Ireland's national employment plan yesterday got a strong approval rating from the European Commission in its first reaction to the plans lodged by member states over the last few weeks.
The Irish Commissioner for Social Affairs, Mr Padraig Flynn, said that while France and Spain had come closest to meeting the requirements of the Luxembourg summit guidelines with their national plans, Ireland, the UK, Luxembourg and Finland also deserved special mention.
The Commission also singled out the success of Irish social partnership as a model to be followed but some concern was expressed at the failure of the Irish report to be specific about resource commitments under some headings, most notably the extension of child care provision.
The EU's jobs strategy is based on agreement at the summit in December to joint monitoring of 19 employment guidelines under four main headings; employment, entrepreneurship, adaptability and equality of opportunity.
Mr Flynn said that the national plans demonstrated a clear commitment of all member states to move from passive to active labour market policies with a particularly strong emphasis on enhancing employability through training.
