WRITTEN QUESTION E-1334/97 by Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (21 April 1997)

Subject: Evaluating the effectiveness of courses sponsored by the European Social Fund

Given the importance attached to the European Social Fund in fighting unemployment and social exclusion by means of training courses for unemployed people throughout Europe, and given that Spain leads the field in terms of unemployment figures, can the Commission tell me whether:

1. Any statistical or other publications exist showing the effectiveness and correct application of the European Social Fund in Europe, and above all in countries such as Spain?

2. Any study has been carried out which would show how many unemployed Europeans and specifically Spaniards who have had the opportunity of taking courses under the ESF have then found a job, and how many of the latter are related to the course carried out and sponsored by the ESF?

3. Given the number of insecure jobs which exist in Spain, how many contracts for full time and for insecure jobs have been obtained as a result of participating in training courses sponsored by the ESF?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (30 May 1997)

1. The Honourable Member's attention is drawn to the first report on economic and social cohesion (1996) ((COM(96) 542 final. )) presented by the Commission to the European Parliament - particularly the annex containing data on each country - and to the annual report on the Structural Funds published by the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities (OPOCE). The Commission would like to explain that the effectiveness of the European Social Fund (ESF) is normally measured in terms of target group coverage and placement rates achieved. In this connection, the reports include the most significant data from the ex-post evaluation of the 1989/1993 programming period and other evaluation studies, emphasising the relatively substantial differences between Member States. This has made it possible to identify the need for certain improvements to the monitoring of Structural Fund activities. The allocation and proper use of ESF resources throughout the Community (and, more particularly, in Spain) are also the subject of an annual report by the Court of Auditors.

2. The impact of ESF assistance on unemployment is one of the subjects covered by the above-mentioned ex-post evaluation. The results of the most detailed studies of the net effect of ESF assistance, based on sample surveys of beneficiaries, are included in the mentioned reports. The unemployed remain one of the priority target groups for ESF assistance, and the mid-term assessment currently being conducted at Community level will focus on their social and occupational integration. Given the short implementation period covered by the evaluation (1994-1996), it will be possible to consider only the gross effects.

3. The Commission's tasks under the regulations applicable to ESF assistance are not of such a nature as to provide it with information of the type requested. However, it should be emphasised that the regulations have always placed special emphasis on the need for direct links with employment and the reduction of exclusion, so that ESF action is as effective as possible. Overall, approximately 45% of persons who have participated in a course in Spain find a job, though with below-average rates for certain categories of persons, particularly women, the over-25s, and persons without a secondary education certificate.