Activities of Philippe BOULLAND related to 2011/0270(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Programme for social change and innovation (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a European Union Programme for Social Change and Innovation PDF (859 KB) DOC (1 MB)
Amendments (75)
Amendment 127 #
Proposal for a regulation
Title
Title
Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on a European Union Programme for Social ChangeEmployment, Social Progress and Innovation
Amendment 130 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) In line with the Commission Communication ‘A budget for Europe 2020’4, which recommends rationalising and simplifying the Union’s funding instruments and sharpening their focus both on Union added value and on impacts and results, this Regulation establishes a European Union Programme for Social ChangeEmployment, Social Progress and Innovation (hereinafter ‘the Programme’) to provide for the continuation and development of activities carried out on the basis of Decision No 1672/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 establishing a Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity – Progress5, Regulation No 492/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2011 on freedom of movement for workers within the Union6 and Commission Decision 2003/8/EC of 23 December 2002 implementing Regulation No 1612/1968 as regards the clearance of vacancies and applications for employment7 and Decision No 283/2010/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 March 2010 establishing a European Progress Microfinance Facility for employment and social inclusion (hereinafter ‘the Facility’).
Amendment 134 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion and the Innovation Union flagship initiatives identify social innovation as a powerful tool for addressing the social challenges arising from population ageing, poverty, unemployment, new work patterns and life styles, and citizens' expectations regarding social justice, education and health care. The Programme should support action to step up social innovation in policy areas falling within its scope and which warrant greater attention, such as combating poverty and social exclusion, fostering social inclusion and improving access to health care and training for disadvantaged people, in the public, private and third sectors, taking due account of the role of regional and local authorities. In particular, it should help identify, evaluate and scale up innovative solutions and practice through social experimentation to assist the Member States more effectively in reforming their labour markets and social protection policies. It should also act as a catalyst for transnational partnerships and networking between public, private and third-sector actors as well as supporting their involvement in designing and implementing new approaches to tackling pressing social needs and challenges.
Amendment 140 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) In line with the Europe 2020 Strategy, the Programme should pursue a coherent, innovative and adaptable approach to promoting employment and combating social exclusion and poverty. Its implementation should be rationalised and simplified, notably through a set of common provisions including, inter allia, general objectives, typology of actions, monitoring and evaluation arrangements. The Programme should also focus on large projects with clear EU added value in order to reach critical mass and, reduce the administrative burden and make matters simpler and more comprehensible for both the beneficiaries and the Commission. In addition, greater use should be made of simplified cost options (lump-sum and flat- rate financing) in particular for the implementation of targeted mobility schemes. The Programme should be a one- stop shop for microfinance providers, providing financing for micro-credit, capacity building and and ‘social enterprises’, providing a suitable level of financing for micro-credit, and financing for social entrepreneurship, facilitating access to borrowing, building their capacity and providing technical assistance. Lastly, the Programme should provide for budgetary flexibility through the establishment of a reserve, of a maximum amount to be defined, and to be allocated on an annual basis in order to respond to policy priorities set by the Commission after consulting the Member States and Parliament.
Amendment 145 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The Union is uniquely placed to provide a Union platform for policy exchanges and mutual-learning between the Member States in the employment and social areasvia social experimentation at local, regional or national level in the employment and social areas (concerning social inclusion, job insecurity, health care, etc.). Knowledge of the policies carried out in other countries increases the range of options available to policy- makers, triggerspaves the way for innovative policy developments and encourages national reform.
Amendment 147 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Ensuring that minimum standards, as defined by the OECD and the ILO, and as enshrined in the Charter of Human Rights, are in place and that working conditions improve constantly in the Union is a central feature of Union social policy. The Union must also ensure that all companies active on its territory apply these standards. The Union has an important role to play both in ensuring that the legislative framework is adapted, in line with ‘Smart Regulation’ principles, to evolving work patterns and new health and safety risks and in financing measures to improve compliance with Union rules on the protection of workers' rights.
Amendment 154 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The Union is committed to combating social dumping and strengthening the social dimension of globalisation by promoting decent work and labour standards internationally, either directly vis-à-vis third countries or indirectly through cooperation with international organisations. Accordingly, suitable relations need to be developed with third countries not participating in the Programme in order to help achieve its objectives, having regard to any agreements of relevance between such countries and the Union. This may involve the attendance of representatives of these third countries at events of mutual interest (such as conferences, workshops and seminars) that take place in countries participating in the Programme. In addition, cooperation should be developed with the international organisations concerned, and in particular the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), with a view to implementing the Programme in a way that takes the role of such organisations into account.
Amendment 156 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) In accordance with Articles 45 and 46 of the Treaty, Regulation (EU) No 492/2011 lays down provisions intended to achieve freedom of movement for workers by ensuring close cooperation between the Member States and with the Commission. EURES should promote better functioning of the labour markets by facilitating transnational geographical mobility of workers, providing greater transparency on the labour market, and ensuring equal treatment for cross-border workers in both social and tax-related terms, ensuring the clearance of vacancies and applications for employment and supporting activities in the areas of recruitment, advice and guidance services at national and cross-border level, thereby contributing to the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy.
Amendment 158 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) EURES’ scope should be widened to develop and support targeted mobility schemes at Union level with a view to filling vacancies where labour market shortcomings have been identified and to stepping up and increasing the number of cross-border EURES partnership projects. In accordance with Article 47 of the Treaty, the scheme should facilitate mobility among young workers, without overlooking the importance of helping them find a first job, most often near their home, with a view to offering them the chance of job mobility in the future.
Amendment 161 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Lack of access to credit is one of the main obstacles to business creation, especially among people furthest from the labour market. Union and national efforts in this area need to be stepped up in order to increase the supply of microfinance, facilitate access to borrowing and meet demand from those who need it most, and in particular unemployed and vulnerable people who wish to start up or develop a micro-enterprise, including on a self- employed basis, but do not have access to credit. As a first step, in 2010 the European Parliament and the Council set up the Facility.
Amendment 166 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) Making microfinance more available on the Union’s young microfinance market calls for the institutional capacity of microfinance providers, and in particular non-bank microfinance institutions that are officially accredited lenders, to be stepped up in line with the Commission Communication 'A European Initiative for the development of micro-credit'10.
Amendment 169 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) Social enterprises are a cornerstone of Europe’s pluralist social market economy, and play an important role in ensuring greater social convergence in Europe. They can act as drivers of social change by offering innovative solutions, and therefore make a valuable contribution to meeting the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy. The programme should improve social enterprises’ access to finance and thereby contribute to the Social Business Initiative launched by the Commission11.
Amendment 175 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17 a (new)
Recital 17 a (new)
(17a) In line with the Europe 2020 strategy, the Programme should tackle the problem of youth unemployment. Despite some positive signs of recovery in 2009, the employment growth was too weak to produce a steady reduction in the high unemployment rate. The average unemployment spells have lengthened, and youth unemployment figures have risen in many Member States, reaching more than 40% in some of them. Although the situation in European countries differs considerably, the average youth unemployment rate in the EU is more than twice as high as the adult unemployment rate. Moreover there are large regional disparities. Especially in rural areas, youth unemployment is raising. Young people aged under 25 years should therefore be given a future and the perspective to play a key role in developing society and economy in Europe, which is of particular importance in this time of crisis.
Amendment 176 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17 b (new)
Recital 17 b (new)
(17b) Tackling youth unemployment and the precariousness of young workers would not only reduce societal costs but also promote social inclusion. Therefore, the Programme should put a special focus on youth employment, by introducing a Youth Initiative axis, which aims at improving the transition from education to decent employment as well as working conditions of young people and reduce early school leaving.
Amendment 182 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) Pursuant to Articles 8 and 10 of the Treaty, the Programme should support the mainstreaming of gender equality and anti- discrimination objectives in all its activities. Regular monitoring and evaluation should be carried out to assess the way in which gender equality and anti- discrimination issues are addressed by the Commission, either directly or indirectly, in the Programme's activities.
Amendment 188 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) Since the objectives of this Regulation cannot be sufficiently achieved at Member State level and can therefore, by reason of their scale and effects, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union, particularly by reallocating unused resources from the Cohesion Fund in each Member State. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve those objectives.
Amendment 194 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation establishes a European Union Programme for Social ChangeEmployment, Social Progress and Innovation (hereinafter ‘the Programme’) which aims to contribute to the improvement, by means of innovative action, and to the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy, its headline targets and Integrated Guidelines by providing financial support for the European Union’s objectives in terms of promoting a high level of employment, guaranteeing adequate social protection, combating social exclusion and poverty and improving working conditions.
Amendment 201 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) ‘Social enterprise’ means an enterprise whose primary objective is to achieve social impact rather than generate profit for owners and stakeholder socially responsible enterprise whose priorities concern society as much as business, and create operational models for social progress. It operates in the market through the production of goods and services in an entrepreneurial and innovative way, and uses surpluses mainly to achieve social goals. It is managed in an accountable and transparent way, in particular by involving workers, customers and stakeholders affected by its business activity.
Amendment 204 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) ‘Microcredit’ means a loan of up to EUR 25 000, which can be revised upwards depending on the economic climate.
Amendment 207 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
(da) ‘Social innovation’ means a ground- breaking social initiative or project, drawn up specifically to address in a meaningful way social needs that have been ignored or insufficiently dealt with, such as help finding a first job, social exclusion, combating poverty or access to health care for disadvantaged people.
Amendment 209 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d b (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d b (new)
(db) ‘Social experimentation’ means promoting and financing projects that are innovative in terms of their approach to society and their implementation method, that facilitate access to employment, improve jobseekers’ living conditions, combat social exclusion and poverty, and whose positive results could be more widely publicised at European level.
Amendment 212 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) The Progress axis, which shall support the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Union employment and social policy and legislation on working conditions and shall promote evidence, social protection, combating poverty and access to health care for disadvantaged people, and shall promote evidence- and social experimentation-based policy-making and innovation, in partnership with the social partners, civil society organisations and other interested parties;
Amendment 215 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) The EURES axis, which shall support activities carried out by the EURES network, i.e. the specialist services designated by the EEA Member States and the Swiss Confederation, together with other interested parties, to develop information exchanges and dissemination and other forms of cooperation, such as cross-border partnerships, to promote workers’targeted geographical mobility for workers;
Amendment 220 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) The Microfinance and Social Entrepreneurship axis, which shall facilitate access to financea suitable level of finance – which can be revised upwards depending on the economic climate – for entrepreneurs, especially those hitherto furthest from the labour market, and for start-up or existing social enterprises.
Amendment 222 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) The Youth Initiative axis, which shall improve the employment and educational situation of young people, in particular those who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Amendment 226 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) Strengthen ownership of the Union objeBring about concrete and coordinated activeons in the employment, social, social exclusion and working conditions fields, at both Union and Member State level, by strengthening ownership among key Union and national policy-makers, as well as other interested parties in order to bring about concrete and coordinated actions at both Union and Member State level, of the Union’s objectives in these fields and promoting close collaboration with the social partners concerned;
Amendment 230 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) SPromote social governance by targeting greater social convergence, stimulating social innovation and supporting the development of adequate, accessible, equitable and efficient social protection systems and labour markets, and facilitate policy reform, by promoting good governance, mutual learning and social innovation;
Amendment 238 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) Promote workers’all initiatives on first jobs and returning the unemployed to work, workers’ targeted geographical mobility and boost employment opportunities by developing Union labour markets that are open and accessible to all;
Amendment 245 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) Ensure a good transition from education to decent employment, prevent early-school leaving and promote quality of traineeships and apprenticeships.
Amendment 249 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) Ensure that the requirements linked to theIn defining and implementing the Union's policies and activities, promotion ofe a high-level of employment, a guarantee of adequate social protection and the fight against social exclusion are taken into account in defining and implementing of the Union's policies and activities.
Amendment 254 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1
1. The financial appropriations for implementing the Programme over the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020 shall amount to EUR 958.19 million14at least EUR 1 000 million14 taking into account the employment situation and the constraints in the multiannual financial framework currently being negotiated.
Amendment 260 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) 60% to the Progress axis, of which at least 1720% shall be allocated to promoting social experimentation as a method for testing and evaluating innovative solutions with a view to scaling them up;
Amendment 264 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) 15 % to the EURES axis, prioritising ‘Your first Eures job’ in particular, and allocating at least 20 % to transnational partnerships;
Amendment 268 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
The remaining 5 % shall be apportioned among the axes on an annual basis in line with policy priorities proposed by the Commission and agreed to by Parliament and the Council.
Amendment 270 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. In addition to the financial appropriations mentioned in paragraph 1, funding shall be provided for the Youth Initiative axis set out in Article 3 (1) (ca). Over the Programme period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020 financial appropriations dedicated to this axis shall amount to [EUR XXX] million.
Amendment 271 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 3
Article 5 – paragraph 3
3. The Commission may make use of the appropriations referred to paragraph 1 to finance technical and/or administrative assistance, in particular relating to auditing, outsourcing of translation, meetings of experts, and information and communication activities for the mutual benefit of the Commission and the beneficiaries, and strengthen checks on expenditure. These appropriations shall be limited and capped.
Amendment 272 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
The following types of actions in its field of expertise may be financed under the Programme:
Amendment 274 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point c
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point c
(c) Eindependent evaluations, and promotion of impact assessments including by private bodies;
Amendment 278 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point e a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) specific innovative actions in the fields of employment, social exclusion, access to healthcare for disadvantaged people, working conditions and social affairs.
Amendment 280 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point b
Amendment 281 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point c
Amendment 284 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point d
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point d
(d) Drafting and publication of guides, reports and educational materials and measures relating to information, communication, and media coverage of initiatives supported by Progress;
Amendment 285 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point e
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point e
Amendment 286 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point e a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point e a (new)
(ea) Formulation and dissemination of a set of social criteria applicable on a voluntary basis by all undertakings within the European Union which could be accorded a designation such as that referred to in Article 16.
Amendment 289 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Amendment 293 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point d
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point d
Amendment 297 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 4
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 4
4. Actions to promote mobility of individuals in the Union, in particular the development of a multilingual digital platform for the clearance of job vacancies and applications, and targeted mobility schemes to fill vacancies where labour market shortcomings have been identifiThe following types of action may be funded aund/oer to help specific groups of workers such as young people.he EURES axis:
Amendment 299 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point a (new)
(a) Actions to promote the mobility of individuals in the Union, in particular the development of a multilingual digital platform for the clearance of job vacancies and applications, and targeted mobility schemes to fill vacancies where labour market shortcomings have been identified and/or to help specific groups of workers such as young people and those seeking their first job.
Amendment 300 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b (new)
(b) Training of EURES legal practitioners and policy advisers;
Amendment 301 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point c (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point c (new)
(c) Capacity-building of national administrations and specialist services responsible for promoting targeted geographical mobility designated by the Member States;
Amendment 302 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point d (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point d (new)
(d) Networking of, and cooperation among, specialist bodies, national, regional, and local authorities, and employment services at European level;
Amendment 304 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 5
5. Support to microfinance and social enterprises in particular through the financial instruments provided for under Title VIII of Part one of Regulation XXX/2012 [New Financial Regulation] on the financial rules applicable to the annual budget of the Union, and grants.The following types of actions may be financed under the heading of ‘microfinance and social enterprises’:
Amendment 306 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point a (new)
(a) Support to microfinance and social enterprises in particular through the financial instruments provided for under Title VIII of Part one of Regulation (EU) No XXX/2012 [New Financial Regulation] on the financial rules applicable to the annual budget of the Union, and grants.
Amendment 307 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point b (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 5 – point b (new)
(b) Capacity-building of national administrations and specialist services responsible for the recognition and promotion of microcredit providers designated by the Member States.
Amendment 313 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 1
Article 8 – paragraph 1
1. The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, shall ensure that activities carried out under the Programme are consistent with, and complementary to, other Union action, in particular within the Structural Funds, under the European Social Fund (ESF), under the ERDF and specific SME programmes, and in such areas as social dialogue, justice and fundamental rights, education, vocational training and youth policy, research and innovation, entrepreneurship, health, enlargement and external relations, and general economic policy.
Amendment 317 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. The results of the actions implemented under the Programme shall be regularly and suitably communicated and disseminated to citizens, the EESC, and representatives of SMEs, the social partners, and the European Parliament in order to maximise their impact, sustainability and Union added value.
Amendment 319 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13
Article 13
With a view to regular monitoring of the Programme and making any adjustments needed to its policy and funding priorities, the Commission shall draw up bieanniual monitoring reports and send them to the European Parliament and the Council and to the CoR and the EESC for information. Such reports shall cover the Programme’s qualitative and quantified results and the extent to which gender equality and anti- discrimination considerations, including accessibility issues, have been addressed through its activities. The reports shall be published and made publicly accessible in order to enhance transparency.
Amendment 329 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) Develop and disseminate high-quality comparative analytical knowledge in order to ensure that Union employment and social policy and working conditions legislation are based on sound evidence and are relevant tosocial policy, to combat exclusion and as regards both access to health care for the most deprived and employment, and working conditions legislation are based on local, regional, or national evidence and are fully suited to the needs of job-seekers and/or employees and to the needs, challenges and conditions inaffecting citizens of the individual Member States and other participating countries;
Amendment 332 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) fFacilitate effective and inclusive information-sharing, mutual learning and dialogue on Union employment and social policyfocusing on innovative actions to promote access to employment and to a first job in particular, mutual learning and dialogue on Union social policy, measures to combat exclusion, and information campaigns on the usefulness of a label for the socially most virtuous enterprises in Europe and on working conditions legislation at Union, national and international level in order to assist the Member States and the other participating countries in developing their policies and in implementing Union law;
Amendment 337 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) Provide policy-makenational, regional, or local actors with financial support to test social and labour market policy reforms, build up the main actors’ capacity to design and implement social experimentation, and make the relevant knowledge and expertise accessible;
Amendment 338 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) pProvide Union and nationorganisations and national, regional, or local organisations with financial support to step up their capacity to develop, innovative social experimentation and promote and support the implementation of Unionsocial policy, of policy to combat exclusion, of employment and social policy, and of Union working conditions legislation.
Amendment 340 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 1 a (new)
In addition to the general objectives set out in Article 4, the specific objectives of the Progress axis shall be to: (a) establish a social label to identify enterprises which endeavour to satisfy social criteria more ambitious than the minimum legal standards in order to progress towards a European social model capable of offering better social protection to employees and meeting the aspirations of consumers and of financial institutions wishing to invest in socially responsible enterprises; (b) establish funding to serve as a ‘personal contribution’ of the recipients when they approach financial institutions; (c) set up one-stop shops bringing together employment services and all other related social services (NGOs, voluntary organisations, social partners, etc.) in the world of work (training, apprenticeship, redeployment, etc.) and in the social field (housing, health, transport, etc.); (d) promote teleworking; (e) encourage and support all initiatives by schools and training centres aiming to work more closely with employment services in order to gear training courses to sectors suffering a shortage of skilled labour; (f) set up business incubators enabling resources to be pooled for start-up purposes, and promote enterprise creation systems by providing technical and financial support and offering the possibility of sponsorship; (g) improve the information provided to citizens on European programmes to assist job-seekers; (h) support initiatives enabling the individual circumstances and the environment of unemployed persons seeking work to be taken into account (mobility assistance, loan of a vehicle, assistance for the purpose of learning to drive, welfare benefits, etc.); (i) combat exclusion and poverty, not least by enabling the most deprived to gain access to health care.
Amendment 342 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 16 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. For the purposes of implementing this Programme, the Commission shall establish cooperation with the European foundations and agencies dealing with social affairs and ensure that this Programme is consistent with, and complementary to, the Grundtvig and Leonardo programmes.
Amendment 343 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 4
Article 16 – paragraph 4
4. The Commission may cooperate with third countries not participating in the Programme. Representatives of such third countries may attend events of mutual interest (such as conferences, workshops and seminars) that take place in countries participating in the Programme and the cost of their attendance may be covered in part by the Programme.
Amendment 347 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) Ensure that job vacancies and applications, and any related information are transparent for the potential applicants and the employers; this shall be achieved through their exchange and dissemination at transnational, interregional and cross- border level using standard interoperability forms; ensure that targeted mobility does not impede access to local employment through training geared to sectors suffering a labour shortage;
Amendment 349 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) Develop services for the recruitment and placing of workers in employment through the clearance ofrecruitment services, including ‘one-stop shop’ guidance and training, and services for the placing of workers in employment in order to meet the specific needs of job-seekers, in particular to facilitate administrative formalities and enable skills to be matched with job vacancies and applications at European level; this shall cover all phases of placement, ranging from pre-recruitment preparation to post- placement assistance with a view to the applicant’s successful integration into the labour market; such services shall include targeted mobility schemes to fill vacancies where labour market shortcomings have been identified and/or help particular groups of workers such as young people. It shall be ensured in particular that these recruitment and placement services do not encourage the ‘brain drain’.
Amendment 362 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a a (new)
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point a a (new)
(aa) the creation and development of micro-enterprises, applying microfinance arrangements enabling the maximum amount to be raised according to the economic situation;
Amendment 365 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
2a. Establish microfinance or funding to serve as a ‘personal contribution’ of the recipients when they approach financial institutions;
Amendment 367 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point 3
3. Support the development of social enterprises and of enterprises awarded a label in recognition of their consistent efforts to fulfil a given number of predetermined ambitious social criteria, in particular by facilitating access to finance.
Amendment 371 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) financing for social enterprises and those awarded a label in recognition of their consistent efforts to fulfil a given number of predetermined ambitious social criteria.
Amendment 377 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 1
Article 26 – paragraph 1
1. The international financial institutions and, where relevant, the fund managers shall send the Commission annual implementation reports setting out the activities granted support and covering their financial implementation and the allocation and accessibility of funding and investment by sector and type of beneficiary, applications accepted or rejected and contracts concluded by the public and private bodies concerned, actions funded and the results, including in terms of social impact, employment creation and sustainability of the businesses support grantedgranted support. The Commission shall regularly send those reports to the European Parliament for information.
Amendment 380 #
Proposal for a regulation
Chapter III a (new)
Chapter III a (new)
Chapter III a (new) Youth Initiative Axis
Amendment 382 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 a (new)
Article 26 a (new)
Article 26 a Thematic sections and financing 1. The Youth Initiative axis for people aged under 25 years shall support actions in one or more of the thematic sections listed in points (a), (b) and (c). Over the entire period of the Programme, the breakdown of the allocation referred to in Article 5(2a) between the different sections shall respect the following lower limits: a) Preventing early-school leaving especially through reintegration into training: 30%; b) Developing skills that are relevant to the labour market in order to bring together more closely worlds of employment, education and training: 20%; c) Supporting a first work experience and on-the-job training in order to offer the opportunity to young people to acquire both the relevant skills and work experience: 20%; d) quality of traineeships and apprenticeships: 20%.
Amendment 384 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 b (new)
Article 26 b (new)
Article 26 b Specific objectives In addition to the general objectives set out in Article 4, the specific objectives of the Youth Initiative axis shall be to: (a) Support the creation of specific innovative programmes in order to fight youth unemployment and promote the transition of young people from education to decent employment in particular in deprived areas and regions with exceptionally high youth unemployment; in this context special attention shall be paid to young people with fewer opportunities, including young women, young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) and young people from ethnic minorities, who might all face multiple discrimination; (b) Support the exchange of best practice and mutual learning in the field of fighting youth unemployment, including the possibility of introducing a youth guarantee which would offer every young person in Europe a job, further education or work-focused training at the latest four months after leaving education or after becoming unemployed; improving the quality of traineeships and apprenticeships and reducing early school leaving; (c) Provide policy-makers with financial support to test social and labour market policy approaches designed to fight youth unemployment, to promote the transition of young people from education to decent employment, improve the quality of traineeships and apprenticeships, reduce early school leaving and make the relevant knowledge and expertise accessible; (d) Provide Union, national and regional organisations with financial support to step up their capacity to develop, promote and support activities in order to fight youth unemployment, to promote the transition of young people from education to decent employment, improve the quality of traineeships and apprenticeships, reduce early school leaving and make the relevant knowledge and expertise accessible.
Amendment 386 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 c (new)
Article 26 c (new)