CELEX: 51977PC0442
Language: en
Date: 1977-09-23
Title: Proposal for a Council Decision regarding European Social Fund assistance towards women#Proposal for a Council Regulation concerning operations qualifying for a higher rate of intervention by the European Social Fund. (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (77) 442
Vol. 1977/0141
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 ---pagebreak---   COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                     COM(77)442 final.
                                                     Brussels , 23 September 1977
            Proposal for a Council Decision regarding European Social Fund
            assistance towards women
         Proposal for a Council Regulation concerning operations qualifying -for
         a higher rate of intervention by the European Social Fund
                    ( submitted to the Council by the Commission)
COM(77 ) 442 final
 ---pagebreak---     Proposal for a Council Decision regarding European Social Fund
    assistance towards women
                              EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1 . Under the terms of Article 5 of the Council Decision of 1 February 1971 ,
    the European Social Fund can undertake measures for the absorption or
    reabsorption into an occupation of women aged over 35 " who wish to pursue
    a professional or trade activity for the first time or whose qualifications ,
    after a lapse of time , are no longer those in demand ."
    However , to qualify for assistance from the Fund , this type of operation
    should either be undertaken in less-favoured regions , or should facilitate
    adaptation to the requirements of technical progress in economic sectors
    in difficulty , or be carried out in groups of undertakings forced    to cease ,
    reduce or transform their activity permanently .
    The restrictive nature of these conditions has prevented the Social Fund
    from taking effective action to further the employment of women .
2 . The situation on the labour market - in particular for women , who represent
    36 %   of the working population - is particularly disturbing : of
    5.5 million registered unemployed in April 1977, 2.2 million or 39 X were
    women ; moreover , whereas unemployment amongst   men     has   increased   by
    0.9 %   since April 1976 , unemployment amongst women has increased by almost
    15 % .
    In most member states unemployment is not only affecting young people , but
    equally women who wish take up or return to work usually after a period of
    domestic responsibilities ; these women are gsually over 25 years old .
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 2 -
    One of the main reasons for this situation is the inadequate preparation of
    women for working Life .      Community research into specific problems concerning
    the employment of women shows that between 60 % - 85 % , depending on the
     country concerned , have had no vocational training or do not use their quali­
    fications in their jobs .
    These few data indicate a very serious imbalance in the employment situation
    for women great enough to justify specific Community assistance .
3 . Consequently the Commission , in its memorandum to the Council on the review
    of the European Social Fund , of 23 March 1977 ( 1 ), proposed amending Article 1
    § 2 of Regulation 2396/ 71 laying down the rules for the implementation of
    Article 5 .    This amendment was designed to expand the possibilities for
    granting assistance for women / inter-alia by abolishing the very limitative
    conditions referred to under 1 above .
    The Social Fund Committee , when consulted on this proposal , was also in
    favour of extending possibilities for granting assistance for women .      Several
    members , however , emphasised that a category of workers for whom a series of
    Community instruments and rules exist        was ideally suited to the implementa­
    tion of a specific common measure to improve the balance between supply and
    demand on Community labour markets , as provided for in Article 4 of the
    basic decision ( 2 ).
4 . On examining the Commission 's memorandum to the Council , the European Parlia­
    ment and the Economic and Social Committee stressed the fact that women were
    one of the most vulnerable categories on the labour market and were in favour
    of assistance being extended to improve their position .
    ( 1 ) Doc . COM ( 77 ) 90 final .
    ( 2 ) . Memorandum presented by the Commission to the Council in February 1975
            on equal treatment for men and women ( access to employment and training ,
            advancement and working conditions ).
          . Council Directive of 9 February 1976 on the implementation of the
            principle of equal treatment .
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 3 -
5 . The European Council , at its meeting in Rome on 25 and 26 March 1977, agreed
     that action should be taken to help solve certain problems concerning women 's
     employment . At its meeting in London on 29 and 30 June 1977 it welcomed the
     agreement reached by the Social Affairs Council on 28 June aimed at improving
     the effectiveness of the Social Fund , under this agreement the Commission is
     to submit proposals for Fund assistance for a programme to deal with women 's
     employment problems .
     The " Social Affairs" Council of 28 June 1977 invited the Commission to submit
     a proposal making Fund assistance available to women pursuant to Article 4
     of the Decision of 1 February 1971 ; its power to make this request derives
     from Article 4 § 1 of that Decision , which states that Fund assistance shall
     be authorised "by a specific decision taken by the Council acting by a quali­
     fied majority on a proposal from the Commission , the latter acting either on
     its own initiative or at the request of the Council or of one or more Member
     States ".
6 . In response to the Council 's invitation , the Commission has to prepare a
     draft Council decision . Since the Social Fund is unable to give assistance
     to all the operations required in Member States to solve the problem of
   • women 's employment , the area opened for assistance ought to be limited to
     those actions which do most to remove specific obstacles to the employment
     of women . Thus given the present economic position the aim is not only to
     make a contribution in the fight against women 's unemployment , but also to
     stimulate the introduction of measures which will ensure equal opportunity
     for women in the search for employment .
7. The guidelines mentioned below depart to some extent from the ideas contained
     in the memorandun from the Commission to the Council ; the Commission having
     taken into account discussions on the originaL draft by the various institu­
     tions consulted ; and acting through an intervention under Article 4 of the
     Fund has attempted to outline a specific common measure designed to make
                                                                  • a/ • •
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 4 -
    contribution to solving these problems as described in particular in the
    memorandum on the equal treatment for men and women as regards access to
    employment and training .    Research by the Commission shows that the main
    obstacles to access to vocational training and employment are :
    - inadequacy of guidance and vocational counselling services ,
    - the concentration of women in a limited number of training and employment
       areas ,
    - lack of prospection and placement facilities ,
    - insufficient follow-up at job level .
8 . Taking into consideration the above points , the Commission recommends a pro­
    gramme containing the following provisions :
    a ) Women must be aged over 25 ; since it is from this age that women meet
        the greatest difficulty in finding employment whether they are seeking
        work for the first time or returning after a period of domestic respon-
        sibi lities .
    b ) Training operations ought to be preceded by an induction programme for
        employment ( given at a basic level on life in a company the different job
        prospects offered , etc .) and followed by measures designed to facilitate
        entry into employment at the level appropriate for their qualification .
        The various studies and pilot projects made on the employment of women
        partly financed by the Social Fund bring out the need for this set of
        complementary phases as necessary to ensure a lasting success of the
        training effort undertaken .
                                                              t •/ • •
 ---pagebreak---                                       - 5 -
  9 . To allow this development the Fund should also be able to help finance the
       specialist training of the necessary staff , especially in teaching methods ,
       knowledge of the specific problems of women 's employment and knowledge of
       the jobs and careers open to women apart from the traditional sectors towards
       which they are most often directed .
 10. Article 3 of Council Regulation no . 2396/ 71 , as amended by the Council
       Regulation of          definies the aids for which assistance from the Fund
       may be granted .
11 . Fund    assistance for operations described in this proposal will not involve
      very large financial commitments ; these new operations will only develop
      slowly .  According to a preliminary estimate , expenditure of the order of
      8 million UA is to be expected in 1978.    Subsequent experience will permit
      a more exact assessment of the appropriations required to finance this type
      of measure .
 ---pagebreak---                               - 6 -
Council Decision on intervention by the European Social Fund in favour
of women
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community ,
Having regard to the Council Decision of 1 February 1971 on the reform of the
European Social Fund , as amended by the Council Decision of ... ( 1 ), and in
particular Article 4 thereof ,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament ( 2 ),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee ( 3 ),
Whereas , at its    meeting in Rome on 25 and 26 March 1977, the European Coun-
 ci I agreed " in particular to seek action at the Community level in three
directions : firstly to promote measures to help resolve specific labour mar­
ket problems , especially in improving training and employment opportunities
for young people and women ; ... To this end , the European Council invites
on the one hand the Commission , in particular by the better use of Community
instruments , ... to seek ways of improving the effectiveness of their acti­
vities ." ;
Whereas the situation as regards women unemployed or seeking jobs shows the
need for joint action specifically aimed at improving the balance between
supply and demand on the Community labour market ;
Whereas the Council Decision of 1 February 1971 on the reform of the European
Social Fund , and in particular Article 5 thereof , has not facilitated effec­
tive action to promote the employment of women ; »
Whereas , when consulted on the review of the rules governing the tasks and
operation of the European Social Fund , the Committee of the European Social
Fund declared itself in agreement with the principle of expanding the scope
for intervention by the Fund in favour of women ;
Whereas , in order to overcome specific obstacles to the employment of women ,
vocational training for women must be complemented by measures aimed at making
it easier for them to prepare for working life and to find jobs commensurate
with their training ;
                                                             '• • ■ / • • •
 ( 1 ) ...
 ( 2 ) ...
 ( 3 ) ...
 ---pagebreak--- HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS
Article 1
1 . Assistance may be granted from the European Social Fund pursuant to Arti­
     cle 4 of the Council Decision of 1 February 1971 on the reform of the
     Fund , as amended by the Council Decision of ..., for vocational training
     programmes for women over 25 years of age , provided that these programmes
   ( are encompassed within measures aimed at preparing the beneficiaries for
   j working life and placing them in jobs commensurate with the qualifications
   ' obtained ;                     –
2 . Assistance may also be granted from the Fund for training schemes for vo­
     cational guidance counsellors , instructors and specialists in the placement
     of female  labour .
Article 2
The types of aid eligible for assistance from the Fund pursuant to this
Decision are those defined in Article 3 of Council Regulation No 2396/ 71
implementing the Council Decision of 1 February 1971 on the reform of the
European Social Fund , as amended by Regulation ( EEC ) No ...
Article 3
This decision shall enter into force on
                                         Done at Brussels ,
                                         For the Counci l
 ---pagebreak---                                     - 8 -
      Proposal for a Council Regulation concerning operations qualifying for
      a   higher rate of intervention by the European Social Fund
                                  EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
1 . In its opinion to the Council in connection with the review of the tasks
     and operation of the Social Fund , the Commission advocated greater concen­
     tration of Fund intervention on employment problems in regions marked by
     particularly serious and prolonged imbalances in employment or by the
     decline of one or several economic sectors of vital importance ( 1 ).
     In view , in particular , of the limited resources available to such regions ,
     it would be appropriate for the Fund to offer additional financial incen­
     tives to promote employment and vocational training opportunities in those
     regions .
2 . At its meeting on 28 June 1977 , the Council partially adopted the Commission
     proposal and envisaged inserting it in the new Article 8, paragraph 3 of the
      Council Decision of 1 February 1971 a provision stipulating 1 that :
     " for operations in regions with a particularly serious and prolonged em­
     ployment imbalance - such regions to be defined by the Council on a proposal
     " from the Commission - Fund intervention shall be increased by 10 'A * ( 2 ).
    jit nevertheless excluded the idea of applying an increased rate for regions
     experiencing the decline of one or several predominant sectors .
     At the same time the Council undertook to specify the regions referred to
     in this paragraph before the end of 1977 and the Commission was invited ,
     when drawing up proposals to this end , to concentrate mainly on the follow­
     ing : Greenland , the French Overseas Departments , Ireland , Northern Ireland
     and the Mezzogiorno .
     These regions of the Community , as the Commission stated in its communication
     to the Council on guidelines for a Community regional policy , are still very
     backward in spite of the efforts made and require massive intervention by
     the Community over quite a long period ( 3 ).
     ( 1 ) Doc . C0M(77 ) 90 fin ., 23 March 1977 , p. 21 , and
           section 3 of Annex I.
     ( 2 ) Decision amending the Council Decision of 1 February 1971
           on the reform of the European Social Fund ( not yet
           published ).
     ( 3 ) Doc . C0MC77 ) 195 of 1 June 1977 , paragraphs 38 and 39 .
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 9"
3 . The more thorough examination of the economic and social situation and in
   I particular of employment in these regions leads the Commission to propose
   | that only these regions benefit from increased intervention rates .
     The most reliable indicators for per-capita gross national product , ^gODuli"^
     tion structure and rate of activity , employment structure , unemp loyment / trend
     and net migration cumulatively represent indisputable factors reflecting the
     structural weakness and underdevelopment of these regions . Moreover , their
     geographical location on the Community 's periphery represents an additional
     obstacle to their integration . Finally , to evaluate the chances of a rapid
     improvement in the situation in these regions , account must be taken of their
     relative importance in the national economy from the point of view of popu­
     lation , area , activity and infrastructure ( for Ireland , the region concerned
     is identical to the whole country ). Preferential intervention by the Social
     Fund and other Community financial instruments appears the more justified
     in that in some cased the Member States concerned cannot , due to their
     financial position , resolve these problems alone .
4 . A higher rate of intervention will not , at least in the short term , have any
     overall budgetary implications for the Fund . Nor should it , even in the longer
     term , affect the balance between the various types of operation , since appli­
     cations under both Article 4 and Article 5 of the Decision of 1 February 1971
     will qualify for the higher rate . On the other hand , it will immediately
     enable a greater proportion of the available funds to be used for the benefit
     of the five priority regions .
 ---pagebreak---                                  - 10 -
Proposal for a Council Regulation concerning operations qualifying
for a higher rate of intervention by the European Social Fund
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community ,
and in particular Article 127 thereof ,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (*1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee ( 2 ),
Whereas , pursuant to Article 8 paragraph 3 of the Council Decision of
1 February 1971 amended by the Decision of ..., the regions marked by an
especially serious or prolonged imbalance in employment , in which operations
carried out with assistance from the Social Fund shall qualify for a higher
rate of intervention , must be defined ;
Whereas particular account must be taken , in defining these regions , of
their slower economic and social development , their peripheral location in
the Community and their significance in their respective national economies ;
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION :
Article 1
Operations carried out in Greenland , the French Overseas Departments ,
Ireland , Northern Ireland and the Mezzogiorno shall qualify for the higher
rate of intervention provided for in Article 8 paragraph 3 of the Council
Decision of 1 February 1971 , as amended by the Decision of ...
Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on ...
                                        Done at Brussels
                                        On .............
                                        For the Counci l
( 1 ) 0 « J • no. • ■ • of • • §              _.  _
( 2 ) O.J. no . ... of ...                    The resident
 ---pagebreak---                               FINANCIAL    SHEEt
                            ι
PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ON INTERVENTION BY THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND IN
FAVOUR OF WOMEN
1 . Budget Heading : Article 505
2. Tit te :    Aid from the Social Fund for women .
3 . Legal basis :
     Decision to be taken by the Council pursuant to Article 4 tof the basic Decision
     of 1 February 1971 ( 71 / 66/ EEt ) ( Proposal submitted to the Commission on
     21 September 1977 ).
4 . Objectives of the project :
     Rendering the employment of workers easier and increasing their geographical
     and occupational mobility ( Article 123 of the Treaty ).
     Specific objective . : to promote the integration of women over 25 years of age "
     into employment .
 5 . Appropriations :
     The appropriations for commitment to be entered in the budget for 1978 amount
     to 8 m.u.a .
     The schedule of due dates for payments is as follows :
     As with other Fund intervention payments are spread over several years .
      It is envisaged they will be made at a quicker rate given the proposals for
      advance payments now before the Council . For 1978 the appropriations will
      be inserted in the budget by means of an amending letter to the draft budget
      for 1978 .
     ftultiannual forecasts :
      On the basis of data at present available , the following Estimates can be
     made   :
     Method ox calculation :
     Because of the innovatory nature of the operations planned, the volume of
     expenditure will be relatively small in the first year .        Taking into account ,
     in addition , earlier experience as regards the cost of interventions by the
     Fund , it is anticipated that the planned budget for aid in favour* of women
     will allow a contribution to be made to training exercises of an average of
     4 months'^ duration for some 6,000 persons at an average cost of 330 e.u.a .
     a month including expenditure on the specialised services of the trainina
     staff .
 ---pagebreak---                                 - 12 -
B. PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL REGULATION CONCERNING OPERATIONS QUALIFYING
   FOR A HIGHER RATE OF INTERVENTION FROM THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND
   The introduction of a higher rate of intervention will not itself affect
   the overall volume of Fund Appropriations . It will > 6n the other hand , as 4
   regards the various categories of intervention , provide for a supplementary
   financial stimulus to promote operations , in particular o * vocational
   training , in the five prior'lty regions defined in this proposal .