8.8.2000 EN C 226/43 Official Journal of the European Communities
Resolution of the Committee of the Regions on ‘The Implementation of the European
Employment Strategy’
(2000/C 226/12)
THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,
having regard to its president’s decision on 8 November 1999 to draw up a resolution on the subject and
to direct Commission 6 — Employment, Economic Policy, Single Market, Industry and SMEs — to carryout the preparatory work;
having regard to the European Council meeting in Lisbon of 23 and 24 March 2000, focusing on the
subjects employment, economical reforms and social cohesion;
having regard to its earlier opinions on employment, viz. ‘The role of local and regional authorities in
linking education and training establishments to enterprises’ (
1); ‘The proposal for a Council Decision on
measures of financial assistance for innovative and job-creating small and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs) — The growth and employment initiative’ (2); ‘Forthcoming economic policy guidelines’ (3); the
Communication from the Commission: ‘From guidelines to action: the National Action Plans forEmployment’ and the Communication from the Commission: ‘Proposal for guidelines for Member States’
employment policies in 1999’ (
4); the Communication from the Commission adapting and promoting the
social dialogue at Community level and the draft Council Decision amending Decision 70/532/EECsetting up the Standing Committee on Employment in the European Communities (
5); Opinion on
Territorial pacts for employment, and the link between them and the European Union’s structural
policies (6), Opinion on the Proposal for Guidelines for Member States’ Employment Policies 2000 (7);
having regard to the draft resolution adopted unanimously by Commission 6 on 24 January 2000
(rapporteurs: Mr Henning Jensen, DK, PES and Mr Sanz Alonso, ES, PPE);
whereas local and regional authorities in many Member States play a key role in shaping the environment
and conditions under which enterprises operate. They have an important function in supporting local
economic and industrial development by securing a favourable socio-economic climate which can attract
and promote the establishment and development of businesses;
whereas local and regional authorities are major players in providing education and training since they
can help bridge the gap between education/training establishments and enterprises and, through their
strategically well-placed position, foster greater partnership and dialogue between all relevant protagonistsat local and regional level in these two sectors;
whereas local and regional authorities play a crucial role in generating employment — both directly as
employers, and indirectly, through fostering a favourable business climate;
(1) CdR 346/96 fin — OJ C 116, 14.4.1997, p. 98.
(2) CdR 46/98 fin — OJ C 251, 10.8.1998, p. 41.
(3) CdR 110/98 fin — OJ C 51, 22.2.1999, p. 63.
(4) CdR 279/98 fin — OJ C 51, 22.2.1999, p. 59.
(5) CdR 343/98 fin — OJ C 93, 6.4.1999, p. 54.
(6) CdR 91/99 fin — OJ C 293, 13.10.1999, p. 1.
(7) CdR 360/99 fin.
C 226/44 EN 8.8.2000 Official Journal of the European Communities
whereas the Committee of the Regions has proposed an initiative called ‘Local Action for Employment’,
which places local and regional authorities in a position to promote the national employment actionplans;
whereas the Joint Employment report 1999 states that several Member States have recognised the
importance of the actions taken at local and regional level, but there is room for further strengthening
this aspect;
whereas the results of conferences organised in autumn 1999 in Helsinki and Aarhus (
1) clearly
demonstrate a wide readiness at local and regional level to be more involved in the implementation of
the European Employment Strategy;
adopted the following resolution unanimously at its 33rd plenary session on 12/13 April 2000 (the
meeting of 12 April).
1.The Committee of the Regions draws attention to the only at local and regional level, thus rendering it vital for
regional and local authorities to be involved in framing, following preconditions for a successful approach
implementing the European employment Strategy: developing and implementing the national action plans.
1.1. Under conditions of globalized markets but differen-
tiated economic structures the effective combating of unem-
ployment requires solid macro economic policy supported bytargeted active employment policies which meet the following2.The Committee of the Regions stresses that, as thecriteria:following examples show, the active involvement
of local and regional authorities can significantly
— direct knowledge of real growth and employment possi- contribute to the implementation of the European
bilities at regional and local level; Employment Strategy:
— individual and personalised guidance and training in order
to match supply and demand on the labour market;2.1. It is easier for local and regional authorities to co-
operate with businesses and other partners to implementtailored pro-active employment policies than it is for higher — geographical and cultural proximity to groups of people
levels of administration. This is because local and regional who are difficult to reach.
authorities have more direct knowledge of the barriers and
opportunities in the local business communities, which may
make it easier to find joint solutions.1.2. EU efforts to coordinate its employment strategy must
be underpinned by the subsidiarity principle, with each country
being responsible for it own labour market policy. While it is
generally desirable for the local and regional authorities to2.2. Regional and local authorities are in a key position toplay a key role in the field of employment, it is essentially upreduce red-tape and speed up administrative procedures forto the Member States to strike a balance between the nationalprojects creating and developing businesses and employment.level and local and regional interests.
1.3. The ultimate success of the European employment2.3. Local and regional environment, via the organisationsstrategy will therefore depend on how well the strategy isoperating within it, is often the only possible point of accessdesigned from an overall point of view and on finding thewhere people with difficulties finding employment or who aremost appropriate way of implementing it.threatened with social exclusion can participate in professional
and personal development programmes.
1.4. Regional and local self-determination in employment
matters is a prerequisite for efforts to tailor workforce skills to
the needs of local enterprises. In many areas this is possible 2.4. Special attention should be paid to the potential for
job-creation in the service sector and specially in ‘care services’
in view of current demographic trends and the increased life
expectancy of older people. This should help to reduce the
burden of unpaid care of dependants — a burden which at(1) European Conference on Mayors for Employment, Local auth-
present is mainly shouldered by women. It would also provide orities as promoters of employment; Helsinki, Finland on 9 and
women with more (and better) job opportunities and help to 10 September 1999; European Conference on Local Employment
Partnerships; Aarhus, Denmark on 23 and 24 November 1999. tackle the gender gap in employment.
8.8.2000 EN C 226/45 Official Journal of the European Communities
2.5. In some Member States the local and regional auth- 3.2. An ideal forum for such a debate is the annual ‘cyclical’
process of formulating, implementing and evaluating national orities play a role as mediator in collective bargaining between
employers and workers at regional, local and company level. action plans for employment. The Council has already
acknowledged the role of local and regional authorities in This enables more rapid adjustment to new labour market and
economic conditions and greater flexibility in terms of workers’ guideline 12 of the year 2000. Now it is time for all Member
States to take up the challenge and ensure local and regional access to training.
authorities their proper role in the process.
2.6. Very positive experience has been gained from various
regional development agencies which support job-creation
3.3. A logical consequence of such a set-up would be and entrepreneurship, using an all-encompassing approach
release by the European Commission of the annual Joint tying in support for investment in research and development.
Report and proposals for next year’s guidelines in due time.
2.7. Local schemes supporting the development of the This would enable these crucial documents to be subject to a
social economy by boosting the setting-up and development comprehensive political debate in both the Committee of
of co-operative businesses and partnerships can be an Regions and the European Parliament.
important tool in promoting small businesses and entrepre-
neurship.
3.4. With the introduction of the ‘Recommendations’
decided by the Council to the individual Member States, a new 2.8. Fostering a local breeding ground for companies by
and important tool co-ordinating the European employment local and regional authorities will encourage the development
policy has been created. Recommendations provide an oppor- of self-employment and social economy companies.
tunity for direct attention of the Member States, to the
2.9. Based on the development of local observatories of importance of the regional and local authorities in combating
companies and their networks, the local and regional levels unemployment. Recommendations must however take
can serve more immediate identification of employment account of the different tasks and competence of the regional
opportunities and activities where demand has not been met. and local authorities in the individual Member States.
3.The Committee of the Regions makes the following 3.5. In accordance with 3.4, the European Council is invited
suggestions to the Member States and to the European to instruct the Council and the governments to involve local
Commission concerning further steps in the and regional authorities in the preparation and implementation
implementation of the European Employment of the National Action Plans for employment.
Strategy:
3.1. In order to enable the regional and local authorities to 3.6. The Committee of the Regions urges the Portuguese
Presidency of the European Union also to include it in the fulfil their role described above, a constructive dialogue should
be held between the regional and local authorities and central planned ‘high level forum’ to scrutinise the EU’s employment
policy prior to the European Council summit in June 2000. governments.
Brussels, 12 April 2000.
The President
of the Committee of the Regions
Jos CHABERT