ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES 
DE LA COMMISSION 
 
 
 
COLLECTION RELIEE DES 
DOCUMENTS "COM" 
 
 
 
 
COM (83) 711 
 
 
Vol. 1983/0 254 
  
 
Disclaimer  
Conformém ent au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique 
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, 
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents 
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit 
règlem ent. 
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Econom ic 
Communit y and the European Atom ic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
27.9.2003, p. 1), t his file is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this 
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.  
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februa r 1983 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen  
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983,  
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. Septem ber 2003  
(ABI. L 243 v om 27.9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit  
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5  
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.  
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
COM(83) 711 final 
Brussels, 22 December 1983
COMMISSION GUIDELINES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF 
THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND IN THE FINANCIAL 
YEARS 1984-1986
(Commission Communication to the Council)
COM(83) 711 final

COMMISSION GUIDELINES
FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND  
IN THE FINANCIAL YEARS 1984-1986
In view of the disproportion between the volume of applications for  
aid And available appropriations, the Commission shall, pursuant to  
Article 6(1) of Decision 83/516/EEC^ ^on the tasks of the European  
Social Fund, decide on eligible appli|Cations in accordance with the  
following factors:
I. The concentration of Fund appropriations provided for in Article 7  
Of Decision 83/516/EEC on projects
* aimed at young people, the appropriations allocated to such  
projects not to be lower in any one year than 75X of all  
appropriations available;
aimed at promoting employment in Greenland, Greece, the French  
Overseas Departments, Ireland, the Mezzogiorno and Northern  
Ireland; the appropriations allocated to such projects must  
be equal to 40X of available appropriations for all the  
projects referred to in Article 3(1) of Decision 83/516/EEC,  
and projects aimed at developing employmerft in the other areas  
of high unemployment and/or industrial and sectoral restructuring.
II. the granting of priority to operations corresponding to Community  
Objectives ip employment and vocational training, as defined in the  
following resolutions:
Council Resolution of 11 July 1983 concerning vocational  
training policies in t p e European Community in the 1980s<2>.
(1)0J No L 289, 22.10.1983, p. 38.  
OJ No. C 193, 20.07.1983, p. 2.(2)

- Council Resolution of 2 June 1983 concerning vocational training measures  
relating to new information technologies (1);
- Council Resolution of 12 July ( 1982 on Community action to combat
unemployment (2); *
>  I
■> -V . .
- Council Resolution pf 12 July 1982 op the promotion of equal opportunities  
for women (3);
- Council Resolution of the representatives of the Governments of the Member  
States of the European Communities/ meeting within the Council of
21 December 1981 on the social integration of handicapped people (4);
- Council Resolution of 27 June 1980 on guidelines for a Community labour  
marked policy (5);
- Council Resolution of 18 December 1979 on linked work and training for  
young persons (6);
- Council Resolution of 9 February 1976 on an action programme for
migrant workers and members of their families (7).
i
III. - Priority to be accorded to specific actions of an innovatory character
carried out in the framework of action programmes decided by the Council  
and aimed at developing Member State policies and practices corresponding  
to the Community objectives indicated under point 2.
(1) 0J No C 166/ 25.06.1983/ p. 1.
(2) OJ C 186/ 21.07.1982/ p. 1.
(3) OJ to> C 186/ 21.07.1982/ p. 3.
(4) OJ fto C 347/ 31.12.1981/ p. 1.(5) OJ No C 168, 08.07.1980, p. 1.
(6) 0J No C 1, 03.01.1980, p. 1.
(7) 0J No C 34, 14.02.1976, p. 2.

1. CONCENTRATION OF FUND APPROPRIATIONS (Article 3(1) of Decision 83/516/EEO
In addition to Greenland, Greece, French Overseas Departments, Ireland,  
the Mezzogiorno and Northern Ireland the other zones of high and  
long-term unemployment and/or industrial and sectoral restructuring  
(Article 7(3) of Decision 83/516/EEC) are shown in the attached list.
2. PRIORITY FOR ACTIONS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF COMMUNITY OBJECTIVES  
(Article 3(1) of Decision 83/516/EEC)
2.1 Operations referred to in this section from A to F shall be  
priority in Greenland, Greece, French Overseas Departments, Ireland,  
the Mezzogiorno and Northern Ireland and in the other zones  
indicated at point 1 above.
»
2.2 In response to certain Community objectives, in particular those
relating to the introduction of new technology, and in order to  
give scope to operations carried out in areas where the  
unemployment rate is exceptionally high in comparison with the  
national average, some of the operations listed below in  
Sections A to F are priority outside the areas indicated
in paragraph 2.1. Where priority is net to be limited to these regions  
and zones this is expressly stated.
A. JOINT AID FROM SEVERAL FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Operations which are part of integrated operations, actions or  
programmes receiving aid from several Community instruments.
In the case of such operations priority shall not be  
subject to a regional limitation.
B. JOINT OPERATIONS
Operations carried out jointly by several Member States. In  
the case of such operations priority shall not be subject to  
regional limitation.
>

C. VOCATIONAL TRAINING ANO YOUTH EMPLOYMENT (1)
0.1 Operations immediately after the end of full-time compulsory education  
to further the employment of young people under twenty-five,' consisting  
of basic vocational training leading to real prospects of stable  
employment and including work experience in the framework of a  
programme lasting a total of at least six months.
C.2 Operations to further the employment of young people under twenty-five  
whose qualifications have through experience proved to be inadequate  
or inappropriate, consisting of full-time or part-time vocational  
training aimed at equipping them with higher skills and qualifications  
adapted to labour market developments, facilitating the introduction of  
new technology in particular, and leading to real prospects of stable  
employment.
C. 3 Operations providing vocational training directly linked to the
obtaining of a job contract of a duration of more than one year. In  
the case of such operations priority shall not be subject to a  
regional limitation.
0. INDUSTRIAL AND SECTORAL RECONVERSION AND RESTRUCTURING:
TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE (2)
D. 1 Operations to promote employment which accompany restructuring
or reconversion measures in one or more undertakings.
0.2 Vocational training operations for persons employed in small and  
medium-sized undertaking's (employing not more than 500) who require  
retraining as a result of the introduction of new technology which  
substantially alters management or production techniques in those  
undertakings. In the case of such operations priority shall not be  
subject to a regional limitation.
("!) This paragraph conetrns operations confined to voung people. The  
operations referred to in other paragraphs in Sections 2 and 3 can  
obviously also apply to young people.
(2) This paragraph concerns operations specifically linked to industrial  
reconversion and innovation, particularly in order to facilitate the  
introduction of new technology. The operations referred to in other  
paragraphs in Sections 2 and 3 can also obviously meet this objective.

- 5 -
D. 3 Vocational training operations leading directly to specific jobs in
small or medium-sized undertakings to promote applied research in  
the development of new products, services or production processes in  
the following sectors: information technology, micro-electronics,
télécommunications, new means of transport, automation of production  
processes, optical fibres, t4io-technology, new forms of energy,  
protection of the environment. The undertakings in question must not  
employ more than 500 persons. For these operations, priority shall not  
be Subject to a regional limitation.
0.A Operations providing vocational training for persons to take up posts as  
instructors in new initiatives enabling training structures to be adapted  
to the needs of the sectors indicated in 0.3.
E. LABOUR MARKET DEVELOPMENT
E.1 Operations providing vocational training, including preparatory training,  
for persons over the age of 25 who have been unemployed for more than 12  
months, which significantly improve the prospects of stable employment.
E.2 Operations providing vocational training, including preparatory training^  
for unemployed persons or those threatened with unemployment or under­
employed carried out in Greenland, Greece, French Overseas Departments,  
Ireland, the Mezzogiorno and Northern Ireland.
E.3 Operations concerning recruitment to additional and permanent jobs or
operations concerning employment in projects for the creation of additional  
jobs which fulfil a public need.
E.4 Operations forming part of local initiatives aimed at the creation of  
additional jobs or the socio-occupational integration of categories of  
•  persons disadvantaged in relation to employment and operations for
development agents aimed at promoting such initiatives. Priority shall not  
be subject to a regional limitation.
E.5 Operations involving vocational training and full-time or part-time
employment and linked with measures to create additional jobs through a  
reorganisation or a reduction in working time agreed between the social  
partners. *

-  6 -
E. 6 Operations, excluding assistance towards the salary costs of public
servants, for persons to take up posts as instructors, vocational  
guidance or placement experts, to further employment in Greenland,
Gr*eece, French Overseas Departments, Ireland, the Mezzogiorno and  
Northern Ireland. Where such operations are carried out to further  
the employment of women and the desegregation of the labour market or  
td further the employment *and integration of migrant workers or of  
.  ^ disabled persons, priority shall not be subject to a regional limitation.
F. SdCIO-OCCUPATIONAL INTEGRATION OF CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF PERSONS
F.1 Operations designed specially for women who are unemployed, threatened  
with unemployment, underemployed or wishing to return to work, to  
promote a more even mix of the sexes in jobs in which they are under­
represented. Where such operations include vocational training, they  
shall also include preparation for working life, acquisition of basic  
knowledge of techniques and technological innovations and measures for  
socio-occupational integration or re-integration. For these operations,  
priority shall not be subject to a regional limitation.
F.2 Operations designed specially for migrant workers and members of their  
families
- to assist their integration into the host country with vocational  
training combined with language1training;
- to maintain knowledge of the mother tongue and provide vocational  
training combined, if necessary, with refresher language courses when  
they wish to return to the labour market of their country of origin,  
this applying solely to nationals of Member States.
Fbr these operations, priority shall not be subject to a regional  
limitation.
• F.3' Operations designed specially for vocational «raining and/or the «adaptation  
of work places for disabled people who are capable of working in the open  
labour market. For operations focussed on the adaptation of work places,  
priority shall not be subject to a regional limitation.
»
3. PRIORITY FOR SPECIFIC OPERATIONS OF AN INNOVATORY CHARACTER WITHIN THE  
FRAMEWORK OF COMMUNITY OBJECTIVES (Article 3(2) of*Decision 83/516/EEC)
Priority operations shall be those which encourage the implementation of  
innovatory projects which meet all the following criteria:

carried out within the framework of a programme of action adopted  
by the Council (1); _ i
designed to contribute to the development of policy and the improvement  
of practice of the Member States related to the Community objectives  
referred to in paragraph 2;1
offering a possible basis for future Fund intervention under Article 3(1)  
of Decision 83/516/EEC;
- aimed at methodically validating new working hypotheses concerning, for  
example, content, methodology, organisation of training or vocational  
guidance, with a view to wider application. Such hypotheses should be  
considered in the context of needs, expectations, and current practices  
in a particular region;
- associating closely the parties involved, including the social partners,  
at the planning and operational stage;
- including evaluation;
- concerning not more than 100 people.
For tfhese operations the priority shall not be subject to a regional
l imiiiat ion.
EFFECTIVENESS OF FUND ASSISTANCE (Article 3(2) of Decision 83/516/EEC)
4.1 The Commission will examine the effectiveness of operations carried  
out in favour of certain categories of persons, and of certain types  
of expenditure for which assistance is given.
(1) See Section II.

-  B -
4.2 Thé Commission reserves the right to include with the assistance  
granted for certain operations additional assistance for the  
financing of an examination of effectiveness.
5. EXtHANGE OF EXPERIENCE (Article 3(2) of Decision 83/516/EEC)
The Commission intends to encourage exchanges of experience relating  
to the results of certain operations which it has approved.
6. APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS
6.1 The Commission shall approve applications for assistance by budgetary  
item starting with the priority applications.
6.2 When available appropriations are insufficient to finance in full the  
applications submitted under Article 3(1) of Decision 83/516/EEC, a  
reduction is applied.
t
6.3 For applications relating to Greenland, Greece, the French Overseas  
Departments, Ireland, the Mezzogiorno and Nothern Ireland, the reduction  
is calculated on a linear basis on the volume of these remaining to be  
approved for each Member State.
6.4 For applications relating to the other areas, the reduction is  
calculated on the volume of those remaining to be approved for each
Member State on the basis of its gross domestic product per capita at current 
exchange rates and its unemployment rate, the areas covered by the linear 
reduction described in 6.3 being discounted for the calculation of the 
unemployment rate. 1
6.5 The Commission, after consulting the Member States, shall select the  
applications relating to operations or areas to be fully financed,  
taking account of cases where Community assistance is of particular  
importance to the carrying-out of the operations and the promotion of  
new operations. In regard to the choice of areas, the Commission shall  
take account of particularly severe regional employment imbalances.
./.

FINAL POINTS
Operations providing only information or refresher training are  
not regarded as vocational training operations.
The long-term unemployed, as provided for under Article 1(c) of  
Council Regulation No 2950/83, are taken to be those who have  
been unemployed for more than twelve months.
. ? . ’ V .
It is pointed out that the Commission, in applying these guidelines,  
shall ensure consistency between its decisions on granting aid and  
other Community policies, especially with regard to observance of  
the rules of competition concerning State aids and the measures  
taken concerning the framework of aids.

ANNEX
List of areas of high and long-term unemployment and/or industrial
and sectoral restructuring
For a transition period and with a view to maintaining a degree of
»
continuity with the regional priorities of the Fund in 1983, the  
concentration of appropriations as indicated in the second sentence  
of paragraph 3 of Article 7 of Decision 83/516/EEC will be based on a  
list comprising all the priority areas (with the exception of those  
benefitting from a higher rate of intervention) defined under the former  
rules, and areas of industrial and sectoral restructuring.
1. Fund appropriations will thus be concentrated on operations in
respect of employment in the following areas: *
1.1 BELGIUM
I  >
Provinces of Antwerpen, Oost-Vlaanderen, West-Vlaanderen, Limburg,  
Brabant, Hainaut, Liège, Namur, Luxembourg.
1.2 DENMARK
Kdbenhavn and Frederiksberg kommuner; amtkommunerne Bornholm,
Vestjaelland, Storstrommen, Fyn, Ribe, Vejle, Arhus, Viborg,
Nordjylland, Sonderjylland, Ringkdbing.
1.3 GERMANY
Länder Schleswig-Holstein, Saarland, Berlin, Regierungsbezirke Weser-Ems,  
Hannover, Trier.
1.4 FRANCE
Regions de programme Champagrie-Ardenne, Picardie, Haute-Normandie, Centre  
Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Nord Pas-de-Calais, Lorraine, Franche-Comté,  
Pays de la Loire, Bretagne, Poitou-Charentes, Aquitaine, Limousin,  
Midi-Pyrénées, Rhône-Alpes, Auvergne, Languedoc-Roussillon, Provence-  
Alpes-Côte d '  Azur-Corse.
1-5 ITALY
Regioni Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Piemonte, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna,
Toscana, Umbria, Lazio.

-  2 -
1.6 LUXEMBOURG
I
The whole country.
1.7 NETHERLANDS
Provinces of Groningen and Limburg. Regios: Zuidoost-Noord-Brabant,
Midden-Noord-Brabant, Arnhem/Nijmegen, Achterhoek.
1.8 UNITED KINGDOM
Standard regions North, North West, Yorkshire and Humberside, West
Midlands, Wales, Scotland.
2. For areas not included in paragraph 1, the list is completed by:
(a) areas qualifying as of 1 January 1984 under national regional aid systems in 
accordance with Article 92 of the Treaty and eligible for aid from 
the quota section of the European Regional Development Fund;I
Cb) areas of industrial and sectoral restructuring qualifying for aid from 
the European Regional Development Fund (non quota section) as at 
present or proposed by the Commission.