CELEX: 51975PC0172
Language: en
Date: 1975-04-16
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION (EEC) concerning a PROGRAMME OF PILOT SCHIMES AND STUDIES TO COMBAT POVERTY (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
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DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (75) 172
Vol. 1975/0066
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OP THE 5U2.0E2AN COMMUNITIES
                                                           COM(75)172 final
                                                           Brussels . 16 April 1975
                                  PROPOSAL FOR A
                              COUNCIL DECISION (EEC )
                                   concerning a,
             PROGRAMME OF PILOT SCHIMES AND STUDIES TO COMBAT POVERTY
                  ( submitted to the Council "by the Commission)
  C0M(75 ) 172 final
 ---pagebreak---                PROGRAMS OF PILOT SCHEMES AED STUDIES TO COMBAT
                                      POVERTY
                            EXPLANATORY MHSORAIIDIM
             The Council ; in its Resolution of 21 January 1974 concerning a
social action programme , selected nine measures to which it accorded a
priority ; it noted the Commission * s undertaking to submit to it during 1974
the necessary proposals concerning those priorities and it expressed the
political will to adopt the measures necessary to achieve those objectives
during a first stage covering the period from 1974 "to 1976 *
             In the context of improving the living and working conditions
of people in the Community one of the priorities was " The implementation ,
in cooperation with the Member States , of specific measures to combat poverty
by the preparation of pilot schemes ". Furthermore it was decided that " the
Commission would propose , before the end of 1974 > a programme of pilot schemes
to be launched in 1975/76 ".
             In drawing up the programme of pilot schemes , the Commission
consulted with officials from the governments of the Member States and with
representatives of independent social welfare organisations . A working party
representative of a wide range of public ?nd private organisations was formed
which drew up a consultative document . This document was debated at a seminar
convened in Brussels in June 1974 szk! reviewed by the government officials
in September . On the basis of this document a programme of pilot schenes
was drpwn up , approved by the Comniseion and sent to the Council in a
Communication , ( Doc . SEC(74 ) 5225 final ) dated 8 January 1 97 5 •
                         purpoce of the Decision is to set out the types of
schemes and studies to be promoted and the procedures to be followed " to
implement specific measures to combat poverty by drawing up pilot schemes ".
 ---pagebreak---                                    Article 1
Paragraph 1 contains the definition of pilot schemes and studies which may
be promoted , carried out or assisted , in most cases it is envisaged that the
Commission will be granting financial assistance to schemes promoted by the
Member States and/or private organisations , but the possibility is being held
open for the Commission to assist schemes launched on its own initiative .
Pilot schemes are action research projects . They are intended as the major
component of the programme and the two essential features here are that
the schemes should serve populations in or vulnerable to poverty ( thus
being relevant to the objective of combatting poverty) and that they should
be pioneering ventures capable of informing future policy .
Populations "vulnerable " to poverty have been included in the target
populations so as not to exclude schemes which are engaged wholly or
partly in preventive or after care work - e.g. dealing with localities
or categories of the population at risk , such as urban renewal areas or
drug addicts .
Ihe requirement to inform policy means that experiment alone is not enough -
a pilot scheme must show the way to Eome further development . The development
of future policy is the ultimate objective of the programme .
The provision for pilot studies of more fundamental research is included
in recognition of the fact that very little is known of the nature , extent
and dynamics of poverty at the European level . While it is not intended to
wait upon the results of basic research before launching action research
ventures certain basic research is called for alongside the action research
elements of the programme . It is envisaged that the pilot studies will
concentrate mainly on cross-national research and will absorb a small
proportion of total funds .
A basic condition for Community support is that the scheme should provide
for the participation of the individuals or groups served . This of course
applies only to pilot schemes as there is often no definable population
directly served by pilot studies . However , client participation may not be
impossible even in the latter type of scheme - e.g. in the form of advisory
committees - and would be encouraged . Ho precise formulae for participation
are laid down ; each proposal will be judged on its merits .
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 3 -
Schemes of a purely local or national relevance are properly the concern of
local or national organisations . The Commission will address itself to the
support of schemes which tackle problems common to several Member States or
where , even if the problem tackled is not yet common , the results may be of
more than national relevance - e.g. where there is a problem that may develop
elsewhere or where the experience gained by the scheme can perhaps be applied
in other broader fields .
Paragraph 2 . A definition of poverty is an essential corollary to the
definition of a pilot scheme  or study. The definition chosen avoids attempting
an exhaustive list of groups  defined by the apparent causes of their poverty ,
such as unmarried mothers or  the unemployed , and concentrates instead on the
common feature of relative deprivation . The definition focuses on material
deprivation - "income , goods and services " rather than non-material aspects ,
except in so far as the latter are linked with material deprivation .
The standard against which the relative deprivation is measured is to be the
average "ordinary living patterns , customs and activities" in the Member
State concerned . At the moment no attempt is being made to set up a European
poverty standard , although this may be possible in the light of further
research .
                                  Article 2
Paragraph 1 sets out the basis for financial assistance to schemes , which
will be a proportion of the forecast costs subject to adjustment if the
forecast costs exceed actual expenditure . The paragraph sets a fifty per
cent limit for the usual financial participation of the Community . In fact
participation may be less than this . It is also possible that the percentage
support may vary from year to year ; perhaps reducing the Community share
at a pre-determined rate .
In general it is considered advisable that funding should be a partnership
between the Community and the Member States or public or private organisations
within the Member States , so as to give other authorities or organisations
a tangible commitment to the success of the scheme . However a small proportion
of the total funds is to be reserved for "exceptional cases" which the Commission
may wish to support at higher rates . Even under this provision however it is .
envisaged that the Commission would rarely finance 100 per cent of the cost .
 ---pagebreak--- Paragraph 2 describes the types of cases in which assistance of more than
50 % may "be given . Cross-national studies are intended to form part of the
overall programme but to get projects running in parallel in several Member
States might be difficult if the 50 cent limit on Community support were
imposed in each state . Also it is intended that the Commission should reserve
itself a certain margin of freedom to provide "risk capital " in other cases
offering particular benefits .
                                  Article 3
This article gives the Commission the right to collect , use and disseminate
this experience . It also provides for the Commission to run its own evaluation
systems in consultation with those responsible for financing and executing
the scheme . These rights are not exclusive rights , in that they will not
preclude the other bodies concerned from publishing their own reports and
evaluations .
The final sentence is to protect the confidentiality of individuals served
by the scheme , in accordance with professional standards .
                                                                         I
                                  Article 4
Paragraph 1 lays down the role of national governments in the process of
submitting applications .
Paragraph 2 makes any private organisations or local authority eligible to
be considered for Community aid .
Paragraph 3 provides that in the case of schemes which the Commission wishes
to promote on its own initiative , final approval must be obtained from the
national government concerned .
 ---pagebreak---                                   - 5 -
                                Article 5
                     I
Paragraph 1 provides for the establishment of an Advisory Group and
indic<ites its composition .
Paragraph 2 sets out the competence of the Group which is to be very broad .
In particular , it will be concerned with evaluation procedures and relations
between schemes and other interested bodies including public authorities .
This last is inter alia to provide a forum for the settlement of disputes
which may arise .
                                Article 6 .
This provides for a report on the Commission 's activities in this field and
its proposals for future initiatives to be subnitted to the Council and the
European Parliament before the end of 197a * An account of this activity and
the general evolution of anti-poverty policies will be included in the
annual Report on the Development of the Social Situation.
                                Article 7
This provides for the coming into effect of the Decision in accordance
with the usual procedure .
 ---pagebreak---                             BRAFT DECrSXOÎf
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic
Community , and in particular Article 235 thereof ?
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ;
Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament ;
Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee ;
Whereas , pursuant to Article 2 of the Treaty establishing the
European Economic Community , the European Economic Community shall
have as a particular task to promote throughout the Community a
harmonious development of economic activities , a continuous and
balanced expansion , an increase in stability and an accelerated
raising of the standard of living and closer relations between the
States belonging to it ;
Whereas the above objective is inconsistent with the persistence of
pockfets if material ipovetty in -the
Whereas the Heads of State or of Government affirmed at their
conference in Paris in October 1972 that , economic expansion is not
an end in itself but should result in an improvement of the quality
of life as well as of the standard of living and invited the C
Community institutions to draw up a social action programme
providing for concrete measures and the corresponding resources ;
Whereas the Council in ite Resolution of 21 January 1f7^' concerning
a social action programme expressed the political will to achieve
the objectives contained in the programme during a first stage
covering the period 197^ to 1976 ;
Whereas the Council laid down as a priority in the said Resolution
the implementation , in co-operation with the Member States , of
specific measures to combat poverty by drawing up pilot schemes ;
and noted the Commission 's undertaking to submit , during 197^» the
necessary proposal concerning this action ;
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 2 -
Whereas the Commission submitted t6 the Council a Communication
dated 8 January 1975 concerning a programme of pilot schemes and
projects to combat poverty ;
Whereas an action by the Community is necessary to achieve an
objective as dealt with and that such powers cah be found in
Article 235 of the Treaty ;
Whereas it is recognised l>y the Member States as well as by
independent organisations concerned with the problem that a
significant minority of the population, of the Community is in
poverty as is evidenced in particular by the reports submitted to the
Seminar "Action Against Poverty" held by the Commission in
Brussels 2k - 27 June 197^5
Whereas such projects can inform future policies at national and
Community level and be complementary to the other actions of the
Community , in particular those contained in the social action
programme and in the operations of the European Social Fund ;
DECIDES
                                 Article 1
1 . Within the limits of the appropriations allotted for that-
purpose - in the Community budget , the Commission may promote , carry
out or assist :
 - pilot schemes, which'
      ( a ) test out new methods of meeting the needs of persons in or
vulnerable to poverty with the purpose of informing future policies
at the national or Community levels ;
      ( b ), provide for the participation of those served by the schemes ,
both in the operation and , so far as possible , in the planning of
the schemes ;
      ( c ) are of interest to the Community as a whole in that they
deal with problems common to more than one Membbr State or in that
the experience gained by the schemes may be relevant to the
formation of policy at Community level ;      -
  - pilot studies which aim to contribute to the understanding of the
 ---pagebreak---                                          r 3 ~
extent and dynamics of poverty in such a way as to inform future
policies at national and Community levels .
2 . For the purposes .of this Decision.- individuals or families may be
considered in general to be in poverty ; when they have a command of . -
*• .             so deficient that they are excluded from the ordinary
IJ. ■ '-u'£ f.: Sterns , customs and activities of the Member. State in which
they live . By resources is meant cash income , goods and services
both publicly and privately provided .         '              •
                                     Article 2
1 . Community aid shall not , except for operations mentioned in
paragraph 2 of this article , exceed 50% of the actual cost of a
pilot scheme' or study.'
2 . Community aid up to 100$ may be granted in the case of operations
involving more than one Member State which are considered particularly
important - to be carried out or in the case of " operations which are
considered as offering particular benefits to groups which have not
yet attracted adequate outside support.'
                            \ '      Article 3         '  * '
1 . The Commission shall ensure that the person or body responsible
for the pilot scheme or study shall provide regular reports on the
progress of the scheme or study to the Commission with such further
information as the Commission considers necessary . The Commission
shall also conduct such evaluation procedures' as may be determined
in consultation with the; persons or bodies concerned . Such information
and evaluations may be used by the Commission fb^ the purpose of
inter-project and cross-national comparisons and may be published or
made available to third parties at . the discretion of the Commission .
The rights of the- Commission to use such information ^ arid evaluations r
shall not preclude other bodi.eg concerned from collecting and .....
publishing information relating to the pilot schemes and studies .
Notv/ithstanding the above the Commission shall in all cases respect
the anonymity of individuals served by pilot schemes or individuals
providing information for pilot studies .
 ---pagebreak---                                   - 4 -
                               Artide -,                           .  •
1 . Applications for Community aid under this Becision shall be
submitted to the Commission by the jMerober State on whose territory
the scheme, is intended to operate * .              /   , • •>
2 . Any public or private body which is considered PU " 1 -    - 3 f^
'carrying out pilot schemes or studies shall be eligible for such. aid .
3 . The Commission may promote pilot schemes or studies on its own
initiative . Before doing so , it shall obtain the approval of the
Member State on whose territory the operation is to be carried out .
                               Article 5
1 . The Commission shall set up an Advisory Group composed of
representatives of the Governments of the Member States and
independent experts .
2 . The Commission may consult the Advisory Group on any question
which it considers important with regard to the implementation of
this Decision and in particular with regard to the evaluation of the
results of pilot schemes and studies and to questions concerning
co-operation and co-ordination between schemes and studies and the
public and private bodies concerned .
                                Article 6
Before the end of 1976 the Commission shall submit to . the Council
and to the European Parliament a report on its activities concerning
pilot schemes and studies promoted , carried out . or assisted under
this Decision and proposals for future initiatives .
                                Article 7
This Decision shall enter into force on the fifth day following its
publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities . \.