©European Greens- Unemployment is far from equal across Europe. Some countries, and particularly their youth, are paying a price in this crisis that is unbearable.

As the European Greens prepare for the Spring Council in Madrid this May, the national context in Spain has become increasingly urgent. Spain is one of a small number of  European countries bearing an almost unsustainable weight as the economy struggles, and with it, employment. Spain is also clear proof of the failures of current economic management across Europe and the potential offered by Green party alternatives.

At the end of 2012, Spain’s unemployed reached 26.6%, almost six million (5.97 million). With 23 million people unemployed across Europe (9.7%), Spain alone is carrying almost one third of the entire unemployment in the European Union (EU). 

Of the unemployed, the young are suferring the most. Across Europe, unemployment for under-25s is 24.4%. In Spain, it is 56.5%. The only country where the situation is worse is Greece, where youth unemployment has reached 57.6%.

"We need youth emancipation now," said Terry Reintke, Co-Spokesperson of FYEG.  "Spain and Greece have the highest numbers of youth unemployment in the whole world. This situation is unbearable. Europe needs urgent action - including a youth guarantee, more youth participation on the European level and new perspectives for young people."

Spain’s unemployment level is an unwanted modern day record.

Young Spaniards have lost faith in the solutions proposed by politicians and bureaucrats, because of their fatalistic vision of the future. “No jobs are likely to be created until later on in the year” is the message passed on by the Government in the media. Nothing concrete, no solutions, no visions of a way forward.  Analysts have indicated that it might take a decade before employment levels might get back to what they were before the onset of the crisis. Until then, an entire generation will be lost. An entire generation will be jobless.

But the current economy  has not been designed around people – it is designed for banks and financial institutes.

The Green alternative 

This is the dire backdrop as the Greens head to Madrid - a setting that makes the Green position for economic growth all the more urgent. This is where the Green way out of the crisis can, and must, step in. 

These challenges require a clear rethinking of our priorities but also provide opportunities to create a sustainable economy that allows quality green jobs and enhanced quality of life for all through innovative forms of participation in society.

The Greens have repeatedly stated that there must be more than a few policy changes. A profound transformation of our society which tackles the roots of the problems is needed. 

Green jobs are an answer to the crisis. The transformation process proposed by the European Greens can contribute to developing new activities in sectors as diverse as energy, transport, construction, agriculture, education, health and social care. There is potential to create new jobs at all stages.  ‘Greening’ jobs can start happening now.

According to the study 'Low Carbon Jobs for Europe: Current opportunities and future prospects' done by WWF, investments in energy efficiency could create up to one million direct and indirect jobs, and the development of renewables alone could create 1.7 million net jobs by 2010 and 2.5 million by 2020 in the EU.

And from the Heinrich Böll Foundation (link here), as a result of a series of expert meetings, the report 'A European Union for Renewable Energy' provides a collection of policy ideas for two key areas that will define the future of renewable energy development in Europe: grids, and support and remuneration schemes for renewables. 

When the Greens gather in Madrid, this will be an opportunity to highlight Green solutions for the crisis. This is an opportunity to address the unrelenting unemployment that crosses all of society - with particular emphasis on low skilled workers, women, employees on temporary contracts, EU mobile workers, migrants and the elderly... and the young.

Footnote: Statistics from Unemployment in Europe: get the figures for every country