The European Parliament today adopted a report on the social and employment aspects of the EU's Annual Growth Survey by Green draftsperson/rapporteur Marije Cornelissen, which represents the EP position ahead of the forthcoming EU summit. Speaking after the vote, Marije Cornelissen said:

"The EP has today made clear that EU governments must not lose sight of the social consequences in their efforts to respond to the economic crisis. The current one-sided focus on fiscal consolidation is at odds with the EU's objectives for 2020 to increase employment and reduce poverty. Instead, much more needs to be done to support the creation of sustainable and quality jobs, while investing in education and combating poverty and unemployment, particularly youth unemployment, which is on the rise across the EU. EU leaders must address this at the forthcoming summit in March."

Richard More O'Ferrall,
Press and media officer,
Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament
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