WRITTEN QUESTION E-0129/00

by Ria Oomen-Ruijten (PPE-DE) and Bartho Pronk (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 January 2000)

Subject: Single programming document 2000-2006

On 19 October 1999 the Dutch Minister for Social Affairs and Employment forwarded to the Commission the single programming document (SPD) for ESF (Objective 3) measures for the period 2000 to 2006.

What does the Commission think of the intention of the Dutch government to use ESF (Objective 3) funds in the new programming period in particular to implement the government decision to allocate NLG 250 million in 2000 to the Employment Service (measures for those who have been unemployed for less than a year), in view of the fact that the main target should be those who are very much out of the labour market?

The SPD 2000-2006 proposes that the unit responsible for implementing ESF programmes should come under the Employment Service in the short term and under the National Institute for Employment and Income (LIWI) in the longer term.

How does the Commission view the proposal for the ESF implementation unit to form part of the Employment Service, which means those applying for ESF assistance and those granting such assistance coming under the same body?

What does the Commission think of the Dutch government's choice of the LIWI, given that the tasks of the ESF implementation unit do not represent a logical extension of the main function of the LIWI, which is to act as the steering body for the Employment and Income Centres (CWI), and in view of the development in the Netherlands which has led to municipalities receiving their funds for reintegration from one source, namely the Minister for Social Affairs and Employment?

The proposals in the SPD include the setting up of a steering committee. Under these plans, the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) will not be represented on the committee.

Does the Commission agree that it is desirable for the VNG to be represented on the committee, given that this is in accordance with the partnership principle which the Commission wishes to see applied, and that the municipalities will play an important role in implementing ESF (Objective 3) programmes during the new programming period as well as an important commissioning role?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(29 February 2000)

The European social fund (ESF) is the main Community instrument for the realisation of the objectives of the European employment strategy. On a national level these objectives have been worked out on the basis of 22 guidelines in the Dutch national action plan (NAP). The development plan for objective 3 which the Dutch authorities have sent to the Commission forms the basis for the negotiation of the new single programming document (SPD). The exact contents of the SPD depend on the outcome of the negotiations between the Commission and the Dutch authorities and these negotiations have only just begun.

The proposal of the Dutch authorities, as outlined in the plan, to use the bulk of the ESF money for the comprehensive approach (sluitende aanpak) seems completely in line with the preventive focus of the European employment strategy. Concretely, the Dutch authorities propose to use the ESF money to comply with guideline 2 of the NAP by the end of the year 2002. The plan also proposes a specific measure for the reintegration of long term unemployed which can be used for those who are at a distance from the labour market.

It is for the Member State to decide its own administrative arrangements, such as where it wants to position the ESF implementation unit. It is the responsibility of the Commission to check that the ESF programme is implemented in a transparent, effective and correct way according to the regulation in force. The Commission will negotiate with the Dutch authorities to make sure that the implementation chapters in the SPD provide a sufficient guarantee for this to be the case.

The Commission is following with great interest the recent developments in the Netherlands around the National institute for employment and income. This is seen as an innovative attempt to activate recipients of welfare, unemployment and disability benefits through a one stop shop approach.

The new structural fund regulations favour a wide partnership and the Commission will discuss this matter with the Dutch authorities.