A4-0057/96

Resolution on the draft Commission Communication to the Member States on 'Allocation of the reserve for Community Initiatives for the period up to the end of 1999" concerning:- Employment growth and the development of human resources (EMPLOYMENT- INCLUSION) (C4-0613/95)- The adaptation of the workforce to industrial change (ADAPT) (C4-0614/95)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the relevant rules of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to Regulation (EEC) No. 2082/93 of 20 July 1993 ((OJ L 193, 31.7.1993, p. 20.)), in particular Article 11 thereof,

- having regard to the code of conduct on implementation of structural policies by the Commission of 13 July 1993 ((OJ C 255, 20.9.1993, p. 19.)), in particular point 2, second indent thereof,

- having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 29 October 1993 on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure ((OJ C 331, 7.12.1993, p. 1.)), and the financial perspective annexed thereto (Annex I),

- having regard to its resolution of 26 October 1995 on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 1996 (Section III - Commission) ((OJ C 308, 20.11.1995, p. 116.)), and in particular paragraph 15 thereof,

- having regard to the general budget of the EU for the financial year 1996 ((OJ L 22, 29.1.1996.)), and in particular Article B2-148 and Chapter B0-40 of Section III,

- having regard to the draft Commission Communication to the Member States on 'Allocation of the reserve for Community Initiatives for the period up to the end of 1999" concerning: b) Employment growth and the development of human resources (EMPLOYMENT-INCLUSION) (C4-0613/95) and c) The adaptation of the workforce to industrial change (ADAPT) (C4-0614/95),

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Social Affairs and Employment and the opinion of the Committee on Women's Rights (A4-0057/96),

A. whereas women's inclusion and active participation in labour markets remains very limited and precarious, not least due to under-representation, and at times total invisibility, of women in training in general and in managerial positions in particular,

B. whereas gender issues must be fully integrated in the formulation and implementation of the EMPLOYMENT-NOW initiative, in accordance with the Union's policy on promoting and fully guaranteeing women's rights,

1. Endorses unreservedly the Commission's approach whereby measures to combat unemployment are to be considered a priority when allocating the reserve for Community initiatives; supports, therefore, the increase in the appropriations for EMPLOYMENT-INCLUSION and ADAPT (ECU 300 m and ECU 170 m respectively);

2. Considers that the above increase will do much to underline the Union's attachment to the guiding principles of Community initiatives, namely transnationality, innovation, and a locally based approach;

3. Calls on the Member States and their leaders to ensure that projects are formulated and implemented in strict compliance with the principle of full, participatory and democratic consultation of women's organisations as to content and implementation of measures under the initiative;

4. Calls on the Commission to modify the above draft communication on the basis of the following proposed modifications:

(Proposed modification 1)

EMPLOYMENT-INCLUSION (12), title

>Original text>

'Employment-INCLUSION" (improving access to the labour market and employability of economically and socially vulnerable groups)

>Text following EP vote>

'Employment-INTEGRA" (improving access to the labour market and employability of economically and socially vulnerable groups)

(Proposed modification 2)

EMPLOYMENT-INCLUSION (12), 4th subparagraph

>Original text>

Greater emphasis should also be placed on actions targeted at disadvantaged urban areas, where community based approaches to the revitalisation of neighbourhoods could be appropriately combined with job creation initiatives aimed at the potential new sources of jobs highlighted in the White Paper on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment. This emphasis does not preclude actions targeted at disadvantaged rural areas.

>Text following EP vote>

Greater emphasis should also be placed on actions targeted at disadvantaged urban areas, where community based approaches to the revitalisation of neighbourhoods could be appropriately combined with job creation initiatives aimed at the potential new sources of jobs highlighted in the White Paper on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment. This obviously requires close coordination between national agencies responsible for this initiative and those bodies managing the URBAN initiative which specifically addresses the overall problems of urban areas. The emphasis on urban areas does not preclude actions targeted at disadvantaged rural areas.

(Proposed modification 3)

EMPLOYMENT-INCLUSION (12)(a), 2nd indent

>Original text>

- the occupational integration of disadvantaged people within urban communities with the help of community infrastructure, information, advice and development of services;

>Text following EP vote>

- the occupational integration of disadvantaged people with the help of community infrastructure, information, advice and development of services;

(Proposed modification 4)

EMPLOYMENT-INCLUSION (12)(a), 3rd indent

>Original text>

- support for the development and delivery of integrated community-based services targeted at vulnerable groups and disadvantaged people within urban communities, perhaps on an outreach basis, or through the organisation of 'one-stop-shops¨ combining information and advice on health, housing, social security benefits, legal problems, education, training and employment opportunities;

>Text following EP vote>

- support for the development and delivery of integrated community-based services targeted at vulnerable groups and disadvantaged people, perhaps on an outreach basis, or through the organisation of 'one-stop-shops¨ combining information and advice on health, housing, social security benefits, legal problems, education, training and employment opportunities;

(Proposed modification 5)

EMPLOYMENT-INCLUSION (12)(a), 4th indent

>Original text>

- support for actions to promote tolerance, understanding and acceptance of cultural and social diversity among the general public, the Social Partners and public services personnel concerning vulnerable groups and disadvantaged people;

>Text following EP vote>

- support for actions aimed at public services personnel and the Social Partners with a view to promoting tolerance and combating discrimination in relation to vulnerable groups and disadvantaged people;

(Proposed modification 6)

EMPLOYMENT-INCLUSION (12)(a), 5th indent

>Original text>

- support for actions to build confidence and empower local groups to play an active part in the decision-making-process including training and support in project development and management, business and communication skills, organisation of community activities, and other activity aimed at stimulating dialogue between key actors in the public, private and voluntary sector;

>Text following EP vote>

- support for actions to build confidence and empower local groups to play an active part in the decision-making process including training and support in project development and management, business and communication skills and organisation of community activities;

(Proposed modification 6a)

EMPLOYMENT-INCLUSION (14)

>Original text>

14. The actions covered by this initiative shall be jointly financed by the Member States, the Community and by enterprises and other bodies where appropriate. Where employees of companies take part in the various operations, the enterprises concerned shall finance an appropriate part of their cost.

>Text following EP vote>

14. The actions covered by this initiative shall be jointly financed by the Member States, the Community and by enterprises and other bodies where appropriate. Where employees of companies take part in the various operations, the enterprises concerned shall finance an appropriate part of their cost. Every effort will be made to ensure prompt payment by Member States or the Community for operational programmes within the framework of this Community initiative.

(Proposed modification 7)

EMPLOYMENT-INCLUSION (17), first subparagraph

>Original text>

17. Amounts will be allocated to each strand as follows:

mECU

'Employment-NOW'

'Employment-HORIZON'

'Employment-YOUTHSTART'

'Employment-INCLUSION'

>Text following EP vote>

17. Amounts will be allocated to each strand as follows:

mECU

'Employment-NOW' 493

'Employment-HORIZON' 509

'Employment-YOUTHSTART' 449

'Employment-INTEGRA' 376

Total 1827

(1995 prices)

(Proposed modification 8)

ADAPT-BIS (4), 2nd subparagraph, introduction

>Original text>

Within these objectives, the initiative will also promote actions concerned with identifying and articulating a positive social policy framework for the Information Society. The ADAPT-BIS priorities should reinforce the transition in to the Information Society by developing practical knowledge and experience about the effects of the emerging Information Society on Employment amongst all key social, economic, and political actors. In particular, ADAPT-BIS aims to stimulate:

>Text following EP vote>

Within these objectives, the initiative will also promote actions concerned with identifying and articulating a positive social policy framework for the Information Society. The ADAPT-BIS priorities should facilitate the transition into the Information Society and minimize the social exclusion effects which can result from it. This can be achieved, inter alia, by:

developing practical knowledge and experience about the effects of the emerging Information Society on Employment amongst all key social, economic, and political actors and disseminating such knowledge so as to facilitate the development of more user-friendly technologies where available or, alternatively, encouraging the development of more user-friendly software.

>Text following EP vote>

In particular, ADAPT-BIS aims to stimulate:

(Proposed modification 9)

ADAPT-BIS (4), 2nd subparagraph, 1st indent

>Original text>

- a high level of awareness of these issues, providing practical guidance and support for individuals involved in implementing the new technologies and those who will be affected by them;

>Text following EP vote>

- a high level of awareness of these issues, providing practical guidance and support for people involved in producing and implementing the new technologies and those who will be affected by them;

(Proposed modification 10)

ADAPT-BIS (6)(d), 1st indent, subindent 3a (new)

>Text following EP vote>

- identifying and addressing barriers to the development of the Information Society, in particular attitudinal, social, political and legal/regulatory barriers.

(Proposed modification 11)

ADAPT-BIS (6)(d), 2nd indent, introduction

>Original text>

- to develop active strategies to help the labour force adapt to the new demands of the Information Society, such as:

>Text following EP vote>

- to develop active strategies to help the labour force adapt to the new demands of the Information Society and to encourage the gearing of IT products to the needs of potential users; this could be achieved, inter alia, by:

(Proposed modification 12)

ADAPT-BIS (6)(d), 2nd indent, 1st subindent

>Original text>

- identifying and addressing barriers to the development of the Information Society, in particular attitudinal, social, political and legal/regulatory barriers.

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Proposed modification 13)

ADAPT-BIS (6)(d), 2nd indent, 3rd subindent

>Original text>

- promoting experimentation with new telematics-based employment services which facilitate access by non-professionals (e.g. young persons, the unemployed)

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Proposed modification 14)

ADAPT-BIS (6)(d), 2nd indent, 4th subindent

>Original text>

- improving coordination between local labour market organisations in order to make them more responsive and flexible in the context of the Information Society.

>Text following EP vote>

- helping local labour market organisations to be more responsive and flexible in the context of the Information Society.

(Proposed modification 15)

ADAPT-BIS (6)(d), 3rd indent, introduction

>Original text>

- to develop and experiment policies and schemes which will support the adaptation of work organisation and employment practices to the Information Society, particularly in order to obviate effects of social exclusion and maintain standards of social security and protection, and to identify ways to improve both the quality of working life and business efficiency, through:

>Text following EP vote>

- to develop and experiment policies and schemes which will support the adaptation of work organisation and employment practices to the Information Society and to promote the 'rapprochement' of the Information Society to potential users, particularly in order to obviate effects of social exclusion and to identify ways to improve both the quality of working life and business efficiency and, through:

(Proposed modification 16)

ADAPT-BIS (6)(d), 3rd indent, 2nd subindent

>Original text>

- supporting experimentation and application of new organisational concepts which encourage innovativeness and the knowledge intensity of work such as the learning organisation

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Proposed modification 17)

ADAPT-BIS (6)(d), 3rd indent, 3rd subindent

>Original text>

- the rapid diffusion of best practice in applying these technologies in the workplace through the support of information exchange networks within enterprises and public institutions, between enterprises, and between the public and private sectors

>Text following EP vote>

- the rapid diffusion of best practice in applying these technologies in the workplace through the support of information exchange networks between enterprises, and between the public and private sectors

(Proposed modification 17a)

ADAPT-BIS (10)

>Original text>

10. The actions covered by this initiative shall be jointly financed by the Member States, the Community and by enterprises and other bodies where appropriate. Where employees of companies take part in the various operations, the enterprises concerned shall finance an appropriate part of their cost.

>Text following EP vote>

10. The actions covered by this initiative shall be jointly financed by the Member States, the Community and by enterprises and other bodies where appropriate. Where employees of companies take part in the various operations, the enterprises concerned shall finance an appropriate part of their cost. Every effort will be made to ensure prompt payment by Member States or the Community for operational programmes within the framework of this Community initiative.

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission.