{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2009-536/introduction",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2009-536/introduction.json",
  "legislation": "eudn/2009/536",
  "legislation_title": "Council Decision of 7 July 2009 on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States (2009/536/EC)",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-decision-2009-536",
  "path": "introduction",
  "kind": "introduction",
  "number": null,
  "heading": "Introductory text",
  "text": "Council Decision\nof 7 July 2009\non guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States\n(2009/536/EC)\nTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,\nHaving regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 128(2) thereof,\nHaving regard to the proposal from the Commission,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee,\nAfter consulting the Committee of the Regions,\nHaving regard to the opinion of the Employment Committee,\nWhereas:\n(1)\nThe Lisbon Strategy, as renewed in 2005, has placed emphasis on growth and jobs. The Employment Guidelines of the European Employment Strategy and the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines have been adopted as an integrated package, whereby the European Employment Strategy has the leading role in the implementation of the employment and labour market objectives of the Lisbon Strategy.\n(2)\nThe examination of the Member States’ National Reform Programmes contained in the Joint Employment Report shows that Member States should continue to make every effort to address the following priority areas: attracting and retaining more people in employment, increasing labour supply and modernising social protection systems; improving adaptability of workers and enterprises; and increasing investment in human capital through better education and skills.\n(3)\nIn view of the current economic crisis, the guidelines should also serve as a tool for meeting the immediate challenges of increasing unemployment and social exclusion. Policies in the immediate term include integrated flexicurity policies to facilitate the transition to work, matching the unemployed with available jobs, and skills upgrading.\n(4)\nIn light of the Commission’s examination of the National Reform Programmes, the focus should be on their effective and timely implementation, paying special attention to the agreed targets and benchmarks and the involvement of social partners.\n(5)\nThe Employment Guidelines were adopted in 2008 with a validity of three years, during which time their updating should be strictly limited.\n(6)\nMember States should explore the use of the European Social Fund when implementing the Employment Guidelines.\n(7)\nIn view of the integrated nature of the guideline package, Member States should fully implement the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines,\nHAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "Opinion of 11 March 2009 (not yet published in the Official Journal)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f2",
      "text": "Opinion of 13 May 2009 (not yet published in the Official Journal)."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eudn/2009/536/introduction",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T15:16:27.144029+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}