Ei-iE

The Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) criticised strongly the European Commission for its Annual Growth Survey, which repeatedly gives over-optimistic economic forecasts. According the MEPs, the European Commission is not taking sufficient account of these errors and not adapting its economic reform recommendations to tackle the ensuing social problems.

Affairs and Inclusion, painted a bleak picture of the employment front in his opening remarks, warning that unemployment was becoming structural and divergences between the core and periphery were growing, as was the mismatch between skills supplied and demanded. In addition he stressed that the drop-out rates from education or training is also worrying.

Rather the MEPs pointed out that the Annual Growth Survey was a case of “more of the same, year after year”.

Mr Rehn, the Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro, opened the meeting with the MEPs on a very positive note saying that Europe was seeing a turnaround and that growth was returning. However, after being pressed by many MEPs on his opening remarks he then qualified these by saying "I did not say I am satisfied by the way the economy is. There is no room for complacency". In contrast, Mr Andor, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion painted a bleak picture of the employment front in his opening remarks, warning that unemployment was becoming structural and divergences between the core and periphery were growing, as was the mismatch between skills supplied and demanded. In addition he stressed that the drop-out rates from education or training is also worrying.