98/171/EC: Council Decision of 23 February 1998 on Community activities concerning analysis, research and cooperation in the field of employment and the labour market

COUNCIL DECISION of 23 February 1998 on Community activities concerning analysis, research and cooperation in the field of employment and the labour market (98/171/EC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
(1) Whereas the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions delivered their Opinions on 26 October 1995 (3) and 8 November 1995 respectively;
(2) Whereas, in accordance with Article 118 of the Treaty, the Commission has the task of promoting close cooperation between Member States in the social field, particularly in matters relating to employment and vocational training;
(3) Whereas the Commission, in its medium-term social action programme, announced its intention to propose a new approach to its activities of analysis, research, cooperation and action in order to foster closer and more effective collaboration between itself and the Member States in the area of policy on employment and the labour market and to promote the rationalisation of its research work and other activities in the area of employment policies;
(4) Whereas the Amsterdam European Council on 16 and 17 June 1997 noted the agreement reached on incorporation in the Treaty, without prejudice to the ratification procedures, of a new title on employment; whereas it indicated that the Council should seek to make the relevant provisions of this Title immediately effective; whereas in its Resolution on growth and employment, recalling the conclusions of the Essen European Council, the Commission's initiative for 'Action on employment - a confidence pact` and the Dublin declaration on employment of 13 and 14 December 1996, it reaffirmed that it was imperative to give a new impulse for keeping employment firmly at the top of the political agenda of the European Union;
(5) Whereas the Council, in the field of Labour and Social Affairs and Economic and Financial Affairs, and the Commission, have been invited to keep a close track of employment trends and to examine the relevant policies of the Member States;
(6) Whereas, therefore, Community activities with the aim of analysis, research and cooperation in the field of employment and the labour market should be promoted; whereas the activities set out in this Decision have the effect of renewing and rationalising Community action in this area; whereas it is important that statistics in the field of employment and the labour market should be collected, analysed and presented by sex;
(7) Whereas the appropriate powers for the implementation of these policies should be conferred upon the Commission;
(8) Whereas, in accordance with the conclusions of the Amsterdam European Council, this approach can, without prejudice to the Member States' responsibilities in promoting employment, produce Community added value by pinpointing and encouraging best practices and policies, promoting innovation and exchanging relevant experience; whereas those policies must be backed by an active information policy;
(9) Whereas, within this framework, the European Council called upon the Member States to intervene actively in the labour market, underlining the vitally important link between job creation, employability and social cohesion;
(10) Whereas it is important to establish appropriate links with the Employment and Labour Market Committee, set up by Decision 97/16/EC (4), as well as with the social partners;
(11) Whereas a financial reference amount within the meaning of point 2 of the Declaration by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 6 March 1995, has been included in this Decision, without prejudice to the powers of the budgetary authority as they are defined by the Treaty;
(12) Whereas, in accordance with the Joint Declaration of 30 June 1982 (5) and with the Interinstitutional Agreement of 29 October 1993 on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure (6), it is necessary for actions taken on the initiative of the Commission to have a legal basis;
(13) Whereas, the adoption of the Treaty does not provide, for the adoption of this Decision powers other than those referred to in Article 235,