The European Commission has signed a deal with a coalition of technology firms to help fill 700,000 information and communication technologies jobs in the region.
The companies in the deal include HP, Telefonica, Nokia, Cisco, ARM, SAP, Alcatel-Lucent, Randstad, ENI and Telenor Group.
The commission said under the coalition, which is known as grand coalition, the firms pledge to offer training, free online university courses or provide start-up funding.
EC vice president Neelie Kroes said: "The digital skills gap is growing, like our unemployment queues. We need joint action between governments and companies to bridge that gap."
"The ICT sector is the new backbone of Europe’s economy, and together we can prevent a lost generation and an uncompetitive Europe," Kroes said.
"So I am expecting concrete pledges by companies, everyone I meet will be getting the same request. The Commission will do its bit but we can’t do it alone – companies, social partners and education players – including at national and regional level – have to stand with us."
The European Commission is expecting that the creation of tech jobs will give a boost to economic growth, improve competitiveness and help the region deal with joblessness in the 27 countries in the EU.
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The Commission said it is also launching Startup Europe, a single platform for tools and programmes supporting people who wish to establish and grow web start-ups in Europe.
