At a special
meeting of the European Council on 30 August, European leaders called for
speedy implementation of the 2014 European Semester country-specific
recommendations endorsed on 27 June as well as of the Strategic Agenda with its
strong focus on jobs, growth and competitiveness.
concerns that despite significant improvements in financial market conditions
and the structural efforts made by Member States, the recovery, particularly in
the euro area, is weak, inflation is exceptionally low and unemployment remains
unacceptably high. Leaders also supported an initiative by the Italian
government to hold a conference in October at the level of Heads of State and
Government on employment, especially youth employment, following those held in
Berlin and Paris. The October European Council will address the economic
situation and a dedicated Euro Summit will be convened. EU leaders elected
Donald Tusk as President of the European Council for the period from 1 December
2014 to 31 May 2017 and appointed him as President of the Euro Summit for the
same period.