Brussels, 19/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - Despite 26 inter-institutional meetings devoted to the European Social Fund (ESF), the shape of the final agreement still remains unclear as there is no shortage of contention. After the summer break, some progress can now be seen regarding the ceiling for social inclusion and the fight against poverty, as well as in relation to the flexibility advocated by member states for funding certain infrastructure.
Few compromises are well and truly accepted by all parties. As MEP Elisabeth Morin-Chartier (EPP, France) explained on Wednesday 18 September when addressing the employment and social affairs committee: “Until negotiation is over, nothing can be stabilised. As things stand, we cannot say that any point more than any other has been won, because these are global negotiations and all the succeeding presidencies have opened up all the drawers, but have sorted none of them out” (our translation).
Today, three points seem to comprise the central issue of the talks. The 20% ceiling advocated by the Parliament for social inclusion and the fight against poverty look as though they are being gradually accepted by the Council. “Things are making good progress”, Morin-Chartier told EUROPE on Thursday 19 September. The second question concerns the possibility of funding infrastructure (crèches, hospitals, etc.). On this point, the Parliament has pronounced a categorical “no”, and, as Morin-Chartier said, it “will not budge”. The last question relates to the youth employment initiative which “has been added to a negotiation programme that is already extremely full”. The Parliament wants at all costs to extend the initiative to include people under 30 years of age. “I am keen on this, as are all political groups”, Morin-Chartier commented. (JK/transl.jl)