TEXT PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSION AMENDMENT

Amendment 1

Proposal for a decision Recital 1 a (new)

(1a) Article 157 (3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union stipulates that the European Parliament and the Council shall adopt measures to ensure the application of the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation, including the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value.

Amendment 2

Proposal for a decision Recital 2

(2) The Treaty on European Union stipulates in Article 3.3 that the Union shall combat social exclusion and discrimination, and shall promote social justice and protection and provides for the Union's initiatives to ensure coordination of Member States’ social policies. Article 9 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides that in defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union shall take into account requirements linked to the guarantee of adequate social protection and the fight against social exclusion. (2) The Treaty on European Union stipulates in Article 3 (3) that the Union shall seek to achieve full employment and social progress, combat social exclusion and discrimination, and shall promote social justice and protection and provides for the Union’s initiatives to ensure coordination of Member States’ social policies. Article 9 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides that in defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union shall take into account requirements linked to the promotion of a high level of employment, the guarantee of adequate social protection , the fight against social exclusion and a high level of education and training .

Amendment 3

Proposal for a decision Recital 2 a (new)

(2a) Article 8 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union stipulates that in all its activities, the Union shall aim to eliminate inequalities, and to promote equality, between men and women. Article 10 thereof adds that, in defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union shall aim to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union states that European society is characterised by pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men.

Amendment 4

Proposal for a decision Recital 4

(4) The Lisbon Strategy, launched in 2000, was based on an acknowledgement of the EU’s need to increase its productivity and competitiveness, while enhancing social cohesion, in the face of global competition, technological change and an ageing population. The Lisbon Strategy was re-launched in 2005, after a mid-term review which led to greater focus on growth, more and better jobs. (4) The Lisbon Strategy, launched in 2000, was based on an acknowledgement of the EU’s need to increase its knowledge-based productivity and competitiveness and recreate the conditions for full employment , while enhancing social and regional cohesion, in the face of global competition, technological change and an ageing population. The Lisbon Strategy was re-launched in 2005, after a mid-term review which led to greater focus on growth and more and better jobs.

Amendment 5

Proposal for a decision Recital 5

(5) The Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs helped forge consensus around the broad direction of the EU's economic and employment policies. Under the strategy, both broad economic policy guidelines and employment guidelines were adopted by the Council in 2005 and revised in 2008. The 24 guidelines laid the foundations for the national reform programmes, outlining the key macro-economic, micro-economic and labour market reform priorities for the EU as a whole. However, experience shows that the guidelines did not set clear enough priorities and that links between them could have been stronger . This limited their impact on national policy-making . (5) The Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs should have helped determine the broad direction of the EU’s economic and employment policies. Under the strategy, both broad economic policy guidelines and employment guidelines were adopted by the Council in 2005 and revised in 2008. The 24 guidelines laid the foundations for the national reform programmes, outlining the key macro-economic, micro-economic and labour market reform priorities for the EU as a whole. However, experience shows that the guidelines did not set sufficiently binding objectives for social, political and cultural participation by all residents of the European Union and for a sustainable economy and that the priorities should have been linked more strongly one to the other . Ultimately, the strategy's basic goals could not be achieved, because Member States also failed to assume ownership of those guidelines .

Amendment 6

Proposal for a decision Recital 5 a (new)

(5a) Apart from new EU legislative initiatives with a social focus, the European Union needs to improve significantly its existing policies and their implementation.

Amendment 7

Proposal for a decision Recital 6

(6) The financial and economic crisis that started in 2008 resulted in a significant loss in jobs and potential output and has led to a dramatic deterioration in public finances. The European Economic Recovery Plan has nevertheless helped Member States to deal with the crisis, partly through a coordinated fiscal stimulus , with the euro providing an anchor for macroeconomic stability . The crisis therefore showed that coordination of Union's policies can deliver significant results if it is strengthened and rendered effective. The crisis also underscored the close interdependence of the Member States’ economies and labour markets. (6) The financial and economic crisis that started in 2008 resulted in a significant loss in jobs and potential output and has led to a dramatic deterioration in public finances. The European Economic Recovery Plan7 has nevertheless helped Member States to deal with the crisis, partly through a coordinated fiscal stimulus. The crisis , which is still developing, highlights the lack of effective means of reacting early to its signs and therefore shows that coordination of Union's policies can deliver significant results if it is strengthened and rendered effective , while respecting the principle of subsidiarity . The crisis also underscores the close interdependence of the economies and labour markets of Member States , as a consequence of which exploiting fully the potential of the internal market is also one of the most essential ways of increasing Europe's competitiveness, and also makes it necessary to carry out a major review of mechanisms for which the achievement of employment and social targets will continue to be the underwritten objectives .

Amendment 8

Proposal for a decision Recital 7

(7) The Commission proposed to set up a new strategy for the next decade, the Europe 2020 Strategy, to enable the EU to emerge stronger from the crisis, and to turn its economy towards smart , sustainable and inclusive growth. Five headline targets, listed under the relevant guidelines, constitute shared objectives guiding the action of the Member States and of the Union. Member States should make every effort to meet the national targets and to remove the bottlenecks that constrain growth. (7) The Commission proposed to set up a new strategy for the next decade, the Europe 2020 strategy, to enable the EU to emerge stronger from the crisis and also to respond more effectively to future upheavals and crises , and to turn its economy towards viable , ecologically and economically sustainable and inclusive growth accompanied by high levels of employment, productivity and social cohesion . Headline targets, listed under the relevant guidelines, constitute shared objectives guiding the action of the Member States and of the Union. Member States should undertake to meet the national targets . They should focus on increasing employment and remove the obstacles to growth arising from legislation, bureaucracy and national misallocation of resources .

Amendment 9

Proposal for a decision Recital 8

(8) As part of comprehensive ‘exit strategies’ for the economic crisis, Member States should carry out ambitious reforms to ensure macroeconomic stability and the sustainability of public finance, improve competitiveness, reduce macroeconomic imbalances and enhance labour market performance. The withdrawal of the fiscal stimulus should be implemented and coordinated within the framework of the Stability and Growth Pact. (8) As part of comprehensive ‘exit strategies’ for the economic crisis and of comprehensive strategies for creating the conditions for growth , Member States must carry out and maintain structural reforms geared to ensuring macroeconomic stability , the promotion of more and better jobs and the sustainability of public finance, improve competitiveness and productivity , reduce macroeconomic imbalances , strengthen social cohesion, fight poverty and enhance labour market performance. The gradual withdrawal of the fiscal stimulus , to be started as soon as a sustainable revival of the economy is secure, should be implemented and coordinated inter alia within the framework of the Stability and Growth Pact. However, in order to achieve in practice the objectives of sustainable economic and social cohesion, the major macroeconomic imbalances and disparities between Member States should be overcome.

Amendment 10

Proposal for a decision Recital 8 a (new)

(8a) Europe 2020 should be a strategy to put people and the protection of the environment first and to come out of the economic crisis, to prevent a further economic and social collapse, to be closely coordinated with structural and cohesion policy and to boost our economies in the medium and long term and to tackle the challenges for the labour market arising from an ageing society.

Amendment 11

Proposal for a decision Recital 9

(9) Within the Europe 2020 strategy, Member States should implement reforms aimed at ‘smart growth’, i.e. growth driven by knowledge and innovation. Reforms should aim at improving the quality of education, ensuring access for all, and strengthening research and business performance in order to promote innovation and knowledge transfer throughout the EU . They should encourage entrepreneurship and help to turn creative ideas into innovative products, services and processes that can create growth, quality jobs, territorial, economic and social cohesion, and address more efficiently European and global societal challenges. Making the most of information and communication technologies is essential in this context. (9) Within the Europe 2020 strategy, Member States should implement reforms aimed at ‘smart growth’, i.e. growth driven by knowledge and innovation. Reforms should aim at improving the quality of education, ensuring access for all, reducing the number of people who fail to complete their schooling or training, affirming the right of every individual to lifelong learning so as to enable skills to be developed, recognised and certified, and strengthening research and business performance in order to promote innovation and knowledge transfer throughout the European Union, so as to help eliminate regional imbalances and prevent the ‘brain drain’ . They should encourage entrepreneurship , small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) development and help to turn creative ideas into innovative products, innovative and socially valuable services and processes that can create growth, quality and sustainable jobs, territorial, economic and social cohesion, and address more efficiently European and global societal challenges. Making the most of information and communication technologies is essential in this context.

Amendment 12

Proposal for a decision Recital 9 a (new)

(9a) In order to boost economic growth, Member States should fight measures that slow it down e.g. the bureaucratic burden, excessive regulation and standards, high taxes and protectionist tendencies.

Amendment 13

Proposal for a decision Recital 9 b (new)

(9b) Achieving a deep and efficient single market is a key element for ensuring the EU's overall macroeconomic performance; it is particularly crucial for the solidity of the economic and monetary union to deliver economic benefits, restore growth and create new job opportunities.

Amendment 60

Proposal for a decision Recital 9 c (new)

(9c) When designing and implementing their national reform programmes taking account of the guidelines in the Annex, Member States should ensure effective governance of employment and social policies. Stakeholders, including those at regional and local level and including those affected by the different aspects of EU-2020, parliamentary bodies and social partners should be closely involved throughout the design and implementation, monitoring and evaluation of those programmes, including in the definition of targets and indicators. Member States should closely monitor the employment and social impact of reforms implemented under respective national reform programmes.

Amendment 14

Proposal for a decision Recital 10

(10) Member States should also, through their reform programmes, aim at ‘sustainable growth’. Sustainable growth means building a resource-efficient, sustainable and competitive economy, a fair distribution of the cost and benefits and exploiting Europe's leadership in the race to develop new processes and technologies, including green technologies. Member States should implement the necessary reforms to reduce greenhouse gases emissions and use resources efficiently. They should also improve the business environment, stimulate creation of green jobs and modernise their industrial base. (10) Member States should also, through their reform programmes and based on decent jobs , aim at sustainable growth. Sustainable growth means building a resource-efficient, sustainable and competitive economy, a fair distribution of the cost and benefits , with sufficient funding made available to deal with the restructuring, and exploiting Europe’s leadership in the race to develop new processes and technologies, including particularly green technologies creating more jobs . These technologies should, as far as possible, be made accessible to all companies, including micro-enterprises and SMEs. Member States should implement the necessary reforms to reduce greenhouse gases emissions and use resources efficiently. They should also improve the business environment, stimulate creation of sustainable jobs in the old and new economy, including the provision of training and skills needed in these jobs and modernise their industrial base , particularly in the field of conversion .

Amendment 15

Proposal for a decision Recital 11

(11) Member States’ reform programmes should also aim at ‘inclusive growth’. Inclusive growth means building a cohesive society in which people are empowered to anticipate and manage change, thus to actively participate in society and economy. Member States’ reforms should therefore ensure access and opportunities for all throughout the lifecycle, thus reducing poverty and social exclusion, through removing barriers to labour market participation especially for women, older workers, young people, disabled and legal migrants. They should also make sure that the benefits of economic growth reach all citizens and all regions. Ensuring effective functioning of the labour markets through investing in successful transitions, appropriate skills development , rising job quality and fighting segmentation, structural unemployment and inactivity while ensuring adequate, sustainable social protection and active inclusion to reduce poverty should therefore be at the heart of Member States’ reform programmes. (11) Member States’ reform programmes should also aim at ‘inclusive growth’. Inclusive growth means building a cohesive society in which people are empowered to anticipate and manage change, particularly that brought about by new technologies, automation and the computing revolution, in order to participate actively in society and the economy. Member States’ reforms should therefore ensure access and opportunities for all throughout the lifecycle, thus reducing poverty and social exclusion, through removing barriers to labour market participation especially for women, older workers, young people, carers, people with disabilities, unskilled workers, minorities, in particular the Roma, legal migrants and those unable to participate in the labour market . By putting in place appropriate instruments, Member States should also make sure that the benefits of economic growth reach all citizens and all regions. Ensuring effective functioning of the labour markets through investing in successful transitions, training systems and the development of skills matching the labour market needs , increasing job quality and gender equality, fighting against segmentation, by providing security for workers under all forms of employment, discrimination, structural unemployment - in particular youth unemployment and inactivity, while ensuring adequate, sustainable social protection and active inclusion to reduce poverty, should therefore be at the heart of Member States’ reform programmes.

Amendment 16

Proposal for a decision Recital 11 a (new)

(11a) In the context of the ‘inclusive growth’ objective, Member States should, at the initiative of the Commission, set an appropriate legislative framework for the new forms of work. Such a framework should pay attention to ensuring flexible forms of employment, while avoiding labour market segmentation and guaranteeing comprehensive protection of individual and collective labour rights, including the compatibility of work and private life, as well as adequate social security for workers.

Amendment 61

Proposal for a decision Recital 11 b (new)

(11b) Member States’ reform programmes should aim at fostering employment-enhancing growth based on decent work as promoted by the ILO and ‘good work’, as guiding principles, which should govern both job creation and labour market integration. Within that framework, equal treatment and equal pay for equal work at the same workplace as laid down in Articles 18 and 157 TFEU should be safeguarded and strengthened. Particular attention should also be paid to reducing poverty among the increasing number of working poor, and to combating child poverty.

Amendment 17

Proposal for a decision Recital 12

(12) The EU's and Member States’ structural reforms can effectively contribute to growth and jobs if they enhance the EU's competitiveness in the global economy, open up new opportunities for Europe's exporters and provide competitive access to vital imports. Reforms should therefore take into account their external competitiveness implications to foster European growth and participation in open and fair markets worldwide. (12) The EU's and Member States’ structural reforms can effectively contribute to qualitative growth and sustainable and quality jobs if they respond appropriately to the continuing economic and financial crisis and thus enhance the EU's competitiveness in the global economy, open up new opportunities for Europe's exporters and provide competitive access to vital imports. Reforms should therefore take into account their external competitiveness implications, to foster growth in the European Union and participation in open and fair markets worldwide , with the EU seeking strong global supervision of players who have a significant influence on employment, labour mobility and social financial products such as pensions .

Amendment 18

Proposal for a decision Recital 13

(13) The Europe 2020 strategy has to be underpinned by an integrated set of policies, which Member States should implement fully and at the same pace , in order to achieve the positive spill-over effects of coordinated structural reforms. (13) The Europe 2020 strategy has to be underpinned by an integrated set of policies, which Member States should implement effectively, with due regard for their own domestic situations and their particular difficulties , in order to achieve the positive spill-over effects of coordinated structural reforms. Coherence between actions taken by Member States in the economic, employment and social areas should be ensured.

Amendment 19

Proposal for a decision Recital 13 a (new)

(13a) Creating the conditions for women and girls to enter into sectors where women are heavily under-represented and to combat stereotypes that still dominate these professions is key in ensuring both gender equality and labour market supply. All policies and measures in the framework of the Europe 2020 strategy should therefore strongly promote equal opportunities and gender equality and should be gender mainstreamed. This includes initiatives aimed at enhancing women's rights and at fighting discrimination against women. Social protection systems should be reviewed with a view to abolishing elements that generate gender inequalities. Working conditions should be enhanced in sectors where women are over-represented. The issue of involuntary part-time employment should be addressed. Gender equality in training and education should be strengthened. By 2020, the gender pay gap should be reduced to 0-5 %. An increased provision of accessible, affordable, flexible and high-quality care services for all, in particular access to child care facilities, is an important way to facilitate and promote the process towards gender equality.

Amendment 20

Proposal for a decision Recital 13 b (new)

(13b) Member States should take into account the Europe 2020 strategy, and, in particular, its employment and social aspects, when programming and implementing EU funding, including that from the European Social Fund, the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund. The importance is underlined of the need for greater use of the synergies and complementarities of the various financial instruments available in order to meet the complex targets of the EU 2020 strategy for smart, inclusive and green growth and to support more effectively the most disadvantaged micro-regions and the most vulnerable groups facing complex multi-dimensional disadvantages. The use of the EU funding has to reduce the number of bureaucratic hurdles and facilitate longer-term measures.

Amendment 62

Proposal for a decision Recital 13 c (new)

(13c) Building on the importance of the cohesion policy in supporting employment and social inclusion, supporting regions in overcoming their socio-economic difficulties and reducing disparities, as well as in accommodating regional specificities, Member States should work together in order to arrange, complement, coordinate and adjust their national targets internally and between each other, so that imbalances in economic development between regions are reduced.

Amendment 21

Proposal for a decision Recital 14

(14) While these guidelines are addressed to Member States, the Europe 2020 strategy should be implemented in partnership with all national, regional and local authorities, closely associating parliaments, as well as social partners and representatives of civil society, who shall contribute to the elaboration of national reform programmes, to their implementation and to the overall communication on the strategy. (14) While these guidelines are addressed to Member States, the Europe 2020 strategy should be implemented in partnership with all national, regional and local authorities, closely associating parliaments, as well as social partners and representatives of civil society, who shall contribute to the elaboration of national reform programmes, to their implementation and to the overall communication on the strategy, as social policies have to respond to local circumstances and preferences .

Amendment 22

Proposal for a decision Recital 14 a (new)

(14a) In order to ensure that the employment policy guidelines are implemented in Member States, the open method of coordination should be improved, as its impact in Member States is too small.

Amendment 23

Proposal for a decision Recital 15

(15) The Europe 2020 strategy is underpinned by a smaller set of guidelines, replacing the previous set of 24 and addressing employment and broad economic policy issues in a coherent manner. The guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States, annexed to this Decision, are intrinsically linked with the guidelines for the economic policies of the Member States and of the Union, annexed to Council Recommendation […] of […]. Together, they form the ‘Europe 2020 integrated guidelines’. (15) The Europe 2020 strategy is underpinned by a set of guidelines, replacing the previous set of 24 and addressing employment , consolidation of social cohesion, and broad economic policy issues in a coherent manner. The guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States, annexed to this Decision, are intrinsically linked with the guidelines for the economic policies of the Member States and of the Union, annexed to Council Recommendation […] of […]. Together, they form the ‘Europe 2020 integrated guidelines’.

Amendment 24

Proposal for a decision Recital 16

(16) These new integrated guidelines reflect the conclusions of the European Council. They give precise guidance to the Member States on defining their national reform programmes and implementing reforms, reflecting interdependence and in line with the Stability and Growth Pact. These guidelines will form the basis for any country-specific recommendations that the Council may address to the Member States. They will also form the basis for the establishment of the Joint Employment Report sent annually by the Council and Commission to the European Council. (16) These new integrated guidelines reflect the conclusions of the European Council. They give precise guidance to Member States on defining their national reform programmes and implementing reforms, reflecting interdependence and in line with the Stability and Growth Pact. These guidelines will form the basis for any country-specific recommendations that the Council may address to Member States , taking account of the different points of departure of Member States . They will also form the basis for the establishment of the Joint Employment Report sent annually by the Council and Commission to the European Council.

Amendment 63

Proposal for a decision Recital 16 a (new)

(16a) The headline targets listed under the relevant guidelines should guide the Member States in setting their own national targets and sub-targets, paying particular attention to increasing employment and reducing unemployment of most vulnerable groups, including young people, increasing the education levels, reducing school drop-out rates and lifting people out of poverty. Progress towards achieving the targets and sub-targets should be monitored closely and evaluated against the Europe 2020 objectives, and, if appropriate, revised or additional targets and sub-targets should be established when revising the Employment Guidelines.

Amendment 25

Proposal for a decision Recital 17

(17) Even though they must be drawn up each year, these guidelines should remain largely stable until 2014 to ensure a focus on implementation, (17) These guidelines should remain largely stable until 2020 to ensure that the achievement of the objectives set out therein can be properly reviewed. An evaluation of the objectives achieved should take place every three years.

Amendment 26

Proposal for a decision Recital 17 a (new)

(17a) In the meantime the measures taken and their results should be analysed academically and reviewed critically.

Amendment 27

Proposal for a decision Article 2

The guidelines in the Annex shall be taken into account in the employment policies of the Member States, which shall be reported upon in national reform programmes. Member States should design reform programmes consistent with the objectives set out in the ‘ Europe 2020 integrated guidelines’. The guidelines in the Annex and the national reform programmes shall be implemented in the employment policies of Member States. The employment and social impact of national reform programmes , which must be consistent with the objectives set out in those guidelines , must be carefully monitored .

Amendment 28

Proposal for a decision Article 2 a (new)

Article 2a When designing and implementing their national reform programmes, taking account of the guidelines in the Annex, Member States shall ensure effective governance of employment and social policies. Stakeholders, including those at regional and local level along with those affected by the different aspects of Europe 2020 strategy, parliamentary bodies and social partners shall be closely involved throughout the design and implementation, monitoring and evaluation of those programmes, including in the definition of targets and indicators. The EU headline targets, as set out in the Annex, shall be followed up with appropriate sub-targets and indicators, including outcome and result indicators, as well as national targets, indicators and scoreboards. Member States shall take those targets and indicators into account, along with the guidelines and any country-specific recommendations addressed to them by the Council. Member States shall monitor closely the employment and social impact of reforms implemented under respective national reform programmes. When reporting on the application of the guidelines in the Annex, Member States shall follow the structure to be agreed at Union level and shall include the same elements in order to ensure clarity, transparency and comparability among Member States.

Amendment 29

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 7 - title

Amendment 30

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 7 – paragraph -1 (new)

The Member States will set their national targets for increasing the employment rate for women and men to 75 % by 2020, with the aim of reaching full employment, in particular through greater labour market participation of young people, older workers, the low-skilled and people with disabilities, minorities, in particular the Roma, and the better integration of legal migrants. Furthermore, Member States will set their national targets so that the share of 15 to 24 year-old women and men in education, training or employment increases to at least 90 %. Member States will increase the employment rate by 10 %, focusing on particular groups, by 2014: — young people aged between 15 and 25 years; — older workers aged between 50 and 64 years; — women; — unskilled workers; — people with disabilities; — people with migrant backgrounds; The rate of people who are long-term unemployed should be reduced by 10 %.

Amendment 31

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 7 – paragraph 1

Member States should integrate the flexicurity principles endorsed by the European Council into their labour market policies and apply them , making full use of European Social Fund support with a view to increasing labour market participation and combating segmentation and inactivity , gender inequality, whilst reducing structural unemployment. Measures to enhance flexibility and security should be both balanced and mutually reinforcing . Member States should therefore introduce a combination of flexible and reliable employment contracts, active labour market policies , effective lifelong learning , policies to promote labour mobility, and adequate social security systems to secure professional transitions accompanied by clear rights and responsibilities for the unemployed to actively seek work . To reach this goal , Member States should promote growth, thereby creating new decent jobs, increase the innovative potential of the economy , in particular of SMEs , and free industry from administrative and non-tariff barriers . To that end, Member States should also develop regulatory and support instruments that take the diversity of business and workers’ rights into consideration so that all forms of companies have equivalent conditions as regards competition and promotion. In order to improve women’s and young people’s access to the labour market , by taking into account the demographic challenges, conditions should be created for adequate child care facilities, so that every child of pre-school age can be provided with child care outside the family, and every young person is provided with a real job or a place in training or further education within four months of finishing school, in close cooperation with the social partners. The long-term unemployed should receive offers for employability measures for which quantitative goals should be set up to strengthen preventive labour market policies . Therefore, at least 25 % of all long-term unemployed should participate in an active labour market measure in the form of advanced training, education and/or an occupational redeployment.

Amendment 32

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 7 – paragraph 2

Member States should step up social dialogue and tackle labour market segmentation with measures addressing temporary and precarious employment, underemployment and undeclared work . Professional mobility should be rewarded . The quality of jobs and employment conditions should be addressed by fighting low-wages and by ensuring adequate social security also for those on fixed contracts and the self-employed . Employment services should be strengthened and open to all, including young people and those threatened by unemployment with personalised services targeting those furthest away from the labour market. The Member States in cooperation with the social partners should increase the employment rate through activation measures, in particular for young people, low-skilled and people requiring particular protection and/or support, through advisory services and education and professional training adapted to the labour market 's needs. Member States should safeguard and strengthen equal treatment and equal pay for equal work in the same workplace as laid down in Articles 18 and 157 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The job quality should also be addressed by reducing the number of working poor. Furthermore, Member States should increase the employability of legal migrants with appropriate programmes. Continued efforts and innovative programmes are also required to reintegrate people with disabilities into the labour market, including through subsidised jobs. Member States should remove the barriers which make it more difficult for people to enter the labour market for the first time, support the creation of jobs, foster social innovation and increase the quality and effectiveness of job placement services, including public employment services. Job centres must provide training and mentoring programmes particularly in the field of information and communication technologies , as well as access to high-speed internet to job seekers, especially older people, legal migrants, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities, in order to optimally facilitate the job search . Individual and collective forms of self-employment through social economy-type enterprises should be supported in this context . Special measures should be taken against the dominance of women in poorly paid work and the employment of women in management posts more effectively promoted in order to prevent gender-specific segmentation of the labour market. In particular, working time rules should be adjusted so as to allow a work process which conforms to the requirements of the compatibility of family life and work, and allows a more flexible exit from working life into retirement. Member States should take measures to encourage the involvement of fathers in caring for children, and review their tax systems to make them employment-friendly . External and internal flexicurity strategies to increase flexibility, to be able to react more efficiently to production cycles, should be better applied through active labour market policies and adequate social security systems available to workers under all forms of employment , so that changing jobs does not lead to disproportionate financial costs. It must be underlined that flexibility without social security is not a sustainable way of increasing employment. These should be accompanied by a clear commitment to actively support job seeking. New forms of work organisation, such as atypical temporary work, part-time work and teleworking, or mobility of workers must not lead to a reduction in individual and collective labour rights and social protection for the people concerned. It should be ensured that new forms of employment are not created at the expense of regular (full-time, permanent) contracts. Efforts should also be made to combat undeclared employment by means of effective measures to monitor and implement labour rights. Decent work as promoted by the ILO and ‘good work’, as guiding principles, must govern both job creation and labour market integration. In enhancing the functioning and performance of the labour market, Member States should foster social partnership and actively engage social partners in national policy elaboration and should fully respect their right, in accordance with national laws and practices, to conclude and enforce collective agreements .

Amendment 33

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 7 – paragraph 2 a (new)

It is of the utmost importance to create high-quality jobs which are also needed in the longer term and which possess high added value. It is therefore vital that education and employment policies should support changes in economic structure. As a rule, jobs lost during the economic crisis will not be recreated in the same numbers in the same sectors as before. Therefore the education system must respond flexibly to the labour market requirements which accompany a new economic structure. Employment policy must ensure that workers can make as smooth as possible a transition both between sectors of the economy and between different states of the labour market. It is therefore more necessary than in the past to take long-term objectives as a starting point and focus more on coordinated measures in enterprise, education and employment policies.

Amendment 34

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 7 – paragraph 3

In order to increase competitiveness and raise participation levels , particularly for the low-skilled, and in line with economic policy guideline 2, Member States should review tax and benefit systems and the capacity of public services to provide the necessary support . Member States should increase labour force participation through policies to promote active ageing, gender equality and equal pay and labour market integration of young people, disabled, legal migrants and other vulnerable groups . Work-life balance policies with the provision of affordable care and innovation in work organisation should be geared to raising employment rates , particularly among youth, older workers and women, in particular to retain highly-skilled women in scientific and technical fields. Member States should also remove barriers to labour market entry for newcomers, support self-employment and job creation in areas including green employment and care and promote social innovation . In this context, the resources of the European Social Fund should be fully used to increase employability and job quality , with measures to develop personal skills and to fulfil quality requirements in seminal jobs . In order to promote professional mobility, it is necessary for Member States to increase people ’s openness to mobility within the European Union by providing incentives. To achieve this , the rules on obtaining subsidies from the European Social Fund should be examined and where possible simplified . National budgets and the general budget of the EU including the European Social Fund and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund should be coordinated and geared to preparing the workforce for a sustainable economy. With this aim , Member States should take steps to publicise information on the purpose of these funds and the conditions of use .

Amendment 35

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 7 – paragraph 3 a (new)

Member States shall promote the EU micro-finance facility as an example of how to combine economic and social measures in order to boost economic and employment growth. National and EU micro-finance facilities shall be accompanied by specific training and mentoring programmes and social benefits schemes ensuring minimum income in the first year after opening of the business in order to make entrepreneurship a real option.

Amendment 36

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 7 – paragraph 3 b (new)

Member States should also promote and invest in social services of general interest including employment, health and housing services which have to be funded sufficiently.

Amendment 37

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 7 – paragraph 4

The EU headline target, on the basis of which Member States will set their national targets, is of aiming to bring by 2020 to 75 % the employment rate for women and men aged 20-64 including through the greater participation of youth, older workers and low skilled workers and the better integration of legal migrants. deleted

Amendment 38

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 8 – title

Amendment 39

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 8 – paragraph -1 (new)

Member States will set as their national targets the reduction of the school drop-out rate below 10 % by 2020, whilst increasing the share of the population aged 30-34 having completed tertiary or equivalent education to at least 40 %.

Amendment 40

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 8 – paragraph 1

Member States should promote productivity and employability through an adequate supply of knowledge and skills to match current and future demand in the labour market. Quality initial education and attractive vocational training must be complemented with effective incentives for lifelong learning, second-chance opportunities, ensuring every adult the chance to move one step up in their qualification , and by targeted migration and integration policies . Member States should develop systems for recognising acquired competencies, remove barriers to occupational and geographical mobility of workers, promote the acquisition of transversal competences and creativity, and focus their efforts particularly on supporting those with low skills and increasing the employability of older workers, while at the same time enhance the training, skills and experience of highly skilled workers, including researchers . The provision of high-quality initial education and attractive vocational training helping workers to adjust their skills to the labour market needs are high priorities for Member States . They must be complemented by second-chance opportunities for young people, especially those aged between 25 and 35, which include an obligatory offer of educational and vocational training and effective incentives for lifelong learning, whereby the social partners are called upon to provide the time and also to support financially vocational training. In particular , Member States should reduce the dropout rate to less than 10 % and complete migration and integration policy with facilities for language learning and social studies . Member States should also develop systems for recognising acquired skills and competences.

Amendment 41

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 8 – paragraph 2

In cooperation with social partners and business , Member States should improve access to training, strengthen education and career guidance combined with systematic information on new job openings and opportunities, promotion of entrepreneurship and enhanced anticipation of skill needs . Investment in human resource development, up-skilling and participation in lifelong learning schemes should be promoted through joint financial contributions from governments, individuals and employers . To support young people and in particular those not in employment, education or training, Member States in cooperation with the social partners, should enact schemes to help recent graduates find initial employment or further education and training opportunities , including apprenticeships , and intervene rapidly when young people become unemployed . Regular monitoring of the performance of up-skilling and anticipation policies should help identify areas for improvement and increase the responsiveness of education and training systems to labour market needs. EU funds should be fully mobilised by Member States to support these objectives . In cooperation with the social partners and businesses , Member States should improve access to training, including vocational training, strengthen education and career guidance combined with systematic information on, and appropriate measures to promote, new job openings and opportunities, entrepreneurship , SMEs development and enhance the anticipation of quality requirements . The development of human resources , higher qualifications and training should be financed through joint financial contributions from employers and governments . Access to high-quality general and vocational training and the reintegration of school drop-outs in the education system should be possible for everyone at any time. Member States should align investments in the education system so that the objective of increasing the level of skills among the active population is fulfilled, also taking into account learning in informal and non-formal contexts. In doing so , the reforms regarding employability in particular should be aimed at ensuring , through training or knowledge in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT), the acquisition of the core skills which every employee needs to be successful in a knowledge-based economy. Measures should be taken to ensure that the educational mobility of young people and teachers becomes the norm . Member States should improve the openness and relevance of general and vocational education systems and non-vocational training for all ages, in particular by implementing national qualification frameworks enabling flexible learning pathways and by developing partnerships between general and vocational education institutions and the world of work, including paid apprenticeships, in order to increase considerably the proportion of high-level academic and vocational degrees .

Amendment 42

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 8 – paragraph 2 a (new)

Regular monitoring of the performance of up-skilling and anticipation policies should help to identify areas for improvement and to increase the responsiveness of education and training systems to labour market needs. EU funds should be fully mobilised by Member States to support these objectives.

Amendment 43

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 8 a (new)

Guideline 8a: Strengthening social and economic cohesion policy in support of employment Member States commit themselves to arranging, complementing, coordinating and adjusting their national targets, at national level and among themselves, in such a way that imbalances in economic development between regions will be reduced. Member States are aware that cohesion policy represents an effective instrument which supports but is not subordinated to the guidelines, by accommodating regional specificities, supporting regions to overcome their socio-economic difficulties and reducing disparities. An integrated approach, multi-level governance and partnership principles should be at the core of the governance and delivery of the strategy, while the regional and local levels in particular have to play a crucial role as the vehicles for reaching the countless economic and social actors living and producing in the Union, in particular the SMEs, especially those forming part of the social economy. Therefore, cohesion policy is not just the source of stable financial allocations, but also a powerful instrument for economic development and so an employment instrument for all Union regions. Member States should invest more in transport, energy, telecommunication and IT infrastructure and make full use of the European Structural Funds. The participation of potential beneficiaries in Union co-founded programmes should be encouraged by simplification of delivery systems. To achieve this, Member States should create synergies between their cohesion policies and other existing sectoral policies, in accordance with an integrated approach, since cohesion is not a cost but gives strength, taps unused potential, reduces structural differences between countries and regions, expands growth and improves the competitiveness of Union regions in a globalised world, counterbalances the effects of the global economic crisis and generates Union social capital.

Amendment 44

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 9 – title and paragraph 1

Guideline 9: Improving the performance of education and training systems at all levels and increasing participation in tertiary education In order to ensure access to quality education and training for all and to improve educational outcomes, Member States should invest efficiently in education and training systems notably to raise the skill level of the EU's workforce, allowing it to meet the rapidly changing needs of modern labour markets. Action should cover all sectors (from early childhood education and schools through to higher education, vocational education and training, as well as adult training) taking also into account learning in informal and non-formal contexts. Reforms should aim to ensure the acquisition of the key competencies that every individual needs for success in a knowledge-based economy, notably in terms of employability, further learning, or ICT skills. Steps should be taken to ensure learning mobility of young people and teachers becomes the norm. Member States should improve the openness and relevance of education and training systems, particularly by implementing national qualification frameworks enabling flexible learning pathways and by developing partnerships between the worlds of education/training and work. The teaching profession should be made more attractive. Higher education should become more open to non-traditional learners and participation in tertiary or equivalent education should be increased. With a view to reducing the number of young people not in employment, education, or training, Member States should take all necessary steps to prevent early school leaving. deleted

Amendment 45

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 9 – paragraph 2

The EU headline target, on the basis of which Member States will set their national targets, is to reduce the drop out rate to 10 %, whilst increasing the share of the population aged 30-34 having completed tertiary or equivalent education to at least 40 % in 2020. deleted

Amendment 46

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 10 – title

Amendment 47

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 10 – paragraph -1 (new)

Member States will set their national targets to reduce by 25 % the number of Europeans living below national poverty lines, lifting over 20 million people out of poverty, in particular by employment and education policy measures.

Amendment 48

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 10 – paragraph 1

Member States’ efforts to reduce poverty should be aimed at promoting full participation in society and economy and extending employment opportunities, making full use of the European Social Fund. Efforts should also concentrate on ensuring equal opportunities, including through access to affordable, sustainable and high quality services and public services (including online services, in line with guideline 4) and in particular health care . Member States should put in place effective anti-discrimination measures . Equally, to fight social exclusion, empower people and promote labour market participation, social protection systems , lifelong learning and active inclusion policies should be enhanced to create opportunities at different stages of people's lives and shield them from the risk of exclusion. Social security and pension systems must be modernised to ensure that they can be fully deployed to ensure adequate income support and access to healthcare - thus providing social cohesion - whilst at the same time remaining financially sustainable . Benefit systems should focus on ensuring income security during transitions and reducing poverty, in particular among groups most at risk from social exclusion, such as one-parent families, minorities, people with disabilities, children and young people, elderly women and men, legal migrants and the homeless. Member States should also actively promote the social economy and social innovation in support of the most vulnerable. Combating poverty and exclusion remains a vital challenge. In order to pursue this objective, it is necessary to create opportunities to participate in the labour market or to return to it for all social groups, irrespective of locality or level of education. It is essential to strike a balance between giving people a sufficient sense of security and preserving their motivation to work and earn income. To achieve this target, Member States should make an effort to reduce poverty , including in-work poverty, promote full participation , at people's own choice, in politics, society , the arts and the economy and extend employment opportunities, in respect of which the European Social Fund is to be used . Member States should pay particular attention here to the increasing number of working poor. In order to formulate specific objectives to combat poverty it must be made clear how poverty should be measured. The standard definition that earning 60 % of the median income constitutes poverty must be qualified. Poverty cannot be established by means of such a one-sided indicator. It has to be ensured that equal opportunities, as well as access to affordable, sustainable and high quality services and public services (including online services, in line with guideline 4), in particular in the social, employment, health and housing fields, are preserved, ensuring that they are available also to the vulnerable and weaker population groups . Member States should also ensure that the oral or written information provided by the public services is clear and complete and that, in the event of a refusal to grant an entitlement, a reason should be given, mentioning the possibilities for an appeal by the person concerned . The principle that there may be no discrimination between men and women with the same training and in the same type of employment should be legally binding in Member States for all types of employment relationship. In order to fight social exclusion, empower people to play an active role in society and promote labour market participation, social protection systems and active inclusion policies must be further enhanced to create opportunities and job perspectives, taking into account the various needs and responsibilities at different stages of people’s lives , to shield them from the risk of exclusion and to provide, in particular for those furthest from the labour market, support into quality work . Therefore, efficient approaches under active labour market policy for training and job creation have to be created for those who are excluded from the labour market owing to lack of training. At the same time, social security and pension systems must be modernised so that they can be fully deployed to ensure income above the poverty threshold, to enable participation in social life and access to healthcare, whilst the financial sustainability of these systems must be preserved . Benefit systems should ensure income security during transitions and reduce poverty, in particular among groups most at risk from social exclusion, such as one-parent families, minorities, people with disabilities, children and young people, elderly women and men, legal migrants and the homeless. In particular, Member States shall be committed to tackling child poverty through appropriate measures so that children are not restricted in their personal development and are not underprivileged when entering professional life due to poverty related interferences with their free development. It is particularly important to ensure equal access to education and equal opportunities for children from disadvantaged families, so as to guard against their social exclusion as adults. In order to strengthen income security at various stages of life, Member States should ensure adequate minimum incomes that should at least be above the poverty line, in accordance with the various practices, collective agreements and legislation in Member States. Member States should also actively promote the social economy and social innovations designed to address the different social risks which arise during people’s lifetimes, especially where the most vulnerable are concerned, and effectively implement the adopted anti-discrimination measures . In enhancing the sustainability of public finances, Member States should pay particular attention to the positive effects that improvements in social cohesion have on national budgets. Reduced poverty and enhanced participation lead to reductions in social expenditure and increased tax revenues. Member States should guarantee high minimum standards for job quality so as to eradicate poverty among employed people.

Amendment 49

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Social protection systems, including pensions and healthcare, should be strengthened and modernised, ensuring their social adequacy, financial sustainability and responsiveness to changing needs, while providing everyone in the European Union with adequate protection from social insecurities, such as health problems, unemployment and poverty. Social protection of short-term contracts, which affect women in particular, and pregnant women more particularly still, should be improved by Member States.

Amendment 50

Proposal for a decision Annex – Guideline 10 – paragraph 2