The first Member States have expressed their commitment to implement the Commission's new initiative ALMA (‘Aim, Learn, Master, Achieve') to support disadvantaged young people on their way into the job market or further education. At an event on youth employment organised by the Commission last week, it announced that so far more than half of Member States have committed to introduce ALMA in their countries. In addition, already eight Member States have pledged to set aside around €270 million for the ALMA initiative under their European Social Fund (ESF+) programmes according to current estimates. More pledges are expected to follow, allowing young people from across Europe to benefit from this new initiative.