Brussels, 09/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 9 January, the European Parliament committee on employment and social affairs discussed the talks that had stalled the previous day between the Council and EP on strengthening cooperation between public employment services (PESs).
European labour ministers agreed early December 2013 to create a formal network at the level of the EU for PESs. Participation in the network was to be voluntary (see EUROPE 10980 for details). Social Affairs Commissioner Laszlo Andor presented a proposal for a decision mid-June 2013, aimed at making a network of PESs for advising the unemployed on what is available to them with regards training, apprenticeships, courses and employment, and also to allow supply and demand to be adequately coordinated (see EUROPE 10868).
The rapporteur, Frédéric Daerden (S&D, Belgium), explained the themes that have come under discussion between the Council and the EP. These relate to: - 1) the voluntary or compulsory nature of member state participation and of PESs to networking: the EP argues in favour of making participation mandatory, while the Council is opposed to this for reasons that are more political than legal, says Daerden; - 2) the presence of the Council in the network, as an observer: the EP hopes to make that presence conditional (in the capacity of observer but if there is mandatory participation by the public services to the networks and if presence is by invitation depending on what is on the agenda); - and 3) secondary acts for the functioning of the network: the Council hopes to define apprenticeship themes in the basic act and to entrust the remaining competences to the network. The EP has made an alternative proposal, in agreement with the Commission. This advocates keeping in the basic act the themes adjusted according to the Council's reworked objectives, but allowing delegated acts to make them evolve in a concern for greater flexibility. When it comes to the missions entrusted to the network, it would, the EP states, be necessary for some to be entrusted by delegated acts (such as indicators and methodology of bench learning).
The Greek Presidency will take stock of the dossier on 17 January within Coreper, in order to provide some room for manoeuvre in Council.
Daerden has said progress has been made on a number of elements of the dossier: - the definition of bench learning (a supple but clear expression of PESs' representation); - the strengthening of the network's objectives (references to the voluntary mobility of workers, to decent and sustainable employment, to implementation of the EUROPE 2020 strategy, to the fight against social exclusion and against unemployment of vulnerable citizens such as the young and older persons). On the legal basis (reference to Article 14), the EP has suggested a new wording in the light of legal opinions. That new wording will soon be forwarded to the Greek Presidency.
Timetable follow-up. The EP hopes to conclude matters with the Council on 22 or 29 January, with a view to voting in European Parliament plenary in April, the rapporteur states. (LC/transl.jl)