Decision No 1672/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 establishing a Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity — Progress
Date: 2006-10-24
Institutions: Council of the European Union, European Parliament
Subjects: EU programme, European Employment Strategy, anti-discriminatory measure, gender equality, social integration, social security, working conditions

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I

(Acts whose publication is obligatory)

DECISION No 1672/2006/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

establishing a Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity — Progress

of 24 October 2006

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu-
nity, and in particular Articles 13(2), 129 and 137(2)(a) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and
Social Committee (1),

Having regard to the opinion of
Regions (2),

the Committee of

the

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251
of the Treaty (3),

Whereas:

(1)

The Lisbon European Council of 23 and 24 March 2000
incorporated the promotion of employment and social
inclusion as an integral part of the overall strategy of the
Union in order to achieve its strategic goal for the next
decade of becoming the most competitive and dynamic
knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of
sustainable economic growth, with more and better jobs
and greater social cohesion. It set ambitious objectives and
targets for the Union aiming to recreate the conditions for
full employment, improve quality and productivity at work,
and promote social cohesion and an inclusive labour
market. Furthermore, the strategy was focused upon again
by the Brussels European Council of 22 and 23 March
2005.

(2)

In line with the Commission's express
intention of
consolidating and rationalising Community funding instru-
this Decision should establish a single and
ments,

(1) OJ C 255, 14.10.2005, p. 67.
(2) OJ C 164, 5.7.2005, p. 48.
(3) Opinion of the European Parliament of 6 September 2005 (OJ
C 193 E, 17.8.2006, p. 99), Council Common Position of 18 July
2006 (OJ C 238 E, 3.10.2006, p. 31) and Position of the European
Parliament of 27 September 2006 (not yet published in the Official
Journal).

streamlined programme providing for the continuation and
development of the activities launched on the basis of
Council Decision 2000/750/EC of 27 November 2000
establishing a Community action programme to combat
discrimination (2001 to 2006) (4), Council Decision 2001/
51/EC of 20 December 2000 establishing a Programme
relating to the Community framework strategy on gender
equality (2001-2005) (5) and European Parliament and
Council Decisions No 50/2002/EC (6) of 7 December 2001
establishing a programme of Community action to
encourage cooperation between Member States to combat
social exclusion, No 1145/2002/EC (7) of 10 June 2002 on
Community incentive measures in the field of employment
and No 848/2004/EC (8) of 29 April 2004 establishing a
Community action programme to promote organisations
active at European level in the field of equality between men
and women, as well as those activities undertaken at
Community level in relation to working conditions.

(3)

The Extraordinary European Council on Employment in
Luxembourg of 20 and 21 November 1997 launched the
European Employment Strategy to coordinate Mem-
ber States' employment policies on the basis of commonly
agreed employment guidelines and recommendations. The
European Employment Strategy is now the most important
instrument at European level for implementation of the
employment and labour market objectives of the Lisbon
Strategy.

(4)

The Lisbon European Council concluded that the number
of people living below the poverty line and in social
exclusion in the Union was unacceptable and therefore
deemed it necessary to take steps to make decisive progress
in the eradication of poverty by setting adequate objectives.

(4) OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 23.
(5) OJ L 17, 19.1.2001, p. 22. Decision as amended by Decision

No 1554/2005/EC (OJ L 255, 30.9.2005, p. 9).

(6) OJ L 10, 12.1.2002, p. 1. Decision as last amended by Decision

No 786/2004/EC (OJ L 138, 30.4.2004, p. 7).

(7) OJ L 170, 29.6.2002, p. 1. Decision as amended by Decision

No 786/2004/EC.

(8) OJ L 157, 30.4.2004, p. 18. Decision as amended by Decision

No 1554/2005/EC.

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Such objectives were agreed by the Nice European Council
of 7, 8 and 9 December 2000. It further agreed that policies
for combating social exclusion should be based on the open
method of coordination, combining national action plans
and a Commission initiative for cooperation.

(5) Demographic change represents a major long-term chal-
lenge to the ability of social protection systems to deliver
adequate pensions and high-quality health and long-term
care which are accessible to all and can be funded in the
long term. It is important to promote policies that can
achieve both adequate social protection and the sustain-
ability of social protection systems. The Lisbon European
Council decided that cooperation in this area should be
based on the open method of coordination.

(6) Attention should be drawn to the specific situation of
migrants in this context and also to the importance of
taking action to transform undeclared work into regular
employment.

(7)

Ensuring minimum standards and the constant improve-
ment of working conditions in the Union is a central
feature of European social policy and an important overall
objective of the European Union. The Community has an
important role to play in supporting and complementing
Member States' activities in the fields of workers' health and
safety, working conditions, including the need to reconcile
work and family life, protection of workers where their
employment contract is terminated, information, consult-
ation and participation of workers, and representation and
collective defence of the interests of workers and employers.

(8) Non-discrimination is a fundamental principle of

the
European Union. Article 13 of the Treaty provides for
action to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or
ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual
orientation. Non-discrimination is
also enshrined in
Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the
European Union. The specific features of the diverse forms
of discrimination should be accommodated, and appro-
priate action developed in parallel to prevent and combat
discrimination on one or more grounds. Therefore, when
considering the accessibility and results of the Programme,
the particular needs of people with disabilities should be
taken into account in terms of ensuring their full and equal
access to the activities funded by this Programme and the
results and evaluation of those activities,
including the
compensation of additional costs that they incur as a result
of their disability. Experience gained over many years of
combating certain forms of discrimination,
including
discrimination based on sex, may be useful in combating
other kinds of discrimination.

in,

ethnic origin (1)
inter alia, employment, vocational
training, education, goods and services and social protec-
tion, Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000
establishing a general framework for equal treatment in
employment and occupation (2) which prohibits discrimin-
ation in employment and occupation on the grounds of
religion or belief, disability, age and sexual orientation, and
Directive 2004/113/EC of 13 December 2004 implement-
ing the principle of equal treatment between men and
women in the access
to and supply of goods and
services (3).

(10) Pursuant to Articles 2 and 3 of the Treaty equal treatment
for men and women is a fundamental principle of
Community law. The directives and other acts adopted on
the basis of this principle play a major part in improving
the situation of women in the Union. Experience of action
at Community level has shown that promoting gender
equality in Community policies and combating discrimin-
ation in practice call for a combination of instruments,
including legislation,
funding tools and mainstreaming,
designed to complement one another. In accordance with
the principle of equality between men and women, gender
mainstreaming should be promoted in all sections and
activities of the Programme.

(11) Many non-governmental organisations (NGOs) active at
various levels can make an important contribution at
European level
in
changing policy orientations
relating to the general
objectives of the Programme.

through key networks which assist

(12) Since the objectives of this Decision cannot be sufficiently
achieved at Member States level because of the need for
information at European level and the
exchange of
Community-wide dissemination of good practice and since
therefore these objectives can, by reason of the multilateral
dimension of the Community actions and measures, be
better achieved at Community level, the Community may
in accordance with the principle of
adopt measures
subsidiarity as set out
In
accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out
in that Article, this Decision does not go beyond what is
necessary to achieve those objectives.

in Article 5 of

the Treaty.

(13) This Decision lays down, for the entire duration of the
Programme, a financial envelope constituting the prime
reference, within the meaning of point 37 of
the
Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the
European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on
budgetary discipline and sound financial management (4),
for the budgetary authority during the annual budgetary
procedure.

(14) The measures necessary for the implementation of this
Decision should be adopted in accordance with Council

(9) On the basis of Article 13 of the Treaty, the Council has
adopted the following directives: Directive 2000/43/EC of
29 June 2000 implementing the principle of equal
treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic
origin which prohibits discrimination based on racial or

(1) OJ L 180, 19.7.2000, p. 22.
(2) OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 16.
(3) OJ L 373, 21.12.2004, p. 37.
(4) OJ C 139, 14.6.2006, p. 1.

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Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the
procedures
implementing powers
the exercise of
conferred on the Commission (1).

for

(f)

to boost the capacity of key European level networks to
promote, support and further develop Community policies
and objectives, where applicable.

(15) As the Programme is divided into five sections, Member
States may provide for the rotation of
their national
representatives according to the subjects addressed by the
Committee assisting the Commission,

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Establishment and duration of the Programme

to support

1. This Decision establishes the Community Programme for
Employment and Social Solidarity, called Progress (the Pro-
gramme),
the
objectives of the European Union in the fields of employment
and social affairs, as set out in the Commission Communication
on the Social Agenda, and thereby contribute to the achievement
of the Lisbon Strategy goals in those fields.

financially the implementation of

2. Gender mainstreaming shall be promoted in all sections of
and activities under the Programme.

3. The results achieved in the Programme sections and
activities shall be disseminated to those involved and to the
public as appropriate. The Commission shall conduct exchanges
of views with the main stakeholders as appropriate.

Article 3

Structure of the Programme

The Programme shall be divided into the following five sections:

1.

Employment;

2.

Social protection and inclusion;

2. The Programme shall
31 December 2013.

run from 1 January 2007 to

3. Working conditions;

Article 2

4.

Antidiscrimination and diversity;

General objectives

5.

Gender equality.

1. The Programme pursues the following general objectives:

to improve the knowledge and understanding of
the
situation prevailing in the Member States and in other
participating countries through analysis, evaluation and
close monitoring of policies;

Article 4

Section 1: Employment

Section 1 shall support the implementation of the European
Employment Strategy (EES) by:

to support the development of statistical tools and methods
and common indicators, where appropriate broken down
in the areas covered by the
by gender and age group,
Programme;

(a)

improving the understanding of the employment situation
and prospects, in particular through analysis and studies
and the development of statistics and common indicators
within the framework of the EES;

to support and monitor the implementation of Community
law, where applicable, and Community policy objectives in
the Member States, and assess their effectiveness and
impact;

to promote networking, mutual learning, identification and
dissemination of good practice and innovative approaches
at European level;

to enhance awareness of
the Community policies and
objectives pursued under each of its five sections among
stakeholders and the general public;

(1) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23. Decision as amended by Decision 2006/

512/EC (OJ L 200, 22.7.2006, p. 11).

(b) monitoring and evaluating the implementation of

the
European Employment Guidelines and Recommendations
and their impact, notably through the Joint Employment
Report, and analysing the interaction between the EES and
general economic and social policy and other policy areas;

(c)

(d)

organising exchanges on policies, good practice and
innovative approaches, and promoting mutual learning in
the context of the EES;

raising awareness, disseminating information and promot-
ing the debate about employment challenges and policies
and the implementation of national reform programmes,
including among the social partners, regional and local
actors and other stakeholders.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

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Article 5

Section 2: Social protection and inclusion

(d)

raising awareness, disseminating information and promot-
ing the debate about the key challenges and policy issues in
relation to working conditions, including among the social
partners and other stakeholders.

Section 2 shall support the implementation of the open method
of coordination (OMC)
in the field of social protection and
inclusion by:

(a)

social exclusion and
improving the understanding of
poverty issues, social protection and inclusion policies, in
particular through analysis and studies and the develop-
ment of statistics and common indicators, within the
framework of the OMC in the field of social protection and
inclusion;

(b) monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the OMC
in the field of social protection and inclusion and its impact
at national and Community level as well as analysing the
interaction between this OMC and other policy areas;

(c)

(d)

organising exchanges on policies, good practice and
innovative approaches and promoting mutual learning in
the context of the social protection and inclusion strategy;

raising awareness, disseminating information and promot-
ing the debate about the key challenges and policy issues
raised in the context of
the Community coordination
process in the field of social protection and inclusion,
including among the social partners, regional and local
actors, NGOs and other stakeholders;

Article 7

Section 4: Antidiscrimination and diversity

Section 4 shall support the effective implementation of the
principle of non-discrimination and promote its mainstreaming
in all Community policies by:

(a)

(b)

(c)

improving the understanding of the situation in relation to
discrimination, in particular through analysis and studies
and, where appropriate, the development of statistics and
indicators as well as by assessing the effectiveness and
impact of existing legislation, policies and practices;

supporting the
implementation of Community anti-
discrimination legislation through effective monitoring,
the holding of seminars for those working in the field and
networking amongst specialised bodies dealing with anti-
discrimination;

raising awareness, disseminating information and promot-
ing the debate about the key challenges and policy issues in
relation to discrimination and the mainstreaming of anti-
discrimination in all Community policies, including among
the social partners, NGOs and other stakeholders;

(e)

developing the capacity of key European level networks to
support and further develop Community policy goals and
strategies on social protection and inclusion.

(d)

developing the capacity of key European level networks to
promote and further develop Community policy goals and
strategies in the field of combating discrimination.

Article 6

Section 3: Working conditions

Article 8

Section 5: Gender equality

Section 3 shall support
environment and working conditions,
safety at work and reconciling work and family life, by:

the improvement of

the working
including health and

improving the understanding of the situation in relation to
in particular through analysis and
working conditions,
studies and, where appropriate,
the development of
statistics and indicators, as well as assessing the effective-
ness and impact of existing legislation, policies and
practices;

(a)

(b)

Section 5 shall support the effective implementation of the
principle of gender equality and promote gender mainstreaming
in all Community policies by:

(a)

improving the understanding of the situation in relation to
gender issues and gender mainstreaming,
in particular
through analysis and studies and the development of
statistics and, where appropriate,
indicators, as well as
assessing the effectiveness and impact of existing legislation,
policies and practices;

supporting the implementation of Community labour law
through effective monitoring, the holding of seminars for
those working in the field, the development of guides and
networking amongst specialised bodies, including the social
partners;

(b)

supporting the implementation of Community gender
equality legislation through effective monitoring, holding
seminars for those working in the field and networking
amongst specialised equality bodies;

(c)

initiating preventive actions and fostering the prevention
culture in the field of health and safety at work;

(c)

raising awareness, disseminating information and promot-
ing the debate about the key challenges and policy issues in

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relation to gender equality and gender mainstreaming,
among the social partners, NGOs and other stakeholders;

(c)

Support for main actors:

(d)

developing the capacity of key European level networks to
support and further develop Community policy goals and
strategies on gender equality.

Article 9

Types of actions

1. The Programme shall finance the following types of actions,
which may be implemented, where appropriate, within a
transnational framework:

(i)

support for the running costs of those key European
level networks whose activities are linked to imple-
mentation of the objectives of the Programme;

(ii)

organisation of working groups of national officials to
monitor the implementation of Community law;

(iii)

funding of specialised seminars addressed to those
working in the field, key officials and other relevant
actors;

(iv) networking among specialised bodies at European

level;

(a) Analytical activities:

(v)

funding of experts' networks;

(i)

collection, development and dissemination of data
and statistics;

(ii)

development and dissemination of common meth-
odologies and, where appropriate,
indicators or
benchmarks;

(iii)

carrying out of studies, analyses and surveys and
dissemination of their results;

(iv)

carrying out of evaluations and impact assessments
and dissemination of their results;

(v)

elaboration and publication of guides, reports and
educational material via the Internet or other media.

(b) Mutual learning, awareness and dissemination activities:

(vi)

funding of European level observatories;

(vii) exchange of personnel between national administra-

tions;

(viii) cooperation with international institutions.

2. The activities provided for in point (b) of paragraph 1 shall
have a strong European dimension, be of an appropriate scale in
order to ensure a real European added value and be carried out
by national, regional or local authorities, specialised bodies
provided for under Community law or actors considered to be
the key players in their area.

3. The Programme shall not finance any measures for the
preparation and implementation of European Years.

Article 10

Access to the Programme

(i)

identification of, and exchanges on, good practices,
innovative approaches and experiences, and organisa-
tion of peer review and mutual learning, by means of
meetings/workshops/seminars at European,
trans-
national or national
taking account, where
possible, of specific national circumstances;

level,

1. Access to the Programme shall be open to all public and/or
private bodies, actors and institutions, in particular:

(a) Member States;

(b)

public employment services and their agencies;

(ii)

organisation of Presidency conferences/seminars;

(c)

local and regional authorities;

(iii) organisation of conferences/seminars in support of
the development and implementation of Community
law and policy objectives;

(e)

the social partners;

(d)

specialised bodies provided for under Community law;

(iv) organisation of media campaigns and events;

(f) NGOs, in particular those organised at European level;

(g)

higher education institutions and research institutes;

(v)

compilation and publication of materials to dissem-
inate information as well as results of the Programme.

(h)

experts in evaluation;

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(i)

(j)

national statistical offices;

the media.

(f)

the criteria for evaluating the Programme, including those
relating to cost effectiveness and the arrangements for
disseminating and transferring results.

2. The Commission may also directly participate in the
Programme insofar as the activities provided for in points (a)
and (b) of Article 9(1) are concerned.

this
2. The measures necessary for the implementation of
Decision that relate to all matters other than those referred to in
paragraph 1 shall be adopted in accordance with the procedure
referred to in Article 13(3).

Article 11

Method of application for support

1. Activities of the type referred to in Article 9 may be financed
by:

(a)

(b)

a service contract following a call for tenders, in which case
the Eurostat procedures shall apply in respect of cooper-
ation with national statistical offices;

partial support following a call for proposals, in which case,
the Community co-financing may not exceed, as a general
rule, 80 % of
the total expenditure incurred by the
recipient. Any financial support in excess of this ceiling
may be granted only in exceptional circumstances and after
close scrutiny.

2. Activities of the type provided for in Article 9(1) may be
granted financial support in response to requests by, for example,
Member States,
in accordance with relevant provisions of
Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June
2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general
budget of the European Communities (1), in particular Article 110
thereof, and Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/
2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the
implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/
2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general
budget of
in
Article 168 thereof.

the European Communities (2),

in particular

Article 12

Implementing provisions

1. The measures necessary for the implementation of
this
Decision that relate to the following matters shall be adopted in
accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 13(2):

(a)

(b)

the general guidelines for
Programme;

the implementation of

the

the annual work programme for the implementation of the
Programme, divided into separate sections;

(c)

the financial support to be granted by the Community;

(d)

the annual budget, subject to Article 17;

(e)

the procedures for selecting the actions to be supported by
the Community and the draft list of actions to receive such
support submitted by the Commission;

(1) OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by
Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1248/2006 (OJ L 227, 19.8.2006, p. 3).

Article 13

Committee

1. The Commission shall be assisted by a Committee.

2. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 4 and 7
of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the
provisions of Article 8 thereof.

The period laid down in Article 4(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC
shall be set at two months.

3. Where reference is made to this paragraph, Articles 3 and 7
of Decision 1999/468/EC shall apply, having regard to the
provisions of Article 8 thereof.

4. The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure.

Article 14

Cooperation with other committees

1. The Commission shall establish the necessary links with the
Social Protection Committee and the Employment Committee in
they are regularly and appropriately
order
informed about the implementation of activities referred to in
this Decision.

to ensure that

2. The Commission shall also inform other relevant commit-
tees of
the
Programme.

the action taken under

the five sections of

3. Where appropriate, the Commission shall establish regular
and structured cooperation between the Committee referred to
in Article 13 and the monitoring committees established for
other relevant policies, instruments and actions.

Article 15

Consistency and complementarity

1. The Commission shall,
in cooperation with the Member
States, ensure overall consistency with other Union and
Community policies, instruments and actions, in particular by
establishing appropriate mechanisms to coordinate the activities
of the Programme with relevant activities relating to research,
justice and home affairs, culture, education, training and youth
policy, and in the fields of enlargement and the Community's
external relations, and with regional policy and general economic
policy. Special attention shall be devoted to the possible synergies
between this Programme and those in the field of education and
training.

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2. The Commission and the Member States shall ensure
consistency and complementarity and the absence of duplication
between activities under the Programme and other relevant
Union and Community actions,
the
Structural Funds, especially the European Social Fund.

in particular under

3. The Commission shall ensure that expenditure covered by
and charged to the Programme is not charged to any other
Community financial instrument.

4. The Commission shall keep the Committee referred to in
Article 13 regularly informed of other Community action that
contributes to achieving the Lisbon strategy goals in the field of
the Social Agenda.

5. Member States shall make all possible efforts to ensure
consistency and complementarity between activities under the
Programme and those carried out at national, regional and local
levels.

Article 16

Participation of third countries

The Programme shall be open to the participation of:

— the EFTA/EEA countries in accordance with the conditions

established in the EEA Agreement,

— the accession and candidate countries associated to the
European Union, as well as the western Balkan countries
included in the stabilisation and association process.

Article 17

Financing

1. The financial envelope for implementing the Community
activities referred to in this Decision for
the period from
1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013 is hereby set at
EUR 657 590 000 (*).

2. Over the entire period of the Programme, the financial
breakdown between the different sections shall respect
the
following lower limits:

Section 1

Employment

Section 2

Social protection and inclusion

Section 3

Working conditions

Section 4

Antidiscrimination and diversity

Section 5

Gender equality

23 %

30 %

10 %

23 %

12 %

3. A maximum of 2 % of
the financial envelope shall be
attributed to the implementation of the Programme to cover, for
example,
the
Committee referred to in Article 13 or the evaluations carried
out pursuant to Article 19.

the expenditure related to the functioning of

4. The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the
budgetary authority within the limits of the financial framework.

5. The Commission may have recourse to technical and/or
administrative assistance, to the mutual benefit of the Commis-
sion and of the beneficiaries, as well as to support expenditure.

Article 18

Protection of the Community's financial interests

fraud, corruption and any other

1. The Commission shall ensure that, when actions financed
under this Decision are implemented, the financial interests of
the Community are protected by the application of preventive
measures against
illegal
activities, by effective checks and by the recovery of the amounts
irregularities are detected, by effective,
if
unduly paid and,
proportional and dissuasive penalties,
in accordance with
Council Regulations (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December
1995 on the protection of the European Communities financial
interests (1) and (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November
1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections carried out
by the Commission in order to protect the European Commu-
nities' financial interests against fraud and other irregularities (2),
and with Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parlia-
ment and of
the Council of 25 May 1999 concerning
investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office
(OLAF) (3).

For Community actions financed under this Decision, the
2.
notion of irregularity referred to in Article 1(2) of Regulation
(EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 shall mean any infringement of a
provision of Community law or any breach of a contractual
obligation resulting from an act or omission by an economic
operator, which has, or would have, the effect of prejudicing the
general budget of the European Union or budgets managed by it,
by an unjustified item of expenditure.

3. Contracts and agreements as well as agreements with
participating third countries resulting from this Decision shall
provide, in particular, for supervision and financial control by the
Commission (or any representative authorised by it) and audits
by the Court of Auditors, if necessary, on the spot.

Article 19

Monitoring and evaluation

1.
In order to ensure the regular monitoring of the Programme
and to allow for any necessary reorientations, annual activity
reports focusing on the results of the Programme shall be drawn
up by the Commission and forwarded to the European
Parliament and to the Committee referred to in Article 13.

2. The various sections of the Programme shall also be the
subject of a mid-term evaluation, which will provide an overview

(*) This amount is based on 2004 figures and shall be subject to

technical adjustment to take account of inflation.

(1) OJ L 312, 23.12.1995, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2.
(3) OJ L 136, 31.5.1999, p. 1.

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of the Programme as a whole in order to measure the progress
made in meeting the objectives of the Programme, the efficiency
of the use of resources and its European added value. This
evaluation may be supplemented by on-going evaluations. These
shall be carried out by the Commission with the assistance of
external experts. When available, their results shall be reported in
the activity reports referred to in paragraph 1.

3. An ex-post evaluation covering the whole Programme shall
be carried out, by 31 December 2015, by the Commission with
the assistance of external experts, in order to measure the impact
of the Programme objectives and its European added value. The
Commission shall submit the expert evaluation to the European
Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social
Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

4. The implementation of
the
Programme, including the presentation of results and dialogue

the individual sections of

on future priorities, shall also be discussed within the framework
of the Forum on the implementation of the Social Agenda.

Article 20

Entry into force

This Decision shall enter into force on the 20th day following its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Strasbourg, 24 October 2006.

For the European Parliament

For the Council

The President

The President

J. BORRELL FONTELLES

P. LEHTOMÄKI