Translation of "Programme d'initiatives en faveur de l'emploi " (French → English) :

Addressing this diversity of problems, and helping regions to restructure and generate new activities in accordance with the renewed Lisbon agenda, is the challenge for the new generation of regional competitiveness and employment programmes.

The programme's priorities are: initiatives to promote private investment and employment; optimisation of overall conditions for the local economic framework; integrated rural development of Haspengouw.

The programme has some very innovative features, for example: support of handicraft services in the neighbourhood, support for the creation of enterprises for young people, networking of those involved in employment initiatives, local area management, greening of backyards, integration of socially disadvantaged people in the area.

IV. INVITES THE COMMISSION AND THE MEMBER STATES to: 1. improve the contribution of Community programmes and measures to the maintenance and creation of jobs by SMEs and craft enterprises; 2. consult one another and, where necessary, coordinate their action in favour of SMEs, in particular in the framework of concerted action initiated under the Integrated Programme in favour of SMEs and the craft sector, in order to promote the exchange of experience and good practices, including in the sphere of local ...[+++]initiatives; 3. ensure that organizations representing SMEs and the craft sector at European and national level are consulted when policies concerning them are framed, implemented and monitored; 4. coordinate the various Community, national and local information networks more effectively, by recognizing, inter alia, the role of Euro-Info- Centres in providing enterprises, in particular SMEs, with Community information; 5. facilitate access to measures in favour of SMEs and the craft sector, in particular by keeping SMEs and craft enterprises apprised of the opportunities offered by Community, national or regional programmes and by simplifying the relevant procedures in order to facilitate their participation; 6. improve the operation of the internal market in order to enable small and medium-sized enterprises and craft enterprises to exploit all the opportunities offered by it, including in the public contracts sector, and to overcome any obstacles to internal trade; 7. encourage, where appropriate, the establishment of mutual guarantee arrangements among SMEs on a commercial basis.

The proposed measures break down among the following priorities: - Support for new economic activity, such as: = the development of a derelict industrial site into a craft industry centre - Promotion of employment, training and further training, such as: = work schemes for the young unemployed, disabled persons, old people, drug addicts = design of a working space for the disabled - Improvement of facilities in the social, health and safety fields, such as: = housing projects specifically for the elderly and sheltered accommodation - Environment-improving projects, such as: = creation of green belts = noise reduction and air-pollutio ...[+++]n control programmes = studies of land contaminated in the past - Teaching and leisure facilities, such as: = improvement and creation of educational facilities and day-care centres for children and young people. The overall responsibility for execution of the programme rests with Thuringia's Ministry for Economics and Infrastructure (TMWI).

He knows how much money has been spent on youth employment initiatives and youth programs to ensure that our youth have the training and the education they are going to need to participate in society.