L 347/238 Official Journal of the European Union 20.12.2013 REGULATION (EU) No 1296/2013 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 11 December 2013 on a European Union Programme for Employment and Social Innovation ("EaSI") and amending Decision No 283/2010/EU establishing a European Progress Microfinance Facility for employment and social inclusion (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 46(d), Article 149, Article 153(2)(a) and to the third paragraph of Article 175 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (%), Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (3), Whereas: (1) In line with the Commission Communication of 29 June 2011 entitled 'A budget for Europe 2020', which recommends rationalising and simplifying the Union’s funding instruments and sharpening their focus both on Union added value and on impacts and results, this Regulation establishes a European Union Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (‘the Programme') to provide for the continuation and development of activities carried out on the basis of Decision No 1672/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (¥, Regulation (EU) No 492/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (°), Commission Implementing Decision 2012/733/EU (°) and Decision No 283/2010/EU of the European Parliament and of () O] C 143, 22.5.2012, p. 88. () O] C 225, 27.7.2012, p. 167. () Position of the European Parliament of 21 November 2013. (not yet published in the Official Journal) (*) Decision No 1672/2006EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 establishing a Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity — PROGRESS (O] L 315, 15.11.2006, p. 1). (®) Regulation (EU) No 492/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2011 on freedom of movement for workers within the Union (OJ L 141, 27.5.2011, p. 1). (°) Commission Implementing Decision 2012/733/EU of 26 November 2012 implementing Regulation (EU) No 492/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the clearance of vacancies and application for employment and the re-establishment of EURES (O] L 328, 28.11.2012, p. 21). the Council that established a European Progress Microfinance Facility for employment and social inclu- sion () (‘the Facility). (20 On 17 June 2010, the European Council endorsed the Commission proposal for a Europe 2020 Strategy for jobs and smart, sustainable and inclusive growth ("Europe 2020"), which provides for five headline targets (including those dealing with employment, the fight against poverty and social exclusion, and education, respectively), and seven flagship initiatives, and which constitutes a coherent policy framework for the coming decade. The European Council advocated full mobili- sation of the appropriate Union instruments and policies to support the achievement of the common objectives, and invited the Member States to increase their coordinated action. (3)  In accordance with Article 148(4) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the Council, on 21 October 2010, adopted guidelines for employment policies which, together with the broad guidelines for the economic policies of the Member States and of the Union adopted in accordance with Article 121 TFEU, comprise the Europe 2020 integrated guidelines. The Programme should contribute to achieving the Europe 2020 targets, especially its poverty reduction and employment objectives, as defined in the Employment Guidelines. To that end, the Programme should support the implementation of the flagship initiatives, with special regard to the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion, an Agenda for New Skills and Jobs, and Youth on the Move, as well as the Youth Employment Package. (4)  The Europe 2020 flagship initiatives entitled "European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion" and “Innovation Union" identify social innovation as a powerful tool for addressing the social challenges arising from population ageing, poverty, unemployment, new work patterns and life styles, and the expectations of citizens regarding social justice, education and health care. The Programme should support action to increase social innovation, in response to social needs that are not met or that are met insufficiently, in respect of combating poverty and social exclusion, promoting a high level of quality and sustainable employment, guar- anteeing adequate and  poverty-preventing  social protection,  improving ~ working  conditions and improving access to training for vulnerable people, (’) Decision No 283/2010/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 March 2010 establishing a European Progress Microfinance  Facility for employment and social inclusion (O] L 87, 7.4.2010, p. 1).