Since the European Commission started providing Structural Fund assistance for Territorial Employment Pacts in 1997, some 89 such schemes have been established in some of the areas of the EU suffering from the worst unemployment levels, and they have already created an estimated 55,000 direct jobs. The success of Territorial Employment Pacts was examined at a special Conference held in Brussels on the 8th, 9th and 10th of November.

The conference was designed to spotlight the various local strategies and job-creation methods successfully applied by the Territorial Pacts for Employment Initiative and thus encourage the uptake of this approach in other regions of the Community.

The main focus of the Territorial Pacts for Employment Initiative is the creation of real prospects for employment at local level by engaging all partners involved - employers, regional and local authorities, and trade organisations and associations - in targeted, innovative projects, providing opportunities for an exchange of experience and better coordination of measures.