PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION on the Commission' s activities of analysis, research, cooperation and action in the field of employment
Date: 1995-06-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU employment policy, cooperation policy, employment aid, labour market

COMMISSION  OF THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

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Brussels,  13.06.1995 
COM(95)  250  lliiiil 

95/0149  (CNS) 

COMMUNICATION  FROM  THE  COMMISSION 

AND 

PROPOSAL  FOR  A COUNCIL  DECISION 

on the  Commission's  activities  of analysis, research, cooperation  and  action  in the 
field  of  employment 

(ESSEN) 

(presented  by the  Commission) 

COMMUNICATION  FROM  THE  COMMISSION 

on  its activities  of  analysis, research, cooperation  and  action  in the field of  employment 

(ESSEN) 

A. REVIEW OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS 

In  its White Paper on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment, published  in December  1993, 
the Commission proposed a new medium-term  development  strategy for  creating more jobs and 
combatting  unemployment  more effectively.  Based  on the  conviction  that  economic  and  social 
progress should go hand in hand, the medium-term  approach set out in the White Paper no longer 
treats employment  as just  another  factor  in growth, but  places  it at  the  very  heart  of  economic 
development. 

In adopting the development  strategy indicated by the White Paper, the European Council - after 
reiterating  its concerns regarding unemployment  trends and  affirming  the need  for  the  Union to 
resolve its structural problems - stated that economic  recovery, even  if  it was likely  to make the 
Member  States'  task  easier,  would  nevertheless  not  be  enough  to  resolve  the  employment 
problems, and  it urged  Member  States to take  initiatives  on  a par with what  is at stake. 

During the Essen Summit  in particular (held  in December  1994), the European Council  - taking 
account of the Commission's proposals1 and building on the decisions it had taken at its previous 
summits in Brussels and Corfu  (December  1993 and June 1994) concerning an employment  action 
plan  - set out  inter alia five  key priority  action  fields: 

1. 

Improving  employment  opportunities  for  the  labour  force  by  promoting  investment  in 
vocational  training. 

2. 

Improving  the employment-intensiveness  of growth, in particular  by: 

more  flexible  organization  of  work  in  a  way  which  fulfils  both  the  wishes  of 
employees  and the  requirements  of  competition; 

a wage policy  which  encourages job-creating  investments; 

promotion  of  initiatives,  particularly  at  regional  and  local  level,  that  create  jobs 
which  take  account  of  new  requirements,  e.g.  in  the  environmental  and  social 
services spheres. 

3. 

Reducing  non-wage  labour costs to facilitate  the taking-on  of  employees  and  in particular 
of  unqualified  employees. 

4. 

Improving  the effectiveness  of  labour-market  policy. 

5.  Measures to  help  groups  which  are  particularly  hard  hit  by  unemployment,  in  particular 
young people, the  long-term  unemployed,  older employees  and unemployed  women. 

- 2-

Action to turn growth into jobs - Brussels action plan (Phase 2), 29/11/1994. 

The  European  Council  also  initiated  a  process  lor  implementing  its  employment  action  plan, 
urging  Member  States  to  transpose  its  recommendations 
into  a  multiannual  employment 
programme  having  regard  to  the  specific  features  of  their  employment  system  as  well  as  their 
economic  and  social  situation.  It  also  requested  the  Social  Affairs  and  Economic  and  Financial 
Affairs  Councils  and  the  Commission  to  keep  close  track  of  employment  trends,  monitor  the 
relevant  policies  of  (he  Member  Stales  and  report  annually  to  the  European  Council  on  further 
progress  on  the  employment  market,  starting  in  December  1995. 

These recent  European  Council  decisions, justified  by  the persistently high  level of  unemployment 
in  the  Union,  also  constitute  a  significant  development  both  in  terms  of  the  degree  of  priority 
accorded  to job  creation  and  the  approach  adopted, which  is primarily  based  on the  "employment 
system" concept  deriving  directly  from  the  guidelines  and  suggestions  set out  in the  White  Paper 
on  Growth,  Competitiveness  and  Employment,  which  is  now  placed  to  the  fore. 

This  development  strongly  advocated  by  the  Commission  thus provides  an  opportunity  -  insofar 
as  it  points  to  several  ways  out  of  the  employment  crisis  -  and  also  a  challenge  requiring 
mobilization  of  effort  and  the  upgrading  and  reorganization  of  action  capacities  both  within  the 
Member  States  (which  remain  responsible  for  the  establishment  and  implementation  of  their 
employment  policies)  and  at  Union  level.  As  specifically  regards  the  Community  level, this  will 
entail,  while  fully  respecting  the  principle  of  subsidiarity, carrying  out  a comparative  analysis  of 
the  different  national  situations,  promoting  exchange  of  information  and  experience,  and 
transferring  best  practice,  all  factors  which  correspond  to  a  need  generally  expressed  by  the 
Member  States. 

Given  the  results of  the  action  taken  in recent  years, the Commission  therefore  deems  it  necessary 
to  underpin  the  multilateral  monitoring  process  - recently  proposed  to the  Council2  in  application 
its  activities  of  analysis, 
of  the  Essen  European  Council  decisions  -  revising  and 
research  cooperation  and  action  in  the  employment  field. 

reinforcing 

Among  other  instruments  and  Community  actions,  analysis, research,  cooperation  and  action  in 
the field  of employment  have been  developed  under the budget  line B3-4010  -  labour  market  and 
employment  - since the early  1980's when  a worsening unemployment  situation  made  it  necessary 
to  develop  new  strategies  for  employment  creation.  Since  then,  several  initatives  have  been 
developed  in response either to Council  resolutions or demands  from  Parliament. These  initatives, 
that  have  -  as  the  following  chapter  shows  -  clearly  proven  their  usefulness,  have  nevertheless 
suffered  from  a  certain  fragmentation  and  did  not  allow,  given  their  budgetary  limitations  (of 
about  10  Mecu/year)  for  all  their  results  to  be  optimised,  taking  into  account  current  needs. 

This  change,  which  was  announced  in  July  1994  in  the  Commission's  White  Paper  on  European 
Social  Policy  and  was  only  recently  reiterated  with  the  adoption  of  the  social  action  programme, 
aims to set up new  guidelines  to foster  closer collaboration  between  the  Commission  and  Member 
States  on  analysis, research, cooperation  and  action  in the  field  of  employment  and  labour  market 
policy,  providing  the  Commission  with  the  necessary  legal  basis  to  pursue  its  activities  in  this 
field.  Such  a  coordinated  approach  should  render  more  effective  the  measures  taken  by  the 
Member  States  and  by  the  Union. 

Communication  from  the  Commission  to the  Council  - follow-up  to  the Essen  European Council 
(COM(95)74 final  of  8 March  1995). 

- 3-

B.  CAPITALIZING  ON  EXPERIENCE  GAINED  HITHERTO 

Commission observation, analysis and research activity and action in the employment  field,  along 
with  dissemination  of  the  results, have  been  growing  since the  early  Eighties3,,They have  often 
been  implemented  in  conjunction  with  the  Member  States  and  some  with  other  international 
organisations e.g. the  OECD and  the  ILO. 

Thus  on  the  observation  and  analysis  side, the  Commission  has set up  a European  employment 
observatory  the  mainstays  of  which  are  the  system  for  mutually  exchanging  information  on 
employment  policies, better known as MISEP, and the Community  System  of Documentation  on 
Employment  (SYSDEM). 

The  information  produced  by  the  European  employment  observatory  constitutes  the  source in 
particular  for  the  drafting  of  the  annual  report  on  Employment  in  Europe  and  for  providing 
insights leading to the  submission of new policy proposals on employment/unemployment  in the 
European  Union. 

In  the  run-up  to  the  Essen  European  Council,  for  instance,  the  information  generated  by  the 
observatory  enabled  the  Commission  and  the  Member  States  together  to  present  the  synoptic 
comparative  tables  showing the main  measures taken  on employment  in the  Member  States. 

The  recognition  by  the  Council  in  1984 of  how  important  the  local  level  is  in the  fight  against 
unemployment4  has  also  enabled  the  Commission  to  pursue  a  series  of  initiatives  in  a  largely 
unfamiliar  area. The first  efforts  were designed to explore and assess local job creation potential, 
whereas subsequently the focus was on identifying  and exchanging experience; this, thanks to the 
development of appropriate intervention techniques, resulted in the transfer of best practice across 
the  EU countries. The most  significant  endeavour  pursued  by the  Commission  in this context  is 
the  LEDA (Local  Employment  Development  Action) programme which since  1986 has, through 
a  series  of  specific  tools  (manual  on  employment,  LEDA  school,  management  training 
programme,  international  mini-networks)  been  devising  solid  know-how  for  local  employment 
development  and thus contributing to the emergence and consolidation  of local patterns of growth 
not  only  in  the  42  zones  in  which  the  programme  is currently  active  but  also elsewhere  thanks 
to an  active  policy  of  dissemination  of  results. 

initiatives  targeted  at  women) 

The  Commission  has  also  been  active  in  the  promotion  of  equal  employment  opportunities  for 
men  and  women.  Of  the  initiatives  introduced,  the  most  familiar  is undoubtedly  the  LEI  (local 
employment 
in  1987  to  fight  against  female 
unemployment  by encouraging and helping women to create lasting jobs by setting up in business 
or  organising  cooperatives  or pursuing  any  other  initiative  capable  of creating jobs. In  addition 
to the 300 or so projects it produces every year which lead to the creation of jobs, the programme 
also  publishes  self-teaching/self-training  packs  and  guides  and  conducts  awareness-raising 
campaigns and exchanges of experience which can help to improve the situation of women on the 
employment  market. 

launched 

As for  action  targeted  at the  most disadvantaged  groups  on the  labour  market, the  Commission 
has, complementing  the Social  Fund  activities in this field,  focused  its efforts  in recent years on 

3  Council Resolution of  12 July  1982 on Community action to combat unemployment (OJ No CI86 

of 21.7.1982). 

4  Council resolution of 7 June 1984 on the contribution of local employment initiatives to combating 

unemployment  (OJ No C161 of 21 June 1984). 

action-research  in order to obtain  a better understanding of the problems of reintegrating the long 
term  unemployed.  A transnational programme, ERGO, makes  it possible to improve  knowledge 
of  the  problems  the  latter  come  up  against  as  they  try  to  re enter  the  labour  market,  evaluates 
steps taken  by the Member Slates and  enables the transfer of  best practice and sound  approaches 
e.g. the  idea of  pathways  to  integration, throughout  the  European  Union. 

Lastly, the Commission has for  some years now been pursuing a strategy of communication  based 
inter alia on  the  publication  of  documentation,  the  promotion  of  international  conferences  and 
seminars of experts, the organisation of events such as the Employment  Week, or support for the 
work  and  expansion  of  transnational  networks  (TURN,  EG LEI  -  European  Group  for  Local 
Employment  Initiatives)5  of  operators examining  new ways out  of the employment  crisis. 

Among  other  actions, these  initiatives  have over time contributed  to the  examination  of  how  to 
develop  the  policies  of  the  EU, the  Member  States  and  their  local  authorities,  and  helped  the 
economic  and  social  players  in the fight  against  unemployment. 

At EU level, the development  in the Structural  Fund regulations and especially those of the ESF 
now enable the introduction of the lessons of this action-research, thus leaving in particular, scope 
for  action  to boost  local  employment  development,  innovatory  approaches to  integrate the  long 
term  unemployed  into  the  labour  market,  the  idea  of  pathways  to  integration,  and  action  to 
promote  equal  opportunities. 

At Member State and  local  authority  level, the EU initiatives, thanks to exchange  of  information 
and experience, provide  a better  knowledge  of best practice  in various parts of the  Union  while 
at the  same time,  in the context  of the fight  against unemployment,  contribute  in particular  to 
the  the promotion  of  local  employment  development. 

Lastly, as regards the economic  and  social players, it  is essentially  through their  involvement  in 
transnational exchange networks and the development of appropriate methods that their daily work 
has been  enhanced  by  new  expertise. 

Considering the  inherent  limitations  of any action  which gives priority to seeking out and  testing 
new solutions to the employment  crisis and  the comparatively  low  level  of  resources earmarked 
(around  10 million  ECUs/year), the  initiatives  pursued  so far  may  be deemed  to be  insufficient 
but  have  nonetheless  proved  their  worth  in catering  for  certain  specific  requirements.  However, 
their  fragmentation  and,  at  times,  their  multiplication,  has  not  always  made  it  possible  to 
concentrate  resources nor  consequently  to optimise  their  potential  impact. 

An  homogeneous  approach  is therefore  needed  in  order  to  structure  the  different  elements  of 
Community  action  on  employment  policy  so  that  they  dovetail  and  in  order  to  favour  their 
interaction, while fostering partnership-based  relations between the Commission and the Member 
States  and thus  make  it possible to sustain  and  supplement  the efforts  made  by  the  latter. 

5  The TURN  (Trade  Union Regional  Network) is a transnational  network  of  trade-unionists 

active  in the  area  of job  creation  and  vocational  training  for  the  unemployed. 

The EGLEI (European Group for  Local Initiatives)  network  is an international  association 
of  local  development  agencies. 

Ç_.  Renewed  orientations  for  analysis,  research,  cooperation  and  action  in  the  field  of 

employment 

With  the  new  development  strategy  advocated  in the  White  Paper  on  Growth,  Competitiveness 
and  Employment  and  in  the  medium-term  social  action  programme  and  considering  the 
momentum  generated  by  the  conclusions  of  the  Essen  European  Council,  the  problem  of 
employment  is now  at the top  of the  EU's  list of  political  priorities. 

This  new  approach  stresses  the  need  for  a  better  understanding,  in  line  with  the  employment 
system  approach,  of  all  the  issues  which  can  determine  a  more  dynamic  operation  of  the 
employment  market,  and  to  share the  results of best practice, particularly through  exchanges of 
information  and  experience. 

It  is against this backdrop  and  making  the best possible use of  achievements  to date  in terms of 
knowledge  and  expertise  that 
the  new  orientations  will  embrace  within  an  homogeneous 
approach  the complementary  functions  defined  below. In view  of  the  limited  funding  available, 
the actions to be promoted  will be implemented  with priority being given on the one hand to the 
principles  of cost/effectiveness  analysis and on the other by painstaking selection of activities so 
as  to  generate  a  major  multiplier  effect  and  substantial  added  value.  These  functions  will  be 
flanked  by  transversal  support  activities  to  the  benefit  of  the  Member  States  and  the  players 
involved  that wish to draw  on them, particularly for  defining  and  implementing  the  multiannual 
employment  programmes  requested  by the  European  Council. 

1 PROMOTING  A  BETTER  KNOWLEDGE  OF  THE  LABOUR  MARKET  AND  OF  EMPLOYMENT 
POLICIES 

Establishing  the  procedures  for  monitoring  the  employment  policies  to  be  implemented  in 
application of the Essen European Council decisions calls for Community observation and analysis 
capacities to be strengthened. This analytical  capacity will be underpinned  through research into 
medium-term  trends  in the employment  systems and through the  study  of  new problems  linked 
to the changes, already  taking place, in European  society  and their  impact  on  employment. 

1.1 Observation  and  monitoring 

Introducing  an  observation  system  consisting  -  at  Community  level  -  of  a permanent  database 
containing  information  on  labour  market  trends, national  employment  systems  and  the  policy 
measures promised by Member States, in particular those related to  the  multiannual employment 
programmes. 

This observation system will  also collect all the relevant research work done in the  employment 
field  at both  national  and  international  level. 

The  above-mentioned  observation  activity  will  be  undertaken  in  cooperation  with  the  Member 
States  through  reinforcing  the tools  developed  so far  under  the Mutual  Information  System  on 
Employment  Policies  (MISEP)  and  the  Community  System  of  Documentation  on  Employment 
(SYSDEM). 

1.2 Analysis 

The information  collected and then enhanced through other sources, in particular through natit 
and Community  statistics, will be analysed  in order to evaluate and compare at Community  k 
the action taken by Member States on employment policy, and in order to detect examples of 1 
practice  in the  Member  States  by  boosting the  capacity  for  qualitative  analysis. As  regards 
statistical  side,  it  is difficult  to  reconcile  the  European  Council's  wish  to  monitor  employir 
trends  closely  with  facts  and  figures  which  are  a year  or  more  out  of  date.  The  Commm 
labour  force  sample  survey  should  therefore  be  converted  as  soon  as possible  into  an  ongc 
survey generating  quarterly  figures  which can be made  available  quickly. 

In  order to be able to fulfil  the reporting functions,  in particular towards the European Count 
it  will  also  be  necessary  to  develop  the  conditions  -  in  agreement  with  the  Member  State 
enabling  a  homogeneous  analysis and comparability  of  results at Union  level. 

This  requires  greater  cooperation  between  the  Commission  and  the  authorities  responsible 
employment  policy, as well as promotion of Community-level  cooperation between the natio 
authorities  whose  responsibilities  involve  implementation  of  policies  having  a  bearing 
employment in various fields such as social protection, education, training, taxation and promot 
of equal  opportunities for  women  and  men. 

Finally, it is important  to  involve the  social partners in the monitoring  and  analysis procedu 
in particular through  the existing social dialogue  arrangements  at Community  level. 

1.3 Research  on  new  issues 

It is vital, in this field  more than elsewhere, to improve our knowledge of the factors which h 
a bearing on employment  and skills in the medium and long term, and of the forces at play to< 
which  can  influence  the  creation  or  the  disappearance  of  jobs,  particularly  in  the  context 
industrial restructuring. It is therefore necessary to foster the study of topics able to shed light 
the conditions  affecting  the creation  and disappearance  of jobs  in the  future,  all  on the basit 
examining current trends. Such studies will take into particular account the need for more deta 
analysis  of  the factors  which  make  for  a more job-creative pattern  of  growth, and  the poter 
impact  on employment  of  globalization  of  the economy,  including  relations between the Ur 
and  its  main  trading  partners  and  the  social  consequences  of  achieving  the  single  mar 
Attention will  also be paid to the employment  problems  linked to relations with the countrie 
the  European  Economic  Area; the  countries  of  Central  and  Eastern  Europe; Cyprus, Malta 
the  Mediterranean  partners of  the  Union; and with  other  non-member  countries  as well. 

The  research  topics  will,  by  way  of  example,  include  relations  between  the  tax  and  sc 
protection  systems  and  job  supply  and  demand;  the  relations  between  employment 
environmental  protection  policies, analysis of  the  information  society's  impact  in terms of 
and  social development,  the real  or potential  risks of job  derealization  caused  by globalize 
of the economy,  and the contribution  of the social economy  to the creation  of  new jobs. 

The  forward  studies  undertaken  will  be  coordinated,  in  particular,  with  the  targeted  sc. 
economic research carried out under the fourth research and development framework  progran 
particularly under the  "education-training" section. 

-7 

2HELPING  TO  PINPOINT  AND  TRANSFER  BEST  PRACTICES 

The  experience  gathered  so  far  shows  the  importance  of  developing  Community  actions 
contributing,  at  Union  level,  to  pinpointing  and  transferring  best  practices  in  promoting 
employment.  Analysis shows that some of the action priorities stipulated  by the  Essen European 
Council  lend  themselves  particularly  well  to  projects  aimed  at  providing  methodological  and 
technical  support  in the  quest to find  new  solutions to the employment  crisis. 

The activities to be promoted  in this context will be implemented  in cooperation with the Member 
States, with the accent on partnership and through fostering consistency and complementarity with 
activities  funded  by  other  national  or  Community  sources, notably  the Structural  Funds  and  the 
Leonardo programme. 

Among  the  priorities  as  laid  down  by  the  Essen  European  Council,  the  following  will  be  the 
subject  of  initiatives  forming  part of the  above-mentioned  projects: 

2.1 Promoting  local  development  and  employment  initiatives 

Encouragement,  in particular at local and regional  level, of  initiatives that create jobs which take 
account  of  new requirements, e.g. in the environmental  and social services spheres, is one of the 
key fields  identified  by the European Council. This aspect will be taken into consideration, taking 
account  of  the  information  presented  in  Essen by  the  President  of  the  Commission  on  the  local 
development and employment initiatives and on changes in the present model of economic growth 
and economic  objectives  in relation to the environment  and time management.  The initiatives to 
be  taken  in  this  field  will  be  enhanced  by  drawing  on  the  measures  undertaken  by  the 
Commission in the past few  years - particularly the LEDA programme which will come to an end 
in its present form  - and by taking into account the experience of the Danish, Irish and Portuguese 
in developing  a framework  at regional  level  and structures and procedures at local  level  in order 
to support an integrated concept for development  at local level, as presented at the same European 
Council. 

These  activities  will  help  to  attain  the  objectives  set  out  in  the  Communication  which  the 
Commission  has just  passed  on  to  the  Council  concerning  local  development  and  employment 
initiatives. 

2.2 Implementing  measures  to  help  groups  particularly  hard  hit  by  unemployment, 
particularly young people, long-term unemployed, older employees and unemployed women 

The  initiatives  in  this  sphere  will  be  carried  out  in  conjunction  with  certain  specific  actions 
promoted,  in particular, by  the  Structural  Funds, by  the  Leonardo programme  or  as part  of the 
fourth  framework  programme  on  equal  opportunities  for  women  and  men,  in  which  the  LEI 
programme  is  to  be  incorporated.  The  benefit  of  what  has  been  learned  through  the  ERGO 
programme - also due to come to an end  in its present form  -, and from  the research undertaken 
in the field  of  integration/exclusion by the fourth  framework  programme, will also be applied  in 
this context. 

2.3Encouraging  action  in  connection  with  reorganization  of  working  time,  including 
adaptation  of  working  hours,  which  fulfil  both  the  wishes  of  employees  and  the 
requirements  of  competition  and  involve the  social  partners. 

Action  in this  area will  initially  attempt  to  identify  and  analyse, from  the job  creation point  of 
view, the many  examples  of  reorganisation of work  and re-arranging  of working time  currently 
under way. At a later stage these will  be networked  in order to promote exchange of  experience 
and the transfer  of  best practices  in partnership with the Member  States  and the social  partners. 

- 8-

Due lo (heir  transnational  nature, and through establishing a Union  level network  interlinking 
players concerned, all these initiatives - which  aim  to establish  interactive platforms  for deviî 
and exchanging best practices in employment development  - will also contribute a genuine ad 
value thereby  raising the  performance  of  the players  involved, who  are all  too often  isolate» 
their daily  activities. 

3DEVEI*OPIN(;  AN  ACTIVE  POLICY  IN DISSEMINATING RESULTS 

Finally, active dissemination  of all the information  obtained will be promoted. This  informal 
will be made available to all the public and private players concerned with employment proble 
Depending  on  the  circumstances,  dissemination  will  be  via  regular  bulletins,  the  Report 
Employment  in  Europe,  the  Social  Europe  Review  and  through  any  communication  chant 
deemed  necessary to reach the target groups concerned  or discussed at international seminars. 
promoting  maximum  transparency,  the  Community  framework  aims,  in  collaboration  w 
Member  States, to  play  a part  in  highlighting  the  advantages  which  membership  of  the  UB. 
imparts, and  thus to underpin  citizens'  acceptance  of  the  Union, as recommended  by the B& 
European  Council. 

As far  as the Union level in particular is concerned, the results obtained from  this new  appro 
to Commission activities of analysis, research, cooperation and action in the field  of employai 
will be presented  in a fmal  report to be submitted  to the Council, the Parliament, the Econoi 
and  Social  Committee and  the  Committee  of  the Regions by  31 December  2001  at the latest 

D. PROMOTING  PARTNERSHIPS  AT ALL LEVELS 

While  employment  policy  is  the  responsibility  of  each  Member  State,  it  is  neverthe 
acknowledged  that, whatever the level of institutional power, there can be no active employm 
policy  without  the  active cooperation  of  all the socio-economic players. 

This being so,  the new approach will equally, in full  respect of the principle of subsidiarity, s 
to  involve  all  the  Member  States,  and  the  directors-general for  employment  in particular, i 
partnership-based  implementation  of the action to be taken.  Appropriate involvement  of all 
players concerned, the  social partners  in particular, in the fight  against unemployment  will Ï 
be sought within  this partnership which will  at the same time stress the role of  the Tcgional 
local  authorities. 

In this context  the  Standing  Committee  on  Employment  will  be one of the foremost  forums 
discussing both  initiatives  put  forward  by  the  Commission  and  the  results of  action  underta 
within the  EU. 

The findings  of all  initiatives will provide the basis for the drafting  of the report on employn 
in Europe and  will also enhance the report to be submitted  every  year to the European  Cou 
on developments  m the employment  situation  m the European Union. 

9-

Article by article-guide  to  the proposal for decision 

Article  1:  Decision to set up the new Community  action  "Essen" 

Article 2:  Definition  of  the  aims  of  the  action:  setting  up  a  new  approach  for  Commission 

activity  of  analysis, research, cooperation  and  action  in the area of  employment. 

Article 3:  Content  and type of  action  to be promoted. These actions are subdivided  into three 

complementary  functions: 

improving  knowledge  of  the  employment  market  and  employment  policies  through 
observation, monitoring, analysis and research,  also covering factors which can determine 
the creation  or the disappearance of jobs; 

identification  and  transfer  of  best  practice  through  projects  which  will  serve  as  the 
methodological  and technical platforms  in the quest for  new solutions to the employment 
crisis; 

development  of  an  active policy  to disseminate  findings. 

Article 4:  Consistency  and  synergy with  all  European  Union policies. 

Article 5: 

Involvement  in  certain  "Essen" actions  of  the  EFTA  countries,  the  countries  of 
Central  and  Eastern  Europe,  Cyprus  and  Malta  and  to  the  MED  countries  in 
accordance with arrangements to be defined  in the context of the relations with these 
countries. 

Article 6: 

Implementation  and partnership  approach. 

Article 7: 

Involvement  of the social  partners and the  Standing  Committee  on  Employment  in 
the  action  taken. 

Article 8:  Submission  of  a final  report to  the Council  and to the  European  Parliament  by  31 

December  2001  at the  latest, giving the results of the action  taken. 

Article 9:  Standard  text. 

-  AO\W 

-

PROPOSAL  FOR  A COUNCIL  DECISION  ON 

COMMISSION  ACTIVITIES  OI<  AN/WJKSIS,  RESEARCH,  C(K>PERATION  AND  ACTION tra  TH 
vimm m  EMPLOYMENT 

THE COUNCIL OF  THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having regard to the Treaty establishiRjgsflie  European Community, and  in particular Jkrticle : 
thereof, 

î 

Having  regard  to the prc^msal from  the Commission,1 

Having regard to the  opinion  of the JBuFopean Parliament,2 

Having  regard to the  op intern of the Economic  and  Social  Committee,3 

Having regard to the opinion  of the Committee of the Regions, 

Having regard to the previous Council resolutions on employment tpolicy and the labour smart 

Having Eegard to the resolution which ihe European Parliament fœesented to the Scads  of S 
and  Government  at the European  Council of Essen Ihdld on 9inul  $© December  J9M, 

l 

: 

1  © J N o C . .. 

?  Q J N o C . .. 

3  QJNoC... 

4  Resolution  of  12 July  1982 on  Community  action  to  combat  unemployment,  OJ No C  11 

f 

21.7.1982,p. 1; 
Resolution  of  7  June  1984  on  the  contribution  of  local  employment  initiatives  to  comb 
unemployment, OJ No C  161 of 21.6.1984, p. 1; 
Resolution  of  19 December  1984 on action  to combat  long-term  unemployment,  OJ  No C 
04.1.1985, p.3; 
Resolution of 22 December 1986 on an action programme on employment growth, OJ No C 3  F 
31.12.1986, p. 2; 
Conclusions of  1 December 1987 on action to combat long-term unemployment,  OJ No C 3 
15.12.1987, p.  1; 
Council Resolution of 30 November 1989 on setting up a European employment  survey, OJ 
328 of 30.12.1989, p. 1; 
Council Resolution of 29 May 1990 on action to assist the long-term unemployed, OJ No C 1 
27.6.1990. 

F 

f 

; 

' 

f 

-  1 2-

Whereas, in accordance with Article  118 of the Treaty, the Commission has the task of promoting 
close cooperation  between  Member  States  in  the  social  field,  particularly  in  matters  relating  to 
employment  and  vocational  training  ; 

Whereas,  at  the  European  Council  of  10  and  11  December  1993,  the  Heads  of  State  and 
Government  approved  the medium-term  development  strategy put forward  in the  Commission's 
White  Paper  on  Growth, Competitiveness  and  Employment; 

Whereas the Commission, in its  medium term social action programme, announced  its intention 
to propose  a new  approach  for  its  analysis, research, cooperation  and  action  in  order  to  foster 
closer and more effective  collaboration between itself and the Member States in the area of policy 
on employment  and the  labour market and to promote the rationalisation of its research work and 
other  activities  in the  area of  employment  policies; 

Whereas, in the conclusions of the  European  Council of  Essen in  December  1994, the  Heads of 
State and Government confirmed  that the fight  against unemployment  and to achieve equality of 
Opportunity for  men and women  are and will remain the paramount tasks of the European  Union; 

Whereas,  at  the  same  meeting,  the  European  Council  identified  five  main  areas  for  action  to 
promote employment  and  called  on the  Member  States  to  incorporate  its recommendations  into 
a  multi-annual  programme  having  regard  to  the  specific  features  of  their  economic  and  social 
situation; 

Whereas the  European  Council  also requested  the  Labour  and Social  Affairs  and Economic and 
Financial Affairs  Councils and the Commission to keep close track of employment trends, monitor 
the  relevant  policies  of  the  Member  States  and  report  annually  on  further  progress  on  the 
employment  market; 

Whereas the Commission, in  its Communication  of 8 March  1995s, put forward  its proposals on 
the political  follow-up  to the  Essen  European  Council; 

Whereas the Commission considers it necessary to complement the multilateral monitoring process 
recently  proposed  to  the  Council  by  the  reorganisation  and  strengthening  of  all  its  activities 
concerned  with  the  analysis of  the  labour  market  and  of  employment  policies; 

Whereas,  without  prejudice  to  the  responsibilities  of  the  Member  States  for  promoting 
employment,  this  new  approach  can  produce  Community  added  value  by  pinpointing  and 
encouraging best practices and policies, promoting innovation and exchanging relevant experience; 

Whereas the promotion  of  employment  is a priority task for  the  Union  and  the  Member  States, 
the  achievement  of  which  will  involve  all  their  policies  and  require  all  action  undertaken  to 
dovetail; 

Whereas  it  is  important  to  cooperate  with  the  social  partners  and  to  mobilise  all  the  local, 
regional, national  and  Community  players  concerned; 

Whereas, in accordance with the interinstitutional agreement on budgetary dicipline, it is necessary 
for  actions taken  on the  initiative  of the Commission to have a legal basis. 

Whereas, for the measures concerned, the Treaty does not provide for any powers other than those 
referred  to  in  Article 235, 

Com(95) 74 final 

-  13 

HAS  DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

ARTICLE 1 

A Community  action  for  analysis, research, cooperation  and  action  in the field of  employn 
is hereby established  for  the period  from  1 January  1996 to 31 December 2000. 
(ESSEN) 

ARTICLE 2 

This action aims  to establish a new approach for analysis, reserach, cooperation and action in 
field  of employment, thereby creating a platform  for the exchange of information  and expernc 
relating  to  employment.  This  new  approach  will  contribute  to  the  development  of  measu 
taken in the Member States which are in keeping with the focus of the Commission's White Pa 
on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment and with the decisions taken at the Essen Eur op 
Council. 

It  " is  designed  to  promote  the  analysis  of  the  labour  market  and  of  employment  policie 
Community  level, to help to  identify  and transfer  best practices and to develop an active po 
for  disseminating  the  results obtained. 

ARTICLE 3 

In  order  to  achieve  the  objectives  referred  to  in  Article 2,  the  Commission  may  promott 
cooperation  with  the  players  concerned  and/or  provide  financial  support  for  the  follow 
measures: 

a) 
the  establishment  of  permanent  systems  for  observing,  monitoring  and  exchanf 
comparable  information  and carrying out studies on employment  policies and systems as defi 
in the Commission's  White  Paper on Growth, Competitiveness and  Employment,  labour mai 
trends and  the  means  whereby  new jobs  are created  in the  Member  States  and  the  Union; 

the provision of  methodological  and technical  support for  projects to identify  and tran 
b) 
best  practices  in  areas such  as work  organisation, regional  and  local  measures  for  creating 
which  meet  new  needs, and  measures to  assist certain groups  of people  particularly  hard hi 
unemployment; 

c) 
the  implementation  of  any  initiatives  likely  to  encourage  the  broad  dissemination  ol 
results  obtained  from  the  measures,  including  assistance  in  preparing  regular  report.' 
employment. 

ARTICLE  4 

The  Commission  shall  guarantee  the  consistency  of  and  synergy  between  the  measures t 
under  this  Decision  and  those  taken  under  all  policies  of  the  Union.  The  Commission  ans 
Member States shall seek to ensure that their actions of analysis, research, cooperation  and a 
in  the  field  of  employment  "  and  those  taken  under  the  Structural  Funds,  the  researcl 
development  framework  programme, the fourth  framework  programme on equal opportunitk 
women and men, and those taken in the field  of vocational training, in particular under Leon, 
complement  each  other. 

14 

ARTICLE 5 

Certain  activities  shall  be  open  to the participation  of  the  countries  of  the  European  Economic 
Area,  the  countries  of  Central  and  Eastern  Europe,  Cyprus  and  Malta,  and  to  the  European 
Union's  partner  countries  in  the  Mediterranean,  in  accordance  with  arrangements  to  be  defined 
in the context  of  the  relations of  the  Union  with  these countries. 

ARTICLE 6 

The  Commission  shall  ensure  implementation  in  accordance with  this  Decision. To this end,  it 
shall,  cooperate  on  a  partnership  basis  with  the  Member  States,  and  especially  as  part  of  the 
regular consultation  of  the senior civil  servants  responsible  for  employment. 

ARTICLE 7 

The  social  partners  shall  be  associated  with  the  action  taken.  The  Standing  Committee  on 
Employment  shall  in this connection  be the main  forum  for  discussing its results 

ARTICLE 8 

The  Commission  shall  submit  a  final  report  on  the  results  of  this  action  to  the  Council,  the 
European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, by 
31  December  2001  at the  latest. 

ARTICLE 9 

This Decision shall be published  in the Official  Journal of the European  Communities. 

Done at  Brussels, 

For the Council 
The President 

-  15 

F I N A N C I AL 

S T A T E M E NT 

1. 

TITLE  OF  OPERATION 

Labour  market  and  employment  -  Commission  activities  of  analysis,  research, 
cooperation  and  action  in  the  field  of  employment  (ESSEN) 

2. 

BUDGET  HEADINGS  INVOLVED 

B3-4010 
AO-1178 
AO-2380 

Labour  market 
Technical  assistance,  consultants 
Administrative  costs 

3. 

LEGAL  BASIS 

Application  of  Article 235 of the Treaty. Council  Decision expected  at the end of 
1995. 

4. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  OPERATION 

4.1.  Objectives 

Among other Community instruments and actions promoting employment, 
the  aim  is  to  develop  a  new  approach  for  Commission  activities  of 
analysis,  research,  cooperation  and  action  in  the  field  of  employment. 
Activities  will be organised  in cooperation with  the Member States on the 
basis  of 
in  the  White  Paper  on  Growth, 
the  guidelines  set  out 
Competitiveness  and  Employment. 

4.2.  Period  covered 

Period  from  1 January  1996 to 31  December 2000. 

5. 

CLASSIFICATION  OF  EXPENDITURE 

5.1.  Non-compulsory  expenditure 
5.2.  Differentiated  appropriations 
5.3.  Type  of  revenue  involved:  none 

6. 

TYPE  OF  EXPENDITURE 

6.1. 

100%  subsidy  for  contracts  for  studies  and  the  provision  of  services, 
meetings of  experts and  the organisation  of conferences  and  seminars, as 
well  as for  publication  and  dissemination  expenditure  agreed  on the basis 
of  an  initiative  from  the  Commission. 

-  AGlAl- 

-

6.2. 

Subsidies  generally  below 75 %  of total costs for operations jointly  funded 
with  public  or private  bodies  at  their  request. 

6.3. 

Interest  subsidy:  none 

6.4.  Other:  none 

6.5.  Reimbursement:  a partial  or  total  reimbursement  may  be requested  if the 
activities  for  which  funding  was granted  are not carried  out or are carried 
out  only  in  part. 

The proposed  operation will  not cause any change  in the level of revenue. 

FINANCIAL  IMPACT 

Estimates  have been  made on  the basis of past  experience. They  take account of 
the needs stemming  from  the decisions on employment  policy taken by the Essen 
European  Council.  The  breakdown  is  given  for  guidance  and  covers  only  the 
measures to be attributed directly to budget heading B3-4010. The trend  in budget 
line  B3-4010,  which  is  presented  simply  for  guidance,  is  compatible  with  the 
forecasts. 
ceiling 

financial 

heading 

3  of 

under 

down 

laid 

the 

Subject 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2000 

Total 

A.  Analysis  of  the  labour 
market  and  of  employment 
policies 

A. 1 Observation  and 
monitoring 

A.2  Analysis  and  evaluation 

A. 3  New  problems 

B.  Identifying  and  transferring 
best  practices  (projects) 

C.  Active  dissemination  policy 

Total 

1.0 

1.0 

1.0 

1.1 

1.1 

1.1 

1.3 

1.3 

1.3 

1.4 

1.4 

1.4 

1.6 

1.6 

1.6 

6.4 

6.4 

6.4 

3.4 

5 

5.6 

6.5 

7.1 

27.6 

1.6 

8.0 

1.7 

10 

2.0 

11.5 

2.2 

13 

2.6 

10.2 

14.5 

57 

Indicative breakdown  in MECU for line B3-4010: this indicative breakdown does 
not  prejudge  the  amounts  which  may  actually  be  allocated  by  the  budgetary 
authority  for  each  of the years  in question. On the other hand, the breakdown  for 
each  area  of  action  is given  purely  for  guidance. The  amounts  indicated  for  the 
subsequent years of the programme shall be defined  in the appropriate initial  draft 
budgets. 

FRAUD  PREVENTION  MEASURES 

All  the  measures  funded  are subject  to ex ante, in itinere and  ex post  analysis by 
the  responsible  departments  as  regards  content  quality  and  cost  effectiveness. 
These  measures are supplemented  by the work, including  monitoring  in the  field, 
carried  out  by  the  financial  departments  of  the  Commission  and  the  Court  of 
Auditors.  The  documents  which  contractually  bind  the  Commission  and  the 

-  18  -

recipients  of  the  payments  provide  for  anti-fraud  measures  to  ensure  that  the 
financial  contributions  of  the  Community  are  used  correctly. 

9. 

ELEMENTS  OF  COST-EFFECTIVENESS  ANALYSIS 

The elements below only relate to line B3-4010. It should  be noted, however, that 
certain  measures  will  be  promoted  in  coordination  with  other  budget  lines,  in 
particular B3-4012 - the fourth  programme on equal opportunities  for women and 
men,  B2-605  - pilot  projects  for  the  benefit  of  the  long-term  unemployed,  or  in 
association  with  the work of  the Structural  Funds, especially  the  European  Social 
Fund, and  budget  lines  B3-1020 and  1021 concerning  vocational  training  policy, 
as well  as  the activities  carried  out  in the context of  the socio-economic  research 
module  of  the  fourth  framework  programme. 

Given  the  limited  financial  resources,  the  actions  to  be  promoted  under  these 
provisions will  involve both the application  of the principles of  cost-effectiveness 
analysis,  and  the  rigorous  selection  of  activities  in  order  to  induce  a  significant 
multiplier  effect  and  a strong  value-added. 

9.1  Specific  objectives 

A. 

To promote  the analysis of the labour market and of employment policies 

The  conclusions  of  the  European  Council  of  Essen  call  for  the  monitoring  and 
assessment of employment policies to be stepped  up.  With regard to Commission 
activities  of  observation,  monitoring  and  analysis  of  employment  policies  under 
the B3-4010 budget line, this necessitates a strengthening of the analytical capacity 
and  a better  understanding  of  labour  markets. 

The overview of analyses will help the Commission to provide Member States and 
other  interesed  parties  with  the  necessary  technical  assistance  in  defining  and 
developing  multiannual  programmes  for  employment  as 
in  the 
conclusions  of  the  Essen  European  Council. 

indicated 

A.l  Observation  and  monitoring  work 

This framework  sets up a system  of observation  establishing  at Community  level 
a permanent  database on  labour  market trends, national  employment  systems and 
the  policy  measures  promoted  by  the  Member  States,  in  particular  those 
concerning  the  establishment  of  multi-annual  employment  programmes. 

This observation  system, based  on a strengthening  of  the  European  Employment 
Observatory  which  consists  of  a  mutual  information  system  on  employment 
policies  (MISEP)  and  an  European  documentation  system  (SYSDEM),  will  also 
collect details of all relevant research work  in the area of employment at national 
and  international  level. 

On  the  basis  of  MISEP  and  SYSDEM  experience,  a  budget  from  between  1 
MECU  in  1996 to  1,6 MECU  in 2000  is deemed  the  necessary  minimum. These 
amounts  will  in  particular  be  used  to  gather  information  -  through  national 
correspondents  - on the employment policies in the  15 Member States, to produce 

-  19 

-

overviews  and  to  present  the  results  via  comparative,  synoptic  tables  at  Union 
level. 

A.2  Analysis 

This analytical  work  is designed  to evaluate and compare at Community  level  the 
measures of  the  Member  States  in the area of employment  policy. The  results of 
this  work  will  be presented  to the  other  Community  Institutions, to the  Member 
States  and  other  players  concerned  by  employment  policy,  notably  by  means of 
the annual  Report on  Employment  in  Europe. In  line  with  the decision  taken  by 
the Essen  European Council, an annual  report on developments  in employment is 
to be  presented.  The  present  analytical  work  will  contribute  significantly  to  the 
preparation  of  this  document 

The  observation  and  monitoring  activities  will  be  complemented  with  specific 
analyses enabling  the Commission  to evaluate  the efficiency  of actions  promoted 
by Member States, in particular with reference to the development  of  multiannual 
programmes  and  the effectiveness  of  their  results. 

A budget  from  between  1 MECU  in  1996  to  1,6  MECU  in  2000  is deemed  the 
necessary  minimum  to  meet  these  requirements. 

A.3  Research  new  issues 

In order to improve knowledge of the factors affecting  employment  in the medium 
and  long  term, the  framework  will  support  studies  dealing  in particular  with  the 
conditions  affecting  job  creation. These studies  will  take account  of  the potential 
impact  on  employment  of  the  globalisation  of  the  economy,  the  social 
consequences  of  the completion  of  the  single  market,  the employment  problems 
linked  to  relations  with  non-member  countries  and  the  associated  countries  of 
Central  and  Eastern  Europe,  and  to  the  new  Euro-Mediterranean  policy.  The 
subjects to be covered by studies will include the links between taxation and social 
protection  systems  and  between  job  supply  and  demand,  the  links  between 
employment and environmental  protection policies, and the analysis of the impact 
of  the  information  society  in  terms of jobs  and  social  development. 

A budget  from  between  1 MECU  in  1996  to  1,6  MECU  in  2000  is deemed  the 
necessary  minimum  to  meet  this  requirement. 

B.  Helping to pinpoint  and transfer best practices. 

Previous experience has shown how valuable it is to develop Community measures 
which  help  the  Union  to  pinpoint  and  transfer  best  practices  for  promoting 
employment.  Certain  of  the priorities  fixed  established  by  the  Essen  European 

2o  -

Council are particularly suited  to the establishment of projects designed  to provide 
methodological  and  technical  support  in  the  quest  to  find  new  solutions  to  the 
employment crisis. By their transnational  nature and the networking of all players, 
these  projects  also  produce  genuine  added  value  of  quality  for  the joint  funding 
provided  notably  by  the  Structural  Funds. 

The  projects  will  be  implemented  in  cooperation  with  the  Member  States,  the 
accent being on partnership and efforts  being made to ensure that the measures are 
consistent with and complement the activities funded by other Community sources, 
especially  the  Structural  Funds, or by  national  sources. 

Among  the  priorities  established  by  the  Essen  European  Council,  the  following 
should  be the subject  of  initiatives  forming  part of  the above-mentioned  projects: 

B. 1  The promotion, especially at regional and local level, of initiatives that create 
jobs  which  take account  of  new requirements, e.g. in the environmental  and 
social  services  spheres; 

On  the  basis  of  the  experience  with  the  LEDA  programme,  a  minimum 
budget  from  between  1,5  MECU in  1996 to 3 MECU  in 2000  is required to 
promote  identification  and dissemination  of best practices and their  transfer 
to  the  level  of  all  15 Member  States  of  the  Union. 

B.2  The  implementation  of  measures  to  help  groups  particularly  hard  hit  by 
unemployment,  particularly  young  people,  long-term  unemployed,  older 
employees  and  unemployed  women; 

On  the  basis  of  experience  with  previous  programmes  such  as  ERGO,  a 
budget  from  between  1,2  MECU  in  1996  to 2,1  MECU  in 2000  is deemed 
necessary  to  obtain,  on  the  level  of  the  15  Member  States,  the  required 
minimum  impact ( taking  into consideration  the  relative heterogenity  of the 
groups  concerned  :  young  people,  long  term  unemployed,  unemployed 
women  and  elderly  workers) 

B.3  The  encouragement  of  measures  in  connection  with  the  reorganization  of 
working  time,  including  the adaptation  of  working  hours, which  fulfil  both 
the  wishes  of  employees  and  the  requirements  of  competition. 

With  regard  to this new field  of activity  in which  the Commission  has  little 
experience, it will first be necessary to collect information before developing 
research actions and their transfer. The minimum budgets deemed  necessary 
are  from  between  0,7  MECU  in  1996 to 2  MECU  in 2000. 

C.  Developing an active policy  in disseminating results 

Lastly,  the  framework  is  designed  to  promote  active  dissemination  of  all  the 
information  obtained  from  the activities. This  information  will be made available 
to all public and private players concerned with employment problems. Depending 
on  the  circumstances,  dissemination  will  be  by  regular  bulletins,  the  Report  on 
through  any 
Employment 

the  Social  Europe  Review  and 

in  Europe, 

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-

communication  channels deemed  necessary  to reach  the  target  groups  concerned, 
including  international  seminars. 

On the basis of past experience over the last few  years  in the field  of  production, 
editing (including translations) and distribution, these activities will be divided into 
producing  written  materials  (annual  Employment  in  Europe  report,  bulletins 
comparable  to  the  present  existing  ones  for  MISEP  and  SYSDEM),  producing 
informatics  such  as the development  of databases  on CDROM, the realisation of 
media events such as the "employment week",and the organisation of national and 
international  seminars  to  exchange  information  and  experience  or  to  publicise 
evolutions  in  the  field  of  employment. 

A budget  from  between  1,6  MECU  in  1996 to 2,6 MECU  in 2000  is deemed  the 
necessary  minimum  to  meet  these  requirements. 

9.2  Grounds  for the  operation 

In  December  1994,  the  European  Council  confirmed  that  the  fight  against 
unemployment  and  to achieve  equality  of  opportunity  for  men and  women  were 
priority  tasks  for  the  Union. It therefore  urged  the  Member  States  to  incorporate 
its recommendations on employment into relevant multiannual programmes. It also 
requested  the  Council  and  the  Commission  to  keep  close  track  of  employment 
trends and  to  report  to  it  annually. 

On  the basis  of  the above  , the  Commission  considers  it  necessary  to  contribute 
with  this  new  approach,  and  apart  from  other  initiatives,  to  the  process  of 
multilateral  monitoring  recently  proposed  to  the  Council. 

9.3  Monitoring  and  evaluation  of the  operation 

Given that this framework  is designed to encourage new solutions to employment 
problems, the  functions  of  monitoring  and  evaluation  naturally  form  part  of  the 
activities  implemented,  in such  a way  as to derive  maximum  benefit  from  them. 

Two  approaches  will  be  used  to evaluate  the content  of  the measures: 

an  efficiency  analysis  to  compare  the  results  obtained  from  each  measure 
with  the  objectives  established  for  it; 

an effectiveness  analysis  to determine the impact of the measures promoted 
on  decision-taking. 

The  evaluation  of  projects  will  seek  to  identify  and  organise  the transfer  of  best 
practices. 

The  Commission  will  present 
implementation  of  the  measure before  31  December 2001. 

the  Council  with  a  final  report  on 

the 

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-

10.  Administrative  expenditure  (Part  A of the  budget) 

Administrative  expenditure  necessary  for  the  implementation  of  "ESSEN"  is  provided 
for a fixed  period  of 5 years from  1996. They do  not  imply a supplementary  budgetary 
allocation. 

10.1 

Technical  assistance  -  consultancy  -  budget  heading  1178 

The  measures  will  be  managed,  and  their  results  applied,  by  the  staff  of  the 
Employment  Directorate  of  DG  V,  where  necessary,  in  collaboration  with  other 
relevant  services  within  the  Commission. 

Specialised  consultants  will  be  used  for  the  operational  management  of  the 
measures relating to the European Employment Observatory (multilateral  follow-up 
of  the  employment  policies  of  the  Member  States,  and  analyses)  and  to  the 
projects. 

The estimates  of  the expenditure  to cover  the  fees  of  the consultants  responsible 
for  the  operational  management  which  are  to be  attributed  to budget  heading  A-
1178 are as  follows: 

A117X 

1995 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2(XX) 

Observatory 

630. (XX) 

660.(XX) 

690.000 

725.(XX) 

760  (XX) 

Projects 

Total 

870. (XX) 

900. (XX) 

945.000 

990.000 

1.040.(XX) 

1.500.000 

1.560.000 

1.635.000 

1.715.000 

1.800.000 

For  1996  + /-30 persons/year at an  average cost  of  50.000 ecus/year. 

10.2 

Operating  expenditure  -  AO-2380 

The operating expenditure  resulting  from  the activities  described  in point  10.1 are 
estimated  to be: 

A2380 

1995 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2000 

Observatory 

900.000 

950.000 

1.000.000 

1.050.000 

1.100.000 

Projects 

Total 

450.000 

500.000 

500.000 

600.000 

650.000 

1.350.000 

1.450.000 

1  .500.000 

1  .650.000 

1.750.000 

The granting  of  any  supplementary  resources  must be  seen  in the context  of  the 
priorities decided by the Commission in fixing  the limits for  the future  budgetary 
exercises and  the allocation  of  resources. In any event, supplementary  resources 
will  not prejudge  the decision  to be  taken  in this case. 

-  23 

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ISSN  0254-1475 

COM(95) 250 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

05 

Catalogue number  :  CB-CO-95-305-EN-C 

ISBN 92-77-90650-2 

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