WRITTEN QUESTION E-2242/01 by Mikko Pesälä (ELDR) and Samuli Pohjamo (ELDR) to the Commission. Duration and development of the EU structural funds' employment policy programmes.
Date: 2001-07-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU employment policy, Structural Funds, aid to undertakings, eligibility criteria, job creation, job preservation

C 81 E/136

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

Those responsible for implementing projects often regard the bureaucracy as excessive. However, they do
not posses sufficient information and/or skill to create standardised assessment instruments themselves.

If quality criteria are adopted at monitoring level, this may (cid:129) thanks to more precise assessment (cid:129)
improve the final result of the project. In the same way these criteria can improve the delimitation of
projects and, at a later stage, the exploitation of the results.

What does the Commission propose to do in terms of creating both assessment instruments and quality
indicators?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(12 October 2001)

Monitoring, evaluation and control are essential elements of the management of programmes supported by
the European Union under the Structural Funds. The regulatory requirements in these fields have been
strengthened in successive programming periods.

For the 1994-1999 period, programming documents contain monitoring indicators, at programme, sub-
programme and measure level. Information on these indicators is either gathered at project level or at a
more aggregated level (in particular macro-economic indicators). The indicators are, in general, established
at regional or national level rather than at Community level because of the diversity of actions undertaken
across regions and Member States. The assessment of the effectiveness and impact of Structural Fund
interventions must also take account of the contexts in which they take place, and it is therefore
considered inappropriate for the Commission to impose uniform indicators and methodologies to every
situation.

For the current period, 2000-2006, the requirements have been reinforced, notably in the Council
Regulation (EC) no1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds, in
particular in Article 36 (monitoring), chapter III (evaluation) and chapter IV (the performance reserve).

The Commission has also taken practical steps to improve the quality of monitoring, evaluation and
control.

For example:

(cid:129) Working documents and evaluation handbooks have been developed. These provide methodological
guidance on developing appropriate indicators and on how to measure the effectiveness and impact of
expenditure;

(cid:129) The organisation of exchanges of experiences between implementing authorities via seminars and
regular meetings. These events address both evaluation experts and operational managers of
programmes;

(cid:129) Advice and support for the authorities in the Member States in the preparation of the programmes.

These activities cover all sectors, including employment, social affairs and health. The work in this field is
ongoing and the Commission will continue to seek to introduce improvements in the years ahead.

(2002/C 81 E/162)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2242/01

by Mikko Pes(cid:228)l(cid:228) (ELDR) and Samuli Pohjamo (ELDR) to the Commission

(26 July 2001)

Subject: Duration and development of the EU structural funds(cid:146) employment policy programmes

Structural fund actions take the form of individual projects. A common problem with employment
projects, for example, is that they have only a limited capacity to create permanent jobs. The duration of
the projects should be extended in order to obtain lasting results.

4.4.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/137

Sometimes it is possible by means of national funding to keep projects going for some time and thus to
improve the result. Generally, however, local authorities(cid:146) funding opportunities are limited.

It might therefore be useful for any aid to businesses to come with an employment requirement attached.

Even though the implementation of structural fund actions is the responsibility of the Member State, the
Commission ought to take up a position on this matter.

What does the Commission propose to do to improve the results of projects, inter alia from the point of
view of employment levels?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(10 October 2001)

The creation and maintenance of employment in the regions of the Community, both directly and
indirectly, is one of the principal aims of the programmes supported by the European Union under the
Structural Funds. The conditionality of support on the number jobs created, and the optimum duration of
projects, are, as the Honourable Members suggest, important considerations. But it is important that these
considerations are adapted to the different fields of intervention under the Structural Funds, respectively,
productive investment, infrastructure and training.

One of the principal vehicles for job creation under the Structural Funds is through the support given to
productive investment, especially to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Commission(cid:146)s
evaluation of the impact of the Structural Funds on SMEs, completed in 1999, found that between 1994
and 1999 2,3 million gross jobs were created or 2 million jobs in net terms. Where possible, support is
linked to new jobs created. However, such an approach cannot be universally applied, for example, in
circumstances where support
is granted in order to improving competitiveness of SMEs through
encouraging innovation or improving the skills of the workforce.

Support for infrastructure investment is also a major priority under the Structural Funds, especially in the
Objective 1 regions (least developed areas). The employment directly associated with this investment is by
definition of short duration, linked to the construction phase. At the same time, the existence of transport,
telecommunications and energy infrastructures is essential for the long-term competitiveness and for the
sustainability of employment in any region.

With regard to training supported under the European Social Fund (ESF), actions are aimed at job creation
and to the realisation of the priorities contained in the European Employment Strategy. The Strategy is
designed to support greater employability, entrepreneurship, workforce adaptability and equal oppor-
tunities as part of general effort to create permanent jobs. In practice, there are considerable variations in
the duration of the actions supported by the ESF. These variations, which reflect the pattern of projects
selected for support by the partners on the ground, generally aim to take account of the very different
needs of social groups concerned.

The Commission remains open to any suggestion, which could help to raise the effectiveness of its efforts
under the Structural Funds with regard to employment creation.

(2002/C 81 E/163)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2244/01

by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(26 July 2001)

Subject: Construction of the A73 South

Construction of the controversial eastern section of the A73 South highway is apparently being delayed by
measures to protect species of animals0 and plants in the area. Reports in the Dutch media suggest that an