By Vivienne Russell | 30 May 2013

It is time to ‘step up’ the fundamental economic reforms needed to restore growth and jobs across Europe, the European Commission has said.

The commission yesterday issued 24 sets of recommendations for each of the European Union’s member states, excluding Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Cyprus, the four countries that have been bailed out following the financial crisis. There is also a separate set of suggestions for the eurozone area.

The commission’s proposals are based on detailed analysis of each state’s growth potential for the current year. A particular emphasis has been placed on stemming the tide of rising unemployment, especially among young people.

Among the recommendations, member states have been urged to adopt more active labour market policies, and make reforms to education and training programmes to boost skills. More should also be done to create the conditions for business to invest and create new jobs.

Issuing the recommendations, commission president José Manuel Barroso said: ‘Now is the time to step up the fundamental economic reforms that will deliver growth and jobs, which our citizens, especially our young people, anxiously expect. This is the only way to address the two lasting legacies of this crisis – the serious loss of competitiveness in many of our member states, and persistent unemployment, with all its social consequences.’

He added that the commission’s recommendations were ‘concrete’ and ‘realistic’ and adapted to the specific circumstances of each member state.