The European Parliament adopted by 650 votes to 19, with 26 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 as regards the resources for the specific allocation for the Youth Employment Initiative.

Parliament adopted its position at first reading in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, taking over the Commission proposal.

The proposal aims to amend the regulation laying down common provisions applicable to the Structural and Investment Funds as regards the financing of the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) in 2020. It follows the decision taken by the budgetary authorities to increase the commitment appropriations for the specific allocation for the YEI for 2020 by EUR 28 333 334 in current prices.

Under the amending regulation, the resources for economic, social and territorial cohesion available for budgetary commitments for the period 2014-2020 shall amount to EUR 330 105 627 309 (in 2011 prices).

Resources for the YEI shall amount to EUR 4 166 933 076, of which EUR 23.7 million constitutes the additional resources for 2020. These resources shall be complemented by targeted investment from the ESF.

Member States benefiting from the additional resources allocated to the specific allocation for the YEI may request the transfer of up to 50% of these additional resources to the European Social Fund (ESF).

The Committee on Regional Development adopted the report by Younous OMARJEE (GUE/NGL, FR) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 as regards the resources for the specific allocation for the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI).

The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament adopt its position at first reading in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, taking over the Commission proposal.

The aim of the proposal is to amend the Regulation on common provisions for the financing of the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) in 2020. It follows the decision taken by the budgetary authorities, in the framework of the annual negotiations for 2020, to increase the specific allocation for the YEI for 2020 by EUR 28 333 334 in current prices, bringing the total amount for 2020 to EUR 145 million.

The Commission further proposes that the provisions introduced in 2019 to facilitate the programming of additional resources for the YEI by allowing the transfer of up to 50% of additional resources to the European Social Fund should also apply in 2020.

It is recalled that the YEI supports young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEETs), including the long-term unemployed and those not registered as job-seekers. It ensures that, in those parts of Europe facing the greatest challenges, young people can receive targeted support.

The YEI is part of the Youth Guarantee, which is a scheme whereby Member States implement measures to ensure that young people up to the age of 25 receive a good quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within four months of leaving school or becoming unemployed.

PURPOSE: to adapt the amount of resources available for economic, social and territorial cohesion as regards the resources allocated to the specific allocation for the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI).

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

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council lays down common rules and general rules applicable to the European Structural and Investment Funds.

The general budget of the Union for the financial year 2020 amended the total amount of resources for the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) by increasing the commitment appropriations for the specific allocation for the YEI in 2020 by EUR 28 333 334 in current prices and by increasing the total amount of commitment appropriations for the specific allocation for the YEI for the entire programming period to EUR 4 556 215 406 in current prices.

For 2020, the additional resources of EUR 23.7 million in 2011 prices shall be financed by the global margin for commitments within the margin of the multi-annual financial framework for the period 2014-2020.

The Commission considers that there is an urgent need to amend the YEI support programmes in order to include the additional resources allocated to the specific allocation for the YEI before the end of 2020. It has explored the scope for manoeuvre provided by the legal framework and considers it necessary to propose amendments to Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013.

CONTENT: in line with the adopted budget for 2020, the Commission proposes to increase the commitment appropriations for the specific allocation for the YEI by EUR 28 333 334 in current prices, bringing the total amount for 2020 to EUR 145 million in current prices.

The proposal further specifies that the relevant provisions that have been introduced to facilitate the programming of the additional resources allocated to the YEI in 2019 shall also apply to the additional resources allocated to the YEI in 2020.

The proposed amendment is estimated to result in additional payments of EUR 3 million in 2020.