Activities of Jutta STEINRUCK related to 2011/0270(COD)
Plenary speeches (2)
Programme for social change and innovation (debate)
Programme for social change and innovation (debate)
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 (48)
Amendment 137 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) The Programme should pay particular attention to the territorial dimension of unemployment, poverty and exclusion, especially rising inequalities between and within regions, between rural areas and cities as well as within cities.
Amendment 151 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) CSocial partners and civil society organisations active at various levels can play an important role inplay a key role in promoting quality employment and combating social exclusion and poverty as well as in fighting the crisis, and should be closely associated in all actions designed to meeting the objectives of the Programme, by participating in the policy- making process and contributing to social innovation. Therefore, social partners and civil society organisations should participate in the development, evaluation, field testing and dissemination of new policies. High- quality partnerships should be forged at all political levels. The partnership principle should be strengthened and extended as the guiding principle to all sections of the Programme.
Amendment 171 #
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, 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. The Union's actions should be complementary to the Member States' use of financial instruments for microfinance and social entrepreneurship. The entities entrusted with the implementation of the actions should ensure added value and avoid duplication of financing through Union resources.
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 190 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23 a (new)
Recital 23 a (new)
(23a) In order to ensure appropriate response to the changed needs and corresponding policy priorities during the whole duration of the Programme, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 TFEU should be delegated to the Commission in respect of the allocation of funds to individual sections within the axes of the Programme and of the adoption of multiannual work plans. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level. The Commission, when preparing and drawing-up delegated acts, should ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and Council.
Amendment 192 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 25 a (new)
Recital 25 a (new)
(25a) With regard to the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Programme, the Commission should be assisted, in a consultative capacity, by a strategic advisory board chaired by the Commission and composed of representatives of Member States and other participating countries, trade unions, employers' organisations, civil society organisations and financing institutions, organised at Union level, which are directly or indirectly involved in the implementation of Programme activities.
Amendment 198 #
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 iundertaking that is not listed on a regulated market as defined in point (14) of Article 4 (1) of Directive 2004/39/EC, which either has an annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million, or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 43 million, which is not itself a collective investment undertaking and which: (i) in accordance with its articles of association, statutes or any other statutory document establishing the business, has tohe achieve social impactment of measurable, positive social impacts as a primary objective rather thaen generateing profit for its owners, members and stakeholders. It operates in the market through the, where: – the undertaking provides innovative services or goods with a high social return and/or – the undertaking employs an innovative method of production of goods andor services in an entrepreneurial and innovative way, and uses surpluses mainly to achieve social goals. Itthat embodies its social objective; (ii) reinvests its profits in the first place to achieve its primary objective and has in place predefined procedures and rules for any circumstances in which profits are distributed to shareholders and owners, in order to ensure that any distribution of profits does not undermine the primary objective; (iii) is managed in an accountable and, transparent and democratic way, in particular by involving workers, customers and/or stakeholders affected by its business activityies.
Amendment 206 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d a (new)
Amendment 208 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d b (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d b (new)
(db) 'Social policy experimentation' means project-based field testing of social innovations in order to gather evidence on their effectiveness and feasibility, such projects being limited in time and including a variety of actors of all sizes. The results of the experiments shall help to determine whether and under which conditions social innovations can be implemented on a wider scale. Social policy experimentation shall aim at improving the life of beneficiaries by tailored services or products and shall be developed with the direct involvement of stakeholders and beneficiaries. It requires long-term and sustainable financing of pilot projects, monitoring and evaluation and it shall aim at ensuring the scaling-up of effective approaches.
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 224 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) Strengthen ownership of the Union objectives in the fields of employment, social and working conditions fields among key Union and national policy-makers, as well as other interested parties in order toprotection and inclusion, combating poverty and improving working conditions among policy-makers at all levels, social partners as well as civil society organisations and public bodies in order to meet the social objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy and bring about concrete and coordinated actions at both Union and Member State level;
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 255 #
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 958.19XXX] million14 .
Amendment 256 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Amendment 257 #
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 17% shall be allocated to promoting social experimentation as a method for testing and evaluating innovative solutions with a view to scaling them up;
Amendment 262 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) 158% to the EURES axis;
Amendment 267 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
The remaining 52% shall be apportioned among the axes on an annual basis in line with policy priorities jointly set by the European Parliament and the Council on a proposal from the Commission.
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 288 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point f a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 2 – point f a (new)
(fa) Fostering the prevention culture in the field of health and safety at work and promotion of both mental and physical health within a work setting;
Amendment 290 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b
(b) Capacity-building of national administrations and specialist services responsible for promoting geographical mobility designated by the Member States and microcredit providers,s well as capacity-building of microcredit providers and providers of financing for social enterprises;
Amendment 292 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point 3 – point b a (new)
(ba) Capacity-building of social partner organisations and civil society organisations;
Amendment 310 #
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 under the European Social Fund (ESF) 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, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Horizon 2020 programme for research and innovation, the Programme for the Competitiveness of Enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Amendment 325 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 14 a (new)
Article 14 a (new)
Article 14 a Thematic sections and financing 1. The Progress axis 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(2)(a) between the different sections shall respect the following lower limits: (a) employment, within which at least 10% of the allocation to this section shall be spent to fight youth unemployment; (b) social protection, social inclusion and the reduction and prevention of poverty: 50%; (c) working conditions: 10%. 2. Within the activities in the three thematic sections, at least 25% of the allocation referred to in Article 5(2)(a) shall be spent on social policy experimentation over the entire period of the programme. 3. The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred upon the Commission in accordance with Article 26e concerning the allocation of funds to individual sections within the axis. The Commission is entitled to establish the overall allocation to section (a) and to increase or decrease the allocations to sections (b) and (c) referred to in paragraph 1 by up to 5%, taking due account of specific needs and policy priorities in the areas covered by the Progress axis.
Amendment 333 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) Facilitate effective and inclusive information-sharing, mutual learning and dialogue on Union employment and social policy and working conditions legislation, within the framework of the European Employment Strategy and the Open Method of Coordination in the field of social protection and inclusion and by networking amongst specialised bodies, including the social partners and civil society organisations, on Union policy in the fields of employment, working conditions, social protection, social inclusion and combating poverty as well as legislation in those areas 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 339 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 15 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) Provide Union and national organisationorganisations at all levels with financial support to step up their capacity to develop, promote and support the implementation of Union employment and social policy and working conditions legislationpolicy in the fields of employment, working conditions, social protection, social inclusion and combating poverty as well as legislation in those areas.
Amendment 344 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 19 a (new)
Article 19 a (new)
Article 19 a Thematic sections and financing 1. The EURES axis 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(2)(b) between the different sections shall respect the following lower limits: (a) Information services, counselling and job-matching for mobile workers and employers: 15%; (b) Targeted mobility schemes: 20%; (c) Transnational, sectoral and cross- border cooperation: 40%. 2. The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred upon the Commission in accordance with Article 26e concerning the allocation of funds to individual sections within the axis. The Commission is entitled to increase or decrease the allocations to sections (a), (b) and (c) referred to in paragraph 1 by up to 5%, taking due account of specific needs and policy priorities in the areas covered by the EURES axis.
Amendment 346 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) Ensure that information and advice on job vacancies and applications, and any related information such as living and working conditions including social legislation, labour law and collective agreements in force, as well as opportunities to acquire new skills 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, as well as by individual counselling;
Amendment 352 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 a (new)
Article 20 a (new)
Article 20 a Specific actions In addition to types of actions set out in Article 6, the specific actions under the EURES axis may include: (a) Development of cross-border- partnerships, where requested by services territorially responsible for the border regions; counselling and information possibilities before, during and after the mobility experience for jobseekers, mobile workers, including cross-border workers, seasonal workers, migrant workers, posted workers, and employers in order to promote voluntary geographical mobility on a fair basis; drafting and dissemination of information material to inform jobseekers, mobile workers, employers and EURES advisers on labour law, social security and working conditions in cross-border regions and other Member States; (b) Development and implementation of targeted mobility schemes in cooperation with the Advisory Committee on Freedom of Movement of Workers; (c) Evaluation of activities and placements facilitated by EURES, taking into account qualitative and quantitative criteria alike, focussing on incoming and outgoing placements in individual Member States as well as aggregated placement figures at Union level, thereby taking the changing labour market situations and related mobility patterns into account; development of indicators in cooperation between the Commission, the Member States and the social partners to evaluate the quality of employment and working conditions with regard to EURES jobs.
Amendment 355 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 20 b (new)
Article 20 b (new)
Article 20 b Monitoring of the Brain Drain In order to detect and prevent negative effects of geographical mobility on individual Member States or specific economic sectors the Commission shall, in accordance with Article 12 of Regulation 492/2011, regularly monitor mobility patterns, especially those of skilled workers. In the event of emerging labour market distortions, the Commission shall consider presenting proposals to the European Parliament and Council to counteract such developments.
Amendment 359 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 a (new)
Article 21 a (new)
Article 21 a Thematic sections and financing 1. The Microfinance and Social Entrepreneurship axis shall support actions in one or more of the sections listed in points (a) and (b). Over the entire period of the Programme, the breakdown of the allocation referred to in Article 5(2)(c) between the different sections shall respect the following lower limits: (a) Microfinance for vulnerable groups and micro-enterprises: 45%; (b) Social entrepreneurship: 45%. 2. The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred upon the Commission in accordance with Article 26e concerning the allocation of funds to individual sections within the axis. The Commission is entitled to increase or decrease the allocations to sections (a) and (b) referred to in paragraph 1 by up to 5%, taking due account of specific needs and policy priorities in the areas covered by the Microfinance and Social Entrepreneurship axis.
Amendment 363 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b
(b) micro-enterprises, especially those which employ persons as referred to in point (a)vulnerable persons who are in a disadvantaged labour market position;
Amendment 366 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
Article 22 – paragraph 1 – point 2 a (new)
2a. Support the setting up and development of micro-enterprises benefiting from micro-finance, amongst others by ensuring accompanying mentoring and training.
Amendment 368 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 22 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 22 – paragraph 1 a (new)
In order to ensure complementarity, the Commission and the Member States will closely coordinate in their respective area of competence these actions with those undertaken in the framework of cohesion policy and at national level. Such actions shall aim to stimulate the supply of funded risk sharing instruments, such as guarantees and counter-guarantees, equity and debt finance.
Amendment 373 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – paragraph 1
Article 25 – paragraph 1
1. In order to implement the instruments and grants referred to in Article 6(5), the Commission may conclude agreements with the entities listed in Article 55(1) (b) (iii) and (iv) of Regulation XXX/2012 [New Financial Regulation 2012] on the financial rules applicable to the annual budget of the Union, and in particular with the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund. Such agreements shall set out detailed provisions on implementing the tasks entrusted to those financial institutions, including provisions specifying the need to ensure additionality and coordination with existing Union and national financial instruments and to apportion the resources in a balanced way among the Member States and the other participating countries. Financial instruments, such as funded risk- sharing instruments like guarantees and counter-guarantees, equity instruments and debt instruments, may be delivered through investment in a dedicated investment vehicleby a fund, which can be co-financed by financial institutions, or by direct conversion of the Programme funds into financial instruments such as guarantees.
Amendment 374 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – Paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 25 – Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The fund shall provide loans, risk- sharing instruments and equity capital for intermediaries and/or direct financing for social enterprises. Equity capital can be provided amongst others in the form of open equity participations, dormant holdings, shareholder loans as well as combinations of different types of equity participations issued to the investors.
Amendment 375 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 25 – Paragraph 1 b (new)
Article 25 – Paragraph 1 b (new)
1b. The conditions, such as interest rates, for micro-credits directly or indirectly supported in the framework of this axis shall be reasonable and proportionate with regard to underlying risks and actual costs related to a credit as well as with regard to the attractiveness of loans for borrowers.
Amendment 380 #
Proposal for a regulation
Chapter III a (new)
Chapter III a (new)
Chapter III a (new) Youth Initiative Axis
Amendment 381 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 a (new)
Article 26 a (new)
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)
Amendment 387 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 d (new)
Article 26 d (new)
Amendment 388 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 e (new)
Article 26 e (new)
Article 26 e Delegation of powers to the Commission The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 26f concerning the allocation of funds to individual sections within the axes as stipulated in Articles 14a, 19a, 21a and 26a, and the adopt multiannual work plans as stipulated in Article 26d.
Amendment 389 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 f (new)
Article 26 f (new)
Amendment 390 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 g (new)
Article 26 g (new)
Amendment 391 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 h (new)
Article 26 h (new)
Article 26 h Implementing powers conferred on the Commission 1. The annual work plans referred to in Article 26d shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 26i(3): 2. All other measures necessary for the implementation of the Programme shall be adopted in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 26i(2).
Amendment 392 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 26 i (new)
Article 26 i (new)
Article 26 i Committee 1. The Commission shall be assisted by a committee. That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011. 2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply. 3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.