Follow-up of EU's recommendations on equal opportunities

Low employment and high unemployment have been issues for intensive discussions within the European Union (EU). In June 1997 in Amsterdam, state and government executives took an important step toward co-ordinated policies and a common strategy for increased employment and they agreed on a special department for employment (Amsterdam Agreement).

As of 2002, the EU’s employment strategy has been in force for five years and member states have thus agreed to evaluate the strategy and its effects on employment trends within the EU. The evaluation’s primary purpose is to analyse effects that the strategy has had on formulation of national policies and on employment trends in member states. Results of the evaluation will contribute to further development of a future strategy to achieve common goals for increasing growth and employment in Europe.