11 EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND FOR
2007-13
(a)
(25853)
11636/04
COM(04) 493
(b)
(27217)
13531/05
COM(05) 523
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Draft Regulation on the European Social Fund
Amended draft Regulation on the European Social Fund
|
| Legal base | (a) and (b) Article 148 EC; co-decision; QMV
|
| Document originated | (b) 17 October 2005
|
| Deposited in Parliament |
(b) 23 January 2006 |
| Department | Work and Pensions
|
| Basis of consideration |
(b) EM of 2 February 2006 |
| Previous Committee Report |
(a) HC 42-xxxii (2003-04), para 10 (13 October 2004)
(b) None
|
| To be discussed in Council
| (b) No date set |
| Committee's assessment | Politically important
|
| Committee's decision | (a) Cleared
(b) Not cleared; further information requested
|
Background
11.1 In October 2004, the previous Committee reported to the House
on document (a), the Commission's draft of a Regulation to establish
the European Social Fund for 2007-13.[18]
11.2 Our predecessors also reported on the draft
of a Regulation (the General Regulation) laying down general provisions
on the European Social Fund, the European Regional Development
Fund and the Cohesion Fund, including the total size of the budget
for the Funds and the broad objectives to which they would contribute.[19]
11.3 The draft Regulation on the European Social
Fund (ESF) supplements the proposed General Regulation. The purpose
of the ESF would be to strengthen economic and social cohesion
by supporting Member States' policies aimed at achieving full
employment, improving the quality of work and productivity, promoting
social inclusion and reducing regional employment disparities.
11.4 The ESF would have four broad priorities:
- increasing the adaptability of workers and enterprises;
- increasing access to employment for job-seekers
and economically inactive people, preventing unemployment, prolonging
working lives and increasing the participation of women and migrants
in the labour market;
- reinforcing the social inclusion of people at
a disadvantage and combating discrimination; and
- supporting reforms in employment.
11.5 The draft Regulation would require Member States
to ensure that action supported by the ESF is consistent with
the implementation of the European Employment Strategy.
11.6 The previous Committee kept document (a) under
scrutiny pending progress reports on the negotiations and the
settlement of the budget for the Funds, which could have a significant
effect on the priorities of the ESF.
Document (b)
11.7 The European Parliament gave the draft ESF Regulation
a first reading in July 2005. It adopted 85 amendments. Document
(b) gives the Commission's opinion on them. It also set out a
revised text of the draft Regulation, incorporating the European
Parliament amendments which the Commission is willing to accept.
11.8 The Commission has accepted most of the amendments
in whole or part. They include amendments to:
- emphasise the contribution the ESF should make
to the achievement of the Community's priorities for a high level
of employment and more and better jobs, in line with the Lisbon
strategy and the European Employment Strategy;
- reinforce the role of the ESF in combating social
exclusion by improving access to employment;
- strengthen the references to promoting equality
between men and women; and
- give additional examples of activities which
may be supported by the ESF, such as apprenticeships and e-learning.
For example, the Commission has incorporated the
European Parliament's eighth amendment into the following new
recital:
"The ESF should also act in a preventive
way by tackling the relevant dimensions and consequences of demographic
changes in the active population of the Community, in particular
through lifelong vocational training."
The Government's view on document (b)
11.9 The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at
the Department of Work and Pensions (Mr James Plaskitt) tells
us that the Government welcomes the amendments that strengthen
the link between the ESF and the European Employment Strategy
and that reflect the Lisbon strategy for jobs and growth. The
Government is keen to ensure that the ESF is used where it can
add value to Member States' policies to increase employment and
improve the skills of the workforce.
Conclusion
11.10 In our view, the amendments incorporated
in the revised text of the draft Regulation (document (b)) are
minor and do not significantly change the substance of the proposal.
11.11 Document (a) has been superseded by document
(b) and so we clear it. We ask the Minister for progress reports
on the negotiations on document (b). We shall keep it under scrutiny
until the budget for the Structural and Cohesion Funds has been
settled.
18 See headnote. Back
19
See (25864) 11606/04: HC 42-xxxii (2003-04), para 10 (13 October
2004). Back
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