number of unemployed young people across the EU is at record levels. This is one of the most pressing problems in many (if not all) Member States. And it is also the reason why we must all reach an agreement together”.
On this issue, recalls the president of the Union, the European Commission has proposed a series of measures in the context of the youth employment "package". Among these, the most innovative, albeit not easy to apply, is the Youth Guarantee, a project launched by László Andor, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, who illustrated it in an interview with “Firstonline” released on June 11th. "The Guarantee establishes times and obligations that the Member States, each according to their own practices and rules but in any case within the time limit of four months, which they will have to respect - said Andor - to ensure young people up to 24 years of age, both the unemployed and those looking for a first job, a quick outlet towards a quality job, a lifelong learning course, an apprenticeship or an internship in a company”.
In addition to the Youth Guarantee, Van Rompuy also refers in his letter to other initiatives, including the allocation of 6 billion for the fight against youth unemployment within the budget for the next seven years, the diversion of European funds support young people in the eight Member States (including Italy) most affected by the phenomenon, the European Alliance for apprenticeship which will be launched in a few days.
"We must commit ourselves, and in this sense I am ready to welcome suggestions and forms of collaboration on your part, so that the work already carried out in this field - concludes the President of the European Union in his letter to the participants - is completed at the latest before the Council European October. So that, after the examination by the Parliament and the Council, to whom I appeal to speed up the times, the provisions and the appropriations will be operational starting from 2014 January XNUMX”.
