The examination of the Member States’ draft 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.

In this context, EUJUST LEX-IRAQ shall liaise with the relevant Iraqi authorities, and shall deepen collaboration and avoid duplication with international actors already operating in the country as well as with Member States presently conducting training projects in Iraq.

1. Launch a major European employment support initiative a) The Commission is proposing to simplify criteria for European Social Fund (ESF) support and step up advance payments from early 2009, so that Member States have earlier access to up to € 1.8 bn in order to: Within flexicurity strategies, rapidly reinforce activation schemes, in particular for the low-skilled, involving personalised counselling, intensive (re-)training and up-skilling of workers, apprenticeships, subsidised employment as well as grants for self-employment, business start-up's and Refocus their programmes to concentrate support on the most vulnerable, and where ne ...[+++]cessary opt for full Community financing of projects during this period; Improve the monitoring and matching of skills development and upgrading with existing and anticipated job vacancies; this will be implemented in close cooperation with social partners, public employment services and universities; Working with Member States, the Commission proposes to re-programme ESF expenditure to ensure that immediate priorities are met. b) The Commission will also propose to revise the rules of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund so that it can intervene more rapidly in key sectors, either to co-finance training and job placements for those who are made redundant or to keep in the labour market skilled workers who will be needed once the economy starts to recover.

9. Calls on the Member States, in the context of the 2002 Employment Guidelines, to set specific objectives and adopt practical measures, organised according to age group and level of training, for participation in education and training measures;

Objective of aid: General training measures are to be supported by subsidies for day-release vocational training for employees (minimum one day or equivalent of at least 20 % of a normal working contract).

* Priority 1 'Active labour market policies' accounts for 20.5% of total funding and is intended to offer a new start to young people and the adult unemployed, fight unemployment by improving guidance and the definition of training projects for job seekers and to develop skills training for the 'New departure' public.