Nearly 7.5 million young Europeans between 15 and 24 are not employed, not in education and not in training (NEETs). In an attempt to reverse this trend, the European leaders adopted recommendations on 22nd April 2013 to establish a Youth Guarantee in the European Union. Additional funding will be provided by the Youth Employment Initiative which will support the implementation of the Youth Guarantee, and in particular young NEETs in the EU's regions with a youth unemployment rate in 2012 at above 25% by integrating them into the labour market.

This high-level conference aims at offering a full picture of the youth employment situation in the EU by discussing ongoing trends and practical options for implementing the Youth Guarantee. In this regard, particular attention will be paid to the contribution of the CPMR regions which have successfully implemented strategies to reduce youth unemployment rates and invest in soft-infrastructure, such as human capital development, which yield positive results in the longer term.

The Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe will organise the seminar, in partnership with the Region Anatoliki Macedonia and Thrace, under the auspices of the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Commissioner Andor will represent the European Commission in this high level event.