Article 145 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) provides that Member States and the Union are to work towards developing a coordinated strategy for employment and particularly for promoting a skilled, trained and adaptable workforce and labour markets responsive to economic change with a view to achieving the objectives defined in Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union.

The Europe 2020 strategy proposed by the Commission enables the Union to turn its economy towards smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, accompanied by a high level of employment, productivity and social cohesion. On 13 July 2010, the Council adopted its Recommendation on broad guidelines for the economic policies of the Member States and of the Union. Furthermore, on 21 October 2010, the Council adopted its Decision 2010/707/EU (‘employment guidelines’). Those sets of guidelines form the integrated guidelines for implementing the Europe 2020 strategy (‘integrated guidelines’). Five headline targets, listed under the relevant integrated guidelines, constitute shared objectives which guide the action of the Member States, taking into account their relative starting positions and national circumstances as well as the positions and circumstances of the Union. The European Employment Strategy has the leading role in the implementation of the employment and labour market objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy.

The integrated guidelines are in line with the conclusions of the European Council of 17 June 2010. They give precise guidance to the Member States on defining their national reform programmes and on implementing reforms. The employment guidelines should form the basis for any country-specific recommendations that the Council may address to the Member States under Article 148(4) TFEU, in parallel with the country-specific recommendations addressed to the Member States under Article 121(2) TFEU. The employment guidelines should also form the basis for the establishment of the Joint Employment Report sent annually by the Council and the Commission to the European Council.

The examination of the Member States' national reform programmes, contained in the Joint Employment Report adopted by the Council on 28 February 2013, shows that Member States should continue to make every effort to address the following priorities: increasing labour market participation and reducing structural unemployment, developing a skilled workforce responding to labour market needs and promoting job quality and lifelong learning, improving the performance of education and training systems at all levels and increasing participation in tertiary education, promoting social inclusion and combating poverty.

The employment guidelines should remain stable until the end of 2014 to ensure a focus on their implementation. Until the end of 2014, any updating of the employment guidelines should remain strictly limited. In 2011, 2012 and 2013 the employment guidelines were maintained. They should be maintained for 2014,