Brussels, 05/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - In adopting 474 amendments to the European Commission proposal on the European Social Fund (ESF), the European Parliament (EP) employment and social affairs committee (EMPL) cast the first stone on Thursday 5 July in what is already shaping up to be the toughest negotiations with the Council of the EU over the coming months. Differences in viewpoints are many but some have great significance for the working of the ESF.
On the eve of the vote, MEP Elisabeth Morin-Chartier (EPP, France), the author of the draft report, held a press conference in Strasbourg, not so much to speak about the differences as to make her voice heard in Brussels and in the member states. “We aren't simply waiting, and we won't just sit, arms folded, waiting for the plenary session vote. We want the Council to know what we think and the areas where we are determined”, she said, stating that, on three points, disagreement between MEPs and the member states was “very great”.
Among these points, the Commission proposal - which is backed by the Council, that in the next multiannual framework there should be a macroeconomic conditionality clause (making the allocation of funds to social projects conditional upon the respect for budget discipline) - is one with which the committee has great difficulty. Morin-Chartier once again raised the argument of “penalising people twice”, which was made in October 2011 when the clause was put forward (see EUROPE 10468). If a link is made between granting ESF aid and compliance with stability and growth pact rules, “what tools are left to us to help those suffering most from the crisis and to help them back into work?” she asked rhetorically.
The two other areas of discord have to do with figures. “Our demand to the EU Council of Ministers is that at least 25% of EU structural funding be reserved for the ESF”, Morin-Chartier said. Given that, under the Commission proposal, cohesion policy will have a budget of €376 billion for the period from 2014 to 2020, this would mean that €84 billion would go to the ESF. Of this percentage, set for all member states, the EP committee said that 20% should be reserved to tackle poverty, with the “aim of social inclusion and integration into the labour market”. Morin-Chartier laid particular emphasis on the idea that the ESF be an instrument to help both those facing a triple handicap, which is, “those who are suffering as a result of the crisis, who face social exclusion and who don't have a job” and also those in work “who need to adapt to new conditions of production or new products”. Thus, the ESF could provide leverage to help address the social consequences of the crisis, while making a contribution to economic recovery.
A further feature of the EP committee's proposals relates to the need to promote partnerships between member states and regional and local players. Without good partnerships, which should involve “a broad spectrum of local actors, in particular the umbrella associations representing local and regional authorities, organised civil society, economic and social partners, an efficient and effective implementation of actions supported by the ESF is not possible”¸ warned German MEP, Nadja Hirsch, spokesperson for the Liberal Democrat alliance, ALDE, following the vote.
The draft report was adopted by the EMPL committee by 38 votes to three, with one abstention. It will be put to the vote in plenary session in the autumn, perhaps in October, according to the rapporteur's cautious forecast. (JK/transl.rt)