EU Commissioner Andor Wants 'European Unemployment Insurance'

Europe should introduce its own unemployment insurance fund, outgoing EU Employment Commissioner Laszlo Andor has argued in an interview.

Andor, who is in charge of employment, social affairs and inclusion at the European Commission, told German weekly Der Spiegel that such a step would help Europe retain its usual stability during crisis like the one over the past years.

"We need a European unemployment insurance. This means that all member states pay a part of their revenues in a single fund and, depending on the levels of unemployment, take a certain part back," the EU Commissioner explained.

In his view, "the past years have shown that measures are needed that automatically stabilize the Eurozone economy in a crisis."

Andor believes the lack of such measures are the reason "that there are many a lot more unemployed people today than necessary".

He is firm that his proposal is not just a mechanism to put aside "German money for Southern Europe," because if the insurance had been introduced before, "Spain would have transferred money to Germany."

In the interview he also commented on a number of European issues including the choice of EU Commission President which is due later this month.

"If government leaders nominate none of the candidates, this would confirm the prejudice that the EU is undemocratic," Andor declared.