ARCHIVESHISTORIQUES
DELACOMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEEDES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM(78)178
Vol.1978/0059

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COMMISSION OFTHEEUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(78)178final.
Brussels,2May1978.
GuidelinesforthemanagementoftheEuropean
SocialFundduring1979-1981 »andtransitional guidelinesfor1978
(Communication fromtheCommissiontotheCouncil)
COiï(78)178final

GUIDELINES FORTHEMANAGEMENT OPTHEEUROPEAN SO(HAL
FUND DURING 1979 -1981 ,ANDTRANSITIONAL GUIDE­
LINES FOR 1978
INTRODUCTION
(a)Durati on
Inaccordance with Article 3(a)ofCouncil Regulation No2396/71(l),
these guidelines cover 1979/1980/1971 andwill bereviewed eachyear .
Nevertheless ,part IIChapter -Econcerns •aidforwomen in1978 ;part
Venvisages ,asfarasFund aidisconcerned for1978 ,theprolongation of
theguidelines established for1977 aswell astheapplication ofcertain
transitional provisions inview oftheguidelines relating tofuture •
years .
(b)Objectives
Onthebasis ofArticle 3(a)ofRegulation (EEC)No2396/71(l)the
guidelines are based onthe economic and social situation inthe
Community .They take account ofthe size ofimbalances onthe labour
market aswell astheeconomic capacities available toremedy them .
Intheeconomio crisis currently affecting the Community ,workers are
encountering increasing difficulty infinding employment ,even after
having attended vocational training courses .Forthis reason ,inthe
guidelines which follow ,theCommission hasendeavoured toconcentrate
itsassistance onthose training operations most closely linked to
employment .
Onthe other hand ,the situation isvery different inareas ofthe
Community which ,because they areless developed orthere isadecline
inthemain activities ,suffer aserious andprolonged imbalance in
employment .Inthese areas ,thecarrying outoflarge –scale training
programmes toproduce askilled workforce isessential toattraot
investment .
Moreover ,young persons ,particularly attheoutset oftheir working
lives ,remain oneofthecategories ofperson themost seriously hit
bythecrisis ;forthis reason ,theCommission istocontinue tosupport
operations providing theyoung unemployed orjobseekers with the
indispensable basis for .their integration into working life ;in
addition the Commission iswidening itsintervention ,onthe onehand
foryoung persons having already worked ,andontheother hand for
certain specific programmes itwishes toencourage .
(1)Council Regulation (EEC)No2396/71of8November 1971 implementing the
Council Decision of1February 1971 onthereform oftheEuropean
Social Fund ,asamended tryCouncil Regulation No2893/77of
20December 1977 (OJNoL249,10November 1971 ,P54;NoL337,
27December 1977 Pl)

-2-
Onthebasisofemploymentproblemspeculiartoeachfieldofintervention,
theCommissionhasendeavoured toconcentrateitsassistance ontheregions
andaresoftheCommunitywhereemploymentproblemsareparticularly severe.
WiththisaiminmindtheCommissionplacesparticularemphasisonthere­
gionsandzoneseligibleforRegionalFundassistance whichareaffectedby
seriousindustrialrestructuring problemsandforwhichcommunitypolicies
existorwillbeestablished .
Giventheemploymentsituation,theCommissionwishestoexperimentin
1973withassistancetopromote,withinthevariousfieldsof
intervention ,aidmeasurestofosterbetterconditionsforemploymentinGreenland,theFrenchOverseasDepartments,Ireland,Northern
IrelandandtheMezzogiorno (2).
I.GMERAL ASPECTS
A.Priorities
1.TheCommissionselectspriorityapplicationstakingintoaccountthe
objectivesstatedaboveandthesituationineachfieldofintervention
-includingthebudgetarysituation.Insomefieldsthesepriority
applications areclassifiedatonelevelofpriorityandinothers
atvariouslevelsofpriority,indescendingorder.
2.Priorityisnotaccordedtoapplicationsinanyfieldofinterventions
(a)concerningoperationswhichdonotappeartocontributesuf­
ficientlytoreducingimbalancesinthelabourmarket;
(b)limitedtoprovidingforexpenditureaccessorytotrainingpro­
grammes(e.g.travelexpensestotakeexaminations );
(c)concerningoperationswherethetrainingprovidedislessthan
onehundredhours.Inthecaseofcertain'programmesintendedfor
workersinsmall–scaleundertakings situatedinruralareas,the
durationoftrainingmaybelessthan100hoursifitisshown
thatlongercoursescannotbeorganised.
Specificlimitsareprovidedfor-inpartIIsectionCformigrant
workersandmembersoftheirfamiliesandinpartIIIsectionB
foradaptationoftheworkforcetotherequirements ofteohnical
progress ;
(d)concerningthetextileandclothingsectors,involvingproducts
whichoffernoprospectsforfutureemployment,asindicatediri
thesecondparagraphofpointIIB.
(2)RegionsreferredtoinArticle1ofCouncilRegulation(EEC)
No2895/77of20December1977concerningoperationsqualifying
forahigherrateofintervention trytheEuropeanSocialFund
(0JloL337,27December1977,P7).
/.

-3-
B.Allocationofappropriations
TheCommissiondividestheappropriations availableforeachfieldof
intervention intotwoannualinstalments,inlinewithinformation provi­
desbytheMemberStatesonthevolumeofapplications whichtheyintend
tosubmit;asarule,theCommissionapprovestwiceyearly,applications .
.C.Durationofapprovedoperations
Operationsaredividedintotwocategories :.
a)Thosecarriedoutinacontinuous manneraspartofoverallnationalor
regionalprogrammes
b)Thoserelatingtospecificprogrammesgenerallyspreadoveranumberof
years.Thesespecificprogrammeswillnot,outsideofexceptionalcases,
beconsiderediftheyexceedaperiodofthreeyears.
Applications presentedbyMemberStatesareapprovedbytheCommissionin
thefollowingmanner:
-forcontinuousprogrammes,amaximumperiodof12months;
-forotherprogrammes,forthedurationoftheprogrammeasforeseen
intheapplication .
Whereanapplicationisrejected,theMemberStateorthebodyresponsible
fortheprogrammemaynottakeadvantageofanysubsequentchangesinthe
guidelinestorequestthepartialre-examination ofanyrejection.
D.Weightedreduction
1.Inthosefieldsofintervention wheretheavailableappropriations donot
allowthefinancingofalloperationsclassifiedaseligible,areduction
iscalculated onapplications classifiedatthelowestlevelofpriority
forwhichappropriations arestillavailable (or,ifnecessary,onnon-'
priorityapplications ).
Theratewhichdeterminesthetotalamountofthereductiontobemadein
eachMemberStateisequaltothevolumeofapplicationsclassifiedat
.thelevelofprioritysubmittedtothereduction,weightedby:
-thenationalunemployment ratecomparedwiththeCommunityaverage
-grossnationalproductperheadcomparedtotheCommunityaverage.
Thereductionisonlyappliedtocertainapplications choseninconsul­
tationwiththeauthorities oftheMemberStates.
2.Withaviewtolimitingasfaraspossiblethesizeofthereduction,
theCommissionisstudyingacomplementary selectionsystemforappli­
cationsandthiscouldbethesubjectofalaterdecision.
E.Preparatory studiesandpilotschemes
TheprinciplesreferredtounderIdonotapplytopreparatorystudies
andpilotschemes.

II.INTERVENTIONS BASEDONARTICLE4OFCOUNCILDECISION71/66/EEC(3)
A.Operationsrelatingtopersonsleavingagriculture
(CouncilDecision72/428/EEC)(4)
1.Priorityisaccordedtoapplications relatingtooperations onbehalfof
persons(farmers,hiredagricultural workers,orfamilyworkers)who
leavefarming (5)-orleftnotmorethantwoyearspreviously
-totakeupemploymentinanothersectorofactivityorwhowishto
pursueanactivityinadditiontoagricultureparticularly tourismand
craftactivities .
Theseoperations mustbe:
-reservedexclusively forpersonswholeaveagriculture or
-carriedoutintheareaslistedinDirective 75/268/EEC(6)orin
areaswithanagricultural incomelowerthantheCommunityaverage.
2.Otheroperationsarenotaccordedpriority.
./.
(3)CouncilDecisionof1February1971onthereformoftheEuropean 1
SocialFundamendedbyCouncilDecision77/801/EECof20December1977
(0JNoL28,04.02.1971,p.15,NrL337,27.12.1977,p.8).
(4)CouncilDecision72/428/EECof19December1972onassistance fromthe
EuropeanSocialFundforpersonsleavingagriculturetopersuenon
agricultural .activitiesasamendedbyDecision77/802/EECof20De­
cember1977(0JNo.L291,of28.12.1972,p.158,NoL337,27.12.1977;
p.10)asprovidedforinAnnexIIoftheTreatiesestablishing theEuropean
Communities,thisdecisionappliesequallytofishing.
(5)Theseguidelineswillbereviewedinthelightofdecisionstakenby
theCouncilconcerning commonfisheriespolicy.
(6)CouncilDirective75/268/EECof28April1975onhillfarmingand
certainunderprivileged areas(OJN°L128,19.05.1975,p.1).

-5-
B.Operationsrelatingtoworkersinthetextileandclothingindustries
(CouncilDecision76/206/EEC(7)
1.Thesamelevelofpriorityisaccordedtoapplications relatingto
operations :
-infavourofpersonshavingtoleavethetextileandclothingsectors
inordertopursueactivitiesinanothersectorofeconomicactivity
andcarriedoutintextileproducingareaswithaparticularly high
rateofunemployment,or
-infavourofpersonsemployedinthetextileandclothingsectorswho,
asaresultofstructuraladaptationmeasures,areretrainedforjobs
inanotherbranchofthesamesector,showingprospectsofviability
atCommunitylevelintheforeseeablefuture.Trainingoperations which
leaddirectlytoemployment onproductsconsideredparticularly sensi­
tivebecauseofthehighlevelofmarketpenetration bylow-priced
imports(from developingcountries)(8),orforwhichacriticalsitua­
tionisrecognised onthebasisoftheinternalCommunitymarket(9),
canonlybeconsideredinsofarastheproductsinvolvedarecapableof
reachingasatisfactory levelofcompetition,particularly interms
judgedofaveragecosts(10).
2.Otherapplications arenotaccordedapriority.
./.
(7)CouncilDecision76/206/EECof9February1976onintervention bythe
EuropeanSocialFundinfavourofpersonsoccupiedinthetextileand
clothingindustriesasamendedbyCouncilDecision77/802/EECof
20December1977(0JNo.L39,14.02.1976,p.39,NoL337,27.12.1977,
p.11).
(8)TherelevantproductcategoriesarethosecontainedinGroupsIandII
ofAnnexAtoCommission'Regulation (EEC)No3019of30December1977
makingtheimportationintotheCommunityoftextileproductsorigina­
tingincertainthirdcountriessubjecttoauthorization andto
quantitative limits'(0JNoL357,31.12.1977).
(9)Inparticular :man-madefibres,stockingsandtightsandworstedyarn.
(10)Seethe,Commissionpositiononaidtotheindustryinquestion:
documentsSEC(71)363finalcommunicated totheMemberStateson
30July1971andtothenewMemberStateson19December1973;
supplements communicated on4February1977(AnnexIV/382/76tothe
letterof04.02.1977).

-6-
C.Operationsconcerningmigrantworkersandmefribersoftheirfamilies
(CouncilDecision77/803/EEC)(11)
Thefollowingareeligibleforpriority:
1'.Firstlevelpriority
Applications concerning :
(a)operations whicharepartofintegratedprogrammes andcomprise .
measuresinvolvingatleasttwophasesofthemigrationprocess,
althoughthesameindividuals neednotnecessarily beconcerned
bybothphases(12)(Article 1ofDecision77/803/EEC)or
(b)operationsinvolvinglanguagetuitionortuitionwithalinguistic
biasforyoungpersonswhohaveleftschoolorforadults.These
coursesmustbeintendedtofacilitateintegrationintothe
socialandworkingenvironment ofthehostcountryandhavea
minimumdurationof50hours(Article2ofDecision77/803/EEC);
or
(c)operationsconnectedwithbasicandadvancedtrainingprogramme
forsocialworkersandforteachersresponsible ,forintegration
coursesformigrantworkersortheirchildren.Thebasiccourses
shouldhaveaminimumdurationof100hoursandtheadvancedcourses
aminimumdurationof50hours(Article3ofDecision77/803/EEC),
or
(d)demonstration actionsleadingtoimprovements inthequalityof
teachingadaptedtotheneedsofthechildrenofmigrantworkers
(Article2ofDecision77/803/EEC).
2.Secondlevelpriority
Applications concerning :
(a)coursestofacilitatetheintegration ofmigrantworkersintothe
socialandworkingenvironment ;theyshouldhaveaminimumduration
of50hours(Article2ofDecision77/803/EEC)
(b)operationsinvolvingspecialtuitionforthechildrenofmigrant
workers,totheextenttowhichthey'areextensionsofexistingprogram­
mesornewmeasures (Article2ofDecision77/803/EEC).
*
3.Otherapplications arenotaccordedapriority. ,
•*•
(11)CouncilDecision77/803/EECof20December1977onactionbytheEuro­
peanSocialFundformigrantworkers(0JL337,27.12.1977/P-.12);seeaIso
CouncilResolutionof9February1976concerninganactionprogramme
formigrantworkersandtheirfamilies(0JNrC34of14.02.1976,p.2)
ThisDecisionconcernsdifferenttypesofprogramme;integratedprogram­
mes(paragraph 1.(a)refers)arelimitedtopersonswhomovewithintheCom­
munityfromonecountrytoanother;thislirmcationdoesnotapplyto
theotherprogrammes (seeparagraphs1.b,c,dand2.a,b)
(12)Theseprogrammes mayincludeforexample:-teachingadaptedforchil­
drenofmigrantworkerswithintheframeworkofcompulsoryschooling;
onthissubjectseeCouncilDirective77/486/cECof25July1977con­
cerningschoolingofchildrenofmigrantworkers(0JNr.L99,06.08.1977
p.32)

-?-
D.Onerationsforpersonsaffectedbyemploymentdifficulties (young
people)(Decision75/459/EBC)(13^
1.Firstpriority
(a)vocationalpreparationmeasuresgearedtointegrationintoworkinglife
andaccesstoskilledtrainingforyoungpersonswithnoother
opportunitytoreceivevocationaltraining;
inaccordance withtheCommission Recommendation on
vocationalpreparationforyoungpeoplewhoareunemployedorthreatenedbyunemployment (77/467/EECXl4)theseoperationsshould
includeadaptationmeasuressuchas:
-modernteachingmethodsappropriatetotheageandmaturityof
theyoungpeople;
-includevocationalguidanceandpracticalworkexperience ;
-offerbasictrainingforagivencategoryofoccupations ;
-liaiseonanactiveandregularbasiswithmanpowerservicesand'
potentialemployers,
andtakeintoaccountlocalorregionallabourmarketrequirements in
termsofcurrentorforeseendemandforsemi–skilledorskilled
manpower ;
or
(b)occupationalretrainingmeasuresorganisedonapragmaticbasisand
limitedtoyoungpersonswithbasictrainingforwhichthereisno
demand,andwhohavebeenunemployedorregisteredasjobseekers
foratleastsixmonths;thisdoesnotincludeuniversitygraduates;
or
skilledtrainingforyoungwomenandgirlswhichisdesignedto
demonstrate'awillingnesstoseekabalancebetweenmaleand
femaleparticipation inthevariousoccupations andtoencourage
theaccessofwomentoemploymentwheretheyhavebeentraditionally
undeiwepresented.
Inboththesecases,theoperationsmustbecarriedouttomeet
currentorforeseendemandsforlabour:tothisend,itmustbe
demonstratedthatoperationsrelatetoavailablevacancies,it
shouldbeshownthatplacementmayberegardedasassured,either
becauseofemployers'recruitmentplans,oronthebasisofpast
resultsobtainedbytheorganisations incpiestionforprogrammes
ofthesametype.
(13)CouncilDecision75/459/EECof22July1975onintervention bythe
EuropeanSocialFundforpersonsaffectedbyemploymentdifficulties ,
asamendedbyCouncilDecision7T/802/EECof20December1977
(0JNoL199,30July1975,P36,0JNoL337,27December1977,P10)
(14)CommissionRecommendation 77/^67/EECof6July1977toMemberStates
onvocationalpreparationforyoungpersonswhoareunemployedor
threatenedwithunemployment (0JNoLISO,20July1977,P18)

-8-
Theseoperationsmustincludeteachingmethodsappropriatetothe
specificsituationofyoungpeopleandmuststrengthenthelinks
betweenthevariousstagesofthevocationalintegrationprocessfrom
initialguidancetoemployments or
(c)vocationaltrainingoperationscarriedoutinregionswhere,"because
ofalackofeconomicresources,trainingcapacityhasnotyetbeen
adjustedtothemajoremploymentintegrationdifficulties encountered
tytheyoung;applications concerningsuchoperations mayalsobe
classifiedasfirstpriority,iftheycandemonstratethatassistance
fromtheFundwouldimprovetheadjustmentoftrainingoapacity,in
accordancewiththeobjectivesoftheseguidelines.
Nevertheless ,themainemphasisofFundassistanceinfirstlevel
prioritymust,however,berelatedtotheoperationsreferredto
under(a)..
?»Secondpriontv
Applications concerning :
(a)vocationaltrainingprogrammesasafollow-uptovocationalpreparation
operationsapprovedasfirstpriority;suchoperations musttakeaccount
oflocalorregionallabourmarketrequirements intermsofthecurrent
orforeseendemandforskilledlabour;or
(b)operationsconcerningtrainingprovidedunderemployment-training
contracts.
Inbothcases,theoperationsmustincludeteachingmethodsappropriateto
thespecificsituationofyoungpersons.
3.Otherapplications arenotaccordedpriority.
*
* *
Withtheexceptionofoperationsinfavourofyoungwomenandgirls,assistance
availableunderparagraphs 1and2aboveisreservedforoperationsfor:
–youngfirst–jobseekersinGreenland,theFrenchOverseasDepartments ,
Ireland,NorthernIrelandandtheMezzogiorno (15)»inregionswitha
youthunemployment rateabovetheCommunityaverageandincertain
otherregionswheretheyouthunemployment rateexceedsveryclearly
thenationalaverage.TheCommissionwillestablishthelistofrelevant
regionsonthebasisoftheresultsofthebiennialstatistical enquiry
onlabourforces;suchlisttobereviewedperiodically .
IntheabsenceofaCommunitydefinition,theCommissionserviceswillbase
theirclassification ofallapplications onthelawsandproceduresin
forceinMemberStatesinordertoassessthesituationof"youngfirst-
job-seekers".Withregardtovocationalpreparation ,however,priorityis
-ivenonlytoyoungpersonsunder20yearsofage*
}Sosfootnote(2)

ypungunemployedpersonshavingalreadvworkedwithout "benefitting fromFundaidunderArticle5ofDecision71/66/EEC(16)-byreasonofthefactthat
theoperationsconcerneddidnottakeplaceinregionsconsideredas
havingpriorityforthatfieldofintervention (seeChapterIIIpartA).
Operationsrelatingtowomen
(CouncilDecision77/804/EEC)(17)
ExperienceinthemanagementoftheFundindicatestheneedtoawait
atleastoneyear*soperationalexperiencebeforedrawingupprecise
guidelinesforanewfieldofintervention .
Applications willthereforebeexaminedonacasebycasebasisin
1978takingintoaccounttheneedtoencouragespecificnewprogrammes
–asdistinctfromtraditional actionsmoreappropriatetoother
fieldsofintervention –andmeasuresdesignedtosupportCommunity
objectivestowardstherealistionoftrueequalityofopportunityfor
womenintheworldofwork.
Particularfavourwill,therefore,beaccordedtoapplications which,
linkedtoconcreteemploymentprospects,aredesignedtoimprovethe
jobbalancebetweenthenumberofmalesandfemalesinhelpingwomen
entertrainingforpostsatasuitablelevelwheretheyareatpresent
under–represented•
Itisdesirablethatadequateattent:'onbepaidtoaccompanying measures
suchasguidanceandjobinformation ;placementcompatiblewith
trainingreceived;and,inthecaseofwomenreturningtoworkafter
interruption ,adecfuatere-traininginself-presentation onthejob
market.
(16)Article5paragraph 1a)ofCouncilDecision71/66/EEC,
seefootnote (3)
(17)CouncilDecision77/804/77of20December1977onintervention by
theLuropeanSocialFundforwomen(0JNoL337,27December1977
P■')

10-
111.AIDMEASURESBASEDOffARTICLE5OFCOUNCILDECISION71/66/EBC(l8)
-■■■>■<•Operationsconcerningregions(19)
1.Firstlevel
Applications concerningthefollowingareeligibleforpriority:
Applicationsconcerningthoseoperationsinvolvingbasicprogrammesfor
personsinthelowestabilityrange,andthoseinvolvingvocationaltraininginGreenland,theFrenchoverseasDepartments,Ireland,NorthernIrelandandtheMezzogiorno ,fors
-workerswhoareunemployed,threatenedwithunemployment ,under­
employedorforcedtoceaseactivitiesinaself–employed capaoity,insofarastheyofferemploymentprospects ;
-workerswhosequalifications mustbeadaptedtoenablethemto
pursuehighlyskilledoccupations.
2.Secondlevel
Otheroperation®inregionsofinterventionoftheEuropeanRegionalDevelop­
mentfund(21)affectedbyseriousproblemsofindustrialrestructuringforwhich
ommurnypoliciesexistorwillbeestablished.Suchoperationsshouldinvolvespecificprogrammesdevelopedforpersonsthreatenedwithunemploymentandgearedtomaintainingtheirjobs,orforpersonswhoareunemployedandforwhom
ajobmayberegardedasassuredeitherbecauseofjoboffersmadebyemployers,oronthebasicoftherecordofpastresultsofthebodiesconcernedinres­pectofprogrammesofthesamekind.
3.Thirdlevel
Applicationsofthesamekindasthoseinthe^-redingparagraphandcarried
outintheotherregionseligibleforEuropeanDevelopmentFundaid'(21).
4.Fourthlevel
Applicationsrelatingtooperationsreferredtointheregionsandzonesmen­tionedinparagraphs2and3(21)andconcerningbasicprogrammesintendedto
allowthoseunemployedwithinsufficientskills,tobenefitfromvocationaltrainingortodoajobrequiringonlytheminimumofqualifications .
5.Fifthlevel
Applicationsrelatingtooperationscarriedoutintheregionsmentionedin
paragraphs2and3(21)andconcerningotherprogrammesoftrainingoftheunemployed. 3
6.Otherapplicationsarenotaccordedpriority.
(18)CouncilDecision71/66/EECof1February1971onthereformofthe
EuropeanSocialFund,asamendedbyCouncilDecision77/8OI/EECof
20December1977(OJNoL28,4February1971,p15,OJNoL337,
27December1977.p8).
(19)Article5(l)(&)ofCouncilDecision71/66/EEC,referredtounder
(20)Seefootnote(2)
(21)Article3ofCouncilRegulation(EEC)No724/75of18March1975
settinguptheEuropeanRegionalDevelopment Fund(OJNoL73»
21March1975.pl).

-11-
*
* *
IntheabsenceofaCommunitydefinitiontheCommissionwilluseas-a
basisthelawsandproceduresinforceintheMemberStatestoassess
theconceptsofthevariouscategoriesofworkers("unemployedworkers",
"xander–employedworkers","workersthreatenedwithunemployment",
"workersforcedtoceaseactivitiesinaself–employedcapacity",
"workersrequiringadvancedtraining").
B«Operationsconcerningadaptationtotechnicalprogressandgroupsof
undertakings (22)
Forthesetwofieldsaprovisional budgethasbeenfixed,notexceeding
l<yfooftheappropriations availableunderArticle510ofthebudget.
Technicalprogress
Applications concerningthefollowingareeligibleforpriority:
1.Firstlevel
Operationsimplementedinbranchesofeconomicactivitywheretheintro­
ductionofnewtechnologyorproductiontechniquesendangersthelevel
ofemployment(threatofunemployment );
2.Secondlevel
Operationsimplementedtoencouragethemodernisation ofproductionand
managementtechniquesinsmall–andmedium-sized undertakings ;
3.Thirdlevel
OperationsdesignedtoapplyforthefirsttimeinaMemberStateanew
technologycapableofbeingofbenefittothewholeofasector;
4.Fourthlevel
Operationsimplementedinexpandingbranchesofeconomicactivitywhere
theintroduction ofnewtechnologyorproductiontechniquesleadstothe
creationofnewjobs,insofarastheskillsindemandareinnovativeor
wherethereissuchashortageofthistypeofskilledlabourthatthe
developmentofnewtechnologyisliabletobejeopardized.
5.Otherapplications arenotaccordedpriority.
(22)Article5(1)(b)and(c)ofCouncilDecision71/66/EECreferredto
under(17)

-12-
*
* *
(a)Theoperations referred toabove -whether they involve initial programmes
orfollow-ups tothese programmes –must beopen toawhole economic
sector whose adaptation totechnical progress isnotcontrary tothe
principles ofCommunity policy .Programmes designed foranindividual
undertaking canonly befinanced inthecase referred tounder 3.
(b)Theoperations listed above maybedesigned toretrain workers orkeep
them inthesame occupation ,butineither case they should notsimply
involve routine adaptation measures (asanindication only :theduration
oftraining should beatleast 200hours ,including those forthe
unemployed ,those threatened with unemployment ortheunder-employed ).
(c)Theconcept oftechnical progress will beassessed according tothe
location and size ofundertakings .
Groups ofundertakings
1.Applications concerning operations designed topromote theinter-sectoral
mobility ofworkers affected bylarge –scale redundancies whocanbe
provided with stable re–employment through development activities are
eligible forpriority .
Theoperations referred toabove ,even ifths;y :nvolve only oneunder­
taking atatime ,should apply tosectors undergoing major long–term
structural changes ,asaresult ofdifficulties inproduction conditions
orproduct marketing occasioned byrawmaterials supply problems or
market developments .
2.Other applications are not accorded priority .

-13-
C.Operations inrespect ofhandicapped -persons (23)
Thefollowing areeligible forpriority :
1.First level
Applications concerning :
(a)special programmes topromote theplacement ofhandicapped persons in
open employment ,including agriculture .These programmes should be
carried outinareas inwhich activities designed tointegrate handi­
capped persons into open employment are least developed .
These programmes should form part ofappropriate structures and
should employ adequate teaching methods andmeans ofsocial and
occupat ional integrati on
or
(b)newdemonstration activities Xtfhich aredirectly related towork
problems andwhich are either designed toimprove methods ofrehabili­
tating andplacing handicapped persons inemployment orinvolve
new elements which might beincluded inexisting laws orpractices .
Ifseveral applications dealing with programmes ofthe same type
are submitted ,only onefrom anyMember State may betaken into
consideration (this provision will notprevent thefinancing ofthe
final stage ofprogrammes already partially approved inprevious
years ).
Inboth cases the operations should involve acertain continuity
inthevarious stages from functional rehabilitation toplacement .
2.Second level
Applications concerning newexperiments meeting theconditions listed
above ,under 1,where several schemes ofthesame type aresubmitted .
3.Other applications arenotaccorded priority .
(23)Article 5(l)(d )ofCouncil Decision "J1/66/EEGreferred tounder
(17).

PREPARATORY STUDIESANDPILOTSCHEMES
(Article7OFCouncilRegulation(EEC)FO2396/71)(24)
TheseschemesaredesignedtoguidetheCouncilandtheCommissionin
theirchoiceoffutureareasofintervention andtopromotethemore
effectiveuseofexistingFundaids.
Prioritywillbegiventopilotschemesratherthanstudies,which
fulfilthemajorityofthefollowingconditions :
1.areinnovatoryincharacter,
2.aredesignedtocontributetoimprovedoradditionalemployment,
or
3.aredesignedtocontributetotheraisingoftrainingstandards,
particularly polyvalenttraining,especiallyinoperationsthe
subjectofapplications forFundaidunderArticles4or5*or
4.arepotentiallyapplicableintheCommunitygenerally,
5.areconcernedwith:
–youth'unemployment
–settingupofsmallcraftindustries ,
–creationofemploymentopportunities forwomeninjobswhere
theyareunder-represented ,
–trainingfornewskillsdemandedbytechnological changes,
–trainingofinstructors .
Tofacilitatecomparative examination ofapplications onthebroadest
possiblebasis,itisdesirabletomovetowardsasystemofselection
ofpilotschemesforaidfromtheFundintwoseparatebatchesper
annum.Projectstobegininthesecondhalfof1979shouldtherefore
besubmittedt>y1November1978,thoseforthefirsthalfofI98Oby
1stMay1979aftd.soon.

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V.GUIDELINES FOR1978
1.Theguidelinesapplicableto1977(25)areextendedto1978.However,in
ordertoensureagradualtransitiontowardstheguidelineslaiddownfor
1979»1980andI98I,theCommissionwillapplycertainpartsofthelatter
guidelinesinallcaseswhereemploymenttrendssojustify,oncondition
thatthisdoesnotresultinlessfavourabletreatmentofapplications .
Asregards .handicappedpersons,'theguidelineslaiddownfor1979j1980
andI98I,asgivenaboveinpartIIISectionC,areapplicablefor1978.
Theselectionofapplications involvingnewschemeswill,however,have
totakeintoaccountthesignificant volumeofsuchschemesalready
inreceiptofassistance.
2.ThemethodofweightedreductionssetoutunderI.D.isapplicablefor
1978.
3.During1978andinthedifferentfieldsofintervention ,priorityapplications
willbeselectedonacasebycasebasisamongstapplications notexceeding
12months*durationandwhichputintoeffectaidsforpromotingbetter
conditionsforemployment(26).OnlyoperationsoarriedoutinGreenland,
FrenchoverseasDepartments ,Ireland,NorthernIrelandandtheMezzogiornowillbeconsideredprioritycases(27).Theseoperationsareclassifiedas
firstlevelpriority.
Theseoperationscanbeindependent oftrainingactivities but,in
certaincases,canconstituteanextensionoftrainingorintegration
intoworkinglife.
Thiscategoryofaidcancoverexpenditureincurredinthedirector
indirectpaymentofcontributions tothegrosswagesofnewly–engaged
workers.
TheCommissionwilllaydownguidelinesfor1979an&subsequentyearsin
thelightofthedecisionswhichwillbetakenconcerningthenew
categoriesofaidtopromoteemploymentofyoungpersons,forwhichthe
CouncilinvitedtheCommission on28October1977"tosubmitproposals.
Theguidelinesfor1979subsequentyearswilltakeintoconsideration
togetherthetwocategoriesofaidconcerningemployment.
(25)GuidelinesonthemanagementoftheSocialFundforthefinancialyear1977(OJNoC141,15June1977,p2)
(26)AidslistedinArticle3(l)(e)ofCounoilRegulation(EEC)
No2396/7Iof8November1971»referredtounder(l)
(27)Seefootnote(2).