Strategic priorities for the year have been adopted by the European Commission, including plans to assist nations in recovery from the economic crisis.

A list of 34 goals to be implemented by the end of 2010 has been agreed by commissioners, in addition to a further 280 major proposals for this year and longer term.

Employment plays a key role in the European Union executive's plans, with a commitment announced to measures such as revision of the working time directive and sustaining the region's social market economy.

"The work programme adopted today is an ambitious but realistic agenda for results," president of the commission Jose Manuel Barroso commented.

"I hope that the member states and other EU institutions will match this level of ambition."

Recent figures from Eurostat revealed a slight rise in the unemployment rates in both the euro area and the EU as a whole to stand at ten per cent and 9.6 per cent respectively.