Amended Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a programme of Community action to encourage cooperation between Member States to combat social exclusion (COM(2000) 796 final — 2000/0157(COD)) (Text with EEA relevance)
Date: 2001-03-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU action, European social policy, intergovernmental cooperation (EU), marginalisation, poverty

27.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 96 E/229

Amended Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a
programme of Community action to encourage cooperation between Member States to combat
social exclusion (1)

(2001/C 96 E/14)

(Text with EEA relevance)

COM(2000) 796 final (cid:151) 2000/0157(COD)

(Submitted by the Commission pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty on 27 November 2000)

(1) OJ C 337 E, 28.11.2000, p. 130.

INITIAL PROPOSAL

AMENDED PROPOSAL

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

Unchanged

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community, and in particular Article 137, paragraph 2,
subparagraphs 2 and 3 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of
Committee,

the Economic and Social

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

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article
251 of the Treaty,

Whereas:

(1) Pursuant to Article 2 of the Treaty, the Community shall
the
living and

to promote throughout
the standard of

its tasks,
have as one of
Community the raising of
quality of life.

(1) Pursuant to Article 2 of the Treaty, the Community shall
have as its tasks, inter alia, to promote throughout the
Community a high level of employment and of social
protection and the raising of the standard of living and
quality of life.

(2) Pursuant to Article 136 of the Treaty, the Community and
the Member States, having in mind fundamental social
rights such as those set out
in the European Social
Charter signed at Turin on 18 October 1961 and in the
1989 Community Charter of
the Fundamental Social
Rights of Workers,
shall have as an objective the
combating of exclusion.

Unchanged

(3) Having in mind the revised Social Charter of the Council
of Europe (1996), and in particular Article 30 thereof on
(cid:145)the
to protection against poverty and social
right
exclusion(cid:146).

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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INITIAL PROPOSAL

AMENDED PROPOSAL

(4) In the Recommendation 92/441/EEC of 24 June 1992 the
Council recommends Member States to recognise the
basic right of a person to sufficient resources and social
assistance to live in a manner compatible with human
dignity; in the Recommendation 92/442/EEC of 27 July
1992 the Council
to
guarantee a level of resources in keeping with human
in the conclusions of 17 December 1999 the
dignity;
Council endorsed promoting social
inclusion as one of
the objectives of modernising and improving social
protection.

recommends Member

States

(3) The European Parliament,

the Economic and Social
Committee and the Committee of the Regions have all
urged the Community to strengthen its contribution to
efforts in Member States to prevent and to combat
social exclusion.

(5) The European Parliament,

the Economic and Social
Committee and the Committee of the Regions have all
urged the Community to strengthen its contribution to
efforts
in Member States to prevent and to combat
social exclusion.

(4) The Commission Communication of 1 March 2000,
(cid:145)Building an inclusive Europe(cid:146) (1), described the challenge
of social exclusion and the existing policy responses in
Member States and at Community level, and proposed
on this basis to give a new impetus to the EU cooperation
to combat social exclusion.

(6) The Commission Communication of 1 March 2000,
(cid:145)Building an inclusive Europe(cid:146) (1), described the challenge
of poverty and social exclusion and the existing policy
responses in Member States and at Community level,
and proposed on this basis to give a new impetus to
the EU cooperation in this field.

(5) The Lisbon European Council of 23 and 24 March 2000
incorporated the promotion of social inclusion as intrinsic
to the overall strategy of the Union to achieve its strategic
the next decade of becoming the most
goal
competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in
the world, capable of sustainable economic growth, with
more and better jobs and greater social cohesion.

for

(7) The Lisbon European Council of 23 and 24 March 2000
incorporated the promotion of social inclusion as intrinsic
to the overall strategy of the Union to achieve its strategic
the next decade of becoming the most
goal
competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in
the world, capable of sustainable economic growth, with
more and better jobs and greater social cohesion.

for

(6) The Lisbon European Council further acknowledged that
the new knowledge-based society offers both the potential
for reducing social exclusion by creating the economic
conditions for greater prosperity through higher levels
of growth and employment and by opening up new
ways of participating in society and the risk of an ever-
widening gap between those who have access to the new
knowledge, and those who are excluded and that policies
should be directed towards avoiding this risk and maxi-
mising this new potential.

(8) The Lisbon European Council further acknowledged that
the new knowledge-based society offers both the potential
for reducing social exclusion by creating the economic
conditions for greater prosperity through higher levels
of growth and employment and by opening up new
ways of participating in society and the risk of an ever-
widening gap between those who have access to the new
knowledge, and those who are excluded (cid:151) and that
policies should be directed towards avoiding this risk
and maximising this new potential.

___________
(1) COM(2000) 79 final.

___________
(1) COM(2000) 79 final.

27.3.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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INITIAL PROPOSAL

AMENDED PROPOSAL

(9) The Lisbon European Council stated that the number of
people living below the poverty line and in social
exclusion in the Union is unacceptable and that steps
must be taken to make a decisive impact on the eradi-
cation of poverty by setting adequate targets agreed by the
Council.

(7) The European Council

further agreed that policies for
combating social exclusion should be based on an open
method of coordination combining national action plans
and a Commission initiative for cooperation.

(10) The European Council

further agreed that policies for
combating social exclusion should be based on an open
method of coordination combining national action plans
and a Commission initiative for cooperation.

a multiannual

action programme

(8) This Commission initiative which consists in a proposal
for
designed to
encourage co-operation between Member States should
improving knowledge, developing exchanges of
aim at
information and best practices, and evaluating experiences
in order to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of
policies to combat exclusion.

a multiannual

action programme

(11) This Commission initiative which consists in a proposal
for
designed to
encourage cooperation between Member States should
improving knowledge, developing exchanges of
aim at
information and best practices, and evaluating experiences
in order to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of
policies to combat exclusion.

(12) The drawing-up of harmonised surveys and studies and
the establishment of common qualitative and quantitative
indicators will provide a basis for the development of the
open method of coordination.

(13) Combating poverty and social exclusion requires facili-
tating participation in quality employment and access by
all to resources, rights, goods and services.

to combat
everyone

social exclusion should aim at
(14) Measures
(through
enabling
gainful employment or otherwise) and integrate into
society.

to support him/herself

(9) Many non-governmental organisations at

the European
levels have experience and expertise in fighting social
exclusion, as well as acting at European level as the
advocates of people who are exposed to social exclusion;
they can therefore make an important contribution to
understanding the diverse forms and effects of social
exclusion and to ensuring that the design, implementation
the
and follow-up of
experience of people exposed to social exclusion.

the programme take account of

(15) Many non-governmental organisations at various levels
(local, regional, national and European) have experience
and expertise in fighting social exclusion, as well as acting
as the advocates of people who are exposed to social
exclusion;
local and regional authorities as well have
experience and knowledge in this field; non-governmental
organisations and local and regional authorities can
therefore make an important contribution at European
level to understanding the diverse forms and effects of
social
the design,
implementation and follow-up of
the programme take
account of the experience of people exposed to social
exclusion.

exclusion and to ensuring that

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INITIAL PROPOSAL

AMENDED PROPOSAL

(10) In compliance with Article 2 of Council Decision
1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the
implementing powers
procedures
conferred on the Commission (1), measures
the
implementation of
the present Decision should be
adopted by use of the advisory procedure provided for
in Article 3 of that Decision.

the exercise of

for

for

for

the exercise of

(16) In compliance with Article 2 of Council Decision
1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the
implementing powers
procedures
conferred on the Commission (1), measures
the
implementation of
the present Decision should be
adopted by use of the advisory procedure provided for
in Article 3 of that Decision without prejudice of the
powers granted to the Commission by article 274 of the
Treaty.

for

(11) It is necessary, in order to reinforce the added value of
Community action, that the Commission, in cooperation
with the Member States, should ensure, at all levels, the
coherence and complementarity of actions implemented
this Decision and other relevant
in the framework of
in
and
policies,
Community
particular those under the European Social Fund.

instruments

actions,

(12) The Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA
for greater cooperation in the
Agreement) provides
social
field between the European Community and its
Member States, on the one hand, and the countries of
the European Free Trade Association participating in the
European Economic Area (EFTA/EEA), on the other;
provision should be made to open up this programme
to participation by the candidate countries of Central
in accordance with the conditions
and Eastern Europe,
established in the Europe Agreements, in their additional
protocols
respective
funded by
Association Councils,
the
additional
procedures to be agreed with those countries, as well as
to Turkey,
in
accordance with the procedures to be agreed with that
country.

the
to Cyprus and Malta,

and in the decisions of

accordance with

appropriations

appropriations

funded by

additional

in

(17) It is necessary, in order to reinforce the added value of
Community action, that the Commission, in cooperation
with the Member States, should ensure, at all levels, the
coherence and complementarity of actions implemented
in the framework of this Decision and all other relevant
in
Community
particular those under the European Structural Funds.

instruments

policies,

actions,

and

(18) The Social Protection Committee, set up by the Council
Decision of 29 June 2000 (2) to strengthen cooperation
between the Member States on social protection policies,
contributes to the development and systematic monitoring
of actions designed to modernise and improve social
protection and to promote social inclusion in accordance
with the Presidency conclusions of the Lisbon European
Council of 23 and 24 March 2000 and those of the Feira
European Council of 19 and 20 June 2000.

(19) The Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA
for greater cooperation in the
Agreement) provides
social
field between the European Community and its
Member States, on the one hand, and the countries of
the European Free Trade Association participating in the
European Economic Area (EFTA/EEA), on the other;
provision should be made to open up this programme
to participation by the candidate countries of Central
in accordance with the conditions
and Eastern Europe,
established in the Europe Agreements, in their additional
respective
protocols
funded by
Association Councils,
the
additional
procedures to be agreed with those countries, as well as
to Turkey,
in
accordance with the procedures to be agreed with that
country.

the
to Cyprus and Malta,

and in the decisions of

accordance with

appropriations

appropriations

funded by

additional

in

(13) A financial reference amount, within the meaning of point
33 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999
between the European Parliament, the Council and the
Commission is included in this decision.

(20) A financial reference amount, within the meaning of point
33 of the Interinstitutional Agreement of 6 May 1999
between the European Parliament, the Council and the
Commission is included in this decision.

___________
(1) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

(21) This reference amount
financial framework.

is compatible with the current

___________
(1) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.
(2) Council Decision 2000/436/EC, OJ L 172 of 12.7.2000.

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INITIAL PROPOSAL

AMENDED PROPOSAL

(14) Articles 2 and 3 of the Treaty respectively set as a task of
the Community the promotion of equality between men
its activities the
and women and provide that
Community shall aim to eliminate inequalities and to
promote equality between men and women; Ggender is
a crucial cross-cutting issue which inter to an important
extent with the effects and causes of exclusion.

in all

(22) Gender is a crucial cross-cutting issue which impacts to
an important extent on the effects as well as on the causes
of poverty and exclusion. Moreover, in accordance with
Articles 2 and 3 of
the Treaty, promoting equality
between men and women and eliminating inequalities is
part of the task of the Community and must be fixed as
an objective in all its activities.

(15) It is essential to monitor and evaluate the implementation
of the programme to ensure that it achieve its objectives.

(23) It is essential to monitor and evaluate the implementation
of the programme to ensure that it achieves its objectives.

the proposed action concerning

(16) In accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and
proportionality as defined in Article 5 of the Treaty, the
objectives of
the
contribution of
the Community to combating social
exclusion cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member
States for reasons including the need for multilateral part-
nerships, the transnational exchange of information and
the Community-wide dissemination of good practice; this
Decision does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve
those objectives,

the proposed action concerning

(24) In accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and
proportionality as defined in Article 5 of the Treaty, the
objectives of
the
contribution of
the Community to combating social
exclusion cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member
States for reasons including the need for multilateral part-
nerships, the transnational exchange of information and
the Community-wide dissemination of good practice; this
Decision does not go beyond what is necessary to achieve
those objectives,

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Unchanged

Article 1

Establishment of the programme

A programme of Community action to encourage cooperation
between Member States in order to combat social exclusion,
hereinafter referred to as (cid:145)the programme(cid:146), is adopted for the
period 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2005.

Article 2

Principles

This programme shall be part of an open method of
1.
co-ordination between Member States
social
exclusion, and shall be combined with national action plans.

to combat

1.
This programme shall be part of an open method of
coordination between Member States designed to give a
decisive impetus to the elimination of poverty and social
exclusion by setting appropriate objectives at Community
level and implementing national action plans.

The programme and the national action plans shall
2.
contribute to a better understanding of social exclusion, the
mainstreaming of
the combating of exclusion in Member
States and Community policies and measures, and the devel-
opment of priority actions chosen by Member States
in
accordance with their particular situation.

Unchanged

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INITIAL PROPOSAL

AMENDED PROPOSAL

3.
The overall aim of the programme shall be to encourage
cooperation which enables the Union and the Member States to
make a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty and social
exclusion as measured by targets agreed by the Council.

Deleted

In designing,

4.
implementing and following up the
activities under the programme account will be taken of the
experience in the Member States at all relevant levels and of
people exposed to poverty and social exclusion, as well as of
social partners, non-governmental and voluntary organisations
and other actors of the society involved in the fight against
poverty and social exclusion.

In designing,

3.
implementing and following up the
activities under the programme account will be taken of the
experience in the Member States at all relevant levels and of
people exposed to poverty and social exclusion, as well as of
social partners, non-governmental and voluntary organisations
and other actors of the society involved in the fight against
poverty and social exclusion.

Article 3

Objectives

Unchanged

The programme shall support cooperation which enables the
Union and the Member States to enhance the effectiveness and
efficiency of policies to combat social exclusion by:

(cid:151) improving the understanding of social exclusion;

(cid:151) improving the understanding of

social exclusion and

poverty;

(cid:151) organising policy cooperation and mutual learning in the

context of the national action plans; and,

(cid:151) organising exchanges on policies which are implemented
and mutual learning on the basis of comparable parameters
and in the context of the national action plans; and,

(cid:151) developing the capacity of actors to address social exclusion
effectively, in particular through networking at EU level.

(cid:151) developing the capacity of actors to address poverty and
social
through
networking at EU level and promoting a dialogue with all
stakeholders.

effectively,

particular

exclusion

in

Article 4

Community actions

Unchanged

1. With a view to achieving the objectives set out in Article
3, the following actions may be implemented within a trans-
national framework:

(cid:151) analysis of characteristics, causes, processes and trends in
social exclusion,
including the collection of comparable
statistics, the development of common methodologies and
thematic studies;

(cid:151) analysis of characteristics, causes, processes and trends in
including the collection of comparable
the drawing-up of quantitative and qualitative
the development of common methodologies

social exclusion,
statistics,
indicators,
and thematic studies;

(cid:151) policy cooperation and exchange of information and best
practices on the basis of the development of quantitative
and qualitative indicators and benchmarks and through
periodic monitoring, evaluation and peer review;

(cid:151) policy cooperation and exchange of information and best
practices on the basis of the development of quantitative
and
and
benchmarks and through periodic monitoring, evaluation
and peer review;

assessment

indicators,

qualitative

criteria

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INITIAL PROPOSAL

AMENDED PROPOSAL

(cid:151) promotion of dialogue involving the various stakeholders
and support
to networking at European level between
non-governmental organisations active in the fight against
poverty and social exclusion.

(cid:151) promotion of dialogue involving the various stakeholders
and support
to relevant networks at European level of
non-governmental organisations active in the fight against
poverty and social exclusion.

Arrangements for the implementation of the Community

2.
actions described in paragraph 1 are set out in annex.

Unchanged

Article 5

Implementation

1.

The Commission shall:

(cid:151) ensure the implementation of
covered by this programme;

the Community actions

(cid:151) have a regular exchange of views with representatives of
non-governmental organisations and the social partners at
European level on the design,
implementation and
follow-up of the programme and on related policy orien-
tations. The Commission shall inform the Committee estab-
lished under Article 7 of their opinions;

(cid:151) promote active partnership and dialogue between all the
partners involved in the programme to encourage an inte-
grated and co-ordinated approach to the fight against social
exclusion.

(cid:151) promote active partnership and dialogue between all the
partners involved in the programme to encourage an inte-
grated and coordinated approach to the fight against
poverty and social exclusion.

The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States,

2.
shall take the necessary steps to:

Unchanged

(cid:151) promote the involvement

in the programme of all

the

parties concerned;

(cid:151) ensure the dissemination of

the results of

the actions

undertaken within the framework of this programme;

(cid:151) provide appropriate information, publicity and follow-up
with regard to actions supported by this programme.

Article 6

Financing

The financial reference amount

1.
for implementing the
programme for the period referred to in Article 1 shall be
EUR 70 million.

The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the
financial

authority within the

limits of

the

2.
budgetary
perspective.

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INITIAL PROPOSAL

AMENDED PROPOSAL

Article 7

Committee

The Commission shall be assisted by an advisory
1.
committee composed of
the Member
States and chaired by the representative of the Commission
(hereinafter referred to as (cid:145)the Committee(cid:146)).

the representatives of

the powers granted to the
1. Without prejudice of
Commission by Article 274 of
the Treaty, the Commission
shall be assisted by an advisory committee composed of the
representatives of
the Member States and chaired by the
representative of the Commission (hereinafter referred to as
(cid:145)the Committee(cid:146)).

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, the advisory
procedure laid down in Article 3 of Council Decision
1999/468/EC shall apply, in respect of article 7, paragraph 3
and article 8.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, the advisory
procedure laid down in Article 3 of Council Decision
1999/468/EC shall apply, in respect of Article 7, paragraph 3
and Article 9.

The representative of the Commission shall in particular

3.
consult the Committee on:

Unchanged

(cid:151) the general guidelines

for

the implementation of

the

programme;

(cid:151) the annual budgets and the distribution of funding between

measures;

(cid:151) the annual plan of work for the implementation of the
programme’s actions, and the Commission proposals for
selection criteria for financial support.

4.
To ensure the consistency and complementarity of this
programme with other measures referred to in Article 9, the
Commission shall keep the Committee regularly informed
about other Community action contributing to combating
social exclusion. Where appropriate,
the Commission shall
establish regular and structured cooperation between this
Committee and the monitoring committees established for
other relevant policies, instruments and actions.

Article 8

The Commission shall establish the necessary links with the
Social Protection Committee within the framework of
the
activities referred to in this Decision.

Article 8

Article 9

Consistency and complementarity

Unchanged

The Commission shall, in co-operation with the Member
1.
States, ensure overall consistency with other Community
policies, instruments and actions, in particular by establishing
appropriate mechanisms to co-ordinate the activities of this
relating to research,
programme with relevant
employment, non-discrimination, equality between women
and men, social protection, education,
training and youth
policy, health and in the field of the Community’s external
relations.

activities

The Commission shall, in cooperation with the Member
1.
States, ensure overall consistency with other Community
policies, instruments and actions, in particular by establishing
appropriate mechanisms to coordinate the activities of
this
relating to research,
programme with relevant
employment, economic,
industrial and enterprise policies,
immigration, equality between women
non-discrimination,
and men, social protection, education,
training and youth
policy, health and in the field of the Community’s external
relations.

activities

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INITIAL PROPOSAL

AMENDED PROPOSAL

2.
The Member States shall make all possible efforts to
ensure consistency and complementarity between activities
this programme and those carried out at national,
under
regional and local levels.

Unchanged

3.
The Commission and the Member States shall ensure
consistency and complementarity between action undertaken
under
the
structural
the Community initiative
EQUAL.

this programme and Community action under

in particular

funds,

Article 9

Article 10

Participation of the EFTA/EEA countries, the associated
countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Cyprus, Malta
and Turkey

Unchanged

This programme shall be open to the participation of:

(cid:151) the EFTA/EEA countries in accordance with the conditions

established in the EEA Agreement;

(cid:151) the associated central and eastern European countries in
accordance with the conditions established in the Europe
Agreements,
in their additional protocols and in the
decisions of the respective Association Councils;

(cid:151) Cyprus, Malta and Turkey,

funded by additional appro-
priations in accordance with procedures to be agreed
with each country.

Article 10

Article 11

Monitoring and evaluation

Unchanged

The Commission shall regularly monitor this programme
1.
in cooperation with the Member States in accordance with the
procedure set out in Article 7.

The Commission shall reflect progress achieved under the
to the Spring

2.
programme in its Annual Synthesis Report
European Council.

The programme shall be evaluated by the Commission by
2.
the end of the third year and at the end of the programme
with the assistance of independent experts. This evaluation will
assess the relevance and effectiveness of actions implemented
with regard to the objectives referred to in Article 3. It will also
the programme as a whole. The
examine the impact of
evaluation will also examine the complementarity between
action under this programme and that pursued under other
relevant Community policies, instruments and actions.

The programme shall be evaluated by the Commission by
3.
the end of the third year and at the end of the programme
with the assistance of independent experts. This evaluation will
assess the relevance and effectiveness of actions implemented
with regard to the objectives referred to in Article 3. It will also
the programme as a whole. The
examine the impact of
evaluation will also examine the complementarity between
action under this programme and that pursued under other
relevant Community policies, instruments and actions.

The Commission

3.
European
Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee
and the Committee of
the Regions a final report on the
implementation of the programme by 31 December 2006.

submit

shall

the

to

The Commission

4.
European
Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee
and the Committee of
the Regions a final report on the
implementation of the programme by 31 December 2006.

submit

shall

the

to

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INITIAL PROPOSAL

AMENDED PROPOSAL

Article 11

Article 12

Entry into force

Unchanged

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publi-
cation in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

INDICATIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMME

ANNEX

1. Action strands

Unchanged

With a view to achieving the objectives set out in Article 3 and
implementing the Community actions set out
in Article 4 the
following measures may be implemented within a transnational
framework:

Strand 1: Analysis of characteristics, processes, causes and trends in social
exclusion

The importance of this strand is linked to the conclusion of the
Lisbon European Council to develop national action plans and a
new open method of coordination to combat social exclusion and
the need in this context to identify appropriate quantitative and
qualitative indicators and benchmarks which will make it possible
to promote periodic monitoring, evaluation and peer review. This
requires special cooperation efforts to improve statistics, metho-
social exclusion as well as of
dologies and understanding of
policies which can help to prevent and combat exclusion. Particular
effort is proposed with regard to statistical work in cooperation
with national statistical offices.

It is important to reflect experience on the ground of people experi-
encing poverty and social exclusion, and to make use of all relevant
information sources on poverty and social exclusion, including from
non-governmental organisations.

When analysing social exclusion and poverty, particular attention
will go to its multiple dimensions, and to the variety of situations of
social groups, including child poverty, as well as of territories which
are exposed to risks of social exclusion.

In order to promote this, the following measures may be supported:

Unchanged

1.1. Studies and meetings on the development of common metho-
dologies to measure poverty and social exclusion, their extent,
characteristics, processes, causes and trends

1.1. Studies and meetings on the development of common metho-
dologies
to measure and understand poverty and social
exclusion, their extent, characteristics, processes, causes and
trends, and on the establishment of indicators;

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INITIAL PROPOSAL

AMENDED PROPOSAL

1.2. The collection and dissemination of comparable statistics in
Member States and at Community level. This measure should
support cooperation between national statistical offices and the
Commission and improve the statistical reference sources at
Community level and their contribution to the analysis of
poverty and social exclusion;

Unchanged

1.3. The development of

thematic studies to contribute to the
understanding of social exclusion, to address common issues
in connection with policy developments in Member States,
including emerging issues in relation to the knowledge-based
society.

Strand 2: Policy cooperation and exchange of
practices

information and best

In order to promote policy cooperation and mutual learning in the
context of
the following transnational
activities may be supported:

the national action plan,

2.1. Transnational

at

aimed

exchange

transferring
actions
information and good practices and developing peer review
in the context of
the national action plans, by means of
policy meetings/workshops/seminars on benchmarks or on
policies and practices, or other forms of exchange such as
joint development of strategies and common dissemination of
information etc., organised at the initiative of European organi-
sations of Member States and/or of other key actors with the
active involvement of Member States.

2.1. Transnational

at

aimed

exchange

transferring
actions
information and good practices and developing peer review
in the context of
the national action plans, by means of
policy meetings/workshops/seminars on benchmarks or on
policies and practices, or other forms of exchange such as
joint development of strategies, common dissemination of
information, field visits and exchange of staff, etc., organised
at the initiative of European organisations, of Member States
and/or of other key actors with the active involvement of
Member States. Transnational
exchange between national
observatories or similar recognised bodies may be supported
under this strand.

2.2. Expert work and specific studies in connection with the devel-
opment of indicators and benchmarks, including in relation to
the knowledge-based society.

Unchanged

2.3. Annual EU Report on social exclusion, which would present
the state of play on the different national action plans as well
as actions conducted at European level in the main policies and
fields where the fight against poverty and social exclusion is at
stake.

Keeping in mind that
social exclusion is a multidimensional
phenomenon, particular attention shall be paid to relevant policy
developments on social protection, employment, education and
training, health and housing policies.

Strand 3: Participation of
networking at EU level

the various

stakeholders and support

to

In order to actively involve public authorities as well as the social
the following measures may be
partners and the civil society,
supported:

3.1. Core funding for relevant key European networks involved in

3.1. Core funding for relevant European networks involved in the

the fight against poverty and social exclusion.

fight against poverty and social exclusion.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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INITIAL PROPOSAL

AMENDED PROPOSAL

3.2. An annual EU Round Table Conference on social exclusion.
The conference would be organised in close collaboration
with the EU Presidency.

3.2. An annual EU Round Table Conference on social exclusion.
The conference would be organised in close collaboration
with the EU Presidency and prepared in consultation with all
relevant actors.

2. General considerations

Unchanged

The programme shall take into account the results of preparatory
actions and activities under other Community policies, instruments
and actions.

In designing, implementing and following up the activities under the
the experience of people
programme account will be taken of
exposed to poverty and social exclusion, as well as
social
partners, non-governmental organisations and other actors of the
society involved in the fight against poverty and social exclusion. In
all its activities, the programme will respect the principle of gender
mainstreaming. The programme activities can be adapted or supple-
mented in accordance with the procedure established under Article
7, on the basis of an annual review.

implementing,

the programme account will be taken of

following up and evaluating the
In designing,
activities under
the
experience of people exposed to poverty and social exclusion, as
well as social partners, non-governmental organisations and other
actors of the society involved in the fight against poverty and social
the
exclusion.
principle of gender mainstreaming. The programme activities can
be adapted or supplemented in accordance with the procedure
established under Article 7, on the basis of an annual review.

the programme will respect

its activities,

In all

The implementation of the programme may require technical and
administrative assistance to the mutual benefit of the Commission
and of the beneficiaries and/or support expenditure.

Unchanged

3. Method of presenting applications for support

Strand 1: This strand will be mainly implemented through calls for
tenders. For cooperation with national statistical offices the Eurostat
procedures will apply.

Strand 2: Action 2.1 will be mainly implemented in response to
annual calls for proposals (some policy meetings/seminars might
be organised directly by the Commission). Proposals will have to
involve actors from at least 4 Member States and may be submitted
to the Commission by European organisations and by Member
States
(or by organisations with the involvement of Member
States). Actions 2.2 and 2.3 will require specific call for tenders.

Strand 3: Under action 3.1 support may be provided to European
networks
satisfying criteria established by the Commission in
consultation with the Committee in accordance with Article 7.
Action 3.2 may be supported in response to requests for subsidies
from Member States.

4. Carrying out the actions

The actions to be taken may be funded by service contracts
following calls for tender or by subsidies for joint financing with
other sources. In the latter case, the level of financial assistance by
the Commission may not exceed, as a general rule, 80 % of the
expenditure actually incurred by the recipient.

The actions to be taken may be funded by service contracts
following calls for tender or by subsidies for joint financing with
other sources. In the latter case, the level of financial assistance by
the Commission may not exceed, as a general rule, 80 % of the
expenditure actually incurred by the recipient. However, core
funding for European networks under Strand 3.1 may exceptionally,
when justified by their financial situation, amount to 90 % of their
running costs.

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INITIAL PROPOSAL

AMENDED PROPOSAL

the Commission may require
In carrying out
additional
experts. These
recourse
requirements will be decided in the context of the Commission’s
ongoing assessment of resource allocation.

the programme,
including

resources,

to

Unchanged

In carrying out the programme, the Commission may have recourse
to technical and/or administrative assistance, to the mutual benefit
of the Commission and of the beneficiaries, related to identification,
preparation, management, monitoring, audit and control.

The Commission may also undertake information, publication and
dissemination actions. It may also undertake evaluation studies and
organise seminars, colloquia or other meetings of experts.

The Commission will prepare annual work plans setting out the
priorities and actions to be undertaken. Moreover,
it will also
specify the arrangements and criteria to be applied in selecting
and financing actions under this programme. In so doing, it will
seek the opinion of the Committee mentioned in Article 7.

Actions undertaken will
protection.

fully respect

the principles of data