Two Communications issued by the European Commission were discussed during the meeting of the Core Group of the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC) held on 26 June:

• Communication on A Shared Commitment for Employment; and
• Communication on the impact of an ageing population in the EU.

The Communication on A Shared Commitment for Employment sets out three priorities:

• maintaining employment, creating jobs and promoting mobility;
• upgrading skills and matching labour market needs, and;
• increasing access to employment.

The document on the impact of an ageing population in the EU identifies various challenges that will have to be faced in the near future:

• an increase in public spending by 7 percentage points of GDP or more in a numebr of EU Member States, including Malta;
• an increase in public pension expenditure;
• healthcare systems are expected to face substantial challenges;
• increased public spending on long-term care;
• increased public spending on education.

Members of the Core Group agreed in general to the proposals of the Communication on A Shared Commitment for Employment. Discussion among members focused on, amongst others:

• the necessity that no further burden should be placed on the business sector;
• studies on poverty should be carried out;
• the effect of the COLA mechanism on the business sector if made use of again this year; and
• how to address unemployment or employees whose jobs are threatened due to lack of skills.

During the meeting it was announced that Mr Malcolm Seychell had resigned from Azzjoni Nazzjonali, and that, therefore, the party was appointing Mr Tonio Mercieca in his stead on the Core Group. Moreover, Mr Julian Zarb was elected as the third civil society representative on the Core Group.