Resolution of the Committee of the Regions on "The Implementation of the European Employment Strategy"
8. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 226/43 Resolution of the Committee of the Regions on ‘The Implementation of the European Employment Strategy’ (2000/C 226/12) THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS, having regard to its president’s decision on 8 November 1999 to draw up a resolution on the subject and to direct Commission 6 — Employment, Economic Policy, Single Market, Industry and SMEs — to carry out the preparatory work; having regard to the European Council meeting in Lisbon of 23 and 24 March 2000, focusing on the subjects employment, economical reforms and social cohesion; having regard to its earlier opinions on employment, viz. ‘The role of local and regional authorities in linking education and training establishments to enterprises’ (1); ‘The proposal for a Council Decision on measures of financial assistance for innovative and job-creating small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) — The growth and employment initiative’ (2); ‘Forthcoming economic policy guidelines’ (3); the Communication from the Commission: ‘From guidelines to action: the National Action Plans for Employment’ and the Communication from the Commission: ‘Proposal for guidelines for Member States’ employment policies in 1999’(4); the Communication from the Commission adapting and promoting the social dialogue at Community level and the draft Council Decision amending Decision 70/532/EEC setting up the Standing Committee on Employment in the European Communities (5); Opinion on Territorial pacts for employment, and the link between them and the European Union’s structural policies (6), Opinion on the Proposal for Guidelines for Member States’ Employment Policies 2000 (7); having regard to the draft resolution adopted unanimously by Commission 6 on 24 January 2000 (rapporteurs: Mr Henning Jensen, DK, PES and Mr Sanz Alonso, ES, PPE); whereas local and regional authorities in many Member States play a key role in shaping the environment and conditions under which enterprises operate. They have an important function in supporting local economic and industrial development by securing a favourable socio-economic climate which can attract and promote the establishment and development of businesses; whereas local and regional authorities are major players in providing education and training since they can help bridge the gap between education/training establishments and enterprises and, through their strategically well-placed position, foster greater partnership and dialogue between all relevant protagonists at local and regional level in these two sectors; whereas local and regional authorities play a crucial role in generating employment — both directly as employers, and indirectly, through fostering a favourable business climate; (1) CdR 346/96 fin — OJ C 116, 14. 4. 1997, p. 98. (2) CdR 46/98 fin — OJ C 251, 10. 8. 1998, p. 41. (3) CdR 110/98 fin — OJ C 51, 22. 2. 1999, p. 63. (4) CdR 279/98 fin — OJ C 51, 22. 2. 1999, p. 59. (5) CdR 343/98 fin — OJ C 93, 6. 4. 1999, p. 54. (6) CdR 91/99 fin — OJ C 293, 13. 10. 1999, p. 1. (7) CdR 360/99 fin. C 226/44 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 8. 8. 2000 whereas the Committee of the Regions has proposed an initiative called ‘Local Action for Employment’, which places local and regional authorities in a position to promote the national employment action plans; whereas the Joint Employment report 1999 states that several Member States have recognised the importance of the actions taken at local and regional level, but there is room for further strengthening this aspect; whereas the results of conferences organised in autumn 1999 in Helsinki and Aarhus (1) clearly demonstrate a wide readiness at local and regional level to be more involved in the implementation of the European Employment Strategy; adopted the following resolution unanimously at its 33rd plenary session on 12/13 April 2000 (the meeting of 12 April). 1. The Committee of the Regions draws attention to the following preconditions for a successful approach implementing the European employment Strategy: only at local and regional level, thus rendering it vital for regional and local authorities to be involved in framing, developing and implementing the national action plans. 1. 1. Under conditions of globalized markets but differen- tiated economic structures the effective combating of unem- ployment requires solid macro economic policy supported by targeted active employment policies which meet the following criteria: — direct knowledge of real growth and employment possi- bilities at regional and local level; — individual and personalised guidance and training in order to match supply and demand on the labour market; — geographical and cultural proximity to groups of people who are difficult to reach. EU efforts to coordinate its employment strategy must 1. 2. be underpinned by the subsidiarity principle, with each country being responsible for it own labour market policy. While it is generally desirable for the local and regional authorities to play a key role in the field of employment, it is essentially up to the Member States to strike a balance between the national level and local and regional interests. The ultimate success of the European employment 1. 3. strategy will therefore depend on how well the strategy is designed from an overall point of view and on finding the most appropriate way of implementing it. 1. 4. Regional and local self-determination in employment matters is a prerequisite for efforts to tailor workforce skills to the needs of local enterprises. In many areas this is possible (1) European Conference on Mayors for Employment, Local auth- orities as promoters of employment; Helsinki, Finland on 9 and 10 September 1999; European Conference on Local Employment Partnerships; Aarhus, Denmark on 23 and 24 November 1999. 2. The Committee of the Regions stresses that, as the following examples show, the active involvement of local and regional authorities can significantly contribute to the implementation of the European Employment Strategy: 2. 1. It is easier for local and regional authorities to co- operate with businesses and other partners to implement tailored pro-active employment policies than it is for higher levels of administration. This is because local and regional authorities have more direct knowledge of the barriers and opportunities in the local business communities, which may make it easier to find joint solutions. 2. 2. Regional and local authorities are in a key position to reduce red-tape and speed up administrative procedures for projects creating and developing businesses and employment. 2. 3. Local and regional environment, via the organisations operating within it, is often the only possible point of access where people with difficulties finding employment or who are threatened with social exclusion can participate in professional and personal development programmes. 2. 4. Special attention should be paid to the potential for job-creation in the service sector and specially in ‘care services’ in view of current demographic trends and the increased life expectancy of older people. This should help to reduce the burden of unpaid care of dependants — a burden which at present is mainly shouldered by women. It would also provide women with more (and better) job opportunities and help to tackle the gender gap in employment. 8. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 226/45 2. 5. In some Member States the local and regional auth- orities play a role as mediator in collective bargaining between employers and workers at regional, local and company level. This enables more rapid adjustment to new labour market and economic conditions and greater flexibility in terms of workers’ access to training. Very positive experience has been gained from various 2. 6. regional development agencies which support job-creation and entrepreneurship, using an all-encompassing approach tying in support for investment in research and development. Local schemes supporting the development of the 2. 7. social economy by boosting the setting-up and development of co-operative businesses and partnerships can be an important tool in promoting small businesses and entrepre- neurship. 2. 8. Fostering a local breeding ground for companies by local and regional authorities will encourage the development of self-employment and social economy companies. 2. 9. Based on the development of local observatories of companies and their networks, the local and regional levels can serve more immediate identification of employment opportunities and activities where demand has not been met. 3. The Committee of the Regions makes the following suggestions to the Member States and to the European Commission concerning in the the European Employment implementation of Strategy: further steps 3. 2. An ideal forum for such a debate is the annual ‘cyclical’ process of formulating, implementing and evaluating national action plans for employment. The Council has already acknowledged the role of local and regional authorities in guideline 12 of the year 2000. Now it is time for all Member States to take up the challenge and ensure local and regional authorities their proper role in the process. 3. 3. A logical consequence of such a set-up would be release by the European Commission of the annual Joint Report and proposals for next year’s guidelines in due time. This would enable these crucial documents to be subject to a comprehensive political debate in both the Committee of Regions and the European Parliament. the ‘Recommendations’ 3. 4. With the introduction of decided by the Council to the individual Member States, a new and important tool co-ordinating the European employment policy has been created. Recommendations provide an oppor- to the tunity for direct attention of importance of the regional and local authorities in combating unemployment. Recommendations must however take account of the different tasks and competence of the regional and local authorities in the individual Member States. the Member States, 3. 5. In accordance with 3. 4, the European Council is invited to instruct the Council and the governments to involve local and regional authorities in the preparation and implementation of the National Action Plans for employment. 3. 1. In order to enable the regional and local authorities to fulfil their role described above, a constructive dialogue should be held between the regional and local authorities and central governments. 3. 6. The Committee of the Regions urges the Portuguese Presidency of the European Union also to include it in the planned ‘high level forum’ to scrutinise the EU’s employment policy prior to the European Council summit in June 2000. Brussels, 12 April 2000. The President of the Committee of the Regions Jos CHABERT