The European Union (EU) has pledged to continue implementing economic stimulus measures as long as unemployment is rising throughout the region.

In an informal meeting of member states' employment ministers in Barcelona, the EU committed to investing in programs to reduce the area's jobless rate, which is expected to reach double digits this year.

Eurostat measured the EU's median unemployment rate at 9.5 per cent in November, but in countries like Spain, which currently holds the EU presidency, this has risen to close to 18 per cent.

Celestino Corbacho, Spanish labor minister, told the gathering of politicians that current measures must be maintained.

He said: "We think they should disappear when the economy is strong enough to no longer need these incentives. There are signs of a recovery but it is still a weak recovery."

Earlier this week, Mr Corbacho claimed that the destruction of jobs witnessed in the Spanish economy since the outbreak of recession will end in 2010 - although the national unemployment rate will continue to rise.