Activities of Jean LAMBERT related to 2016/0256(COD)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Foundation for the improvement of living and working conditions (Eurofound), and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1365/75 PDF (798 KB) DOC (116 KB)
Amendments (20)
Amendment 46 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The European Foundation for the improvement of living and working conditions (Eurofound) was established by Regulation (EEC) No 1365/753 to contribute to the planning and establishment of better living and working conditions through action designed to increase and disseminate knowledge likely to assist this development. Eurofound should provide policy makers with expertise at Union, national and regional level, including the social partners and civil society organisations. _________________ 3 Regulation (EEC) No 1365/75 of the Council of 26 May 1975 on the creation of a European Foundation for the improvement of living and working conditions (OJ L 139, 30.5.1975, p.1).
Amendment 47 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Since its establishment in 1975 Eurofound has played an important role in supporting the improvement of living and working conditions throughout the European Union. At the same time the concepts and significance of living and working conditions have evolved under the influence of societal developments and fundamental changes in the labour markets, working and living conditions. In this light terminological adjustments are required in describing the objectives and tasks of Eurofound as compared to Regulation (EEC) No 1365/75.
Amendment 53 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5 a (new)
Recital 5 a (new)
(5a) Additionally it is of importance that Eurofound works closely with related bodies at international, EU and national level providing analysis and knowledge on social, employment and work related policies (such as the Economic and Social Committees and the ILO). In order to obtain the maximum benefit, it is appropriate that Eurofound establish links with national bodies (tripartite where possible) where appropriate. It is also important that the Agency has very close functional links with the EU Committees on Employment (EMCO) and Social Protection (SPC), to ensure coordination and synergies, as well as with ILO.
Amendment 57 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) In order to ensure its full autonomy and independence and to enable it to properly perform the objectives and tasks assigned to it by this Regulation, Eurofound should be granted an adequate and autonomous budget with revenue stemming essentially from a contribution from the general budget of the Union. The Union budgetary procedure should be applicable as far as the Union contribution and any other subsidies chargeable to the general budget of the Union are concerned. The accounts should be audited by the Court of Auditors.
Amendment 58 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6 a (new)
Recital 6 a (new)
(6a) Every effort should be made for the application of the financial rules to be proportionate to the size and budget of the Agency so as not to impose excessive burdens, while still maintaining sound practice.
Amendment 60 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
2. The objectives of the Agency shall be to increase and disseminate knowledge to assist the Commission, ocontribute to the planning and establishment of better living and working conditions. For this objective, it shall increase and disseminate knowledge and research-based policy advice to assist ther EU institutions and bodies, Member States, regions and social partners in shaping and implementing policies aimed at the improvement of living and working conditions, in supporting employment policies and in promoting the dialogue between management and labour.
Amendment 68 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point e a (new)
(ea) based on its analysis and research, provide policy makers - including social partners - with research-based policy proposals in the field of working and living conditions;
Amendment 74 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 2
Article 2 – paragraph 2
2. In carrying out its tasks, the Agency shall maintain a close dialogue particularly with specialised bodies, whether public or private, public authorities and workers’ and employers’ organisations. The Agency, without prejudice to its own aims, shall ensure cooperation with other European Union Agencies aimed at avoiding overlaps and promoting synergy and complementarity in their activities, in particular with the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training and, where relevant, with other EU Agencies. Where efficient and effective, synergetic and complementary, it shall seek to cooperate with international actors on working and living conditions.
Amendment 76 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 a (new)
Article 2 a (new)
Council Regulation (EC) No 168/2007
Article 16
Article 16
Article 2 a Independence and public interests 1. The Agency shall fulfil its tasks in complete independence. 2. The members and alternate members of the Management Board and the Director shall undertake to act in the public interest. For this purpose, they shall make a statement of interests indicating either the absence of any interests which might be considered prejudicial to their independence or any direct or indirect interests which might be considered prejudicial to their independence. The statement shall be made in writing when taking office and shall be revised if changes occur with regard to the interests. It shall be published by the Agency on its website.
Amendment 96 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 3 a (new)
Where, based on proposals by the Member States and the social partners, the gender balance is highly disproportionate, i.e. less than 30% of one gender would be represented on the Management Board, the Council shall delay the appointment until this is rectified and shall invite Member States to bring forward more balanced proposals.
Amendment 99 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 3
Article 4 – paragraph 3
3. Members of the Management Board and their alternates shall be appointed in light of their knowledge in the field of social and work-related policies, taking into account relevant managerial, administrative and budgetary skills. All parties represented in the Management Board shall make efforts to limit turnover of their representatives, in order to ensure continuity of the board’s work. All parties shall aim to achieve a balanced representation between men and women on the Management Board. If the gender balance is highly disproportionate, i.e. less than 30% of one gender are represented on the Management Board, all appointing parties are required to suggest different representatives.
Amendment 107 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4
Article 4 – paragraph 4
4. The term of office for members and their alternates shall be four years. That term shall be extendablrenewable once. Upon the expiry of their term of office or in the event of their resignation, members shall remain in office until their appointments are renewed or until they are replaced.
Amendment 115 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point f
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point f
(f) adopt rules for the prevention and management of conflicts of interest in respect of its members and independent experts as well as for seconded national experts under Article 20;
Amendment 127 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 130 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Where exceptional circumstances so require, the Management Board may, by way of a decisiona majority of two-thirds of the members entitled to vote, temporarily suspend the delegation of the appointing authority powers to the Executive Director and those sub-delegated by the latter and exercise them itself or delegate them to one of its members or to a staff member other than the Executive Directorconferred by the Staff Regulations to the Executive Director and give them to another senior member of the Agency’s management for a temporary period.
Amendment 136 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 2
The resource programming shall be updated annually. The strategic programming shall be updated where appropriate, and in particular to address the outcome of the evaluation referred to in Article 28. Where new tasks are conferred upon the agency by EU institutions or European legislation, this shall be taken into account in the resource and financial programming.
Amendment 151 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 5
Article 10 – paragraph 5
5. The term of office of members of the Executive Board shall be two years. That term shall be extendablrenewable once. The term of office of members of the Executive Board shall end when their membership of the Management Board ends.
Amendment 156 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 1
Article 11 – paragraph 1
1. The Executive Director shall manage the Agency. The Executive Director shall be accountable to the Management Board. The Executive Director shall exercise, with respect to the staff of the agency, the powers conferred by the Staff Regulations on the Appointing Authority and by the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants on the Authority Empowered to Conclude a Contract of Employment (“the appointing authority powers”).
Amendment 166 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 5 – point j
Article 11 – paragraph 5 – point j
(j) preparing the Agency’s draft statement of estimates of revenue and expenditure and implementing its budget, as part of the Agency’s programming document.
Amendment 187 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 23 – paragraph 3
Article 23 – paragraph 3
3. The translation services required for the functioning of the Agency shallmay be provided by the Translation Centre of the bodies of the European Union or where duly justified by other translation services.