The Commission presents a proposal for an amendment to the Commission Proposal on the European Social Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1081/2006.
In light of the persistent need to make an effort to address youth unemployment in the Union's most affected regions, the Commission considers that a Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) should be created. This initiative should aim for sustainable integration into the labour market of young people (aged 15-24) in those regions young people not in employment, education or training (NEET), who are unemployed or inactive, by reinforcing and accelerating the delivery of activities supported by ESF funding. Additional funds should specifically be attributed to the YEI matched with investment from the ESF.
By targeting individual persons rather than structures, the YEI should aim to complement other ESF and national actions targeting young NEET with the objective of implementing the Youth Guarantee adopted by the Council EPSCO on 28 February 2013.