PM Joseph Muscat stresses need to build on European Youth Guarantee

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this morning emphasised the need to build on the  European Youth Guarantee. Addressing the Party of European Socialists Council in Sofia, he said: "We will stand side by side to make the best out of the European Youth Guarantee, which we have supported since its beginning, while looking forward to staying one step ahead on innovative policymaking. “We are doing this not for ourselves because the average rate of youth unemployment in Malta is lower but we are doing it cause we believe in this initiative.” Dr Muscat said conservatives were trying to take credit for the youth guarantee, which was first put forward by PES, and which they initially resisted. "We should not fall for the trap of arguing on who came first.  People are not interested in such hollow debates.  People want solutions.  That is why Socialists and Social-Democrats should always be one step ahead," he said. Dr Muscat said that not enough emphasis was being put on promoting the option of self-employment as a positive prospect for young people. “Unemployment, especially amongst youths, is a symptom not a cause.  We have to work on policies that address the cause. "These policies must be...