WRITTEN QUESTION E-3576/02 by Herbert Bösch (PSE) to the Commission. Fostering the cross-border mobility of workers — EURES.
Date: 2002-12-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, accession to the European Union, employment service, free movement of workers, frontier region, information network, job access, labour mobility

18.9.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 222 E/89

Commission produced a revised version of the draft contract. The confidentiality clause provides that the
the confidentiality of any information
Commission and the contractors undertake to preserve
communicated to them in relation to the execution of
the project, which has been identified as
confidential in relation to the execution of the project. This and the other aspects relating to confidentiality
are in compliance with the provisions of Swedish law.

(2003/C 222 E/107)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3576/02

by Herbert Bösch (PSE) to the Commission

(13 December 2002)

Subject: Fostering the cross-border mobility of workers (cid:1) EURES

The draft Commission decision implementing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1612/68 (1) in connection with
vacancy clearance contains the following recital: ‘In the light of the experience gained and the most recent
developments in the environment in which EURES operates, the network should be integrated more
effectively into the work of
the Member States’ employment services and the current division of
responsibilities and decision-making procedures should be redrawn’.

As a result of this change, all EURES funding will be allocated to national employment services. No
funding will be set aside specifically for projects in border areas, even though, following the enlargement
in 2004, efforts should focus on such border areas in particular.

How much importance does the European Commission attach to funding for border areas under EURES?
Will the above-mentioned ‘Commission decision’ contain a specific article acknowledging the existence of
the EURES for border areas (EURES-T) and its objectives? If not, why not?

The EU enlargement in 2004 will increase the significance of border areas. How does the Commission
intend to ensure that border areas continue to receive the same volume of funding following the EURES
reform?

Interaction between employment services and the two sides of industry held the key to the successful
implementation of many innovative EURES projects. Can the Commission guarantee that the two sides of
industry will continue to be involved in EURES in the future?

What other forms of aid does the European Commission provide to foster the mobility of workers in
border areas?

(1) OJ L 257, 19.10.1968, p. 2.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(31 January 2003)

Furthering the cross-border mobility of workers in the border regions is an essential component of EURES.
The objectives of EURES, as defined by the new Commission Decision (1), are to promote the development
of European labour markets open and accessible for all, the transnational, interregional and crossborder
exchange of vacancies and job applications, transparency and information exchange on the European
labour markets, including on living conditions and on the opportunities for acquisition of skills, and the
development of methodologies and indicators for this purpose. In line with Regulation (EEC) No 1612/68
of the Council of 15 October 1968 on freedom of movement for workers within the Community the
activities developed within the framework of EURES comprise transnational, cross-border and sectoral
activities. The Commission Decision refers to cross-border activities including the employment services
responsible for border regions and the social partners at various instances. The composition and the main
principles for the future organisation of the EURES cross-border partnerships will be established in the
EURES Charter, that the Commission will adopt in Spring 2003.

C 222 E/90

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

18.9.2003

The objectives of EURES including the cross-border activities in the border regions will be valid also after
enlargement,
in accordance with the accession treaties and taking into consideration the transitional
arrangements for the free movement of persons. Preparation for enlargement is one of the key points in
the EURES workprogramme for 2003. The volume of the budgetary means available for EURES will be
subject to the decision of the budgetary authority also in the future.

The Commission believes that an active participation of the social partners is crucial for the success of
EURES. According to the new Commission Decision on EURES the social partners will be represented at
European level both in the High Level Strategy Group and the Working Party. As it has already been
mentioned above, the main principles for the future organisation of the EURES cross-border partnerships
will be established in the EURES Charter. The Commission proposal foresees that a crossborder partnership
comprises the Public Employment Services together with trades union and employer organisations of all
the regions involved.

Besides EURES, especially Interreg funding is being used for the promotion of worker mobility in the
border regions.

(1) C(2002)5236final.

(2003/C 222 E/108)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3585/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

Subject: Location of the European Maritime Safety Agency

(13 December 2002)

A large part of the intercontinental maritime traffic to and from Europe passes near the Galician coast. The
‘Prestige’ tanker disaster has tragically confirmed that Galicia is, therefore, the area of the world with the
highest relative incidence of accidents of this type. Will the Council now propose locating the European
Maritime Safety Agency in a Galician city? If not, on what grounds? Has any proposal been submitted by
the government of the Spanish state, and has it proposed locating the agency in Galicia?

Reply

(8 May 2003)

The Presidency of the Council made a statement to the European Parliament in December 2002 regarding
action to be taken to reduce the effects of the Prestige disaster. The statement recalled that, at its meeting
on 7, 8 and 9 December 2000 in Nice, the European Council urged an early application by the Member
States of the provisions agreed by the 15 which aimed to improve the European system for reporting and
supplying information on maritime traffic, to establish a European Maritime Safety Agency and to remedy
the inadequacies of the current international system for liability and compensation, where they do not
require an international framework.

The Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the establishment of a European
Agency for Maritime Safety entered into force on 25 August 2002, although it does not include any
provision for the definitive choice of headquarters.

Despite this situation, as laid out in the Regulation the obligation remains to take all necessary measures
for the Agency to be operational within the twelve months following its entry into force. It is planned that
the Agency will be temporarily based in the European Commission buildings in Brussels.

Since committing itself at the Göteborg meeting (15/16 June 2001) to continuing its efforts to come to a
decision on the location of several future organisations, on the understanding that the decision taken in
Edinburgh in 1992 remains in effect, the European Council has welcomed the establishment of this
Agency.