Download
With millions of graduates flooding severely depleted job markets this summer, European Union leaders have pledged to take immediate action to prevent the alarming level of unemployment from fuelling social unrest.
While insisting on austerity policies that hamper job creation, European Union President Herman Van Rompuy said EU leaders, who gathered for the two-day summit on Thursday and Friday, have pledged to ensure that every young person gets a "good offer" of a job, education or training.
"We are under no illusion: the problem won't be solved overnight. But there is no reason for a 'mission impossible' mindset," said Van Rompuy at a Friday news conference.
The leaders were also scheduled to discuss relations with strategic partners on Friday. They were expected to unify thoughts on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the United States, and to touch base on the ongoing talks of the solar panel dispute between China and the EU, while discussing the longer-term partnership with Beijing.
Meanwhile, some European youths have found that their leaders' promises are not being delivered amid the economic recession.
Dimitris Kastrisios, 28, is from a middle-class family in Greece, where youth unemployment is rampant. He has finished an advanced master's program in International and European Law at the Free University of Brussels.
"I didn't get any job offers so far, but my father has told me again and again to not return to Greece," said Kastrisios. "I don't know when I'll be able to get a job."
He added that job seekers with some work experience are now preferred in the European job market, where the jobless rate is at about 12 percent.
He was a lawyer before getting his master's degree. "But I don't think that my experience has helped," he said.
In his home country, the situation is alarming as the austerity policy has brought in bleaker job prospects and families' incomes, social benefits and pensions have been greatly reduced.
"The young people are hopeless, and they are thinking about leaving the country," he said.
European figures indicate that the youth unemployment rate reached 23.5 percent in the EU's27 countries in April. In addition, the disparities between member states and between regions within member states are significant: the youth unemployment rate is more than 50 percent in some member states and over 70 percent in some regions, while in a few regions it is below 5percent.
All in all, more than 7.5 million people under 25 are neither in employment, education or training.
Jorge, from Spain - who declined to provide his surname - is another recent graduate in Brussels, but he's luckier than most. Out of 38 classmates, he was the first one to get a job offer. He is now dealing with competition law at an international organization.
"I'm lucky, one of my classmates has sent more than 200 job applications but only got two or three replies," he said. "This is worrying."
Meanwhile, there are about 200,000 Chinese studying in Europe and those graduates are also facing difficulties to find a job opportunity.
Li Weifang, a Chinese graduate in business economics at Belgium's University of Leuven, said that she is skeptical about opportunities at home and abroad.
"I heard that the job market in China is also tough, and I'm not sure how much they will appreciate my overseas degree and experience," said Li.
But for her, finding a job in Belgium is even harder because many companies here require Chinese candidates to speak fluent French or Dutch, in addition to English.
"The language barrier stops me from getting too many opportunities, even though some companies are keen on finding a Chinese person to explore the Chinese market."
About the broadcaster:
Lance Crayon is a videographer and editor with China Daily. Since living in Beijing he has worked for China Radio International (CRI) and Global Times. Before moving to China he worked in the film industry in Los Angeles as a talent agent and producer. He has a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Arlington.
巴黎世家再次被网友吐槽,这件男士上衣画风也是一言难尽
研究显示 早起步行或骑车上班可降低患心脏病风险
英国人最讨厌的10种服装,第一个就是我的最爱
这些食物能起到立竿见影的排毒效果
面对持刀歹徒,中国警察教的这个动作火了!老外也纷纷点赞
国际英语资讯:Shangri-la Dialogue kicks off with challenges to Asias security taking center stage
Children's Day 六一儿童节
以瘦为美已过时 六块腹肌成中国女性新饰品
这位23岁的姑娘希望减弱社交媒体对精神健康造成的危害
国内英语资讯:China issues statement on Sino-U.S. trade talks
马里“蜘蛛侠”徒手爬四楼救小孩 将获法国公民身份
国内英语资讯:China Focus: Xi to chair SCO summit in Qingdao
国内英语资讯:Spotlight: China welcomes all UN member states to jointly utilize its space station
研究表明 最有效的戒烟方法就是直接给钱!
不要生活在幻觉中,清醒一点
孩子的愿望:希望手机从未被发明
国际英语资讯:Govt of Italian PM Conte sworn in
年中“大促”将来袭
研究:你喜欢的音乐类型可以反映你的性格和智商
谈论这件事的情侣最幸福