Today, 23.5% of Europeans under the age of 25 are unemployed. In order the combat youth unemployment, the European Union is setting up a European Youth Guarantee, the aim of which is to offer every young person a quality solution (job, training, internship, work-study programme) within four months of leaving education or losing their job. The Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) is one of European Union’s main financial resources for implementing this European Youth Guarantee.

The Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) specifically targets unemployed young people who are not in education or training.

It funds apprenticeships, internships, job search support schemes and skills training in European regions with youth unemployment rates exceeding 25%.

For the 2014-2020 period, France is receiving 310 million euros under YEI.

It will be divided between:

• The state-managed YEI national operation programme, which will account for 65% of the budget, mainly for employment and inclusion,
• The ERDF-ESF-YEI programmes of eligible regions, which will account for 35% of the YEI allocation, for the purpose of apprenticeships and career guidance.

The YEI complements other actions undertaken at national level, particularly with support from the European Social Fund (ESF).