Research published by the European commission shows that European school leaves do not have basic skills in digital and IT technologies.

The research predicted a shortfall of 700,000 school leavers without IT and digital skills by 2015. At present over 50 percent of young people are unemployed in Italy and Greece, with an expected reduction in low-skill jobs and increase in high-skill jobs over the coming years.

Antonio Tajani, European commissioner for industry and entrepreneurship, said: "Young people need to appreciate the professional aspects of the new digital world. This is more important than ever in the current economic context.”