A4-0127/96

Proposal for a Council Decision on the Commission's activities of analysis, research, cooperation and action in the field of employment (Essen) (COM(95)0250 - C4-0385/95 - 95/0149(CNS))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Title

>Original text>

Proposal for a Council decision on the Commission's activities of analysis, research, cooperation and action in the field of employment (Essen)

>Text following EP vote>

Proposal for a Council decision on the Commission's activities of analysis, research, cooperation and action in the field of employment

(Amendment 2)

Recital 12

>Original text>

Whereas, in accordance with the interinstitutional agreement on budgetary discipline, it is necessary for actions taken on the initiative of the Commission to have a legal basis;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas, in accordance with the Joint Declaration of 30 June 1982(1), the Interinstitutional Agreement on budgetary discipline of 29 October 1993(2) and the Joint Declaration by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 6 March 1995 on financial provisions in legislative acts(3), actions taken on the initiative of the Commission need to have a legal basis according to criteria to be negotiated between the three institutions pursuant to the European Parliament resolution of 12 December 1995 on the Commission's communication to the budgetary authority concerning legal bases and maximum amounts(4);

(1) OJ C 194, 28.7.1982, p. 1.

(2) OJ C 331, 7.12.1993, p. 1.

(3) OJ C 293, 8.11.1995, p. 4.

(4) OJ C 17, 22.1.1996, p. 27.

(Amendment 3)

Recital 13

>Original text>

Whereas, for the measures concerned, the Treaty does not provide for any powers other than those referred to in Article 235,

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 4)

Article 2, first paragraph

>Original text>

This action aims to establish a new approach for analysis, research, cooperation and action in the field of employment, thereby creating a platform for the exchange of information and experience relating to employment. This new approach will contribute to the development of measures taken in the Member States which are in keeping with the focus of the Commission's White Paper on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment and with the decisions taken at the Essen European Council.

>Text following EP vote>

This action aims to establish a new approach for analysis, research, cooperation and action in the field of employment, thereby creating a platform for the exchange of information and experience relating to employment measures taken in the Member States. This new approach will focus on the suggestions made in the Commission's White Paper on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment and on measures which take account of the employment strategies developed by the European Union.

(Amendment 5)

Article 3, introduction

>Original text>

In order to achieve the objectives referred to in Article 2, the Commission may promote a cooperation with the players concerned and/or provide financial support for the following measures:

>Text following EP vote>

In order to achieve the objectives referred to in Article 2, the Commission may promote a cooperation with the players concerned and/or provide financial support, after having formally consulted the budgetary authority, for the following measures:

(Amendment 6)

Article 3(b)

>Original text>

(b) the provision of methodological and technical support for projects to identify and transfer best practices in areas such as work organisation, regional and local measures for creating jobs which meet new needs, and measures to assist certain groups of people particularly hard hit by unemployment;

>Text following EP vote>

(b) the provision of methodological and technical support for projects which aim at identifying and transferring best practices in areas such as work organisation and regional and local measures for creating jobs which meet new needs; particular emphasis shall be given to projects for the identification, transfer and dissemination of measures which directly or indirectly assist groups of people hard hit by unemployment, notably young job seekers, the long-term unemployed, unemployed women and older unemployed workers;

(Amendment 7)

Article 4

>Original text>

The Commission shall guarantee the consistency of and synergy between the measures taken under this Decision and those taken under all policies of the Union.

The Commission and the Member States shall seek to ensure that their actions of analysis, research, cooperation and action in the field of employment and those taken under the Structural Funds, the research and development framework programme, the fourth framework programme on equal opportunities for women and men, and those taken in the field of vocational training, in particular under LEONARDO, complement each other.

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission shall guarantee the coordination with, consistency of and synergy between the measures taken under this Decision and the Structural Funds, the research and development framework programmes, the fourth framework programme on equal opportunities for women and men, and the LEONARDO da VINCI programme. The Commission shall also aim to achieve a spill-over effect of the results of this programme into all policies of the Union.

(Amendment 8)

Article 5

>Original text>

Certain activities shall be open to the participation of the countries of the European Economic Area, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Cyprus and Malta, and to the European Union's partner countries in the Mediterranean, in accordance with arrangements to be defined in the context of the relations of the Union with these countries.

>Text following EP vote>

Certain activities shall be open to the participation of the countries of the European Economic Area, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Cyprus and Malta, and to the European Union's partner countries in the Mediterranean, in accordance with arrangements to be defined in the context of the relations of the Union with these countries and within the terms of the 1993 Interinstitutional Agreement.

>Text following EP vote>

The cost of the participation shall be covered by the countries concerned. If necessary the budgetary authority may decide, pursuant to the rules applicable to the general budget of the European Communities, to pay a supplement to these countries' contribution.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Decision on the Commission's activities of analysis, research, cooperation and action in the field of employment (Essen) (COM(95)0250 - C4-0385/95 - 95/0149(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(95)0250 - 95/0149(CNS) ((OJ C 235, 9.9.1995, p. 8.)),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Article 235 of the EC Treaty (C4-0385/95),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Social Affairs and Employment and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy and the Committee on Legal Affairs and Citizens' Rights (A4-0127/96),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to notify Parliament should it intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

4. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

5. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.