Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the ‘Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on establishing the guidelines for the second round of the Community Initiative EQUAL concerning transnational cooperation to promote new means of combating all forms of discrimination and inequalities in connection with the labour market “Free movement of good ideas”’
Date: 2004-06-16
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: EU employment policy, EU initiative, Roma, anti-discriminatory measure, equal treatment, trafficking in human beings

22.12.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 318/15

the European Parliament,

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the ‘Communication from the Commission to the
Council,
the European Economic and Social Committee and the
Committee of the Regions on establishing the guidelines for the second round of the Community
Initiative EQUAL concerning transnational cooperation to promote new means of combating all
forms of discrimination and inequalities in connection with the labour market “Free movement of
good ideas”’

(2004/C 318/04)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

Having regard to the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the
European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on establishing the guide-
lines for the second round of the Community Initiative EQUAL concerning transnational cooperation to
promote new means of combating all forms of discrimination and inequalities in connection with the
labour market: ‘Free movement of good ideas’ COM(2003) 840 final,

Having regard to the decision of the European Commission of 5 January 2004 to consult it on this subject,
under the first paragraph of Article 265 of the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to the decision of its President of 6 November 2003 to instruct its Commission for
Economic and Social Policy to draw up an opinion on this subject,

Having regard to its draft opinion (CdR 96/2004 rev. 1) adopted on 30 April 2004, by the Commission
for Economic and Social Policy (rapporteur: Cllr Peter Moore, Sheffield City Council (UK/ELDR)),

adopted the following opinion unanimously at its 55th Plenary Session of 16 and 17 June 2004 (meeting
of 16 June).

1. Comments

The Committee of the Regions

1.1
considers that EQUAL is one of the most important
instruments for generating and disseminating innovation in the
field of employment and social policy;

1.2
stresses that local authorities have strongly supported
EQUAL from its inception, as it presents a significant opportu-
nity for the improvement and further development of social
and employment policies at local and regional levels. Local and
regional authorities also endorse the partnership approach of
EQUAL which is in line with principles of good governance;

of all European citizens. Local and regional authorities have a
crucial role to play in addressing the issues that face Roma
people, a fact recognised by representatives of European Roma
organisations themselves;

stresses also the important phenomenon of trafficking of
1.5
children and women; believes that local and regional authorities
have a vital role in promoting community wellbeing and must
address the personal (e.g. victim support) and social (e.g. crime
prevention) consequences of trafficking in human beings and
this aspect of the sex industry, in this connection, stresses the
need for local and regional authorities to be duly allocated the
necessary funds and resources;

believes that local and regional authorities have to be
1.6
seen as key partners in implementing EQUAL and main-
streaming its results.

1.3
considers that the mainstreaming of innovative technol-
ogies, and the development of practical approaches and long-
term competences should be key objectives; believes that
results should not be isolated from mainstream practices, but
should be linked to them in order to add new dimensions and
enhance effectiveness. Local and regional authorities can help
to embed new practices in the local systems of service provi-
sion and local policy networks;

2. Recommendations

The Committee of the Regions

1.4
stresses that the issue of the Roma people is of particu-
lar relevance and importance to local and regional authorities.
With enlargement they will be the largest distinctive ethnic
minority group on the European Union. Despite a 700 year
history of living within the boundaries of the EU the Roma
remain probably one of the most discriminated against group

2.1
welcomes the introduction of a confirmation step for
Action 2; recommends that Action 3 activity (dissemination
and mainstreaming) could be integrated in the same way in
order to assist in addressing match-funding problems as Action
3 activity does not in itself have many of the types of outputs
which funders are generally looking for (i.e. direct activity
supporting beneficiaries);

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Official Journal of the European Union

22.12.2004

2.2
welcomes the opportunity to broaden partnerships to
work with accession states — financial regulations hindered
some of the potential for this in the first round;

beginning at the same time to ensure they are effective partner-
ships. This was not the case in the first round. The Commis-
sion's re-statement of the importance of this is welcome;

considers that

2.3
in experimenting more in protection
against unemployment, quality of employment, and direct job
creation, Development Partnerships should be encouraged to
look at experience and any best practice from round 1 — in
particular any lessons learnt, where approaches have not been
successful;

2.4
stresses the importance of retaining workers longer in
employment — the Commission's acknowledgement of this is
welcome in view of ageing populations generally, but also in
relation to areas with a tradition of heavy industry where many
older workers have had to, or still need to, re-train to secure
work in service sector and other industries;

2.5
considers that it is important to acknowledge the diffi-
to promote diversity, but
culty of
encourages learning from best practice developed under round
1 across Member States;

engaging employers

2.6
welcomes the support that will be given to address the
emerging challenges of the problems facing the Roma people
and the victims of trafficking; considers that these and other
emerging challenges EU-wide should be addressed within the
appropriate context locally, regionally and nationally, and do
not impact negatively where other groups need to be targeted;

2.7
believes that it is essential that all countries keep to the
same timetable to facilitate the establishment of trans-national
the appropriate time, with delivery periods
partnerships at

Brussels, 16 June 2004.

2.8
welcomes the opportunity to build on the thematic
network group activity at national and at European level in the
2nd round, and expects that the Commission will see increased
benefit from this in the 2nd round, and increased impact. The
concept of thematic network groups developed quite slowly
during the first round. The CoR believes that there is a strong
role for Managing Authorities in supporting Development Part-
nerships to participate, including being pro-active in identifying
key people and policies to maximise the impact of the work
piloted by the Partnerships. Greater integration would be useful
between the thematic network groups, those responsible for
producing Member State and European documents linked to
European Employment Strategy and Social
Inclusion policy.
This would facilitate mainstreaming, which is identified as a
challenge;

2.9
welcomes the proposals on mainstreaming, ensuring
input from EQUAL to policy-makers and Objective 1, 2 and 3
thematic network groups
that
programmes;
should be formally linked into this;

recommends

2.10
considers it important not to lose the benefits of trans-
national working post 2006 in employment field, and therefore
recommends the inclusion of a trans-national element in the
European Commission's proposals for ESF programmes to
replace the current programmes (as well as within the regional
ERDF programme).

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Peter STRAUB