France's management of the ESF

15.9.2015

Question for written answer E-012784-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
José Bové (Verts/ALE)

In France many of the bodies tasked with bringing people into employment have been complaining about the opaque rules governing access to the European Social Fund (ESF).

National decrees, including the one specifying the share of employment support funding, have not been published even though calls for projects have been launched. The publication of calls for projects are being delayed, while application times are ever shorter. State aid figures are being published with no indication of their eligibility for ESF co-financing. Under such conditions, calling for ESF funding is a risky balancing act for employment support organisations.

Given this critical situation, what does the Commission intend to do to ensure that the Fund is managed fairly and transparently and made accessible to such organisations for which it is so essential?

Is France not obliged to publish clear and definitive rules governing the allocation of ESF funds?