EU leaders pledge to tackle region's unemployment crisis_美文

EU leaders pledge to tackle region's unemployment crisis

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With millions of graduates flooding severely depleted job markets this summer, European Union leaders have pledged to take immediate action to prevent the alarming level of unemployment from fuelling social unrest.

While insisting on austerity policies that hamper job creation, European Union President Herman Van Rompuy said EU leaders, who gathered for the two-day summit on Thursday and Friday, have pledged to ensure that every young person gets a "good offer" of a job, education or training.

"We are under no illusion: the problem won't be solved overnight. But there is no reason for a 'mission impossible' mindset," said Van Rompuy at a Friday news conference.

The leaders were also scheduled to discuss relations with strategic partners on Friday. They were expected to unify thoughts on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the United States, and to touch base on the ongoing talks of the solar panel dispute between China and the EU, while discussing the longer-term partnership with Beijing.

Meanwhile, some European youths have found that their leaders' promises are not being delivered amid the economic recession.

Dimitris Kastrisios, 28, is from a middle-class family in Greece, where youth unemployment is rampant. He has finished an advanced master's program in International and European Law at the Free University of Brussels.

"I didn't get any job offers so far, but my father has told me again and again to not return to Greece," said Kastrisios. "I don't know when I'll be able to get a job."