The European Parliament adopted by 627 votes to 38, with 31 abstentions, a legislative resolution 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).

Parliament adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure, amending the Commission proposal as follows.

Objective

The period of establishment of the European network of Public Employment Services (PES) would be prolonged until 31 December 2027. The network would aim to modernise and strengthen the PES with a view to improving their capacity, the quality of the services they provide, their effectiveness and efficiency.

The network should:

- intensify cooperation between its members and develop joint initiatives for the exchange of information and best practices in all areas of PES operational areas, providing benchmarking and advice, and encouraging innovative initiatives in job placement services;

- contribute to 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;

- continue to intensify its systematic and structural cooperation with other relevant labour market actors, including EU agencies in the area of employment, social policy, gender equality, education and training, as well as social partners and organisations representing vulnerable groups and local and regional authorities.

To this end, the network should support:

- 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;

- improving the functioning and inclusiveness of labour markets;

- gender equality;

- identifying skills shortages and providing information on their extent and areas of concern, and better matching of the skills

Network initiatives

The network should develop and implement EU-wide comparative learning between PES based on concrete data and results in order to compare, according to an appropriate methodology, the performance of their activities in the following areas:

- contribution to reducing unemployment for all age, gender and vulnerable groups;

- 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;

- promote and share best practice 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.

Board of Directors

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

Funding

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. 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.

This Commission staff working document consists of the executive summary of the evaluation accompanying the 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).

The summary outlines the main findings of the evaluation of the Network of European Public Employment Services. The evaluation assesses the state of play and degree of implementation of the Decision establishing the Network and evaluates whether the Network has fulfilled its legal obligations and achieved its objectives. It also draws conclusions and provides for lessons learnt which can shed light on possible future cooperation between European public employment services (PES) post-2020.

The timeframe for the evaluation covers the period from June 2014 until July 2018, while some of the evaluation sources (such as the 2018 annual report) cover a full calendar year.

Assessment activities included consultation (public consultation, targeted consultations, evaluation workshop, case studies), along with desk research and an external study. Targeted stakeholders included representatives from the 32 PES involved in the Network, relevant EU-level organisations and bodies (such as EMCO, EU-level private employment services and temporary work agencies, the European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network), relevant international organisations (such as the ILO, OECD, the World Bank, the World Association of Public Employment Services (WAPES)), the PES Secretariat, contractors, former members of the PES Network or those involved with PES cooperation before 2014.

Main findings

- The evaluation covers the five criteria set out by the Better Regulation requirements, namely relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and EU added value.

- The Decision remains highly relevant for PES.

- The Network’s objectives and initiatives encompass the key areas of PES responsibility and provide a robust framework for the policy and concrete activities of the Network. These objectives enable a flexible approach to addressing priorities for action related to labour market developments.

- The Network has proven that it is an effective vehicle to support national PES in the individual challenges they face and to foster European cooperation.

- The willingness of PES to participate in bench learning and mutual learning, as well as positive feedback from PES demonstrate that the Network outputs are highly efficient.

- There is a good degree of coherence between the Decision and the EU policy framework (for instance with concrete policy initiatives, such as the recommendations on the Youth Guarantee and the integration of long-term unemployed in the labour market).

- The Network has demonstrated flexibility to target new topics, such as the integration of migrants and refugees, the prevention of unemployment and skills shortages.

- It supports national PES in the implementation of country-specific recommendations addressed to Member States in the context of the European Semester on active labour market policies and PES issues.

- The Decision has been successfully implemented and some lessons learnt could be identified.

Further improvements

As potentials to further improve efficiency, the evaluation identifies some areas, such as focusing on smaller and more targeted learning events and the potential for further use of digital solutions.

The evaluation also demonstrates that financial, organisational and expert support from the EU level is essential to ensure the continuous participation of all PES.

This Commission staff working document consists of the evaluation accompanying the 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).

Although not required by the Decision, this evaluation has been undertaken in the interest of good administration and in line with the ‘evaluate first’ principle to take into account the lessons of past EU action and to better design future interventions.

This evaluation assesses the state of play and degree of implementation of the Decision, and whether the Network has fulfilled its legal obligations and achieved its objectives. It covers the five criteria set out by the Better Regulation requirements, namely relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and EU added value.

Relevance

The Decision remains highly relevant for PES. The objectives of the Decision and the initiatives encompass the key areas of PES responsibility and provide a robust framework for the policy and concrete activities of the Network. How PES can contribute to the better functioning of the labour market in the changing world of work has been addressed more prominently in the Network’s work programme over the past years. By providing a broad framework for Network activities, the objectives enable a flexible approach to addressing priorities for action depending on labour market developments.

Effectiveness

The Network has been effective in delivering its initiatives and objectives. PES have taken up the results of PES cooperation, and the PES have increased their level of maturity as organisations. The Network’s effectiveness is illustrated out by the strong endorsement and implementation of the successful bench learning concept, as well as by the success of knowledge sharing through mutual learning events, reports and PES practices.

Efficiency

The Network has been efficient in delivering initiatives and reaching objectives. Some Network activities are difficult to quantify, and four years is also a short period to realise certain gains and make them visible, such as changes in organisational culture. However, the willingness of PES to participate in bench learning and mutual learning events, as well as positive feedback from PES demonstrate that the Network outputs are highly effective and appreciated by all Network members. Overall, less advanced PES have benefited more from participating in the Network in terms of the progress they have made on performance, but advanced PES have also progressed.

Coherence

There is a good degree of consistency between the Decision and the EU policy framework. No duplication of action is observed. The Network has contributed extensively to the implementation of EU relevant policies and initiatives in various areas and by different means, and has established a collective voice and a formal platform in policymaking at EU level, while making contributions to the EU 2020 strategy for jobs, and smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The Network’s contributions have been most extensive in the long-standing issues of implementation of the Youth Guarantee and the integration of the long-term unemployed into the labour market. The Network has also demonstrated flexibility to target new topics such as the integration of migrants and refugees, the prevention of unemployment and addressing skills shortages.

EU value added

An added value of the PES Network has been a structured framework for assessing PES performance and capacity and for facilitating comparisons, peer learning and improvements. The evaluation demonstrates several other results of the Decision that would not have been achieved by voluntary cooperation of national PES. Some important achievements are greater ownership, the provision of individual PES learning and collective mutual learning, ensuring a collective voice and a formal platform in policymaking at EU level, and contributions to the EU2020 objectives. There is potential, however, to develop stronger relationships with social partners, NGOs and ESF managing authorities, and at the international level in order to increase synergies and mutual benefits.

Lessons learnt

Overall, the evaluation shows that the Decision has been successfully implemented and some lessons learnt could be identified. The persisting difficulties that vulnerable groups face when trying to (re-)enter the labour market demonstrate the continued relevance of the objective of supporting vulnerable groups with high unemployment rates.

The evaluation clearly underlines the importance of continued focusing on learning and sharing experiences.

Potentials to further improve efficiency of the Network include focusing on smaller and more targeted learning events and the potential for further use of digital solutions.

The PES are also key actors implementing the European Social Fund, and play an active role in the development of a comprehensive strategy for a policy framework on ALMPs, thereby contributing to the effective and efficient spending of EU funds.

Financial, organisational and expert support from the EU level is essential to ensure the ongoing participation of all PES. Without such support, some countries could face difficulties participating, while commitments to long-term activities could become difficult, and cooperation could be more fragmented in terms of themes.

PURPOSE: to extend the Union-wide network of Public Employment Services (PES) until 31 December 2027.

PROPOSED ACT: Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: Decision No 573/2014/EU of the European Parliament and the Council establishes the European Network of Public Employment Services (the Network) from 17 June 2014 until 31 December 2020.

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.

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/EU shows that the Network has had a positive impact and identifies lessons learned on the basis of the different activities and experiences.

Therefore, 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.

CONTENT: this proposal aims at continuing to reinforce PES capacity, effectiveness and efficiency through providing a platform for comparing their performance at European level, identifying good practices and developing a mutual learning system. It also aims at giving the PES more opportunities to help develop innovative, evidence-based policies.

The objective of the proposal amending Decision No 573/2014/EU is therefore to build upon the positive achievement of the Network demonstrated in the findings of this evaluation while answering the needs and strong support of the Network stakeholders to continue implementing this valuable cooperation beyond 2020. It thereby aims to extend the period of establishment of the Network until 31 December 2027.

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.

Enhanced 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.

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.

Review and application

By September 2026, the Commission shall submit an evaluation on the application of this Decision. In order to ensure a seamless continuation of the activities of the Network, this Decision should apply from 1 January 2021.