Activities of Kinga GÖNCZ related to 2011/0268(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Common provisions on European funds - European Social Fund - European Regional Development Fund and the 'investment for growth and jobs' goal - European Regional Development Fund and the 'European territorial cooperation' goal - Cohesion Fund - European grouping of territorial cooperation (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Social Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1081/2006 PDF (792 KB) DOC (1 MB)
Amendments (32)
Amendment 54 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) The ESF should improve employment opportunities, promote education and life- long learning, fight against poverty and social exclusion and develop active inclusion policies in accordance with the tasks entrusted to the ESF by Article 162 of the Treaty, and thereby contribute to economic, social and territorial cohesion in accordance with Article 174 of the Treaty. In accordance with Article 9 of the Treaty, the ESF should take into account requirements linked to the promotion of a high level of employment, the guarantee of adequate social protection, the fight against social exclusion, and a high level of education, training and protection of human health.
Amendment 61 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The European Council of 17 June 2010 called for all common policies, including cohesion policy, to support the Europe 2020 Strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth‘. In order to ensure the full alignment of the ESF with the objectives of this strategy, particularly as regards employment, education, and the fight against poverty and social exclusion, the ESF should support Member States in implementing the Council recommendations on broad guidelines for economic policies of the Member States and the Union and the Council decisions on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States adopted in accordance with Articles 121 and 148(4) of the Treaty. It should also contribute to the implementation of the flagship initiatives, with special regard to the ’Agenda for New Skills and Jobs‘, ’Youth on the Move‘, and the ’European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion‘. It will also support the activities in the ’Digital Agenda‘ and the ’Innovation Union‘17 initiatives.
Amendment 71 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The European Union is confronted with structural challenges arising from economic globalisation, technological change and an increasingly ageing workforce and growing skills and labour shortages in some sectors and regions. They have been compounded by the recent economic and financial crisis, which has resulted in increased levels of unemployment, hitting in particular young people and other vulnerable groups, such as migrants and people living in disadvantaged microregions. The ESF should aim to promote decent employment and support labour mobility, invest in education, skills and life-long learning, promote social inclusion and combat poverty. In promoting the better functioning of labour markets by enhancing the transnational geographical mobility of workers, the ESF should, in particular, support European Employment Services (EURES activities) in relation to recruitment and the related information, advice and guidance services at national and cross-border level.
Amendment 75 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) In addition to these priorities, in the less developed regions and Member States, and with a view to increasing economic growth and employment opportunities, the efficiency of public administration should be improved and the institutional capacity of stakeholders delivering employment, education and social policies should be strengthenedas well as working in the field of anti-discrimination should be strengthened, with special emphasis on NGOs.
Amendment 89 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8 a (new)
Recital 8 a (new)
(8a) As monitoring and evaluation have vital importance concerning the ESF, an extended and well-founded set of indicators is needed which clearly show where progress has been achieved and also demonstrate areas where the usage of funds has not contributed to the delivery of the goals and objectives. Evaluation of the delivery of goals and objectives should also take into consideration alternative national reports prepared by NGOs. In this respect, not only data concerning employment and education, but also statistics on the different faces of poverty and social exclusion, such as unequal access to information, goods and services, and the changes in the conditions linked to them are needed. These are necessary at Member State level in order to complement Laeken indicators as an approach for poverty mapping. Furthermore, disaggregated data concerning the situation of the Roma are also necessary.
Amendment 96 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Efficient and effective implementation of actions supported by the ESF depends on good governance and partnership between all relevant territorial and socio- economic actors, in particular the social partners and non-governmental organisations. It is therefore necessary that Member States encourage the participation ofinvolve social partners and non- governmental organisations in the programming, implementation of, monitoring and evaluation of the programmes financed by the ESF.
Amendment 103 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) The Member States and the Commission should ensure that the implementation of the priorities financed by the ESF contribute to the promotion of equality between women and men in accordance with Article 8 of the Treaty. Evaluations have shown the importance of taking the gender aspect into account in all dimensions and in all stages of the planning and implementation of programmes, while ensuring that specific actions are taken to promote gender equality.
Amendment 105 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) In accordance with Article 10 of the Treaty, the implementation of the priorities financed by the ESF should contribute to combating discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation and promoting equal opportunities. The ESF should support the fulfilment of the obligation under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities with regard inter alia to education, work and employment and accessibility. The ESF should also promote the transition from institutional to community-based care.
Amendment 114 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) The mobilisation of regional and local stakeholders is necessary to deliver the Europe 2020 Strategy and its headline targets. Territorial pacts, local initiatives for employment and social inclusion, sustainable community-led local development strategies and sustainable urban as well as rural development strategies may be used and supported to involve more actively regional and local authorities, cities, social partners and non- governmental organisations in the implementprogramming, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes.
Amendment 148 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 3
Article 2 – paragraph 3
3. The ESF shall benefit people, including disadvantaged groups such as the long- term unemployed, people with disabilities, migrants, ethnic minorities, marginalised persons and communities and people facing social exclusionother groups of people facing or at risk of poverty and social exclusion, including children, in order to prevent the reproduction of poverty through generations, and young people, in order to tackle youth unemployment. The ESF shall also provide support to enterprises, systems and structures with a view to facilitating their adaptation to new challenges and promoting good governance and the implementation of reforms, in particular in the fields of employment, education and social policies.
Amendment 163 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a – introductory part
(a) Promoting decent employment and supporting labour mobility through:
Amendment 167 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a – point i
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a – point i
(i) Access to employment for job-seekers and inactive people with a targeted support for the long-term unemployed, including local employment initiatives and support for labour mobility;
Amendment 184 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a – point iv
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a – point iv
(iv) Equality between men and women and reconciliation between work, family and private life;
Amendment 201 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a – point vii
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a – point vii
(vii) Modernisation and strengthening of labour market institutions, public and private employment services, including actions to enhance transnational labour mobility;
Amendment 208 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – point i
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – point i
(i) Reducing and preventing early school-leaving drop-out and promoting equal access to goodhigh-quality early-childhood development programs, primary and secondary education as well as informal and non- formal learning opportunities;
Amendment 212 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – point ii
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – point ii
(ii) Improving the quality, efficiency and openness of tertiary and equivalent education with a view to increasing participation and attainment levels and promoting equal access for disadvantaged social groups;
Amendment 216 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – point iii
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point b – point iii
(iii) Enhancing access to lifelong learning, upgrading the skills and competences of the workforce and increasing the labour market relevance of education and training systems, as well as assisting the transition between education, vocational training and employment;
Amendment 241 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c – point i
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c – point i
(i) Active inclusion;: Integrated active inclusion approaches for working age people which support holistic, personalised pathways to inclusion, decent work and social participation (with social, community integration and re-integration measures), contributing to ensure adequate minimum income, equal access to quality services and inclusive labour markets. Ensuring the provision of integrated support to reduce poverty and social exclusion of children and older people.
Amendment 250 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iii
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iii
(iii) Combating discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation and ensuring equal opportunities;
Amendment 251 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iv
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point c – point iv
(iv) EMeasures aimed at breaking the poverty cycle and promoting children's and youth active participation in society, such as by enhancing equal access to affordable, sustainable and high-quality public services, including health care and social services of general interest, early childhood education and childcare services, family support, socially inclusive public education;
Amendment 273 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point d – point ii
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point d – point ii
(ii) Capacity building for stakeholders delivering employment, education and, social policies, public and community services and sectoral and territorial pacts to mobilise for reform at national, regional and local level.
Amendment 290 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall ensure that the strategy and actions set out in the Operational Programmes are consistent and focused on addressing the challenges identified in the National Reform Programmes, and their national strategies aiming at fighting against poverty and social exclusion, such as their National Roma Strategies, National Disability Strategies, National Employment Strategies, Education Strategies etc., and the relevant Council Recommendations made under Article 148(4) of the Treaty, in order to contribute to achieving the headline targets of the Europe 2020 strategy on employment, education and poverty reduction.
Amendment 295 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. At least 20 % of the total ESF resources in each Member State shall be allocated to the thematic objective ‘promoting social inclusion and combating poverty’ set out in Article 9(9) of Regulation (EU) No […]. Prior to the drafting of partnership contracts and Operational Programmes, the Commission and the Member States shall jointly work out guidelines on how the ESF should deliver on the poverty reduction target through integrated and socially inclusive approaches. In the aim of making progress towards the achievement of the poverty reduction target and ensuring a real monitoring on this target, Member States will be required to put the indicators used in the ESF Operational Programmes in line with the ones of the Social OMC. Each year, Member States shall report in their National Reform Programmes underpinned by the National Social Reports and the National Roma Strategies the initiatives taken at national level through the ESF to contribute to the delivery on the poverty reduction target.
Amendment 316 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 5 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Common quantitative and qualitative indicators as set out in the Annex to this Regulation and programme specific indicators shall be used in accordance with Article 24(3) and 87(2)(b)(ii) of Regulation (EU) No […...]. All indicators shall be expressed in absolute numbers.
Amendment 319 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The Commission shall elaborate an extended and well-founded set of indicators, which clearly show where progress has been achieved and also demonstrate areas where the usage of funds has not contributed to the delivery of the Union goals and objectives. The Commission, in cooperation with the Member States, shall compile data concerning the different faces of poverty and social exclusion, such as unequal access to information, goods and services, and the changes needed in the conditions linked to them. Disaggregated data concerning the situation of the Roma shall also be provided.
Amendment 321 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1
Article 6 – paragraph 1
1. The involvement of the social partners and other stakeholders, in particular non- governmental organisations, in the programming, implementation and evaluation of operational programmes, as referred to in Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No […...], may take the form of global grants as defined in Article 1132(7) of Regulation (EU) No […]. In such a case, the operational programme shall identify the part of the programme concerned by the global grant, including an indicative financial allocation from each priority axis to it...] or technical assistance as defined in Articles 108 and 109 of Regulation (EU) No [...]. Member States shall make global grants schemes accessible for small NGOs in all ESF Operational Programmes. In such a case, the operational programme shall identify the part of the programme concerned by the global grant, including an indicative financial allocation from each priority axis to it. Technical Assistance resources shall be made available in all ESF Operational Programmes with a particular support for technical assistance services targeted to NGOs at EU and regional level.
Amendment 343 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3
Article 6 – paragraph 3
3. To encourage adequate participation of and access by non-governmental organisations to actions supported by the ESF, notably in the fields of social inclusion, gender equality and equal opportunities, the managing authorities of an operational programme in a region as defined in Article 82(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No […] or in Member States eligible for Cohesion Fund support shall ensure that an appropriate amount of ESF resources is allocated to capacity-building for non-governmental organisations.
Amendment 347 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7
Article 7
The Member States and the Commission shall promote equality between men and women through mainstreaming as referred to in Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No […] and...], integrating gender perspective to actions under all thematic priorities. Member States shall allocate funding for specific targeted actions as referred to in Article 3(1)(a)(iv), in particular but not exclusively with the aim of increasing the sustainable participation and progress of women in employment, reducing gender- based segregation in the labour market, combating gender stereotypes in education and training, addressing the feminisation of poverty, promoting equal sharing of care responsibilities between women and men, and promoting reconciliation of work, family and personal life for men and women.
Amendment 349 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8
Article 8
The Member States and the Commission shall promote equal opportunities for all, including accessibility for disabled personspeople at risk of discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, through mainstreaming the principle of non-discrimination,equal opportunities as referred to in Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No […...], and through specific actions within the investment priorities as defined in Article 3, and in particular Article 3(1)(c)(ii) and (iii). Such actions shall target people at risk of discrimination and people with disabilities, with a view to increasing their labour market participation, enhancing their social inclusion, reducing inequalities in terms of educational attainment and health status and facilitating the transition from institutional to community-based care, health status and access to high quality public services, improving accessibility for disabled persons, and facilitating the transition from institutional to community-based care, and preventing any kind of segregation. ESF funding must not be spent on any programmes that strengthen social inequalities or segregation (i.e. by creating services that are not accessible for the most disadvantaged members of the community). The effect of ESF investments on equal opportunities, equal access and integration of the marginalized groups has to be examined and reported concerning all Operative Programmes. The Member States shall report ESF- funded initiatives with regard to marginalised Communities and migrants in their National Social Reports annexed to National Reform Programmes. Member States shall detail in their National Roma Strategy the contribution of the ESF to the social-economic integration of Roma people and report annually the initiatives taken in this field in the National Social Reports annexed to the National Reform Programmes.
Amendment 355 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
1. The ESF shall promote social innovation within all areas falling under the scope of the ESF, as defined in Article 3 of this Regulation, in particular with the aim of testing and scaling up innovative, evaluating and then scaling up successful innovative solutions, including bottom-up solutions to address social needs.
Amendment 369 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 2
Article 10 – paragraph 2
2. After a consultation with all relevant stakeholders, including NGOs, Member States may select themes for transnational co-operation from a list proposed by the Commission and endorsed by the ESF Committee.
Amendment 390 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 2
Article 12 – paragraph 2
2. Complementing ERDF interventions as referred to in Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No [ERDF], the ESF may support sustainable urban and rural development through strategies setting out integrated actions to tackle the economic, environmental and social challenges affecting urban areas of cities and rural areas which are listed in the partnership contract. To ensure complementarity with the ERDF and facilitate access to Structural Funds for small NGOs, the ESF may be used as lead fund for integrated social inclusion projects combining social infrastructures and accompanying services in deprived areas.