REPORT on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision No 573/2014/EU on enhanced cooperation between Public Employment Services (PES)

Text proposed by Commission

Amendment

(1a) Article 3(3) of the Treaty on European Union refers to sustainable development based inter alia on full employment and social progress as objectives linked to the establishment of an internal market.

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(1b) Article 9 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union refers to the promotion of a high level of employment as one of the objectives to be taken into account when defining and implementing Union policies and activities. The Network should support the Union and the Member States in this regard.

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(2) The Network aims at reinforcing Public Employment Services (PES) capacity, effectiveness and efficiency through providing a platform for comparing their performance at European level, identifying good practices and establishing a mutual learning system. It also aims at giving the PES more opportunities to help develop innovative, evidence-based policies in line with relevant Union policy initiatives.

(2) The Network aims to modernise and reinforce Public Employment Services (PES) and their capacity, the quality of their services, their effectiveness and their efficiency through providing a platform for comparing their performance at European level, identifying good practices and establishing a mutual learning system with a view to contributing to decent work and inclusive and sustainable jobs. It also aims to give the PES more opportunities to help develop innovative, future-oriented and evidence-based policies in line with relevant Union policy initiatives and the economic, social and employment objectives set out in Article 3(3) of the Treaty on European Union.

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(3) The Network has been key in encouraging further cooperation between the Member States within the areas of PES responsibility as well as contributing to the modernisation and strengthening of the PES. An evaluation of the state of implementation of Decision No 573/2014/EU16 shows that the Network has had a positive impact and identifies lessons learned on the basis of the different activities and experiences.

(3) The Network has been key in encouraging further cooperation between the Member States within the areas of PES responsibility as well as contributing to the modernisation and strengthening of the PES. An evaluation of the state of implementation of Decision No 573/2014/EU16 shows that the Network has had a positive impact and identifies lessons learned on the basis of the different activities and experiences. Accordingly, the Network has increased its capacity and developed innovative evidence-based measures to implement employment policies.

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16  Commission Staff Working Document SWD(2019)1350

16  Commission Staff Working Document SWD(2019)1350

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(4) In order to capitalise on the results achieved so far and further foster cooperation between PES, the period of establishment of the Network should be prolonged until 31 December 2027.

(4) In order to capitalise on the results achieved so far and further foster cooperation, including the consolidation and expansion of PES initiatives and the modernisation of PES, the period of establishment of the Network should be prolonged until 31 December 2027.

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(4a) The Network should strengthen cooperation between its members and develop joint initiatives for the purpose of exchanging information and best practices in all PES operational areas, by providing comparative analyses and advice and promoting innovative job placement initiatives. In this connection, particular attention should be paid to PES cooperation regarding the employment-related coordination of social security systems. The work of the Network should allow an inclusive, evidence-based and performance-oriented comparison of all PES, so that best practices in their areas of activity can be determined, contributing to better employment service design and delivery within their specific remits. Network initiatives should improve the effectiveness of PES and ensure a more efficient use of public funds.

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(5) The continuation of the Network should support the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, which includes the provision of active support to employment among its principles. It should also contribute to sustainable development goal 8 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by contributing to inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all.

(5) The continuation of the Network should support the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, which includes the provision of active support to employment among its principles. It should also facilitate the free movement of workers and contribute to a socially just transition towards a circular economy and to the implementation of the relevant principles and objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, contributing to inclusive and sustainable economic growth and employment as well as decent work for all.

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(6) The Network should continue to organise cooperation and contacts with other labour market stakeholders to promote synergies between them, including in particular cooperation with Union Agencies in the area of employment, social policy, education and training, to ensure a consistent policy framework.

(6) The Network should continue, intensify and strengthen its systematic and structural cooperation with other relevant labour market stakeholders, including in particular Union Agencies in the area of employment, social policy, gender equality, education and training as well as the social partners, service providers in the fields of employment and social affairs, organisations representing vulnerable groups, and local and regional authorities to promote synergies, exchange good practices and ensure a consistent policy framework where relevant.

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(6a) The role of the PES in providing more effective services for jobseekers and undertakings should be adequately supported at national and, where relevant, regional level, with sufficient human resources and financial support for staff training and equipment. The PES should be provided with the necessary resources to allow them successfully to address the digitalisation of the economy, changing work patterns, including emerging platform economies, and societal and demographic developments.

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(7a) The Network and its initiatives should be funded in accordance with the financial planning of the Union as appropriate and within the appropriations set by the European Parliament and the Council.

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(7b) For projects developed by the Network or identified in the mutual learning activities and then implemented in the individual PES, Member States should have access to funding from relevant Union programmes.

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

The aim of this Decision is to encourage cooperation between Member States through the Network in the field of employment, within the areas of PES responsibility, in order to contribute to the implementation of the Union’s employment policies. This will also help implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, thereby supporting:

The aim of this Decision is to encourage cooperation between Member States through the Network in the field of employment, within the areas of PES responsibility, in order to contribute to the implementation of the Union’s employment and social policies, thereby supporting:

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(2a) In Article 3(1), the following point is inserted:

“(-a) the implementation of the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the relevant principles and objectives of the European Green Deal and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals;”

Present text

Amendment

(2b) In Article 3(1), point (a) is replaced by the following:

(a)  the most vulnerable social groups with high unemployment rates, especially older workers and young persons not in employment, education or training (‘NEETs’);

“(a) all vulnerable social groups with high unemployment rates, especially older workers and young persons not in employment, education or training (‘NEETs’) as well as people with disabilities and people facing multiple discrimination;”

Present text

Amendment

(2c) In Article 3(1), point (c) is replaced by the following:

(c)  the better functioning of the labour markets in the EU;

“(c)  the better functioning and inclusiveness of the labour markets;”

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(2 d) In Article 3(1), the following point is inserted:

“(c a) gender equality;”;

Present text

Amendment

(2e)  In Article 3(1), point (d) is replaced by the following:

(d) the identification of skills shortages and the provision of information on their extent and location, as well as the better matching of the skills of job-seekers with the needs of employers;

“(d) the identification of skills shortages and the provision of information on their extent and location, as well as the better matching of the skills of job-seekers with the needs of employers through instruments such as vocational training;”

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(2f) In Article 3(1), the following point is added:

“(ha) the cooperation and exchange of best practices regarding the employment-related coordination of social security systems;”

Present text

Amendment

(2g) In point (a) of Article 4(1), point (i) is replaced by the following:

(i)  contribution to reducing unemployment for all age groups and for vulnerable groups;

“(i)  contribution to reducing unemployment for all age, gender and vulnerable groups;”

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(2h) In point (a) of Article 4(1), the following point is inserted:

“(iiia)  career counselling and training, especially regarding future-oriented sustainable jobs;”

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(c) contribute to modernising and strengthening PES in key areas, in line with the Union’s employment policies, the European Pillar of Social Rights, and the Sustainable Development Goals;

(c) contribute to modernising and strengthening PES in key areas in view of the Union’s employment and social policies, the European Pillar of Social Rights, the European Green Deal and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as well as technological developments, changing work patterns and demographic changes;

Present text

Amendment

(3a) In Article 4(1), point (f) is replaced by the following:

(f) adopt and implement its annual work programme setting out its working methods, deliverables and the details related to the implementation of bench learning;

“(f) adopt and implement its annual work programme setting out its working methods, deliverables, the details related to the implementation of bench learning as well as dissemination and cooperation strategies;”;

Present text

Amendment

(3b) In Article 4(1), point (g) is replaced by the following:

(g) promote and share best practices on the identification of NEETs and on the development of initiatives to ensure those young people gain the skills necessary to enter and remain in the labour market.

“(g) promote and share best practices on the identification of vulnerable groups in the labour market, such as the long-term unemployed, workers with disabilities and NEETs, and on the promotion of their integration into the labour market, including initiatives to gain new skills where necessary.”

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Article 5

Article 5

Cooperation

Cooperation

The Network shall develop cooperation with relevant labour market stakeholders including other providers of employment services, and where appropriate, EU Agencies in the area of employment, social policy and education and training, social partners, organisations representing unemployed persons or vulnerable groups, NGOs working in the field of employment, and regional and local authorities, by involving them in relevant activities and meetings of the Network and by exchanging information and data with them.

The Network shall develop cooperation with relevant labour market stakeholders, including other providers of employment and social services and the social partners, and where appropriate, relevant public employment services from third countries, EU Agencies in the area of employment, social policy, gender equality, and education and training, organisations representing unemployed persons or vulnerable groups, equality bodies, vocational training organisations, NGOs working in the fields of employment and just transition, and regional and local authorities, by involving them in relevant activities and meetings of the Network and by exchanging information and data with them.

Present text

Amendment

(4a) In Article 6, paragraph 5 is replaced by the following:

5. The Board shall be assisted by a Secretariat provided by and based within the Commission. The Secretariat, in cooperation with the Chair and Vice-Chairs, shall prepare the Board meetings, the annual work programme and the annual report of the Network. The Secretariat shall closely cooperate with the EMCO Secretariat.

"5. The Board shall be assisted by a Secretariat provided by and based within the Commission. The Secretariat, in cooperation with the Chair and Vice-Chairs, shall prepare the Board meetings, the annual work programme and the annual report of the Network. The Secretariat shall closely cooperate with the EMCO Secretariat, in order to coordinate initiatives between the Network and EMCO."

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Article 7

Article 7

Financial support

Financial support

The global resources for the implementation of this Decision shall be made available in accordance with the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 as appropriate, the annual appropriations of which shall be authorised by the European Parliament and by the Council within the limits of the financial framework.

The necessary global resources for the implementation of this Decision shall be made available in accordance with the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027, the annual appropriations of which shall be authorised by the European Parliament and by the Council within the limits of the financial framework.

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Article 10

Article 10

Review

Review

By September 2026, the Commission shall submit an evaluation on the application of this Decision to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

By 30 September 2026, the Commission shall submit an evaluation report on the application of this Decision to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. The report shall, inter alia, assess to what extent the Network has contributed to the achievement of the objectives set out in Article 3.

Title

Enhanced cooperation between Public Employment Services (PES)

References

COM(2019)0620 – C9-0117/2019 – 2019/0188(COD)

Date submitted to Parliament

11.9.2019

Committee responsible

 Date announced in plenary

EMPL

19.9.2019

Rapporteurs

 Date appointed

Manuel Pizarro

24.10.2019

Discussed in committee

4.12.2019

22.1.2020

20.2.2020

Date adopted

23.6.2020

Result of final vote

+:

–:

0:

49

2

3

Members present for the final vote

Atidzhe Alieva-Veli, Marc Angel, Gabriele Bischoff, Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, Andrea Bocskor, Milan Brglez, Sylvie Brunet, David Casa, Leila Chaibi, Margarita de la Pisa Carrión, Klára Dobrev, Jarosław Duda, Estrella Durá Ferrandis, Lucia Ďuriš Nicholsonová, Rosa Estaràs Ferragut, Nicolaus Fest, Loucas Fourlas, Cindy Franssen, Heléne Fritzon, Helmut Geuking, Alicia Homs Ginel, France Jamet, Agnes Jongerius, Radan Kanev, Ádám Kósa, Stelios Kympouropoulos, Katrin Langensiepen, Miriam Lexmann, Elena Lizzi, Radka Maxová, Sandra Pereira, Dragoș Pîslaru, Manuel Pizarro, Dennis Radtke, Elżbieta Rafalska, Guido Reil, Daniela Rondinelli, Mounir Satouri, Monica Semedo, Beata Szydło, Eugen Tomac, Romana Tomc, Yana Toom, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, Nikolaj Villumsen, Marianne Vind, Maria Walsh, Stefania Zambelli, Tatjana Ždanoka, Tomáš Zdechovský

Substitutes present for the final vote

Anna Júlia Donáth, José Gusmão, Pierfrancesco Majorino, Kim Van Sparrentak

Date tabled

29.6.2020