​During the Committee of the Regions bureau meeting and the forum on Skills and Jobs, European Alliance group president welcomed the EU agreement on the Youth Guarantee.  With youth unemployment reaching over 50% in some Member States clear and decisive action needed to be taken and this was a first step.  He also welcomed Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn focus on high skilled jobs and the need for an increased focus on Research and innovation to achieve the goals as set out by Horizon 2020.