Activities of Marian HARKIN 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 (24)
Amendment 131 #
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 ChangeProgress 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 inclusion8 (hereinafter ‘the Facility’).
Amendment 142 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) In line with the Europe 2020 Strategy, the Programme should pursue a coherent approach to promoting sustainable employment and combating social exclusion and poverty. Its implementation should be rationalised and simplified, notably through a set of common provisions including, inter alia, 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 administrative burden 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 mobility schemes. The Programme should be a one-stop shop for microfinance providers at community level, providing financing for micro-credit, capacity building and technical assistance. Lastly, the Programme should provide for budgetary flexibility through the establishment of a reserve to be allocated on an annual basis in order to respond to policy priorities.
Amendment 152 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Civil society organisations and social partners active at various levels can play an important role in meeting the objectives of the Programme, by participating in the policy-making process and contributing to social innovation.
Amendment 163 #
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 and meet demand from those who need it most, and in particular unemployed and financially 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 173 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) In order to capitalise on the experience of international financial institutions, and in particular the European Investment Bank Group, action involving microfinance and social entrepreneurship should be implemented by the Commission indirectly by entrusting budget implementations tasks to financial institutions in accordance with the financial regulation. Using Union resources concentrates leverage from international financial institutions and other investors, creates synergies between Member State and Community action, unifies approaches and thus improves access to finance for micro- enterprises, including the self-employed and social enterprises. The Union contribution thus assists in the development of the emerging social business sector and the microfinance market in the Union and encourages cross- border activities.
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 186 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) Pursuant to Article 9 of the Treaty, the Programme should ensure that the requirements linked to the promotion of a high-level of sustainable employment, a guarantee of adequate social protection and the fight against social exclusion are taken into account in defining and implementing the Union's policies and activities.
Amendment 196 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Regulation establishes a European Union Programme for Social ChangeProgress and Innovation (hereinafter ‘the Programme’) which aims to contribute 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 213 #
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 policpolicy, social policy, social inclusion policy and policy in the area of combating poverty and legislation on working conditions and shall promote evidence-based policy-making and innovation, in partnership with the social partners, civil society organisations and other interested parties;
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 239 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) Promote workers' geographical mobility and boost employment opportunities by developing European 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 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 320 #
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 an initial monitoring report after 1 year and thereafter biennial monitoring reports and send them to the European Parliament and the Council. Such reports shall cover the Programme's results and the extent to which gender equality and anti- discrimination considerations, including accessibility issues, have been addressed through its activities.
Amendment 341 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 16 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) EPublic and private employment services;
Amendment 350 #
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 sustainable employment through the clearance of 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.
Amendment 356 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 21 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) EPublic and private employment services;
Amendment 358 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 2 – point c
Article 21 – paragraph 2 – point c
(c) Social partner organisations and other interested parrelevant parties including regional and local authorities.
Amendment 379 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 – paragraph 2
Article 26 – paragraph 2
2. The information provided in these annual implementation reports shall feed into the biennial monitoring reports provided for in Article 13. Such monitoring reports shall include the annual reports provided for in Article 8(2) of Decision No 283/2010/EU.
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)