PURPOSE: the establishment of “Progress”.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision 1672/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity – Progress.

BACKGROUND: the Community has decided to adopt a financial programme to focus specifically on employment. It is based on the Lisbon Agenda, agreed upon in 2000, and which sets out an ambitious target of making the EU the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion. One of the key targets set by the Lisbon Agenda is to seek conditions for full employment; to encourage improvements in the quality and productivity at work; to promote social cohesion and to foster an inclusive labour market. In March 2006 the Heads of State reiterated their commitment to the Lisbon Agenda.

In 2000 the Lisbon Council concluded that the number of people living below the poverty line and in social exclusion was unacceptable. They therefore agreed to make progress in the eradication of poverty through the setting of adequate objectives. At the same time it was agreed that policies for combating social exclusion would be based on the open method of co-ordination. The other issues addressed by the Lisbon Agenda include demographic changes and the impact this will have on pensions and the impact of migration on the EU workforce.

The adoption of this act must also be viewed within the context of the “European Employment Strategy”, which seeks to co-ordinate Member States’ employment policies through commonly agreed employment guidelines and recommendations.

With the adoption of the new Financial Framework Programme 2007-2013, a series of new programmes has been adopted in several areas including employment and social affairs. Iin line with the Commission's express intention of consolidating and rationalising Community funding instruments, this Decision should establish a single and streamlined programme providing for the continuation and development of the activities launched on the basis of :

Council Decision 2000/750/EC establishing a Community action programme to combat discrimination (2001 to 2006); Council Decision 2001/51/EC establishing a Programme relating to the Community framework strategy on gender equality (2001-2005); European Parliament and Council Decision 50/2002/EC establishing a programme of Community action to encourage cooperation between Member States to combat social exclusion, 1145/2002/EC on Community incentive measures in the field of employment; 848/2004/EC establishing a Community action programme to promote organisations active at European level in the field of equality between men and women, as well as those activities undertaken at Community level in relation to working conditions.

CONTENT: this Decision establishes: the Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity to be known, and referred to, as “Progress”. Its purpose is to support, through financial means, the implementation of the EU’s employment and social affairs objectives and to thereby contribute to the achievement of the Lisbon objectives. To realise this ambition, Progress has a budget of EUR 657 590 000 , based on 2004 prices. The programme will run from 1 January 2007 – 31 December 2013. The programme’s more general objectives are :

to improve Member States’ understanding and knowledge of the employment situation prevailing in the other Member States; to support the development of statistical tools and methods and common indicators; to support and monitor the implementation of Community law; to promote networking, mutual learning, identification and dissemination of good practice at a European level; to enhance the awareness of Community policies and objectives with the general public and stakeholders; to boost the capacity of key European level networks.

Progress will be structured around five key sections. They are as follows:

1. Employment: This section will support the implementation of the European Employment Strategy (EES). It will do so by, inter alia , financing studies; by monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the European Employment Guidelines and Recommendations; by organising exchanges on good practice and innovative approaches; by raising awareness; and by promoting the debate on employment. It will receive 23% of the total allocated budget.

2. Social protection and inclusion: This section will support the implementation of the open method of co-ordination (OMC) in the field of social protection and inclusion. It will do so by improving the understanding of social exclusion; poverty, social protection and inclusion policies; by monitoring and evaluation implementation of the OMC; organising exchanges on good practice; by raising awareness of social protection and inclusion; and by developing the capacity of key European level networks to support Community policies. It will receive 30% of the total allocated budget.

3. Working conditions: This section will support improvements in the working environment and working conditions, including health and safety at work and reconciling work and family life. It will do so through studies and research into working conditions; supporting implementation of Community labour law; initiating preventative actions; by promoting a culture of prevention vis-à-vis health and safety at work; and by raising awareness of the issued involved. It will receive 10% of the total allocated budget.

4. Anti-discrimination and diversity: This section will support the effective implementation of the principle of non-discrimination and it will help support its mainstreaming in all EU policies. It will do so by improving understanding of the principle through studies; by supporting implementation of Community anti-discrimination legislation; by raising awareness of discrimination; and by developing the capacity of key European level networks working in the field of anti-discrimination. It will receive 23% of the total budget.

5. Gender equality: This section will support the effective implementation of the principle of gender equality and gender mainstreaming in all EU policies. It will do so by improving understanding of gender issues; by supporting implementation of Community gender equality legislation through effective monitoring, by holding seminars and networking functions; by raising awareness and by developing the capacity of key European level networks working in the field of gender equality. It will receive 12% of the total budget.

The types of actions funded are:

Analytical activities: such as collating data; the development and dissemination of common methodologies, indicators and benchmarks, carrying out studies and the dissemination of results and the publication of guides, reports etc.

Mutual learning, awareness and dissemination activities : such as identification of, and exchanges on, good practices and innovative approaches; the organisation of conferences and seminars; the organisation of media campaigns and events; the compilation and publication of materials needed to disseminate information on Progress.

Support for the main actors: such as the running costs of key European level networks whose activities are linked to the implementation of Progress; organising working groups for national experts; funding specialised seminars; networking among specialised bodies at a European level; funding European level observatories; and funding the exchange of personnel between national administration.

The programme will be open to all public and/or private bodies, actors and institutions including, the Member States; public employment services and their agencies; local and regional authorities; specialised bodies provided for under Community law; the social partners; NGO’s; higher education institutions and research institutes; experts in evaluation; national statistical offices and the media. In addition, Progress will be open to EFTA/EEA and the accession and candidate countries associated with the EU as well as the western Balkan countries including in the stabilisation and association process.

Activities will be financed either through a service contract or through partial support following a call for proposals.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 5 December 2006.

Decision 2006/1672
OJ L 315 15.11.2006, p. 0001-0008

03652/2006

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Karin JÖNS (PES, DE) approving the Council's common position on the 2007-2013 Progress programme.

T6-0378/2006

Debate in Parliament

A6-0300/2006

A6-0300/2006

The committee adopted the report by Karin JÖNS (PES, DE) approving unamended (under the 2nd reading of the codecision procedure) the Council's common position on the 2007-2013 Progress programme for employment and social solidarity.

PE374.368

The Commission supports the common position, which reflects a compromise which the Commission, the Council and the European Parliament can agree on. It incorporates a large majority of Parliament’s amendments in the text, either in full or using different wording. On the whole, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission had convergent views on this Programme.

The Commission has added a declaration stating that non-governmental organisations set up at national level in the Member States may take part in the programme.

COM(2006)0440
EUR-Lex

On the whole, the Council’s common position converges with the positions of the commission and the European parliament at first reading. The Council’s text takes on a significant number of the European Parliament's amendments, in whole, in part or in spirit.

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The Programme's budget of 657.59 million euro was agreed by the three institutions in the context of the inter-institutional agreement on the Financial Perspectives for the years 2007-2013. This corresponds to EUR 743.25 million at indexed prices.

The Council has made a major modification to the Commission's proposal: the common position, in Article 17(2), allocates the overall budget fully between the different sections of the Programme. The Commission had initially proposed a ten per cent unallocated reserve, to be distributed between the fives sections during the period of the Programme's implementation. The Parliament wished to increase the funding to two sections, Section 2 (social protection and inclusion) and Section 5 (gender equality). The Council accepts this amendment fully. It also wishes to increase the funding to two other sections, i.e. Sections 1 (employment) and 3 (working conditions). As a consequence, the Council considers that it is best to allocate all the funding from the outset of the Programme, as a relatively small reserve would be unnecessarily cumbersome to allocate annually. The Council considers that this full allocation of the funding follows the aim of the European Parliament which, in its amendments, stressed the importance of transparency in the budgetary decision-making.

The Council has also accommodated the second concern of the European Parliament and the Commission: both institutions had proposed that the distribution of funding between the policy sections be decided in the framework of the annual budgetary procedure. The Council was originally of the view that the distribution of the funding should be the responsibility of the committee to be set up to assist the Commission with the implementation of the Programme. As the funding has now been allocated, the common position is now fully in line with the position of the European Parliament and of the Commission, thereby adding more transparency to the way the Programme, and in particular the budgetary issues, will be implemented.

Lastly, certain amendments made by Parliament were rejected by the Council. These include the following:

-the reference to reconciling work and family life;

-the reference to an annual forum to evaluate the Social agenda and the Programme;

-certain references to the Social Agenda, which were considered superfluous;

-some amendments on budgetary procedure, which have become redundant now that all the Programme's funding is distributed between the different sections.

06282/3/2006
OJ C 238 03.10.2006, p. 0031-0041 E

On the whole, the Council’s common position converges with the positions of the commission and the European parliament at first reading. The Council’s text takes on a significant number of the European Parliament's amendments, in whole, in part or in spirit.

.

The Programme's budget of 657.59 million euro was agreed by the three institutions in the context of the inter-institutional agreement on the Financial Perspectives for the years 2007-2013. This corresponds to EUR 743.25 million at indexed prices.

The Council has made a major modification to the Commission's proposal: the common position, in Article 17(2), allocates the overall budget fully between the different sections of the Programme. The Commission had initially proposed a ten per cent unallocated reserve, to be distributed between the fives sections during the period of the Programme's implementation. The Parliament wished to increase the funding to two sections, Section 2 (social protection and inclusion) and Section 5 (gender equality). The Council accepts this amendment fully. It also wishes to increase the funding to two other sections, i.e. Sections 1 (employment) and 3 (working conditions). As a consequence, the Council considers that it is best to allocate all the funding from the outset of the Programme, as a relatively small reserve would be unnecessarily cumbersome to allocate annually. The Council considers that this full allocation of the funding follows the aim of the European Parliament which, in its amendments, stressed the importance of transparency in the budgetary decision-making.

The Council has also accommodated the second concern of the European Parliament and the Commission: both institutions had proposed that the distribution of funding between the policy sections be decided in the framework of the annual budgetary procedure. The Council was originally of the view that the distribution of the funding should be the responsibility of the committee to be set up to assist the Commission with the implementation of the Programme. As the funding has now been allocated, the common position is now fully in line with the position of the European Parliament and of the Commission, thereby adding more transparency to the way the Programme, and in particular the budgetary issues, will be implemented.

Lastly, certain amendments made by Parliament were rejected by the Council. These include the following:

-the reference to reconciling work and family life;

-the reference to an annual forum to evaluate the Social agenda and the Programme;

-certain references to the Social Agenda, which were considered superfluous;

-some amendments on budgetary procedure, which have become redundant now that all the Programme's funding is distributed between the different sections.

06282/3/2006

11136/2006

Package of legislative proposals following the Interinstitutional Agreement on

budgetary discipline and sound financial management

The conclusion on 17 May 2006 by the Commission, the Council and the European Parliament of the agreement on the 2007-2013 financial framework (Interinstitutional Agreement on budgetary discipline and sound financial management – please refer to procedure ACI/2004/2099 ) marks a real success for Europe, providing a stable financial framework for the political priorities of the enlarged Union for the next seven years. It is now up to the institutions and Member States to ensure that the financial resources available are used and implemented as well as possible. Action at European level must contribute true added value to that taken at national, regional or local level and must have an optimum impact on each European player. The Commission is ready to play a full role in all these areas.

The agreement marks a decisive step forward towards the ultimate objective of providing the Union with operational programmes by the beginning of 2007. Work must now be continued on each legislative act. To this end, the Commission intends to continue to provide momentum and act as a facilitator, as it has been doing since the start of the negotiations.

As part of the negotiations on the 2007-2013 financial framework, in October 2005 the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission adopted a joint declaration in which they undertook to continue work on the legislative proposals currently being discussed and then, once the interinstitutional agreement had been adopted and on the basis of amended proposals by the Commission, to reach agreement on each of these proposals. Thus, in accordance with Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty and in order to facilitate this phase for each legislative act, the Commission has adopted a total of 30 proposals, 26 of which are amended and 4 new.

The proposals amended as a result of the IIA are as follows:

Programmes concerning the external policy of the Union and development cooperation:

Ø COD/2004/0219 ( European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument )

Ø COD/2004/0220 ( development co-operation and economic co-operation instrument )

Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows Programme (JHA):

Ø COD/2005/0046 (European Refugee Fund)

Ø COD/2005/0047 ( External borders fund, 2007-2013 )

Ø COD/2005/0049 ( European Return Fund )

Fundamental Rights and Justice Programme (JHA):

Ø COD/2005/0037/A (DAPHNE )

Ø COD/2005/0037/B ( drugs prevention and information )

RDT Framework Programme and specific programmes :

Ø COD/2005/0043 ( RDT Framework Programme )

Ø CNS/2005/0044 (Nuclear Research Programme )

Ø CNS/2005/0184 ( Joint Research Centre - JRC )

Ø CNS/2005/0185 ( Transnational cooperation specific programme )

Ø CNS/2005/0186 ( Specific programme Ideas, frontier research )

Ø CNS/2005/0187 (S pecific programme supporting researchers )

Ø CNS/2005/0188 ( RDT Capacities specific programme )

Ø CNS/2005/0189 ( specific programme direct actions by the Joint Research Centre JRC )

Ø CNS/2005/0190 ( fusion energy, nuclear fission and radiation protection specific programme)

Employment and social cohesion Programme: COD/2004/0158

Programmes in the fields of youth and education:

Ø COD/2004/0152 ( Youth )

Ø COD/2004/0153 ( Education – lifelong learning )

Consumer Protection and Public Health Framework programme:

Ø COD/2005/0042/A ( Public health )

Ø COD/2005/0042/B ( Consumers )

Programme in the fields of energy, environment and transport :

Ø COD/2004/0218 ( LIFE+)

Ø COD/2004/0154 ( TransEuropean networks in the areas of energy and transport )

Ø CNS/2004/0221 ( Decommissioning of the Bohunice nuclear plant )

GALILEO ( radio-navigation by satellite ): COD/2004/0156

In terms of new proposals , the Commission has already submitted three in the area of agriculture and rural development policy and fisheries and aquaculture policy:

Ø CNS/2006/0081 ( fisheries and aquaculture )

Ø CNS/2006/0082 ( rural development )

Ø CNS/2006/0083 ( common agricultural policy ).

Certain legislative acts do not form part of this package of measures, in particular those on which political agreement has been reached since 17 May. For these measures, the Commission has played a full part in helping to bring about agreement between the arms of the legislative authority. The same applies to the acts for which conclusion of the interinstitutional agreement does not modify the Commission’s original proposal. For all the others, which are included in the package presented, the changes proposed by the Commission take account of the content of the interinstitutional agreement adopted, either in a simplified form, where the financial resources allocated to each programme must be adapted, or in a more detailed form where the structure or even the content of the act must be revised. It should also be noted that four of the amended proposals contain amendments already voted on by the European Parliament at first reading and that one proposal has been divided into two amended proposals in response to a request by the Council and the European Parliament, although Parliament has not yet proceeded to a first reading of this proposal.

Based on these amended proposals, the Commission calls on the European Parliament and the Council to continue their discussions of these proposals and conclude them as soon as possible in order to ensure that all the legal instruments are available in time for the effective launch of the programmes in January 2007.

COM(2006)0239
EUR-Lex

On 29 September 2004, the Commission published a proposal to establish a Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity – PROGRESS : please refer to the Commission’s initial proposal (see summary of 14/07/2006).

Initially, the financial envelope provided for this programme was set at EUR 660.5 million.

Following the signing of the Interinstitutional Agreement (IIA) on 17 May 2006 concerning the 2007-2013 financial framework, the Commission has adopted new proposals relating to the new financial instruments in the area of social policy incorporating, in particular, the adjusted amounts for each programme proposed : for a more detailed account of the amounts, please refer to the financial statement .

Concerning the financial resources, the new amount to be taken into consideration for PROGRESS shall be EUR 743.25 million (for further details, please refer to the financial statement) .

EUR-Lex
COM(2004)0488/2

The Council reached a partial political agreement on a draft European Parliament and Council Decision establishing a programme for employment and social solidarity (PROGRESS). The "partial" nature of this agreement is due to the fact that the budgetary aspects have been excluded pending the outcome of discussions on the future Community financial framework (Financial Perspective 2007-2013). It is therefore expected that the Council will adopt this text as a common position after finalisation of the budget issue and of matters inextricably linked with it. The aim of the programme is to financially support the implementation of the objectives of the European Union in the employment and social affairs area and thereby contribute to the achievement of the Lisbon Strategy.

2699

The European Parliament adopted 72 amendments. The Commission considers that a large number of the European Parliament's amendments are acceptable in full, in principle or in part, as they improve its proposal and maintain the aims and political viability of the proposal. It should be noted that the Commission has not accepted Parliament’s proposals on the financial framework. Nor has the Commission accepted amendments on the amount permitted for co-financing or the lower limits for the financial breakdown between the different sections.

The Commission accepts the majority of the amendments, including the following:

-Inclusion of the Community action programme to promote organisations active at European level in the field of equality between men and women.

-Stress on the fact that the Council decided to use now the open method of coordination in the social protection and social inclusion area.

- Attention should be drawn to the specific situation of migrants.

-Emphasis on the importance of the need to reconcile family and professional life

- Inclusion of references to equal treatment between women and men and the principle of gender mainstreaming.

-References to the promotion of networking, mutual learning and dissemination of innovative approaches.

-Mention of the obligation to disseminate and publish results and to regularly exchange views with stakeholders.

-"Common" indicators must be developed, as only commonly agreed indicators provide the necessary comparability.

-Mention of new and innovative approaches that have to be developed.

-Mention of implementation of national reform programmes.

- Mention of the use of statistics and of indicators broken down by gender and age group.

- Support the implementation of EU labour law through holding seminars for those working in the field.

-Emphasis on the key role of social partners.

- Inclusion of the obligation to assess the effectiveness of existing legislation.

-Support the implementation of EU anti-discrimination legislation through holding seminars for those working in the field.

-Stresses the key role of NGOs in the field of anti-discrimination

-PROGRESS should also operate at transnational level.

-PROGRESS should also foster mutual learning and the exchange of good practice and innovative approaches.

- Inclusion of the organisation of an annual forum for all actors involved that should help to promote dialogue, publicise the programme’s results and discuss future priorities

-Stress on the importance of greater attention that should be paid to the specific circumstances of each Member State, given the diversity of situations existing in the Union.

-The programme shall not finance any measures for the preparation and implementation of European Years

-Expanding the list of matters to be dealt with by the Committee assisting the Commission.

-The programme should be consistent with regional policy and general economic policy as well as with the other areas mentioned, as both may have important implications for the success of the programme’s aims.

-Avoid overlapping responsibilities with other relevant Union and Community actions.

-Ensure the fact that the allocation of the appropriations to the individual sections of the programme is transparent and is determined by the Budgetary Authority

-The European Parliament must monitor the implementation of PROGRESS.

COM(2005)0536
EUR-Lex

SP(2005)4139

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Karin JÖNS (PES, DE) amending the financial framework of the Programme from EUR 628.8 million to EUR 854.2 million, and made other amendments with a view to take into account gender mainstreaming, the rights of disabled people, the role of the European Parliament and NGO’s. (Please see the summary of 15/06/2005.) In addition, the following principal amendments were made:

-The involvement of non-governmental organisations active at regional, national and EU levels is important for the successful implementation of the Programme’s general objectives, and they should therefore play a substantial part, through relevant EU networks, in devising, implementing and monitoring the Programme.

- The principle of gender mainstreaming must be taken into account in all Programme sections and activities.

-The results achieved in the Programme sections and activities shall be disseminated to those involved and to the public as appropriate. The Commission shall also provide the necessary links to the European Parliament , the relevant NGOs and the social partners at EU level and conduct regular exchanges of views with them.

-Raising awareness, disseminating information and promoting discussion on the general question of illegal employment in order to ensure that the issues of health and safety and working conditions which affect migrants and EU citizens alike will be dealt with and the relevant rules met.

-Cooperation between institutions and local national actors was emphasised.

- Full access to the activities and results of the Programme shall be given to disabled people. Their particular needs shall be taken into account, including the compensation of additional costs incurred by them in meeting their access needs.

-Cofinancing may not exceed, as a general rule, 90% of the total expenditure incurred by the recipient rather than 80% as in the original proposal.

-Comitology provisions are amended, so that the committee assisting the Commission will be divided into five subcommittees corresponding to the five sections of the Programme.

-The lower limits for the financial breakdown between the different sections have been changed;

-The Commission must produce the following reports: by 31 December 2010 an interim report evaluating the results achieved and the qualitative and quantitative aspects of implementing the Programme; in the context of proposals for the next financial perspectives, by 31 December 2011 a communication on continuing the Programme; and by 31 December 2015, with the assistance of external experts, an ex-post evaluation report to measure the impact of the Programme objectives and its EU added value.

T6-0320/2005
OJ C 193 17.08.2006, p. 0027-0099 E

Results of vote in Parliament

Debate in Parliament

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Karin JÖNS (PES, DE) amending the financial framework of the Programme from EUR 628.8 million to EUR 854.2 million, and made other amendments with a view to take into account gender mainstreaming, the rights of disabled people, the role of the European Parliament and NGO’s. (Please see the summary of 15/06/2005.) In addition, the following principal amendments were made:

-The involvement of non-governmental organisations active at regional, national and EU levels is important for the successful implementation of the Programme’s general objectives, and they should therefore play a substantial part, through relevant EU networks, in devising, implementing and monitoring the Programme.

- The principle of gender mainstreaming must be taken into account in all Programme sections and activities.

-The results achieved in the Programme sections and activities shall be disseminated to those involved and to the public as appropriate. The Commission shall also provide the necessary links to the European Parliament , the relevant NGOs and the social partners at EU level and conduct regular exchanges of views with them.

-Raising awareness, disseminating information and promoting discussion on the general question of illegal employment in order to ensure that the issues of health and safety and working conditions which affect migrants and EU citizens alike will be dealt with and the relevant rules met.

-Cooperation between institutions and local national actors was emphasised.

- Full access to the activities and results of the Programme shall be given to disabled people. Their particular needs shall be taken into account, including the compensation of additional costs incurred by them in meeting their access needs.

-Cofinancing may not exceed, as a general rule, 90% of the total expenditure incurred by the recipient rather than 80% as in the original proposal.

-Comitology provisions are amended, so that the committee assisting the Commission will be divided into five subcommittees corresponding to the five sections of the Programme.

-The lower limits for the financial breakdown between the different sections have been changed;

-The Commission must produce the following reports: by 31 December 2010 an interim report evaluating the results achieved and the qualitative and quantitative aspects of implementing the Programme; in the context of proposals for the next financial perspectives, by 31 December 2011 a communication on continuing the Programme; and by 31 December 2015, with the assistance of external experts, an ex-post evaluation report to measure the impact of the Programme objectives and its EU added value.

T6-0320/2005

A6-0199/2005

A6-0199/2005

The committee adopted the report by KARIN JÖNS (PES, DE) broadly approving the proposal under the 1st reading of the codecision procedure, subject to a number of amendments:

- it should be clearly stated that the financial framework for the implementation of PROGRESS is indicative (pending a decision on the Financial Perspective). Once a decision has been reached, MEPs wanted the financial reference amount to be increased to EUR 854.2 million for the seven-year period starting 1 January 2007;

- the gender mainstreaming principle should be taken into account to a greater extent in all programme sections and actions;

- transnational exchanges and activities should be an important component of the programme and new and innovative approaches should be developed;

- access to the programme should be open to national and regional NGOs;

- disabled people should have full access to the activities and results of the programme;

- new reporting requirements were introduced to ensure that Parliament would be kept properly informed;

- lastly , MEPs stressed the need to ensure consistency and complementarity between action under the PROGRESS programme and the activities of other Commission departments and other relevant European agencies. The Commission should take care to avoid overlapping responsibilities.

PE357.927

PE353.561

PE355.364

PE357.554

CES0386/2005
OJ C 255 14.10.2005, p. 0067-0071

PE353.740

Pending the European Parliament's opinion, the Council reached, by a qualified majority, a partial general approach on a draft Decision establishing a Community programme for employment and social solidarity (PROGRESS).

The "partial" nature of this approach is due to the fact that the budgetary aspects have not been discussed, and remain in abeyance until the future Community financial framework has been defined (2007/2013 financial perspective). Consequently, Article 17 of the Commission proposal does not form part of the agreed text.

2644

CDR0240/2004
OJ C 164 05.07.2005, p. 0048-0052

SEC(2004)0936
EUR-Lex

PURPOSE : to establish the Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity, named PROGRESS , to financially support the implementation of the objectives of the European Union in the employment and social affairs area and thereby contribute to the achievement of the Lisbon Strategy goals in these fields. It shall run from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013.

PROPOSED ACT : Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

CONTENT : the European Union has an important role to play in the development of a modern, innovative and sustainable European Social Model with more and better jobs in an inclusive society based on equal opportunities. Article 2 of the Treaty states that the Community shall have as part of its tasks that of promoting a high level of employment and of social protection and the raising of the standard of living and quality of life throughout the Community and economic and social cohesion.

The overall objective of this proposal is to reinforce the initiative role of the Commission in proposing EU strategies; implementing and following-up EU objectives and their translations into national policies; transposing and following-up of EU legislation's application in a coherent way through Europe; promoting the co-operation and co-ordination mechanisms between Member States and cooperating with organisations that represent civil society.

The general objectives of the programme have been defined to address this overall objective:

- improving the knowledge and understanding of the situation prevailing in the Member States (and in other participating countries) through analysis, evaluation and close monitoring of policies;

- supporting the development of statistical tools and methods and common indicators in the areas covered by the programme;

- supporting and monitoring the implementation of EU law and policies objectives in the Member States and assessing their impact;

- promoting networking, mutual learning, and identification and dissemination of good practice at EU level;

- enhancing the awareness of the stakeholders and the general public about the EU policies pursued under each of the 5 sections;

- boosting the capacity of key EU networks to promote and support EU policies.

The objectives set for each section have finally been translated into operational objectives which correspond to the types of supports (analytical and mutual learning activities, awareness and dissemination activities, support to main actors) to be addressed in each policy domain. The operational objectives will correspond to the need to carry out actions, financed at Commission level, to target some specific actors who need to act in this context.

The Programme will be divided in 5 sections corresponding to the 5 main fields of activities:

§ Section 1: Employment : will support the implementation of the European Employment Strategy as stipulated in the Employment Title of the EC Treaty.

§ Section 2: Social protection and inclusion : will support the implementation of the open method of coordination in the field of social protection and inclusion.

§ Section 3: Working conditions : will support the improvement of the working environment and conditions including health and safety at work.

§ Section 4: Anti-discrimination : will support effective implementation of the principle of non-discrimination on the grounds of racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. It will furthermore promote the mainstreaming of antidiscrimination in EU policies and the benefits of diversity.

§ Section 5: Diversity and gender equality : will support, on the one hand, an effective implementation of the principle of gender equality and, on the other hand, a better gender mainstreaming in EU policies.

For further information concerning the financial implications of this measure, please refer to the financial statement.

COM(2004)0488
EUR-Lex