REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)

12.12.2018 - (COM(2018)0382 – C8-0232/2018 – 2018/0206(COD)) - ***I

Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
Rapporteur: Verónica Lope Fontagné
Rapporteurs for the opinion (*):
Cristian‑Silviu Buşoi, Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety(*)  Associated committees – Rule 54 of the Rules of Procedure

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)

(COM(2018)0382 – C8-0232/2018 – 2018/0206(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2018)0382),

–  having regard to Article 294(2), and Article 46(d), Article 149, point (a) of Article 153(2), Articles 164 and 168(5), Article 175(3) and Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C8-0232/2018),

–  having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

–  having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 17 October 2018[1],

–  having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of 5 December 2018[2],

–  having regard to Rule 59 of its Rules of Procedure,

–  having regard to the report of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and also the opinions of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, the Committee on Budgets, the Committee on Budgetary Control, the Committee on Regional Development, the Committee on Culture and Education, the Committee on Legal Affairs, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (A8-0461/2018),

1.  Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;

2.  Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;

3.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

Amendment    1 Proposal for a regulation Recital -1 (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(-1)  Pursuant to Article 3 TEU, in establishing an internal market the Union is working for a highly competitive social market economy, aiming at full employment and social progress; promoting equality between women and men, solidarity between generations and protection of the rights of the child; as well as combating social exclusion and discrimination. In accordance with Article 9 TFEU, in defining and implementing its policies and activities, the Union is to take into account requirements linked to, inter alia, 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    2 Proposal for a regulation Recital 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(1)  On 17 November 2017, the European Pillar of Social Rights was jointly proclaimed by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission as a response to social challenges in Europe. The twenty key principles of the pillar are structured around three categories: equal opportunities and access to the labour market; fair working conditions; social protection and inclusion. The twenty principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights should guide the actions under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). In order to contribute to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights the ESF+ should support investments in people and systems in the policy areas of employment, education and social inclusion, thereby supporting economic, territorial and social cohesion in accordance with Article 174 TFEU.	(1)  On 17 November 2017, the European Pillar of Social Rights was jointly proclaimed by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission as a response to social challenges in Europe. The twenty key principles of the pillar are structured around three categories: equal opportunities and access to the labour market; fair working conditions; social protection and inclusion. The twenty principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights should guide the actions under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). In order to contribute to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights the ESF+ should support investments in people and systems in the policy areas of employment, public services, health, education and social inclusion, thereby supporting economic, territorial and social cohesion in accordance with Articles 174 and 175 TFEU. All actions under the ESF+ should respect the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (the Charter), the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and have regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to which the European Union and all its Member States are parties.
Amendment    3 Proposal for a regulation Recital 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(2)  At Union level, the European Semester of economic policy coordination is the framework to identify national reform priorities and monitor their implementation. Member States develop their own national multiannual investment strategies in support of those reform priorities. Those strategies should be presented alongside the yearly National Reform Programmes as a way to outline and coordinate priority investment projects to be supported by national and/or Union funding. They should also serve to use Union funding in a coherent manner and to maximise the added value of the financial support to be received notably from the programmes supported by the Union under the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, the European Investment Stabilisation Function and InvestEU, where relevant.	(2)  At Union level, the European Semester of economic policy coordination is the framework to identify national reform priorities and monitor their implementation. Member States develop their own national multiannual investment strategies in support of those reform priorities. Those strategies should be developed in partnership between national, regional and local authorities, include a gender perspective and be presented alongside the yearly National Reform Programmes as a way to outline and coordinate priority investment projects to be supported by national and/or Union funding. They should also serve to use Union funding in a coherent manner and to maximise the added value of the financial support to be received notably from the programmes supported by the Union under the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, the European Investment Stabilisation Function and InvestEU, where relevant.
Amendment    4 Proposal for a regulation Recital 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(3)  The Council of […] adopted revised guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States to align the text with the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights, with a view to improving Europe’s competitiveness and making it a better place to invest, create jobs and foster social cohesion. In order to ensure the full alignment of the ESF+ with the objectives of these guidelines, particularly as regards employment, education, training and the fight against social exclusion, poverty and discrimination, the ESF+ should support Member States, taking account of the relevant Integrated Guidelines and relevant country-specific recommendations adopted in accordance with Article 121(2) TFEU and Article 148(4) TFEU and, where appropriate, at national level, the national reform programmes underpinned by national strategies. The ESF+ should also contribute to relevant aspects of the implementation of key Union initiatives and activities, in particular the “Skills Agenda for Europe” and the European Education Area, relevant Council Recommendations and other initiatives such as the Youth Guarantee, Upskilling Pathways and on Integration of the long-term unemployed.	(3)  The Guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States adopted by the Council in accordance with Article 148(2) TFEU, namely: boosting the demand for labour; enhancing labour supply: access to employment, skills and competences; enhancing the functioning of labour markets and the effectiveness of social dialogue and promoting equal opportunities for all, fostering social inclusion and combatting poverty, including improved public services in the health and other sectors, together with the broad economic guidelines adopted in accordance with Article 121(2) form part of the Integrated Guidelines underpinning the Europe 2020 Strategy. The Council of […] adopted revised guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States to align them with the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights, with a view to, stimulate creation of jobs and foster social cohesion, thus improving Europe’s competitiveness and making the Union a better place to invest. In order to ensure the full alignment of the ESF+ with the objectives of the Guidelines for the employment policies, Member States should plan support under the ESF+ relevant to them, taking account of those Guidelines , as well as of relevant country-specific recommendations adopted in accordance with Article 148(4) and Article 121(2) TFEU and, at national level, the employment and social aspects of the national reform programmes underpinned by national strategies. The ESF+ should also contribute to relevant aspects of the implementation of key Union initiatives and activities, in particular the “Skills Agenda for Europe” and the European Education Area, the Youth Guarantee and other relevant Council Recommendations and other initiatives such as Investing in children: breaking the cycle of disadvantage, the Upskilling Pathways, on Integration of the long-term unemployed, a Quality Framework for Traineeships and Apprenticeships and the Action Plan on the integration of third-country nationals.
Amendment    5 Proposal for a regulation Recital 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(4)  On 20 June 2017, the Council endorsed the Union response to the ‘UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ - a sustainable European future. The Council underlined the importance of achieving sustainable development across the three dimensions (economic, social and environmental), in a balanced and integrated way. It is vital that sustainable development is mainstreamed into all Union internal and external policy areas, and that the Union is ambitious in the policies it uses to address global challenges. The Council welcomed the Commission Communication on “Next steps for a sustainable European future” of 22 November 2016 as a first step in mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals and applying sustainable development as an essential guiding principle for all Union policies, including through its financing instruments.	(4)  On 20 June 2017, the Council endorsed the Union response to the ‘UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ - a sustainable European future. The Council underlined the importance of achieving sustainable development across the three dimensions (economic, social and environmental), in a balanced and integrated way. It is vital that sustainable development is mainstreamed into all Union internal and external policy areas, and that the Union is ambitious in the policies it uses to address global challenges. The Council welcomed the Commission Communication on “Next steps for a sustainable European future” of 22 November 2016 as a first step in mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals and applying sustainable development as an essential guiding principle for all Union policies, including through its financing instruments. The ESF+ should contribute to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals by, inter alia, eradicating extreme forms of poverty (goal 1); promoting quality and inclusive education (goal 4); promoting gender equality (goal 5); promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all (goal 8); and reducing inequality (goal 10).
Amendment    6 Proposal for a regulation Recital 4 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(4a)  The Union and its Member States, having in mind the European Social Charter signed at Turin on 18 October 1961, should have in their objectives the promotion of employment, improved living and working conditions, with a view to lasting high levels of employment and combating exclusion, in accordance with Article 151 TFEU.
Amendment    7 Proposal for a regulation Recital 4 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(4b)  European society continues to face a range of social challenges. Over 100 million people are at risk of poverty and social exclusion, the youth unemployment rate is still over double the general unemployment rate and there is a need for better integration of third-country nationals. Those challenges not only threaten the well-being of the persons directly concerned, but also place economic and social pressure on European society as a whole.
Amendment    8 Proposal for a regulation Recital 5
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(5)  The Union is confronted with structural challenges arising from economic globalisation, the management of migration flows and the increased security threat, clean energy transition, technological change and an increasingly ageing workforce and growing skills and labour shortages in some sectors and regions, experienced especially by SMEs. Taking into account the changing realities of the world of work, the Union should be prepared for the current and future challenges by investing in relevant skills, making growth more inclusive and by improving employment and social policies, including in view of labour mobility.	(5)  The Union is confronted with structural challenges arising from economic globalisation, social inequalities, the management of migration flows and related integration challenges, clean energy and just transition, technological change, demographic decline, unemployment in general and youth unemployment and an increasingly ageing society and workforce and growing skills shortages and labour shortages in some sectors and regions, experienced especially by SMEs. Taking into account the changing realities of the world of work, the Union should be prepared for the current and future challenges by investing in relevant skills, education, training and lifelong learning making growth more inclusive and by improving competences and knowledge, employment and social policies, including in view of labour mobility of Union citizens and addressing increasing health inequalities between and within Member States.
Amendment    9 Proposal for a regulation Recital 6
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(6)  Regulation (EU) No […] establishes the framework for action by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), the Cohesion Fund, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), the Asylum and Migration Fund (AMIF), Internal Security Fund (ISF) and the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI) as a part of the Integrated Border Management Fund (IBMF), and lays down, in particular, the policy objectives and the rules concerning programming, monitoring and evaluation, management and control for Union funds implemented under shared management. It is therefore necessary to specify the general objectives of the ESF+, and to lay down specific provisions concerning the type of activities that may be financed by the ESF+.	(6)  Regulation (EU) No […] establishes the framework for action by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), the Cohesion Fund, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), the Asylum and Migration Fund (AMIF), Internal Security Fund (ISF) and the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI) as a part of the Integrated Border Management Fund (IBMF), and lays down, in particular, the policy objectives and the rules concerning programming, monitoring and evaluation, management and control for Union funds implemented under shared management. It is therefore necessary to specify the general objectives of the ESF+ and its coordination with other funds, and to lay down specific provisions concerning the type of activities that may be financed by the ESF+.
Amendment    10 Proposal for a regulation Recital 7
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(7)  Regulation (EU, Euratom) No [the new FR] (the ‘Financial Regulation’) lays down rules on the implementation of the Union budget, including the rules on grants, prizes, procurement, indirect implementation, financial assistance, financial instruments and budgetary guarantees. In order to ensure coherence in the implementation of Union funding programmes, the Financial Regulation is to apply to the actions to be implemented in direct or indirect management under the ESF+.	(7)  Regulation (EU, Euratom) No [the new FR] (the ‘Financial Regulation’) lays down rules on the implementation of the Union budget, including the rules on grants, prizes, procurement, indirect implementation, financial assistance, financial instruments and budgetary guarantees and synergies between financial instruments. In order to ensure coherence in the implementation of Union funding programmes, the Financial Regulation is to apply to the actions to be implemented in direct or indirect management under the ESF+. This Regulation should specify the operational objectives and lay down the specific provisions concerning the eligible actions that may be financed by the ESF+ under direct and indirect management.
Amendment    11 Proposal for a regulation Recital 8
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(8)  The types of financing and the methods of implementation under this Regulation should be chosen on the basis of their ability to achieve the specific objectives of the actions and to deliver results, taking into account, in particular, the costs of controls, the administrative burden, and the expected risk of non-compliance. For grants, this should include consideration of the use of lump sums, flat rates and unit costs, as well as financing not linked to costs as envisaged in Article 125(1) of the Financial Regulation. To implement measures linked to the socio-economic integration of third country nationals, and in accordance with Article 88 of the Common Provisions Regulation, the Commission may reimburse Member States using simplified cost options including the use of lump sums.	(8)  The types of financing and the methods of implementation under this Regulation should be chosen on the basis of their ability to achieve the specific objectives of the actions and to deliver results, taking into account, in particular, the costs of controls, the administrative burden, and the expected risk of non-compliance. For grants, this should include consideration of the use of lump sums, flat rates and unit costs, as well as financing not linked to costs as envisaged in Article 125(1) of the Financial Regulation. To implement measures linked to the socio-economic inclusion of third country nationals, and in accordance with Article 88 of the Common Provisions Regulation, the Commission may reimburse Member States using simplified cost options including the use of lump sums.
Amendment    12 Proposal for a regulation Recital 9
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(9)  In order to streamline and simplify the funding landscape and create additional opportunities for synergies through integrated funding approaches, the actions which were supported by the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (‘FEAD’), the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Innovation and the Programme for the Union’s action in the field of health should be integrated into one ESF+. The ESF+ should therefore include three strands: the ESF+ strand under shared management, the Employment and Social Innovation strand, and the Health strand. This should contribute to reducing the administrative burden linked to the management of different funds, in particular for Member States, whilst maintaining simpler rules for simpler operations such as the distribution of food and/or basic material assistance.	(9)  In order to streamline and simplify the funding landscape and create additional opportunities for synergies through integrated funding approaches, the actions which were supported by the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (‘FEAD’), the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Innovation and the Programme for the Union's action in the field of health should be integrated into one ESF+. The ESF+ should therefore include three strands: the ESF+ strand under shared management, the Employment and Social Innovation strand, and the Health strand under direct and indirect management. This should contribute to reducing the administrative burden linked to the management of different funds, in particular for Member States and beneficiaries, whilst maintaining simpler rules for simpler operations such as the distribution of food and/or basic material assistance.
Amendment    13 Proposal for a regulation Recital 10
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(10)  In view of this wider scope of the ESF+ it is appropriate to foresee that the aims to enhance the effectiveness of labour markets and promote access to quality employment, to improve the access to and the quality of education and training as well as to promote social inclusion and health and to reduce poverty are not only implemented under shared management, but also under direct and indirect management under the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands for actions required at Union level.	(10)  The Union should contribute to the employment policies of the Member States by encouraging cooperation and by complementing their actions. In view of this wider scope of the ESF+ it is appropriate to foresee that the aims to enhance the effectiveness of inclusive, open and fair labour markets for all genders and promote access to quality employment, to improve the access to and the quality of education and training, to aid reintegration into education systems and to promote lifelong learning, as well as to promote social inclusion and health and to eradicate poverty will continue to be implemented mainly under shared management, and where appropriate, complemented under direct and indirect management under the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands for actions required at Union level.
Amendment    14 Proposal for a regulation Recital 11
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(11)  The integration of the Programme for the Union's action in the field of health with the ESF+ will also create synergies between the developments and testing of initiatives and policies to improve the effectiveness, resilience and sustainability of health systems developed by the Health strand of the ESF+ Programme and their implementation in the Member States by the tools provided by the other strands of the ESF+ Regulation.	(11)  The integration of the Programme for the Union's action in the field of health with the ESF+ will also create synergies between the developments and testing of initiatives and policies to improve the effectiveness, accessibility, resilience and sustainability of health systems developed by the Health strand of the ESF+ Programme and their implementation in the Member States at national, regional and local level by the tools provided by the other strands of the ESF+ Regulation.
Amendment    15 Proposal for a regulation Recital 12
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(12)  This Regulation lays down a financial envelope for the ESF+. Parts of this financial envelope should be used for actions to be implemented in direct and indirect management under the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands.	(12)  This Regulation lays down a financial envelope for the ESF+. It should specify the allocations for activities to be implemented under shared management and the allocations for actions to be implemented in direct and indirect management.
Amendment    16 Proposal for a regulation Recital 13
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(13)  The ESF+ should aim to promote employment through active interventions enabling (re)integration into the labour market, notably for youth, the long-term unemployed and the inactive, as well as through promoting self–employment and the social economy. The ESF+ should aim to improve the functioning of labour markets by supporting the modernisation of labour market institutions such as the Public Employment Services in order to improve their capacity to provide intensified targeted counselling and guidance during the job search and the transition to employment and to enhance workers’ mobility. The ESF+ should promote women’s participation in the labour market through measures aiming to ensure, amongst others, improved work/life balance and access to childcare. The ESF + should also aim to provide a healthy and well-adapted working environment in order to respond to health risks related to changing forms of work and the needs of the ageing workforce.	(13)  The ESF+, in close cooperation with the Member States, should aim to promote employment through active interventions enabling the integration and re-integration into the labour market, notably for youth, the long-term unemployed, carers, the economically inactive and disadvantaged groups, as well as through promoting self–employment, entrepreneurship, and the social economy. The ESF+ should aim to improve employment policies and the functioning of labour markets by supporting the modernisation of labour market institutions such as the Public Employment Services in order to improve their capacity to provide intensified targeted and personalised, where suitable, counselling and guidance during the job search and the transition to employment, with special attention to disadvantaged groups and to facilitate workers’ mobility, and to deliver their service in a non-discriminatory manner. The ESF+ should promote women’s participation in the labour market through measures aiming to ensure, amongst others, improved work/life balance and easy access to affordable or free quality childcare, eldercare and other care services or support of high quality. The ESF + should also aim to provide a safe, healthy and well-adapted working environment in order to respond to health risks related to work as well as to changing forms of work and the needs of the ageing workforce. The ESF+ should also support measures aimed to facilitate the transition of young people from education to employment.
Amendment    17 Proposal for a regulation Recital 13 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(13a)  With a view to supporting and unlocking the job creation potential in the social economy, the ESF+ should contribute to improving the integration of social economy enterprises in national employment and social innovation plans, and in their National Reform Programmes. The definition of a social economy enterprise should follow the definitions given in the Member States’ social economy law and in the Council Conclusions of 7 December 2015 on the promotion of the social economy as a key driver of economic and social development in Europe.
Amendment    18 Proposal for a regulation Recital 14
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(14)  The ESF+ should provide support to improving the quality, effectiveness and labour market relevance of education and training systems in order to facilitate the acquisition of key competences notably as regards digital skills which all individuals need for personal fulfilment and development, employment, social inclusion and active citizenship. The ESF+ should help progression within education and training and transition to work, support lifelong learning and employability, and contribute to competitiveness and societal and economic innovation by supporting scalable and sustainable initiatives in these fields. This could be achieved for example through work-based learning and apprenticeships, lifelong guidance, skills anticipation in cooperation with industry, up-to-date training materials, forecasting and graduate tracking, training of educators, validation of learning outcomes and recognition of qualifications.	(14)  Given that the ESF+ is the main Union instrument focusing on employment, skills and social inclusion it is essential that it is able to contribute to social, economic, and territorial cohesion in all parts of the Union. To that end it should provide support to improving the quality, non-discriminatory nature, accessibility, inclusiveness, effectiveness and labour market relevance of education and training systems in order to facilitate the acquisition of key competences notably as regards language skills, entrepreneurial and digital skills, including data protection and information governance skills, which all individuals need for personal fulfilment and development, employment, social inclusion and active citizenship. In case of the long-term unemployed and people coming from a disadvantaged social background, special attention should be paid to empower them. The ESF+ should help progression within education and training and transition to work and reintegration to work, support lifelong learning and employability of all, and contribute to inclusiveness, competitiveness, the reduction of horizontal and vertical segregation, and societal and economic innovation by supporting scalable and sustainable initiatives in these fields. This could be achieved for example through investments in vocational education, work-based learning and apprenticeships, focusing in particular on the proven dual system combining teaching and work experience, lifelong guidance, skills anticipation in cooperation with the social partners, up-to-date training materials, forecasting and graduate tracking, training of educators, support for informal and non-formal learning, validation of learning outcomes and recognition of qualifications. The ESF+ should also promote access to the teaching profession by minorities, aiming at a better integration of marginalised communities, such as the Roma, minorities and migrants.
Amendment    19 Proposal for a regulation Recital 14 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(14a)  The ESF+ should provide support to measures included in Member States' national plans aiming to eradicate energy poverty and to promote energy efficiency in buildings among vulnerable households, including those affected by energy poverty and, where appropriate, in social housing, in line with the Commission Communication entitled ‘The European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion: A European framework for social and territorial cohesion’ and in accordance with Regulation (XX/XX) of the European Parliament and Council on the Governance Energy Union and Directive (XX/XX) of the European Parliament and Council amending Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency.
Amendment    20 Proposal for a regulation Recital 14 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(14b)  In the future the allocation of ESF+ funding to Member States should be made contingent on provision of proof of effective involvement in projects to introduce or enhance, in the context of the Youth Guarantee, the dual system combining teaching and work experience.
Amendment    21 Proposal for a regulation Recital 15
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(15)  Support through the ESF+ should be used to promote equal access for all, in particular for disadvantaged groups, to quality, non-segregated and inclusive education and training, from early childhood education and care through general and vocational education and training and to tertiary level, as well as adult education and learning, thereby fostering permeability between education and training sectors, preventing early school leaving, improving health literacy, reinforcing links with non-formal and informal learning and facilitating learning mobility for all. Synergies with the Erasmus programme, notably to facilitate the participation of disadvantaged learners in learning mobility, should be supported within this context.	(15)  Support through the ESF+ should be used to promote equal access for all, in particular for disadvantaged groups, to quality, non-segregated and inclusive education and training, from early childhood education and care, paying special attention to children coming from a disadvantaged social background, such as children in institutional care and children experiencing homelessness, through general and vocational education and training and to tertiary level and re-integration into the education system, as well as adult education and learning, thereby preventing the transmission of poverty through generations, fostering permeability between education and training sectors, reducing and preventing early school leaving and social exclusion, improving health literacy, reinforcing links with non-formal and informal learning and facilitating learning mobility for all. Those forms of informal learning should not replace access to regular education, particularly pre-school and primary education. Synergies, complementarity and policy coherence with the Erasmus programme should be established in this context in order to properly and actively reach out and to prepare disadvantaged learners for mobility experiences abroad and increase their participation in cross-border learning mobility.
Amendment    22 Proposal for a regulation Recital 15 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(15a)  Support under the investment priority "community-led local development" contributes to the objectives as set out in this Regulation. Community-led local development strategies supported by the ESF+ should be inclusive with regard to disadvantaged people present on the territory, both in terms of governance of local action groups and in terms of content of the strategy. The ESF should be able to support community-led local development strategies in urban and rural areas, as well as integrated territorial investments (ITI).
Amendment    23 Proposal for a regulation Recital 15 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(15b)  The added value of the Union cohesion policy lies particularly in the place-based territorial dimension approach, the multilevel governance, the multiannual planning and shared and measurable objectives, the integrated development approach and the convergence towards European standards in administrative capabilities.
Amendment    24 Proposal for a regulation Recital 15 c (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(15c)  The Commission and the Member States should ensure that gender equality and the integration of the gender perspective is a binding principle in all phases of programming, from shaping the priorities of the operational programmes to the implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and that key actions for gender mainstreaming receive support.
Amendment    25 Proposal for a regulation Recital 15 d (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(15d)  The ESF+ should support educational schemes that offer adults with a low level of skills the possibility to acquire a minimum level of literacy, numeracy and digital competence in line with the Council Recommendation of 19 December 2016 on Upskilling Pathways: New Opportunities for Adults1a.
	__________________
	1a OJ C 484, 24.12.2016, p. 1.
Amendment    26 Proposal for a regulation Recital 16
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(16)  The ESF+ should promote flexible upskilling and reskilling opportunities for all, notably digital skills and key enabling technologies, with a view to providing people with skills adjusted to digitalisation, technological change, innovation and social and economic change, facilitating career transitions, mobility and supporting in particular low-skilled and/or poorly qualified adults, in line with the Skills Agenda for Europe.	(16)  The ESF+ should promote flexible upskilling and reskilling opportunities for all, taking into consideration the challenges of different disadvantaged groups, notably entrepreneurial and digital skills and key enabling technologies, with a view to providing people and local communities with skills, competences and knowledge adjusted to digitalisation, technological change, innovation and social and economic change, such as the ones induced by the transition to a low carbon economy, facilitating the transition from education to employment, mobility and supporting in particular, low-skilled, persons with disabilities and/or poorly qualified adults, in line with the Skills Agenda for Europe and in coordination and complementarity with the Digital Europe Programme.
Amendment    27 Proposal for a regulation Recital 17
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(17)  Synergies with the Horizon Europe programme should ensure that the ESF+ can mainstream and scale up innovative curricula supported by Horizon Europe in order to equip people with the skills and competences needed for the jobs of the future.	(17)  Synergies with the Horizon Europe programme should ensure that the ESF+ can mainstream and scale up innovative curricula supported by Horizon Europe in order to equip people with the skills and competences needed for their personal and professional development and for the jobs of the future and to address current and future societal challenges. The Commission should ensure synergies between the Health Strand and the Horizon Europe programme in order to boost the results achieved in the area of health protection and diseases prevention.
Amendment    28 Proposal for a regulation Recital 17 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(17a)  Synergies with the Rights and Values programme should ensure that ESF+ can mainstream and scale up actions to prevent and combat discrimination, racism, xenophobia, anti-semitism, islamophobia and other forms of intolerance, as well as devoting specific actions to prevent hatred, segregation and stigmatisation, including bullying, harassment and intolerant treatment.
Amendment    29 Proposal for a regulation Recital 17 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(17b)  The synergies created thanks to European territorial cooperation at regional and cross-border levels have also resulted in cooperation projects to improve employment, inclusion of the most vulnerable sections of the population, demographic challenges, health and education, not only in the Union but also with countries in the pre-accession phase and in neighbouring countries, where Union cooperation provides added value. The ESF+ should improve funding for projects of this type and ensure the transfer of knowledge between them and the legislative process to improve the European regulatory framework and promote the sharing of good practices between the territories of the Union.
Amendment    30 Proposal for a regulation Recital 18
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(18)  The ESF+ should support Member States’ efforts to tackle poverty with a view to breaking the cycle of disadvantage across generations and promote social inclusion by ensuring equal opportunities for all, tackling discrimination and addressing health inequalities. This implies mobilising a range of policies targeting the most disadvantaged people regardless of their age, including children, marginalised communities such as the Roma, and the working poor. The ESF+ should promote the active inclusion of people far from the labour market with a view to ensuring their socio-economic integration. The ESF+ should be also used to enhance timely and equal access to affordable, sustainable and high quality services such as healthcare and long-term care, in particular family and community-based care services. The ESF+ should contribute to the modernisation of social protection systems with a view in particular to promoting their accessibility.	(18)  The ESF+ should support Member States’ efforts at all levels of government, including at regional and local level, to eradicate poverty, including energy poverty as provided for in the recently adopted rules on the Governance of the Energy Union [substitute number of the Regulation once published], with a view to breaking the cycle of disadvantage across generations and promote social inclusion by ensuring equal opportunities for all, reducing barriers, fighting discrimination and addressing social and health inequalities. This implies also, but is not limited to, mobilising a range of pro-active and reactive policies and strategies targeting the most disadvantaged people regardless of their age, including children, marginalised communities such as the Roma, persons with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, third-country nationals, including migrants and the working poor. The ESF+ should promote the active inclusion of people far from the labour market with a view to ensuring their socio-economic integration, including through targeted support to the social economy. Member States should promote ESF+ actions that complement national measures in line with the Commission Recommendation of 3 October 2008 on the active inclusion of people excluded from the labour market1a including measures on adequate income support. The ESF+ should be also used to enhance timely and equal access to affordable, sustainable and high quality services such as person-centred healthcare, related care and long-term care, in particular family and community-based care services and services guiding access to adequate, social and affordable housing services. This includes health promotion and diseases prevention services as part of primary healthcare services. The ESF+ should contribute to the modernisation of social protection systems with a view in particular to promoting their accessibility, inclusiveness, and effectiveness in responding to the changing realities of world of work. The ESF+ should also address rural poverty stemming from the specific disadvantages of rural areas, such as an unfavourable demographic situation, a weak labour market, limited access to education and training services, or healthcare and social services.
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	1a Commission Recommendation of 3 October 2008 on the active inclusion of people excluded from the labour market (OJ L 307, 18.11.2008, p. 11).
Amendment    31 Proposal for a regulation Recital 19
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(19)  The ESF+ should contribute to the reduction of poverty by supporting national schemes aiming to alleviate food and material deprivation and promote social integration of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion and the most deprived. With a view that at Union level at least 4% of the resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management supports the most deprived, Member States should allocate at least 2% of their national resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management to address the forms of extreme poverty with the greatest social exclusion impact, such as homelessness, child poverty and food deprivation. Due to the nature of the operations and the type of end recipients, it is necessary that simpler rules apply to support which addresses material deprivation of the most deprived.	(19)  The ESF+ should contribute to poverty eradication by supporting national schemes aiming to alleviate food and material deprivation and promote social integration of people experiencing or at risk of poverty or social exclusion and the most deprived. Member States should allocate at least 3% of their national resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management to combat the forms of extreme poverty with the greatest social exclusion impact, such as homelessness, child poverty, old-age poverty and food deprivation. Due to the nature of the operations and the type of end recipients, it is necessary that the simplest possible rules apply to support which addresses material deprivation of the most deprived.
Amendment    32 Proposal for a regulation Recital 19 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(19a)  ESF+ should aim to address the poverty among elderly women across the Union, taking into account that the gender pension gap, standing at 40%, constitutes an acute risk for worsening levels of poverty among older women, especially those living without a partner, thus following up on the commitments made in the 2015 ‘Council conclusions on equal income opportunities for women and men: closing the gender gap in pensions’1a. Poverty among elder women is also exacerbated by the rising out-of-pocket costs for health care and medicines that have to be borne by the elderly patients, especially women who spend a larger proportion of their lifespan in ill health than men mostly due to longer life expectancy.
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	1a http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-9302-2015-INIT/en/pdf.
Amendment    33 Proposal for a regulation Recital 19 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(19b)  In order to eradicate poverty and ensure greater social inclusion, the ESF+ should promote the active participation of specialised NGOs and organisations representing people living in poverty both in the preparation and in the implementation of the programmes dedicated to this.
Amendment    34 Proposal for a regulation Recital 20
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(20)  In light of the persistent need to enhance efforts to address the management of the migration flows in the Union as a whole and in order to ensure a coherent, strong and consistent support to the solidarity and responsibility-sharing efforts, the ESF+ should provide support to promote the socio-economic integration of third country nationals complementary to the actions financed under the Asylum and Migration Fund.	(20)  In light of the persistent need to enhance efforts to address the management of the migration flows in the Union as a whole and in order to ensure a coherent, strong and consistent support to the solidarity and fair responsibility-sharing efforts, the ESF+ should provide support to promote the socio-economic integration of third country nationals, including migrants, which may include initiatives at local level, complementary to the actions financed under the Asylum and Migration Fund, the European Regional Development Fund and those funds which can have a positive effect on the inclusion of third-country nationals.
Amendment    35 Proposal for a regulation Recital 20 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(20a)  The authorities of the Member States responsible for planning and implementing the ESF+ should coordinate with the authorities designated by Member States to manage the interventions of the Asylum and Migration Fund in order to promote the integration of third-country nationals at all levels in the best possible way through strategies implemented mainly by local and regional authorities and non-governmental organisations and by the most appropriate measures tailored to the particular situation of the third-country nationals. The scope of the integration measures should focus on third-country nationals legally residing in a Member State or where appropriate in the process of acquiring legal residence in a Member State, including beneficiaries of international protection.
Amendment    36 Proposal for a regulation Recital 21
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(21)  The ESF+ should support policy and system reforms in the fields of employment, social inclusion, healthcare and long-term care, and education and training. In order to strengthen alignment with the European Semester, Member States should allocate an appropriate amount of their resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management to implement relevant country-specific recommendations relating to structural challenges which it is appropriate to address through multiannual investments falling within the scope of the ESF+. The Commission and the Member States should ensure coherence, coordination and complementarity between the shared-management and Health strands of ESF+ and the Reform Support Programme, including the Reform Delivery Tool and the Technical Support Instrument. In particular, the Commission and the Member State should ensure, in all stages of the process, effective coordination in order to safeguard the consistency, coherence, complementarity and synergy among sources of funding, including technical assistance thereof.	(21)  The ESF+ should support policy and system reforms in the fields of employment, social inclusion, poverty eradication, healthcare and long-term care, and education and training. In order to strengthen alignment with the European Semester Member States should allocate an appropriate amount of their resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management to implement relevant country-specific recommendations relating to structural challenges, which it is appropriate to address through multiannual investments falling within the scope of the ESF+. The Commission and the Member States should involve local and regional authorities to ensure coherence, coordination and complementarity between the shared-management and Health strands of ESF+ and the Reform Support Programme, including the Reform Delivery Tool and the Technical Support Instrument. In particular, the Commission and the Member State should ensure, in all stages of the process, effective coordination in order to safeguard the consistency, coherence, complementarity and synergy among sources of funding, including technical assistance thereof, taking into account principles and rights set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights, the Social Scoreboard under the European Semester, the ILO Decent Work Agenda, and regional specificities thereby contributing to the goals of the Union set out in Article 174 TFEU as regards to strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion.
Amendment    37 Proposal for a regulation Recital 21 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(21a)  Given the diversity of the level of development in the regions and different social realities across the Union, the degree of flexibility of the ESF+ should be sufficient to take the regional and territorial specificities into account.
Amendment    38 Proposal for a regulation Recital 22
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(22)  To ensure that the social dimension of Europe as set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights is duly put forward and that a minimum amount of resources is targeting those most in need Member States should allocate at least 25% of their national ESF+ resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management to fostering social inclusion.	(22)  To ensure that the social dimension of Europe as set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights is duly put forward and that a minimum amount of resources is targeting those most in need Member States should allocate at least 27% of their national ESF+ resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management to fostering social inclusion and poverty eradication. That percentage should be complementary to the national resources to address extreme poverty.
Amendment    39 Proposal for a regulation Recital 22 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(22a)  All Member States have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which constitutes the standard in the promotion and protection of the rights of the child. The promotion of children’s rights is an explicit objective of Union policies (Article 3 of the Lisbon Treaty), and the Charter requires the best interests of the child to be a primary consideration in all Union action. The Union and Member States should make appropriate use of the ESF+ to break the cycle of disadvantage for children living in poverty and social exclusion, as defined in the 2013 Commission Recommendation Investing in children. The ESF+ should support actions promoting effective interventions that contribute to the realisation of children’s rights.
Amendment    40 Proposal for a regulation Recital 22 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(22b)  In light of the persistently high level of child poverty and social exclusion in the Union (26,4 % in 2017), and the European Pillar of Social Rights which states that children have the right to protection from poverty, and children from disadvantaged backgrounds have the rights to specific measures to enhance equal opportunities, Member States should allocate at least 5 % of ESF+ resources under shared management to the European Child Guarantee scheme in order to contribute to children’s equal access to free healthcare, free education, free childcare, decent housing and adequate nutrition for the eradication of child poverty and social exclusion. Investing early in children yields significant returns for these children and society as a whole and is crucial to break the cycle of disadvantage in early years. Supporting children to develop skills and capabilities enables them to develop their full potential, brings them the best educational and health outcomes, and helps them to become active members of society and to increase their chances on the labour market as young people.
Amendment    41 Proposal for a regulation Recital 23
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(23)  In the light of persistently high levels of youth unemployment and inactivity in a number of Member States and regions, in particular affecting young people who are neither in employment, nor in education or training, it is necessary that those Member States continue to invest sufficient resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management towards actions to promote youth employment including through the implementation of Youth Guarantee schemes. Building on the actions supported by the Youth Employment Initiative in the 2014-2020 programming period targeting individual persons, Member States should further promote employment and education reintegration pathways and outreach measures for young people by prioritising, where relevant, long-term unemployed, inactive and disadvantaged young people including through youth work. Member States should also invest in measures aimed at facilitating school-to-work transition as well as reforming and adapting employment services with a view to providing tailor-made support to young people. Member States concerned should therefore allocate at least 10% of their national resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management to support youth employability.	(23)  In the light of persistently high levels of youth unemployment and inactivity in a number of Member States and regions, in particular affecting young people who are neither in employment, nor in education or training (NEETs), which levels are even higher in case of young people coming from a disadvantaged social background, it is necessary that Member States continue to invest adequate resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management towards actions to promote youth employment, in particular through the implementation of Youth Guarantee schemes. Building on the actions supported by the Youth Employment Initiative in the 2014-2020 programming period targeting individual persons, Member States should further promote high-quality employment and education reintegration pathways and effective outreach measures for young people by prioritising, where relevant, long-term unemployed, inactive and disadvantaged young people, young people who are hardest to reach and young people in vulnerable situations, including through youth work. Member States should also invest in measures aimed at facilitating school-to-work transition as well as reforming and adapting employment services with a view to providing tailor-made support to young people and at delivering their service without discrimination of any kind. Member States should allocate at least 3% of their national resources of the ESF+ strand to support policies in the field of youth employability, continued education, quality employment, apprenticeships and traineeships. Member States with a NEET rate above the Union average, or above 15 %, should allocate at least 15 % of their national resources of the ESF+ to support policies in this field, acting at the appropriate territorial level.
Amendment    42 Proposal for a regulation Recital 23 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(23a)  Disparities are growing at subregional level, including in more prosperous regions where there are pockets of poverty.
Amendment    43 Proposal for a regulation Recital 23 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(23b)  Given the extension of the scope of the ESF+, the extra tasks should be coupled with an increased budget in order to fulfil the goals of the Programme. More funding is needed to combat unemployment, in particular youth unemployment, poverty and for the support of professional development and training, especially in the digital workplace, in line with the principles set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Amendment    44 Proposal for a regulation Recital 23 c (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(23c)  EURES should be strengthened on a long-term basis, in particular through the comprehensive development of the internet platform and the active involvement of the Member States. Member States should use this existing model more effectively and publish details of all vacant jobs in the EURES system.
Amendment    45 Proposal for a regulation Recital 24
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(24)  Member States should ensure coordination and complementarity between the actions supported by these funds.	(24)  Member States and the Commission should ensure coordination and complementarity and exploit synergies between the actions supported by the ESF+ and the other Union programmes and instruments such as the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund, the European Regional Development Fund, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, Erasmus, the Asylum and Migration Fund, Horizon Europe, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, the Digital Europe Programme, InvestEU, Creative Europe or the European Solidarity Corps.
Amendment    46 Proposal for a regulation Recital 25
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(25)  In accordance with Article 349 TFEU and Article 2 of Protocol No 6 to the 1994 Act of Accession, the outermost regions and the northern sparsely populated regions are entitled to specific measures under common policies and EU programmes. Due to the permanent constraints these regions require specific support.	(25)  In accordance with Articles 349 and 174 TFEU and Article 2 of Protocol No 6 to the 1994 Act of Accession, the outermost regions, the northern sparsely populated regions and islands are entitled to specific measures under common policies and EU programmes. Because they suffer from severe and permanent natural handicaps, these regions need specific support.
Justification
The geographical extent of ESF+ needs to be clearly established.
Amendment    47 Proposal for a regulation Recital 25 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(25a)  In accordance with Article 174 TFEU, the Member States and the Commission should ensure that the ESF+ contributes to the development and implementation of specific policies to address the constraints and difficulties experienced by regions that suffer from severe and permanent demographic handicaps, such as depopulated regions and sparsely populated regions.
Amendment    48 Proposal for a regulation Recital 26
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(26)  Efficient and effective implementation of actions supported by the ESF+ depends on good governance and partnership between all actors at the relevant territorial levels and the socio-economic actors, in particular the social partners and civil society. It is therefore essential that Member States encourage the participation of social partners and civil society in the implementation of the ESF+ under shared management.	(26)  Efficient and effective implementation of actions supported by the ESF+ depends on good governance and partnership between Union institutions and local, regional and national authorities and the socio-economic actors, in particular the social partners and civil society. It is therefore essential that Member States, in partnership with regional and local authorities, ensure meaningful participation of social partners and civil society organisations, equality bodies, national human rights institutions and other relevant or representative organisations in the programming and delivery of the ESF+ from shaping priorities for operational programmes to implementing, monitoring and evaluating the results and impact in line with the European code of conduct on partnership in the framework of the European Structural and Investment Funds established by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 240/20141a. Furthermore, for the sake of safeguarding non-discrimination and equal opportunities, equality bodies and national human rights institutions should also be involved in each stage.
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	1a Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 240/2014 of 7 January 2014 on the European code of conduct on partnership in the framework of the European Structural and Investment Funds (OJ L 74, 14.3.2014, p. 1).
Amendment    49 Proposal for a regulation Recital 26 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(26a)  Good governance and partnership between managing authorities and the partners require the effective and efficient use of capacity building for stakeholders, to whom Member Stes should allocate an appropriate amount of ESF+ resources. As investment in institutional capacity and in the efficiency of public administration and public services at the national, regional and local levels with a view to reforms, better regulation and good governance, is no longer included an operational objective of the ESF+ under shared management, but has been included in the Structural Support Reform Programme, it is necessary that the Commission and the Member States ensure effective coordination between the two instruments.
Amendment    50 Proposal for a regulation Recital 27
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(27)  With a view to rendering policies more responsive to social change and to encourage and support innovative solutions, support for social innovation is crucial. In particular, testing and evaluating innovative solutions before scaling them up is instrumental in improving the efficiency of the policies and thus justifies specific support from the ESF+.	(27)  With a view to rendering policies more responsive to social change and to encourage and support innovative solutions, including at local level, support for social innovation and the social economy is crucial. In particular, testing and evaluating innovative solutions before scaling them up is instrumental in improving the efficiency of the policies and thus justifies specific support from the ESF+.
Amendment    51 Proposal for a regulation Recital 27 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(27a)  With a view to fully tapping into the potential of cross-sectorial cooperation and to improving synergies and coherence with other policy fields to achieve its general objectives, the ESF+ should support innovative actions which use sport and physical activity and culture to drive social inclusion, fight youth unemployment, particularly for disadvantaged groups, improve social inclusion of marginalised groups and to promote good health and disease prevention.
Amendment    52 Proposal for a regulation Recital 28
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(28)  The Member States and the Commission should ensure that ESF+ contributes to the promotion of equality between women and men in accordance with Article 8 TFEU to foster equality of treatment and opportunities between women and men in all areas, including regarding participation in the labour market, terms and conditions of employment and career progression. They should also ensure that the ESF+ promotes equal opportunities for all, without discrimination in accordance with Article 10 TFEU and promotes the inclusion in society of persons with disabilities on equal basis with others and contributes to the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. These principles should be taken into account in all dimensions and in all stages of the preparation, monitoring, implementation and evaluation of programmes, in a timely and consistent manner while ensuring that specific actions are taken to promote gender equality and equal opportunities. The ESF+ should also promote the transition from residential/institutional care to family and community-based care, in particular for those who face multiple discrimination. The ESF+ should not support any action that contributes to segregation or to social exclusion. Regulation (EU) No [future CPR] provides that rules on eligibility of expenditure are to be established at national level, with certain exceptions for which it is necessary to lay down specific provisions with regard to the ESF+ strand under shared management.	(28)  The Member States and the Commission should ensure that ESF+ contributes to the promotion of equality between women and men in accordance with Article 8 TFEU to foster equality of treatment and opportunities between women and men in all areas, including regarding participation in the labour market, terms and conditions of employment and career progression. The gender aspects should be taken into account in all programmes implemented, throughout their preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Moreover, the ESF+ should in particular comply with Article 21 of the Charter that stipulates that any discrimination based on any ground such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age, sexual orientation is prohibited; furthermore, any discrimination based on sex characteristics or gender identity and on grounds of nationality should also be prohibited. Member States and the Commission should also ensure that the ESF+ promotes the inclusion in society of persons with disabilities on equal basis with others and contributes to the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, with regard inter alia to education, work, employment and universal accessibility. These principles should be taken into account in all dimensions and in all stages of the preparation, monitoring, implementation and evaluation of programmes, in a timely and consistent manner while ensuring that specific actions are taken to promote gender equality and equal opportunities. The ESF+ should also promote the transition from institutional care to family and community-based care, in particular for those who face multiple and intersectional discrimination. The ESF+ should not support any action that contributes to segregation or to social exclusion. Regulation (EU) No [future CPR] provides that rules on eligibility of expenditure are to be in line with the Charter and established at national level, with certain exceptions for which it is necessary to lay down specific provisions with regard to the ESF+ strand under shared management.
Amendment    53 Proposal for a regulation Recital 28 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(28a) The use of regional indicators should be considered in order to allow subregional disparities to be better taken into account.
Amendment    54 Proposal for a regulation Recital 28 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(28b)  The ESF+ should support the study of languages in fostering mutual understanding and in building an inclusive society, also through a wider adoption by the Member States of the toolkit for language support for refugees developed by the Council of Europe.
Amendment    55 Proposal for a regulation Recital 29
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(29)  In order to reduce the administrative burden for the collection of data, Member States should, where such data are available in registers, allow managing authorities to collect data from registers.	(29)  In order to reduce the administrative burden for the collection of data, Member States should, where such data, possibly disaggregated by sex, are available in registers, allow managing authorities to collect data from registers while respecting the protection of personal data in accordance to Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council1a. It is advisable to incentivise the continuation of the electronic transmission of data as it helps reducing the administrative burden.
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	1a Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) (OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 1).
Amendment    56 Proposal for a regulation Recital 31
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(31)  Social experimentation is a small-scale project testing which allows gathering evidence on the feasibility of social innovations. It should be possible for feasible ideas to be pursued on a wider scale or in other contexts with financial support from the ESF+, as well as from other sources.	(31)  Social experimentation is a small-scale project testing which allows gathering evidence on the feasibility of social innovations. It should be possible and encouraged for ideas to be tested at local level and for those that are feasible to be pursued on a wider scale - where appropriate - or transferred to other contexts in different regions or Member States with financial support from the ESF+ or in combination with other sources.
Amendment    57 Proposal for a regulation Recital 32
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(32)  ESF+ lays down provisions intended to achieve freedom of movement for workers on a non-discriminatory basis by ensuring the close cooperation of the central employment services of Member States with one another and with the Commission. The European network of employment services should promote a better functioning of the labour markets by facilitating the cross-border mobility of workers and a greater transparency of information on the labour markets. The ESF+ scope also includes developing and supporting targeted mobility schemes with a view to filling vacancies where labour market shortcomings have been identified.	(32)  ESF+ lays down provisions intended to achieve freedom of movement for workers on a non-discriminatory basis by ensuring the close cooperation of the public employment services of Member States, the Commission and the social partners. The European network of employment services, with the involvement of the social partners, should promote a better functioning of the labour markets by facilitating the cross-border mobility of workers and a greater transparency of information on the labour markets. The ESF+ scope also includes developing and supporting targeted mobility schemes with a view to filling vacancies where labour market shortcomings have been identified. The ESF + covers cross-border partnerships between regional public employment services and social partners and their activities to promote mobility, as well as transparency and integration of cross-border labour markets through information, advice and placement. In many border regions they play an important role in the development of a genuine European labour market.
Amendment    58 Proposal for a regulation Recital 33
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(33)  Lack of access to finance for microenterprises, social economy and social enterprises is one of the main obstacles to business creation, especially among people furthest from the labour market. The ESF+ Regulation lays down provisions in order to create a market eco-system to increase the supply of and access to finance for social enterprises as well as to meet demand from those who need it most, and in particular the unemployed, women and vulnerable people who wish to start up or develop a microenterprise. This objective will also be addressed through financial instruments and budgetary guarantee under the social investment and skills policy window of the InvestEU Fund.	(33)  Lack of access to finance for microenterprises, social economy and social economy enterprises is one of the main obstacles to business creation, especially among people furthest from the labour market. The ESF+ Regulation lays down provisions in order to create a market eco-system to increase the supply of and access to finance and support services for social economy enterprises, including in the cultural and creative sector, as well as to meet demand from those who need it most, and in particular the unemployed, women and disadvantaged groups who wish to start up or develop a microenterprise. This objective will also be addressed through financial instruments and budgetary guarantee under the social investment and skills policy window of the InvestEU Fund.
Amendment    59 Proposal for a regulation Recital 33 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(33a)  The Commission should introduce at Union level a ‘European Social Economy Label’ for social and solidarity-based enterprises, based on clear criteria designed to highlight the specific characteristics of these enterprises and their social impact, increase their visibility, create incentives for investment and facilitate access to funding and to the single market for those willing to expand nationally or into other Member States, in a manner consistent with the different legal forms and frameworks in the sector and in the Member States.
Amendment    60 Proposal for a regulation Recital 34
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(34)  Social investment market players, including philanthropic actors, can play a key role in achieving several ESF+ objectives, as they offer financing as well as innovative and complementary approaches to combatting social exclusion and poverty, reducing unemployment and contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, philanthropic actors such as foundations and donors should be involved, as appropriate, in ESF+ actions in particular in those aimed at developing the social investment market ecosystem.	(34)  Social investment market players, including philanthropic actors, can play a key role in achieving several ESF+ objectives, as they offer financing as well as innovative and complementary approaches to combatting social exclusion and poverty, reducing unemployment and contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, philanthropic actors such as foundations and donors should be involved, as appropriate and as long as those foundations and donors do not have a political or social agenda in conflict with Union ideals, in ESF+ actions in particular in those aimed at developing the social investment market ecosystem.
Amendment    61 Proposal for a regulation Recital 34 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(34a)  Transnational cooperation has significant added value and should therefore be supported by all Member States with the exception of duly justified cases taking into account the principle of proportionality. It is also necessary to reinforce the Commission’s role in facilitating exchanges of experience and coordinating implementation of relevant initiatives.
Amendment    62 Proposal for a regulation Recital 35 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(35a)  The Commission should increase participation of Member States and underrepresented organisations by lowering as much as possible the barriers to participation, including the administrative burden of applying for and receiving funding.
Amendment    63 Proposal for a regulation Recital 35 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(35b)  One of the main Union objectives is to strengthen health systems by supporting the digital transformation of health and patient care and developing a sustainable health information system as well as supporting national reforms to make health systems more effective, accessible and resilient.
Amendment    64 Proposal for a regulation Recital 36
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(36)  Keeping people healthy and active longer and empowering them to take an active role in managing their health will have positive effects on health, health inequalities, quality of life, productivity, competitiveness and inclusiveness, while reducing pressures on national budgets. The Commission has been committed to help Member States to reach their sustainable development goals (SDG), in particular SDG 3 "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages".17	(36)  Continued effort is required in order to meet the requirements set out in Article 168 TFEU. Keeping all people healthy and active in a non-discriminatory way and empowering them to take an active role in managing their health will have positive effects on health, health inequalities, quality of life, productivity, competitiveness and inclusiveness, while reducing pressures on national budgets. Support for, and recognition of, innovation, including social innovation, which has an impact on health, helps in order to take up the challenge of sustainability in the health sector in the context of addressing the challenges of demographic change. Moreover, action to reduce inequalities in health is important for the purposes of achieving 'inclusive growth'. The Commission has been committed to help Member States to reach their sustainable development goals (SDG), in particular SDG 3 "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.17
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17 COM (2016) 739 final	17 COM (2016) 739 final
Amendment    65 Proposal for a regulation Recital 36 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(36a)  According to the definition of the World Health Organisation (WHO), "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". In order to improve the health of the population in the Union, it is essential not to focus only on physical health and social well-being. According to the WHO, mental health problems account for almost 40 % of years lived with disability. Mental health problems are also wide-ranging, long-lasting and a source of discrimination, and contribute significantly to inequality in health. Moreover, the economic crisis affects factors determining mental health, as protective factors are weakened and risk factors increased.
Amendment    66 Proposal for a regulation Recital 37
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(37)  Evidence and the common values and principles in European Union Health Systems as set out in the Council Conclusions of 2 June 2006 should support the decision-making processes for planning and managing innovative, efficient and resilient health systems, promoting tools for ensuring universal access to quality healthcare, and the voluntary wider scale implementation of best practices.	(37)  Evidence and the common values and principles in European Union Health Systems as set out in the Council Conclusions of 2 June 2006 should support the decision-making processes for planning and managing innovative, efficient and resilient health systems, promoting tools for ensuring universal access to quality person-centred healthcare and related care, and the voluntary wider scale implementation of best practices. This includes health promotion and disease prevention services as part of primary healthcare services.
Amendment    67 Proposal for a regulation Recital 37 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(37a)  The previous programmes of Union action in the field of public health (2003-2008) and in the field of health (2008-2013 and 2014-2020), established respectively by Decisions No 1786/2002/EC1a and 1350/2007/EC1b and Regulation (EU) No 282/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council1c ("the previous health programmes"), have been positively assessed as resulting in a number of important developments and improvements. The Health strand of the ESF+ should build on the achievements of the previous health programmes.
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	1a Decision No 1786/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2002 adopting a programme of Community action in the field of public health (2003-2008) (OJ L 271, 9.10.2002, p. 1).
	1b Decision No 1350/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 establishing a second programme of Community action in the field of health (2008-13) (OJ L 301, 20.11.2007, p. 3).
	1c Regulation (EU) No 282/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 on the establishment of a third Programme for the Union's action in the field of health (2014-2020) and repealing Decision No 1350/2007/EC (OJ L 86, 21.3.2014, p. 1).
Amendment    68 Proposal for a regulation Recital 37 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(37b)  The Health strand of the ESF+ should be a means of promoting actions in areas where there is Union added value that can be demonstrated on the basis of the following: exchanging good practices between Member States and between regions; supporting networks for knowledge sharing or mutual learning; supporting qualification of health professionals; addressing cross-border threats to reduce their risks and mitigate their consequences; addressing certain issues relating to the internal market where the Union has substantial legitimacy to ensure high-quality solutions across Member States; unlocking the potential of innovation in health; actions that could lead to a system for benchmarking to allow informed decision-making at Union level; improving efficiency by avoiding a waste of resources due to duplication, and optimising the use of financial resources.
Amendment    69 Proposal for a regulation Recital 38
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(38)  The Health strand of the ESF+ should contribute to disease prevention throughout the lifetime of the Union's citizens and to health promotion by addressing health risk factors such as tobacco use and passive smoking, harmful use of alcohol, consumption of illicit drugs and reduction of drugs-related health damage, unhealthy dietary habits and physical inactivity and foster supportive environments for healthy lifestyles in order to complement Member States action in line with the relevant strategies. The Health strand of the ESF+ should mainstream effective prevention models, innovative technologies and new business models and solutions to contribute to innovative, efficient and sustainable health systems of the Member States and facilitate access to better and safer healthcare for European citizens.	(38)  The Health strand of the ESF+ should contribute to disease prevention, early diagnosis throughout the lifetime of the people living in the Union and to health promotion by addressing health risk factors such as tobacco use, smoking and passive smoking, harmful use of alcohol, environmental health risk factors, consumption of illicit drugs and reduction of drugs-related health damage, obesity and unhealthy dietary habits, also related to poverty and physical inactivity and foster supportive environments for healthy lifestyles, greater public awareness of risk factors, well-designed public health interventions for reducing the burden and impact of infections and preventable infectious diseases, including through vaccinations, in the overall health throughout life in order to complement Member States action in line with the relevant strategies. In this context, special attention should be given to health education as it helps individuals and communities improve their health, increase their knowledge and influence their attitudes. Current health challenges can only be effectively addressed through collaboration at Union level and continued Union action in the field of health. The Health strand of the ESF+ should support implementation of the relevant Union law, mainstream effective prevention and awareness raising models reaching out to all, innovative technologies and new business models and solutions to contribute to innovative, accessible, efficient and sustainable health systems of the Member States and facilitate access to better and safer healthcare for people living in the Union in both urban and rural areas.
Amendment    70 Proposal for a regulation Recital 38 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(38a)  In order to implement the actions under the Health strand, the Commission should support the creation of a Steering Board for Health. In addition, the Commission should propose ways and methodology for aligning the health-related activities with the European Semester process, now empowered to recommend health systems (and other social determinants of health in fact) reforms towards greater accessibility and sustainability of healthcare and social protection provisions in Member States.
Amendment    71 Proposal for a regulation Recital 39
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(39)  Non-communicable diseases are responsible for over 80 % of premature mortality in the Union and an effective prevention entails multiple cross border dimensions. In parallel, the European Parliament and the Council underlined the need to minimise the public health consequences of serious cross-border threats to health such as communicable diseases and other biological, chemical, environmental and unknown threats, by supporting preparedness and response capacity building.	(39)  Non-communicable diseases are responsible for over 80 % of premature mortality in the Union and an effective prevention entails multiple cross-sectoral actions and cross border dimensions. In parallel, the European Parliament and the Council underlined the need to minimise the public health consequences of serious cross-border threats to health such as sudden and cumulative environmental emissions and pollution, communicable diseases and other biological, chemical, environmental and unknown threats, by supporting preparedness and response capacity building.
Amendment    72 Proposal for a regulation Recital 39 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(39a)  Continuous investments in innovative community-based approaches to tackle cross-border diseases such as the epidemics of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and viral hepatitis are vital as the social dimension of the diseases is a major factor affecting the ability to tackle them as epidemics in the Union and neighbouring countries. A more ambitious political leadership and adequate technical and financial means to provide a sustainable regional response to the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and hepatitis in Europe will be instrumental to reach the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals on these diseases.
Amendment    73 Proposal for a regulation Recital 40
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(40)  Reducing the burden of resistant infections and healthcare associated infections and securing the availability of effective antimicrobials is essential for the efficiency of health systems and for the health of citizens.	(40)  Reducing the burden of resistant infections and healthcare associated infections and securing the availability of effective antimicrobials, whilst nonetheless reducing their use in order to help tackle antimicrobial resistance, is essential for the efficiency of health systems and for the health of citizens.
Amendment    74 Proposal for a regulation Recital 42
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(42)  Given the specific nature of some of the objectives covered by the Health strand of the ESF+ and by the type of the actions under that strand, the respective competent authorities of the Member States are best placed to implement the related activities. Those authorities, designated by the Member States themselves, should therefore be considered to be identified beneficiaries for the purpose of Article [195]of [the new Financial Regulation] and the grants be awarded to such authorities without prior publication of calls for proposals.	(42)  Given the specific nature of some of the objectives covered by the Health strand of the ESF+ and by the type of the actions under that strand, the respective competent authorities of the Member States are best placed to implement the related activities with the active support of civil society. Those authorities, designated by the Member States themselves, and additionally, civil society organisations, as appropriate, should therefore be considered to be identified beneficiaries for the purpose of Article [195]of [the new Financial Regulation] and the grants be awarded to such authorities without prior publication of calls for proposals.
Justification
The report should ask that civil society is meaningfully involved supporting the Member States' competent authorities. Their involvement is vital to achieve the goals of the proposal.
Amendment    75 Proposal for a regulation Recital 42 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(42a)  In order to increase the performance of programme monitoring inefficiencies and inadequacies, the Commission should implement and use programmatic and action specific monitoring indicators to ensure that programme objectives are achieved.
Amendment    76 Proposal for a regulation Recital 42 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(42b)  The ESF+ programme should address existing obstacles to civil society participation, for example through simplifying the application procedures, easing the financial criteria by waiving the co-financing percentage in some cases, but also through building the capacity of patients, their organisations and other stakeholders through training and education. The programme shall also aim to enable the functioning of civil society networks and organisations at Union level that contribute to the achievement of its objectives, including Union level organisations.
Justification
“The role of civil society is key to achieving societal well-being. They bring a unique added value by empowering people which absence results in poor health.”. (Greer, S., Wismar, M., Pastorino, G. and Kosinska, M. (2017) Civil society and health).
Amendment    77 Proposal for a regulation Recital 42 c (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(42c)  The implementation of the Health strand of the ESF+ should be such that the responsibilities of the Member States, for the definition of their health policy and for the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care, are respected. Whilst respecting Treaty obligations and the role of Member States as the primary interlocutor in the Union decision-making process, competent authorities at sub-national level should be engaged in order to ensure an effective and lasting impact of Union health policy through their integration with social policies on the ground.
Amendment    78 Proposal for a regulation Recital 44
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(44)  EU health legislation has an immediate impact on the lives of citizen, on the efficiency and resilience of the health systems and the good functioning of the internal market. The regulatory framework for medical products and technologies (medicinal products, medical devices and substances of human origin), as well as on tobacco legislation, patients' rights on cross-border health and serious cross-border threats to health is essential to health protection in the EU. Regulation, as well its implementation and enforcement, must keep pace with innovation and research advances and with societal changes in this area, while delivering on health objectives. It is therefore necessary to continuously develop the evidence base required for implementing legislation of such a scientific nature.	(44)  EU health legislation has an immediate impact on the lives of citizen, on the efficiency and resilience of the health systems and the good functioning of the internal market. The regulatory framework for medical products and technologies (medicinal products, medical devices and substances of human origin), as well as on tobacco legislation, patients' rights on cross-border health and serious cross-border threats to health is essential to health protection in the EU. In addition, many other Union legal acts have significant impacts on health such as those relating to food and food labelling, air pollution, endocrine disruptors and pesticides. In some cases, the cumulative impacts of environmental risk factors are not clearly understood, potentially leading to unacceptable risks to citizens' health.
Amendment    79 Proposal for a regulation Recital 44 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(44a)  Regulation with health implications, as well as its implementation and enforcement, should keep pace with innovation and research advances and with societal change in this area, whilst remaining underpinned by the precautionary principle, as enshrined in the Treaties. It is therefore necessary to continuously develop the evidence base required for implementing legislation of such scientific nature and, in order to ensure the possibility of independent scrutiny thereby re-gaining public trust in Union processes and because, by its very nature the sharing of this evidence is in the public interest, the highest level of transparency should be guaranteed.
Amendment    80 Proposal for a regulation Recital 44 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(44b)  Facing health challenges cannot be done by the health sector alone, as health is determined by multiple factors outside of it. Hence, as stated in the Maastricht and Amsterdam Treaties, health in all policies is important for the Union's ability to face future challenges. However, making other sectors aware of the health impacts of their decisions and to integrate health into their policies is one of the biggest challenges the European health sector currently encounters. Important advances in health have been registered so far through policies in sectors such as education, traffic, nutrition, agriculture, labour, or planning. As an example, heart health has registered significant improvements through changes in policies and regulations regarding the quality of food, increased physical activity and decreased smoking.
Amendment    81 Proposal for a regulation Recital 46
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(46)  Reflecting the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union’s commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, this Regulation will contribute to mainstream climate action in the Union’s policies and to the achievement of an overall target of 25 % of the EU budget expenditures supporting climate objectives. Relevant actions will be identified during the preparation and implementation, and reassessed in the context of the mid-term evaluation.	(46)  Reflecting the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union's commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, this Regulation will contribute to mainstream climate action in the Union's policies and to the achievement of an overall target of 25 % of the EU budget expenditures supporting climate objectives over the MFF 2021-2027 period, and an annual target of 30 % as soon as possible and at the latest by 2027. Relevant actions will be identified during the preparation and implementation, and reassessed in the context of the mid-term evaluation.
Amendment    82 Proposal for a regulation Recital 47
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(47)  Pursuant to Article [94 of Council Decision 2013/755/EU19], persons and entities established in Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) are to be eligible for funding subject to the rules and objectives of the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands and possible arrangements applicable to the Member State to which the relevant OCTs are linked.	(47)  Pursuant to Article [94 of Council Decision 2013/755/EU19], persons and entities established in Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) are to be eligible for funding subject to the rules and objectives of the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands and possible arrangements applicable to the Member State to which the relevant OCTs are linked. The programme will need to allow for the particular constraints affecting persons and entities established in those territories in order to provide for proper access to those strands.
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19Council Decision 2013/755/EU of 25 November 2013 on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Union ( ‘Overseas Association Decision’) (OJ L 344, 19.12.2013, p. 1).	19Council Decision 2013/755/EU of 25 November 2013 on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Union ( ‘Overseas Association Decision’) (OJ L 344, 19.12.2013, p. 1).
Amendment    83 Proposal for a regulation Recital 48
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(48)  Third countries which are members of the European Economic Area (EEA) may participate in Union programmes in the framework of the cooperation established under the EEA agreement, which provides for the implementation of the programmes by a decision under that agreement. A specific provision should be introduced in this Regulation to grant the necessary rights for and access to the authorising officer responsible, the European Anti-Fraud Office as well as the European Court of Auditors to comprehensively exert their respective competences.	(48)  Subject to complying with all the relevant rules and regulations, third countries which are members of the European Economic Area (EEA) may participate in Union programmes in the framework of the cooperation established under the EEA agreement, which provides for the implementation of the programmes by a decision under that agreement. A specific provision should be introduced in this Regulation to grant the necessary rights for and access to the authorising officer responsible, the European Anti-Fraud Office as well as the European Court of Auditors to comprehensively exert their respective competences.
Amendment    84 Proposal for a regulation Recital 50 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(50a)  It is important to ensure sound and fair financial management of the Fund to guarantee that it is implemented in such a way as to make it as clear, effective and easy to use as possible, while guaranteeing legal certainty and ensuring that it is accessible to all participants. As ESF+ activities are carried out under shared management, the Member States should not add additional rules or amend the rules as they go, as that would complicate the use of the funds for the beneficiaries and may lead to a delay in the payment of invoices.
Amendment    85 Proposal for a regulation Recital 51
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(51)  Since the objective of this Regulation, namely enhancing the effectiveness of labour markets and promoting access to quality employment, improving the access to and the quality of education and training, promoting social inclusion and health and reducing poverty as well as the actions under the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective.	(51)  Since the objective of this Regulation, namely enhancing the effectiveness and fairness of labour markets and promoting access to quality employment, improving the access to and the quality of education, training and care, promoting social inclusion, equal opportunities, and health and eradicating poverty as well as the actions under the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Regulation does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective.
Amendment    86 Proposal for a regulation Article 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 1	Article 1
Subject matter	Subject matter
This Regulation establishes the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).	This Regulation establishes the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). ESF+ consists of three strands: the strand under shared management, the Employment and Social Innovation strand and the Health strand.
It lays down the objectives of the ESF+, the budget for the period 2021-2027, the methods of implementation, the forms of Union funding and the rules for providing such funding.	This Regulation lays down the objectives of the ESF+, the budget for the period 2021-2027, the methods of implementation, the forms of Union funding and the rules for providing such funding, complementing the general rules applicable to ESF+ under Regulation (EU) No [Regulation laying down Common Provisions].
Amendment    87 Proposal for a regulation Article 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 2	Article 2
Definitions	Definitions
1.  For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:	1.  For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply:
(1)  'accompanying measures' means activities provided in addition to the distribution of food and/or basic material assistance with the aim of addressing social exclusion such as referring to and providing social services or advice on managing a household budget;	(1)  'accompanying measures' means activities provided in addition to the distribution of food and/or basic material assistance with the aim of addressing social exclusion and eradicating poverty such as referring to and providing social services and psychological support, providing relevant information on public services or advice on managing a household budget;
(2)  ‘associated country’ means a third country which is party to an agreement with the Union allowing for its participation in the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands of the ESF+ in accordance with Article 30;	(2)  ‘associated country’ means a third country which is party to an agreement with the Union allowing for its participation in the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands of the ESF+ in accordance with Article 30;
(3)  'basic material assistance' means goods which fulfil the basic needs of a person for a life with dignity, such as clothing, hygiene goods and school material;	(3)  'basic material assistance' means goods which fulfil the basic needs of a person for a life with dignity, such as clothing, hygiene goods, including feminine hygiene products, and school material;
(4)  'blending operation' means actions supported by the Union budget, including within blending facilities pursuant to Article 2(6) of the Financial Regulation, combining non-repayable forms of support and/or financial instruments from the Union budget with repayable forms of support from development or other public finance institutions, as well as from commercial finance institutions and investors;	(4)  'blending operation' means actions supported by the Union budget, including within blending facilities pursuant to Article 2(6) of the Financial Regulation, combining non-repayable forms of support and/or financial instruments from the Union budget with repayable forms of support from development or other public finance institutions, as well as from commercial finance institutions and investors;
(5)  ‘common immediate result indicators’ means common result indicators which capture effects within four weeks as from the day the participant leaves the operation (exit date);	(5)  ‘common immediate result indicators’ means common result indicators which capture effects within four weeks as from the day the participant leaves the operation (exit date);
(6)  ‘common longer term result indicators’ means common result indicators which capture effects six months after a participant has left the operation;	(6)  ‘common longer term result indicators’ means common result indicators which capture effects six and twelve months after a participant has left the operation;
(7)  'costs of purchasing food and/or basic material assistance' means the actual costs linked to the purchase of food and/or basic material assistance by the beneficiary and not limited to the price of the food and/or basic material assistance;	(7)  'costs of purchasing food and/or basic material assistance' means the actual costs linked to the purchase of food and/or basic material assistance by the beneficiary and not limited to the price of the food and/or basic material assistance;
	(7a)  ‘cross-border partnerships’ in the Employment and Social Innovation strand means permanent structures of cooperation between public employment services, civil society or the social partners located in at least two Member States;
(8)  'end recipient' means the most deprived person or persons receiving the support as laid down in point (xi) of Article 4(1);	(8)  'end recipient' means the most deprived person or persons receiving the support as laid down in point (xi) of Article 4(1);
(9)  ‘health crisis’ means any crisis commonly perceived as a threat, having a health dimension and which requires urgent action by authorities under conditions of uncertainty;	(9)  ‘health crisis’ means any crisis commonly perceived as a threat, having a health dimension and which requires urgent action by authorities under conditions of uncertainty;
(10)  'legal entity' means any natural person, or any legal person created and recognised as such under national law, Union law or international law, which has a legal personality and which may, acting in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations;	(10)  'legal entity' means any natural person, or any legal person created and recognised as such under national law, Union law or international law, which has a legal personality and which may, acting in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations;
(11)  'microfinance' includes guarantees, microcredit, equity and quasi-equity, coupled with accompanying business development services such as in the form of individual counselling, training and mentoring, extended to persons and micro-enterprises that experience difficulties accessing credit for the purpose of professional and/or revenue-generating activities;	(11)  'microfinance' includes guarantees, microcredit, equity and quasi-equity, coupled with accompanying business development services such as in the form of individual counselling, training and mentoring, extended to persons and micro-enterprises that experience difficulties accessing credit for the purpose of professional and/or revenue-generating activities;
(12)  micro-enterprise' means an enterprise with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet below EUR 2 000 000;	(12)  micro-enterprise' means an enterprise with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet below EUR 2 000 000;
(13)  'most deprived persons' means natural persons, whether individuals, families, households or groups composed of such persons, whose need for assistance has been established according to the objective criteria set by the national competent authorities in consultation with relevant stakeholders, while avoiding conflicts of interest and which are approved by those national competent authorities and which may include elements that allow the targeting of the most deprived persons in certain geographical areas;	(13)  'most deprived persons' means natural persons, whether individuals, families, households or groups composed of such persons, including children and homeless people, whose need for assistance has been established according to the objective criteria set by the national competent authorities in consultation with relevant stakeholders, while avoiding conflicts of interest and which are approved by those national competent authorities and which may include elements that allow the targeting of the most deprived persons in certain geographical areas;
(14)  'reference value’ means a value to set targets for common and programme specific result indicators which is based on existing or previous similar interventions;	(14)  'reference value’ means a value to set targets for common and programme specific result indicators which is based on existing or previous similar interventions;
(15)  'social enterprise' means an undertaking, regardless of its legal form, or a natural person which	(15)  'social enterprise' means a social economy undertaking, regardless of its legal form, or a natural person who:
(a)  in accordance with its Articles of Association, Statutes or with any other legal document that may result in liability under the rules of the Member State where it is located, has as its primary social objective the achievement of measurable, positive social impacts rather than generating profit for other purposes, and which provides services or goods that generate a social return, and/or employs methods of production of goods or services that embodies social objectives;	(a)  in accordance with its Articles of Association, Statutes or with any other legal document that may result in liability under the rules of the Member State where it is located, has as its primary social objective the achievement of measurable, positive social, including environmental, impacts rather than generating profit for other purposes, and which provides services or goods that generate a social return, and/or employs methods of production of goods or services that embodies social objectives;
(b)  uses its profits first and foremost to achieve its primary social objective, and has predefined procedures and rules covering any distribution of profits that ensure that such distribution does not undermine the primary social objective;	(b)  reinvests most of its profits first and foremost to achieve its primary social objective, and has predefined procedures and rules covering any distribution of profits that ensure that such distribution does not undermine the primary social objective;
(c)  is managed in an entrepreneurial, accountable and transparent way, in particular by involving workers, customers and stakeholders impacted by its business activities;	(c)  is managed in an entrepreneurial, democratic, participatory, accountable and transparent way, in particular by involving workers, customers and stakeholders impacted by its business activities;
	(15a)  ‘social economy enterprise’ means different types of enterprises and entities falling within the social economy, such as cooperatives, mutuals, associations, foundations, social enterprises and other forms of enterprises regulated by the laws of the individual Member States and based on the primacy of the individual and social objectives over capital, democratic governance, solidarity and the reinvestment of the majority of profits or surpluses;
(16)  'social innovations' mean activities that are social both as to their ends and their means and in particular those which relate to the development and implementation of new ideas (concerning products, services and models) that simultaneously meet social needs and create new social relationships or collaborations, thereby benefiting society and boosting its capacity to act;	(16)  'social innovations' mean activities, including collective activities, that are social both as to their ends and their means and in particular those which relate to the development and implementation of new ideas (concerning products, services, practices and models) that simultaneously meet social needs and create new social relationships or collaborations, including between public, third sector organisations such as voluntary and community organisations and social economy enterprises, thereby benefiting society and boosting its capacity to act;
(17)  'social experimentations' mean policy interventions that offer an innovative response to social needs, implemented on a small scale and in conditions that enable their impact to be measured, prior to being implemented in other contexts or on a larger scale, if the results prove convincing;	(17)  'social experimentations' mean policy interventions that offer an innovative response to social needs, implemented on a small scale and in conditions that enable their impact to be measured, prior to being implemented in other, including geographical and sectorial, contexts or on a larger scale, if the results prove convincing;
(18)  'key competences' means the knowledge, skills and competences all individuals need, at any stage of their lives, for personal fulfilment and development, employment, social inclusion and active citizenship. The key competences are: literacy; multilingual; mathematics, science, technology and engineering; digital; personal, social and learning to learn; citizenship; entrepreneurship; cultural awareness and expression;	(18)  'key competences' means the knowledge, skills and competences all individuals need, at any stage of their lives, for personal fulfilment and development, employment, social inclusion and active citizenship. The key competences are: literacy; multilingual; mathematics, science, technology, arts and engineering; digital; media; personal, social and learning to learn; citizenship; entrepreneurship; (inter)cultural awareness and expression and critical thinking;
(19)  'third country' means a country that is not member of the European Union.	(19)  'third country' means a country that is not member of the European Union;
	(19a)  ‘disadvantaged groups’ means targeted groups with a high level of people experiencing or at risk of poverty, discrimination or social exclusion, including among others ethnic minorities such as Roma, third-country nationals, including migrants, elderly people, children, single parents, persons with disabilities or persons with chronic diseases;
	(19b)  ‘lifelong learning’ means learning in all its forms (formal, non-formal and informal learning) taking place at all stages in life including early childhood education, general education, vocational education and training, higher education and adult education, and resulting in an improvement in knowledge, skills, competences, and possibilities to participate in society.
2.  The definitions in Article [2] of [the future CPR] shall also apply for the ESF+ strand under shared management.	2.  The definitions in Article [2] of [the future CPR] also apply for the ESF+ strand under shared management.
	2a.  The definitions in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union1a also apply to the Employment and Social Innovation strand and to the Health strand under direct and indirect management.
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	1a Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 July 2018 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union, amending Regulations (EU) No 1296/2013, (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013, (EU) No 1304/2013, (EU) No 1309/2013, (EU) No 1316/2013, (EU) No 223/2014, (EU) No 283/2014, and Decision No 541/2014/EU and repealing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 (OJ L 193, 30.7.2018, p. 1).
Amendment    88 Proposal for a regulation Article 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 3	Article 3
General objectives and methods of implementation	General objectives and methods of implementation
The ESF+ aims to support Member States to achieve high employment levels, fair social protection and a skilled and resilient workforce ready for the future world of work, in line with the principles set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights proclaimed by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on 17 November 2017.	The ESF+ shall support Member States, at national, regional and local level, and the Union to achieve inclusive societies, high levels of quality employment, job creation, quality and inclusive education and training, equal opportunities, eradicating poverty, including child poverty, social inclusion and integration, social cohesion, social protection and a skilled and resilient workforce ready for the future world of work.
	The ESF+ shall be in line with the Treaties of the European Union and the Charter, delivering on the principles set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights proclaimed by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on 17 November 2017, thereby contributing to the goals of the Union as regards to strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion in accordance with Article 174 TFEU and the commitment of the Union and its Member States to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and commitments made under the Paris Agreement.
The ESF+ shall support, complement and add value to the policies of the Member States to ensure equal opportunities, access to the labour market, fair working conditions, social protection and inclusion, and a high level of human health protection.	The ESF+ shall support, complement and add value to the policies of the Member States to ensure equal opportunities, equal access to the labour market, lifelong learning, high quality working conditions, social protection, integration and inclusion, eradicating poverty, including child poverty, investment in children and young people, non-discrimination, gender equality, access to basic services and a high level of human health protection.
It shall be implemented:	It shall be implemented:
a)  under shared management, for the part of the assistance which corresponds to the specific objectives indicated in Article 4(1) (the ‘ESF+ strand under shared management’), and	a)  under shared management, for the part of the assistance which corresponds to the specific objectives indicated in Article 4(1) (the ‘ESF+ strand under shared management’), and
b)  under direct and indirect management for the part of the assistance which corresponds to the objectives indicated in Articles 4(1) and 23 (the ‘Employment and Social Innovation strand’) and for the part of the assistance which corresponds to the objectives indicated in Articles 4(1) and (3) and 26 (the ‘Health strand’).	b)  under direct and indirect management for the part of the assistance which corresponds to the objectives indicated in Articles 4(1) and 23 (the ‘Employment and Social Innovation strand’) and for the part of the assistance which corresponds to the objectives indicated in Articles 4(1) and (3) and 26 (the ‘Health strand’).
Amendment    89 Proposal for a regulation Article 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 4	Article 4
Specific objectives	Specific objectives
1.  The ESF+ shall support the following specific objectives in the policy areas of employment, education, social inclusion and health and thereby also contributing to the policy objective for “A more social Europe - Implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights” set out in Article [4] of the [future CPR]:	1.  The ESF+ shall support the following specific objectives in the policy areas of employment, education, mobility, social inclusion, poverty eradication and health and thereby also contributing to the policy objective for “A more social Europe - Implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights” set out in Article [4] of the [future CPR]:
(i)  improving access to employment of all jobseekers, in particular youth and long-term unemployed, and of inactive people, promoting self-employment and the social economy;	(i)  improving access to quality employment and activation measures of all jobseekers, in particular specific measures for young people, especially though the implementation of the Youth Guarantee, long-term unemployed, economically inactive people and disadvantaged groups, with focus on persons furthest away from the labour market, promoting employment, self-employment, entrepreneurship and the social economy;
(ii)  modernising labour market institutions and services to assess and anticipate skills needs and ensure timely and tailor-made assistance and support to labour market matching, transitions and mobility;	(ii)   modernising labour market institutions and services to assess and anticipate skills needs and ensure timely and tailor-made assistance and support to labour market matching, transitions and mobility;
(iii)  promoting women’s labour market participation, a better work/life balance including access to childcare, a healthy and well–adapted working environment addressing health risks, adaptation of workers, enterprises and entrepreneurs to change, and active and healthy ageing;	(iii)  promoting women’s labour market participation and career progression, promoting the principle of equal pay for equal work, a better work/life balance, with a special focus on single parents, including access to affordable, inclusive and quality childcare, early childhood education, eldercare, and other care services and support; and a healthy and well–adapted working environment addressing health and disease risks, adaptation of workers, professional reorientation, enterprises and entrepreneurs to change, and active and healthy ageing;
(iv)  improving the quality, effectiveness and labour market relevance of education and training systems, to support acquisition of key competences including digital skills;	(iv)  improving the quality, inclusiveness, effectiveness and labour market relevance of education and training systems, to support acquisition of key competences including entrepreneurial and digital skills and recognising non-formal and informal learning, to promote e-inclusion and facilitate the transition from education to work, in order to reflect social and economic requirements;
(v)  promoting equal access to and completion of, quality and inclusive education and training, in particular for disadvantaged groups, from early childhood education and care through general and vocational education and training, and to tertiary level, as well as adult education and learning, including facilitating learning mobility for all;	(v)  promoting equal access to and completion of, high quality, affordable and inclusive education and training, in particular for disadvantaged groups and carers, from early childhood education and care through general and vocational education and training, and to tertiary level, as well as adult education and learning, addressing early school leaving, promoting the introduction of dual-training systems, apprenticeships, learning mobility for all and accessibility for persons with disabilities;
(vi)  promoting lifelong learning, notably flexible upskilling and reskilling opportunities for all taking into account digital skills, better anticipating change and new skills requirements based on labour market needs, facilitating career transitions and promoting professional mobility;	(vi)  promoting lifelong learning, notably flexible upskilling and reskilling opportunities for all taking into account entrepreneurial and digital skills, better anticipating change and new skills requirements based on labour market needs, facilitating career transitions and promoting professional mobility and full participation in society;
(vii)  fostering active inclusion with a view to promoting equal opportunities and active participation, and improving employability;	(vii)  fostering active inclusion with a view to promoting equal opportunities, non-discrimination and active participation, and improving employability, in particular for disadvantaged groups;
(viii)  promoting socio-economic integration of third country nationals and of marginalised communities such as the Roma;	(viii)  promoting long-term socio-economic integration of third country nationals, including migrants;
	(viiia)  fighting discrimination against and promoting the socio-economic integration of marginalised communities such as Roma;
(ix)  enhancing the equal and timely access to quality, sustainable and affordable services; modernising social protection systems, including promoting access to social protection; improving accessibility, effectiveness and resilience of healthcare systems and long-term care services;	(ix)  enhancing the equal and timely access to quality, sustainable, accessible and affordable services, including services for access to housing and person-centred healthcare and related care; modernising social security institutions, public employment services, social protection and social inclusion systems, including promoting access to equal social protection, with a particular focus on children and disadvantages groups and the most deprived people; improving accessibility including for persons with disabilities, effectiveness and resilience of healthcare systems and long-term care services;
	(ixa)  increasing the accessibility for persons with disabilities with a view to improving their inclusion in employment, education and training;
(x)  promoting social integration of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion, including the most deprived and children;	(x)  promoting social integration of people experiencing or at risk of poverty and/or social exclusion, including the most deprived and children;
(xi)  addressing material deprivation through food and/or basic material assistance to the most deprived, including accompanying measures.	(xi)  addressing material deprivation through food and/or basic material assistance to the most deprived, including accompanying measures, aiming to ensure their social inclusion, with an emphasis on children in vulnerable situations.
2.  Through the actions implemented under the ESF+ strand under shared management to achieve the specific objectives referred to in paragraph 1, the ESF+ shall also contribute to the other policy objectives listed in Article [4] of [the future CPR], in particular those related to:	2.  Through the actions implemented under the ESF+ strand under shared management to achieve the specific objectives referred to in paragraph 1, the ESF+ aims to contribute to other policy objectives listed in Article [4] of [the future CPR], in particular those related to:
1.  a smarter Europe through the development of skills for smart specialisation, skills for key enabling technologies, industrial transition, sectorial cooperation on skills and entrepreneurship, the training of researchers, networking activities and partnerships between higher education institutions, vocational and educational training (VET) institutions, research and technological centres and enterprises and clusters, support to micro, small and medium sized enterprises and the social economy;	1.  a smarter Europe through the development of skills for smart specialisation, skills for key enabling technologies, industrial transition, sectorial cooperation on skills and entrepreneurship, the training of researchers, networking activities and partnerships between higher education institutions, vocational and educational training (VET) institutions, research and technological centres, medical and healthcare centres and enterprises and clusters, support to micro, small and medium sized enterprises and the social economy taking into account social economy laws and frameworks established in the Member States;
2.  a greener, low carbon Europe through the improvement of education and training systems necessary for the adaptation of skills and qualifications, the upskilling of all, including the labour force, the creation of new jobs in sectors related to the environment, climate and energy, and the bioeconomy.	2.  a greener, low carbon Europe through the improvement of education and training systems necessary for the adaptation of skills and qualifications, awareness raising among the population about sustainable development and lifestyles, the upskilling of all, including the labour force, the creation of new jobs in sectors related to the environment, climate and energy, circular economy and the bioeconomy.
	2a.  a Union that is closer to citizens through poverty reduction and social inclusion measures taking into account the specificities of urban, rural and coastal regions in view of tackling the socioeconomic inequalities in cities and regions;
	2b.  under the Employment and Social Innovation Strand, the ESF+ shall support the development, implementation monitoring and evaluation of the Union’s instruments, policies and relevant law and promote evidence-based policy making, social innovation and social progress in partnership with the social partners, civil society organisations and public and private bodies (specific objective 1); it shall promote workers’ voluntary geographical mobility on a fair basis and boost employment opportunities (specific objective 2); it shall promote employment and social inclusion by increasing the availability and accessibility of microfinance for micro-enterprises and social economy enterprises, in particular for vulnerable people (specific objective 3);
3.  Under the Health strand, the ESF+ shall support health promotion and disease prevention, contribute to effectiveness, accessibility and resilience of health systems, make healthcare safer, reduce health inequalities, protect citizens from cross-border health threats, and support EU health legislation.	3.  under the Health strand, the ESF+ shall contribute to a high level of human health protection and disease prevention, including through the promotion of physical activity and promotion of health education, contribute to effectiveness, accessibility and resilience of health systems, make healthcare safer, reduce health inequalities, increase life expectancy at birth, protect citizens from cross-border health threats, foster disease prevention and early diagnosis, and health promotion throughout the lifetime and strengthen and support EU health-related legislation, including in the area of environmental health, and fostering Health in all Union policies. The Union’s health policy shall be guided by Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to ensure that the Union and Member States reach the targets of SDG 3 "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”.
Amendment    90 Proposal for a regulation Article 5
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 5	Article 5
Budget	Budget
1.  The total financial envelope for the ESF+ for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 101 174 000 000 in current prices.	1.  The total financial envelope for the ESF+ for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 106 781 000 000 in 2018 prices (EUR 120 457 000 000 in current prices).
2.  The part of the financial envelope for the ESF+ strand under shared management under the Investment for Jobs and Growth goal shall be EUR 100 000 000 000 in current prices or EUR 88 646 194 590 in 2018 prices of which EUR 200 000 000 in current prices or EUR 175 000 000 in 2018 prices shall be allocated for transnational cooperation supporting innovative solutions as referred to in Article 23(i) and EUR 400 000 000 in current prices or EUR 376 928 934 in 2018 prices as additional funding to the outermost regions identified in Article 349 TFEU and the NUTS level 2 regions fulfilling the criteria laid down in Article 2 of Protocol No 6 to the 1994 Act of Accession.	2.  The part of the financial envelope for the ESF+ strand under shared management under the Investment for Jobs and Growth goal shall be EUR 105 686 000 000 in 2018 prices (EUR 119 222 000 000 in current prices) of which EUR 200 000 000 in current prices or EUR 175 000 000 in 2018 prices shall be allocated for transnational cooperation supporting innovative solutions as referred to in Article 23(i), EUR 5 900 000 000 shall be allocated for measures falling under the European Child Guarantee referred to in Article 10a, and EUR 400 000 000 in current prices or EUR 376 928 934 in 2018 prices as additional funding to the outermost regions identified in Article 349 TFEU and the NUTS level 2 regions fulfilling the criteria laid down in Article 2 of Protocol No 6 to the 1994 Act of Accession.
3.  The financial envelope for the Employment and Social Innovation strand and the Health strand for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 1 174 000 000 in current prices.	3.  The financial envelope for the Employment and Social Innovation strand and the Health strand for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 1 095 000 000 in 2018 prices (EUR 1 234 000 000 in current prices).
4.  The indicative distribution of the amount referred in paragraph 3 shall be:	4.  The indicative distribution of the amount referred in paragraph 3 shall be:
(a)  EUR 761 000 000 for the implementation of the Employment and Social Innovation strand;	(a)  EUR 675 000 000 in 2018 prices (EUR 761 000 000 in current prices) for the implementation of the Employment and Social Innovation strand;
(b)  EUR 413 000 000 for the implementation of the Health strand.	(b)  EUR 420 000 000 in 2018 prices (EUR 473 000 000 in current prices; or 0,36 % of the MFF 2021-2027) for the implementation of the Health strand.
5.  The amounts referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4 may also be used for technical and administrative assistance for the implementation of the programmes, such as preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities including corporate information technology systems.	5.  The amounts referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4 may also be used for technical and administrative assistance for the implementation of the programmes, such as preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities including corporate information technology systems.
Amendment    91 Proposal for a regulation Article 6
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 6	Article 6
Equality between men and women and equal opportunities, and non-discrimination	Equality between men and women and equal opportunities, and non-discrimination
Equality between men and women and equal opportunities, and non-discrimination	Gender equality and equal opportunities, and non-discrimination
1.  All programmes implemented under the ESF+ strand under shared management, as well as the operations supported by the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands shall ensure equality between men and women throughout their preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. They shall also promote equal opportunities for all, without discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation throughout their preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.	1.  All programmes implemented under the ESF+ shall ensure gender equality throughout their preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. They shall also support specific actions aimed at increasing the participation of women in working life and their professional development as well as conciliation between working and personal life, promote equal opportunities for all, without discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability or health condition, age or sexual orientation, including the accessibility to persons with disabilities also in terms of ICT, throughout their preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, thereby enhancing social inclusion and reducing inequalities.
2.  The Member States and the Commission shall also support specific targeted actions to promote the principles referred to in paragraph 1 within any of the objectives of the ESF+, including the transition from residential/institutional care to family and community-based care.	2.  The Member States and the Commission shall also support specific targeted actions to promote the principles referred to in paragraph 1 within any of the objectives of the ESF+, including the transition from institutional care to family and community-based care and improving universal accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Amendment    92 Proposal for a regulation Article 7
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 7	Article 7
Consistency and thematic concentration	Consistency and thematic concentration
1. Member States shall concentrate the ESF+ resources under shared management on interventions that address the challenges identified in their national reform programmes, in the European Semester as well as in the relevant country-specific recommendations adopted in accordance with Article 121(2) TFEU and Article 148(4) TFEU, and take into account principles and rights set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights.	1. Member States shall concentrate the ESF+ resources under shared management on interventions that address the challenges identified in their national reform programmes, in the European Semester as well as in the relevant country-specific recommendations adopted in accordance with Article 121(2) TFEU and Article 148(4) TFEU, and take into account principles and rights set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights, the Social Scoreboard under the European Semester and regional specificities thereby contributing to the goals of the Union set out in Article 174 TFEU as regards to strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion and that are fully in line with the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Member States and, where appropriate the Commission, shall foster synergies and ensure coordination, complementarity and coherence between the ESF+ and other Union funds, programmes and instruments such as Erasmus, the Asylum and Migration Fund and the Reform Support Programme, including the Reform Delivery Tool and the Technical Support Instrument, both in the planning phase and during implementation. Member States and, where appropriate the Commission, shall optimise mechanisms for coordination to avoid duplication of effort and ensure close cooperation between those responsible for implementation to deliver coherent and streamlined support actions.	Member States and, where appropriate the Commission, shall foster synergies and ensure coordination, complementarity and coherence between the ESF+ and other Union funds, programmes and instruments such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF), the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, InvestEU, Creative Europe, the Rights and Values Instrument, Erasmus, the Asylum and Migration Fund, the post-2020 EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies and the Reform Support Programme, including the Reform Delivery Tool and the Technical Support Instrument, both in the planning phase and during implementation. Member States and, where appropriate the Commission, shall optimise mechanisms for coordination to avoid duplication of effort and ensure close cooperation between those Managing Authorities responsible for implementation to deliver integrated approaches, coherent and streamlined support actions.
2.  Member States shall allocate an appropriate amount of their ESF+ resources under shared management to address challenges identified in relevant country-specific recommendations adopted in accordance with Article 121(2) TFEU and Article 148(4) TFEU and in the European Semester falling within the scope of the ESF+ as set out in Article 4.	2.  Member States shall allocate an appropriate amount of their ESF+ resources under shared management to address challenges identified in relevant country-specific recommendations adopted in accordance with Article121(2) TFEU and Article 148(4) TFEU and in the European Semester falling within the scope of the ESF+ as set out in Article 4.
3.  Member States shall allocate at least 25% of their ESF+ resources under shared management to the specific objectives for the social inclusion policy area set out in points (vii) to (xi) of Article 4(1), including the promotion of the socio-economic integration of third country nationals.	3.  Member States shall allocate at least 27% of their ESF+ resources under shared management to the specific objectives for the social inclusion policy area set out in points (vii) to (x) of Article 4(1), including the promotion of the socio-economic integration of third country nationals.
	3a.  Within the specific objectives for the social inclusion policy area set out in points (vii) to (x) of Article 4(1), Member States shall allocate at least 5 % of their ESF+ resources under shared management to targeted actions aiming at implementing the European Child Guarantee, in order to contribute to children’s equal access to free healthcare, free education, free childcare, decent housing and adequate nutrition.
4.  Member States shall allocate at least 2% of their ESF+ resources under shared management to the specific objective of addressing material deprivation set out in point (xi) of Article 4(1).	4.  In addition to the minimum allocation of at least 27 % of the ESF+ resources under shared management to the specific objectives set out in points (vii) to (x) of Article 4(1), Member States shall allocate at least 3% of their ESF+ resources under shared management to the specific objective of addressing social inclusion of the most deprived and/or material deprivation set out in points (x) and (xi) of Article 4(1).
In duly justified cases, the resources allocated to the specific objective set out in point (x) of Article 4(1) and targeting the most deprived may be taken into account for verifying compliance with the minimum allocation of at least 2% set out in the first subparagraph of this paragraph.
5.  Member States having a rate of young people aged 15 to 29 not in employment, education or training above the Union average in 2019 on the basis of Eurostat data, shall allocate at least 10% of their ESF+ resources under shared management for the years 2021 to 2025 to targeted actions and structural reforms to support youth employment and school-to-work transition, pathways to reintegrate into education or training and second chance education, in particular in the context of implementing Youth Guarantee schemes.	5.  Member States shall allocate at least 3% of their ESF+ resources under shared management to targeted actions and structural reforms to support youth employment and school-to-work transition, pathways to reintegrate into education or training and second chance education, in particular in the context of implementing Youth Guarantee schemes.
	Member States having a rate of young people aged 15 to 29 not in employment, education or training (NEET) is above the Union average in 2019 or where the NEET rate is above 15 % on the basis of Eurostat data, shall allocate at least 15 % of their ESF+ resources under shared management for the years 2021 to 2025 in the programming period to the above mentioned actions and structural reform measures, paying special attention to those regions more affected taking into account the divergences between them.
When programming the ESF+ resources under shared management for 2026 and 2027 at mid-term in accordance with Article [14] of [the future CPR], Member States having a rate of young people aged 15 to 29 not in employment, education or training above the Union average in 2024 on the basis of Eurostat data, shall allocate at least 10% of their ESF+ resources under shared management for the years 2026 to 2027 to these actions.	When programming the ESF+ resources under shared management for 2026 and 2027 at mid-term in accordance with Article [14] of[the future CPR], Member States having - a rate of young people aged 15 to 29 not in employment, education or training above the Union average in 2024 or where the NEET rate is above 15% on the basis of Eurostat data, shall allocate at least 15% of their ESF+ resources under shared management for the years 2026 to 2027 to these actions or structural reform measures.
Outermost regions meeting the conditions set out in the first and second subparagraphs shall allocate at least 15% of the ESF+ resources under shared management in their programmes to the targeted actions set out in the first subparagraph. This allocation shall be taken into account for verifying compliance with the minimum percentage at national level set out in the first and second subparagraphs.	Outermost regions meeting the conditions set out in the second and third subparagraphs shall allocate at least 15% of the ESF+ resources under shared management in their programmes to the targeted actions set out in the first subparagraph. This allocation shall be taken into account for verifying compliance with the minimum percentage at national level set out in the first and second subparagraphs. That allocation shall not replace funding necessary for infrastructure and development for outermost regions.
When implementing such actions, Member States shall give priority to inactive and long-term unemployed young people and put in place targeted outreach measures.	When implementing such actions, Member States shall give priority to inactive and long-term unemployed young people and put in place targeted outreach measures.
6.  Paragraphs 2 to 5 shall not apply to the specific additional allocation received by the outermost regions and the NUTS level 2 regions fulfilling the criteria laid down in Article 2 of Protocol No 6 to the 1994 Act of Accession.	6.  Paragraphs 2 to 5 shall not apply to the specific additional allocation received by the outermost regions and the NUTS level 2 regions fulfilling the criteria laid down in Article 2 of Protocol No 6 to the 1994 Act of Accession.
7.  Paragraphs 1 to 5 shall not apply to technical assistance.	7.  Paragraphs 1 to 5 shall not apply to technical assistance.
Amendment    93 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 7a
	Respect for fundamental rights
	Member States and the Commission shall ensure respect for fundamental rights and compliance with the Charter in the implementation of the funds.
	Any cost incurrent for action that is not in line with the Charter shall not be eligible in accordance with Article 58(2) of the Common Provisions Regulation xx/xx and Delegated Regulation (EU) No 240/2014.
Amendment    94 Proposal for a regulation Article 8
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 8	Article 8
Partnership	Partnership
1.  Each Member State shall ensure adequate participation of social partners and civil society organisations in the delivery of employment, education and social inclusion policies supported by the ESF+ strand under shared management.	1.  In accordance with Article 6 of the [future CPR] and with the Delegated Regulation (EU) No 240/2014, each Member State shall ensure, in partnership with local and regional authorities, a meaningful participation of social partners, civil society organisations, equality bodies, national human rights institutions and other relevant or representative organisations in the programming and delivery of employment, education, non-discrimination and social inclusion policies and initiatives supported by the ESF+ strand under shared management. Such meaningful participation shall be inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities.
2.  Member States shall allocate an appropriate amount of ESF+ resources under shared management in each programme for the capacity building of social partners and civil society organisations.	2.  Member States shall allocate at least 2% of ESF+ resources for the capacity building of social partners and civil society organisations at Union and national level in the form of training, networking measures, and strengthening of the social dialogue, and to activities jointly undertaken by the social partners.
Amendment    95 Proposal for a regulation Article 9
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 9	Article 9
Addressing material deprivation	Addressing material deprivation
The resources referred to in Article 7(4) shall be programmed under a dedicated priority or programme.	The resources referred to in Article 7(4) regarding social inclusion of the most deprived and/or material deprivation shall be programmed under a dedicated priority or programme. The co-financing rate for this priority or programme is set, at least, at 85%.
Amendment    96 Proposal for a regulation Article 10
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 10	Article 10
Support to youth employment	Support to youth employment
Support in accordance with Article 7(5) shall be programmed under a dedicated priority and it shall support the specific objective set out in point (i) of Article 4(1).	Support in accordance with Article 7(5) shall be programmed under a dedicated priority or programme and it shall support the specific objective set out in point (i) of Article 4(1).
Amendment    97 Proposal for a regulation Article 10 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 10a
	Support to the European Child Guarantee
	Support in accordance with Article 7(3) subparagraph 1a shall be programmed under a dedicated priority or programme reflecting the 2013 European Commission Recommendation on Investing in Children. It shall support for tackling child poverty and social exclusion within the specific objectives set out in points (vii) to (x) of Article 4.
Amendment    98 Proposal for a regulation Article 11
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 11	Article 11
Support to relevant country-specific recommendations	Support to relevant country-specific recommendations
The actions addressing the challenges identified in relevant country-specific recommendations and in the European Semester as referred to in Article 7(2) shall be programmed under one or more dedicated priorities.	The actions addressing the challenges identified in relevant country-specific recommendations and in the European Semester as referred to in Article 7(2) shall be programmed under any of the specific objectives referred to in Article 4(1). Member States shall ensure complementarity, coherence, coordination and synergies with the European Pillar of Social Rights.
	Sufficient flexibility shall be ensured at Managing Authority level to identify priorities and areas for ESF+ investments in line with the specific local or regional challenges.
Amendment    99 Proposal for a regulation Article 11 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 11a
	Integrated territorial development
	1.  The ESF+ may support integrated territorial development within programmes under both goals referred to in Article 4(2) of Regulation (EU) 2018/xxxx [new CPR] in accordance with Chapter II of Title III of that Regulation [new CPR].
	2.  Member States shall implement integrated territorial development, supported by the ESF+, exclusively through the forms referred to in Article [22] of Regulation (EU) 2018/xxxx [new CPR].
Amendment    100 Proposal for a regulation Article 11 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 11b
	Transnational cooperation
	1.  Member States may support transnational cooperation actions under a dedicated priority.
	2.  Transnational cooperation actions may be programmed under any of the specific objectives set out in points (i) to (x) of Article 4(1).
	3.  The maximum co-financing rate for this priority may be increased to 95% for the allocation of maximum 5% of the national ESF+ allocation under shared management to such priorities.
Amendment    101 Proposal for a regulation Article 12
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 12	Article 12
Scope	Scope
This Chapter applies to ESF+ support under points (i) to (x) of Article 4(1) when implemented under shared management (the ‘general support of the ESF+ strand under shared management’).	This Chapter applies to ESF+ support under points (i) to (x) of Article 4(1) when implemented under shared management (the ‘general support of the ESF+ strand under shared management’). In addition, Article 13 also applies to ESF+ support under point (xi) of Article 4(1).
Amendment    102 Proposal for a regulation Article 13
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 13	Article 13
Innovative actions	Social innovative actions
1.  Member States shall support actions of social innovation and social experimentations, or strengthen bottom-up approaches based on partnerships involving public authorities, the private sector, and civil society such as the Local Action Groups designing and implementing community-led local development strategies.	1.  Member States shall support actions of social innovation and/or social experimentations, including those with a socio-cultural component, using bottom-up approaches based on partnerships involving public authorities, the social partners, social economy enterprises, the private sector, and civil society.
	1a.  Member States shall identify, either in their operational programmes or at a later stage during implementation, fields for social innovation and social experimentations that correspond to the Member States' specific needs.
2.  Member States may support the upscaling of innovative approaches tested on a small-scale (social experimentations) developed under the Employment and Social Innovation strand and other Union programmes.	2.  Member States may support the upscaling of innovative approaches tested on a small-scale (social innovation and social experimentations, including those with a socio-cultural component) developed under the Employment and Social Innovation strand and other Union programmes.
3.  Innovative actions and approaches may be programmed under any of the specific objectives set out in points (i) to (x) of Article 4(1).	3.  Innovative actions and approaches may be programmed under any of the specific objectives set out in Article 4(1).
4.  Each Member State shall dedicate at least one priority to the implementation of paragraphs 1 or 2 or to both. The maximum co-financing rate for these priorities may be increased to 95% for the allocation of maximum 5% of the national ESF+ allocation under shared management to such priorities.	4.  Each Member State shall dedicate at least one priority to the implementation of paragraphs 1 or 2 or to both. The maximum co-financing rate for these priorities may be increased to 95% for the allocation of maximum 5% of the national ESF+ allocation under shared management.
Amendment    103 Proposal for a regulation Article 14
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 14	Article 14
Eligibility	Eligibility
1.  In addition to the costs referred to in Article [58] of [the future CPR], the following costs are not eligible under the general support of the ESF+ strand under shared management:	1.  In addition to the costs referred to in Article [58] of [the future CPR], the following costs are not eligible under the general support of the ESF+ strand under shared management:
(a)  the purchase of land and real estate, and the provision of infrastructure, and	(a)  the purchase of land and real estate, and the purchase of infrastructure, and
(b)  the purchase of furniture, equipment and vehicles except where the purchase is necessary for achieving the objective of the operation, or these items are fully depreciated, or the purchase of these items is the most economic option.	(b)  the purchase of furniture, equipment and vehicles except where the purchase is absolutely necessary for achieving the objective of the operation, or these items are fully depreciated, or the purchase of these items is the most economic option.
2.  Contributions in kind in the form of allowances or salaries disbursed by a third party for the benefit of the participants in an operation may be eligible for a contribution from the general support of the ESF+ strand under shared management provided that the contributions in kind are incurred in accordance with national rules, including accountancy rules, and do not exceed the cost borne by the third party.	2.  Contributions in kind in the form of allowances or salaries disbursed by a third party for the benefit of the participants in an operation may be eligible for a contribution from the general support of the ESF+ strand under shared management provided that the contributions in kind are incurred in accordance with national rules, including accountancy rules, and do not exceed the cost borne by the third party.
3.  The specific additional allocation received by the outermost regions and the NUTS level 2 regions fulfilling the criteria laid down in Article 2 of Protocol No 6 to the 1994 Act of Accession shall be used to support the achievement of the specific objectives set out in paragraph 1 of Article 4.	3.  The specific additional allocation received by the outermost regions and the NUTS level 2 regions fulfilling the criteria laid down in Article 2 of Protocol No 6 to the 1994 Act of Accession shall be used to support the achievement of the specific objectives set out in paragraph 1 of Article 4.
4.  Direct staff costs shall be eligible for a contribution from the general support of the ESF+ strand under shared management provided that their level is not higher than 100% of the usual remuneration for the profession concerned in the Member State as demonstrated by Eurostat data.	4.  Direct staff costs shall be eligible for a contribution from the general support of the ESF+ strand under shared management. If a collective agreement applies, they shall be determined according to that agreement. If no collective agreement applies, their level shall not be higher than 100% of the usual remuneration for the profession or the specific expertise concerned in the Member State or region as demonstrated by relevant documentary justification provided by the respective Managing Authority and/or Eurostat data.
Amendment    104 Proposal for a regulation Article 15
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 15	Article 15
Indicators and reporting	Indicators and reporting
1.  Programmes benefitting from the general support of the ESF+ strand under shared management shall use common output and result indicators, as set out in Annex 1 to this Regulation to monitor progress in implementation. The programmes may also use programme-specific indicators.	1.  Programmes benefitting from the general support of the ESF+ strand under shared management shall use common output and result indicators, as set out in Annex 1 or Annex IIa for actions targeting social inclusion of the most deprived within point (x) of Article 4(1), to this Regulation to monitor progress in implementation. The programmes may also use programme-specific indicators and action-specific indicators.
2.  The baseline for common and programme-specific output indicators shall be set at zero. Where relevant to the nature of the operations supported, cumulative quantified milestones and target values for those indicators shall be set in absolute numbers. The reported values for the output indicators shall be expressed in absolute numbers.	2.  The baseline for common and programme-specific output indicators shall be set at zero. Where relevant to the nature of the operations supported, cumulative quantified milestones and target values for those indicators shall be set in absolute numbers. The reported values for the output indicators shall be expressed in absolute numbers.
3.  The reference value for common and programme-specific result indicators for which a cumulative quantified milestone for 2024 and a target value for 2029 have been set, shall be fixed using the latest available data or other relevant sources of information. Targets for common result indicators shall be fixed in absolute numbers or as a percentage. Programme-specific result indicators and related targets may be expressed in quantitative or qualitative terms. The reported values on common result indicators shall be expressed in absolute numbers.	3.  The reference value for common and programme-specific result indicators for which a cumulative quantified milestone for 2024 and a target value for 2029 have been set, shall be fixed using the latest available data or other relevant sources of information. Targets for common result indicators shall be fixed in absolute numbers or as a percentage. Programme-specific result indicators and related targets may be expressed in quantitative or qualitative terms. The reported values on common result indicators shall be expressed in absolute numbers.
4. Data on the indicators for participants shall only be transmitted when all data required under point (1a) of Annex 1 relating to that participant are available.	4.  Data on the indicators for participants shall only be transmitted when all data required under point (1a) of Annex 1 relating to that participant are available.
	4a.  The data referred to in paragraph 3 shall include a gender impact assessment to monitor the implementation of the ESF+ programmes with regard to gender equality and be disaggregated by sex.
5.  Member States shall, when data are available in registers or equivalent sources, enable the Managing Authorities and other bodies entrusted with data collection necessary for the monitoring and the evaluation of the general support of the ESF+ strand under shared management to obtain those data from data registers or equivalent sources, in accordance with points (c) and (e) of Article 6(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679.	5.  Member States may, when data are available in registers or equivalent sources, enable the Managing Authorities and other bodies entrusted with data collection necessary for the monitoring and the evaluation of the general support of the ESF+ strand under shared management to obtain those data from data registers or equivalent sources, in accordance with points (c) and (e) of Article 6(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679.
6.  The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 38 to amend the indicators in Annex I where considered necessary to ensure effective assessment of progress in the implementation of programmes.	6.  The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 38 to amend the indicators in Annex I and Annex IIa where considered necessary to ensure effective assessment of progress in the implementation of programmes.
Amendment    105 Proposal for a regulation Article 17
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 17	Article 17
Principles	Principles
1.  The ESF+ support for addressing material deprivation may only be used to support the distribution of food and goods that are in conformity with the Union law on consumer product safety.	1.  The ESF+ support for addressing material deprivation may only be used to support the distribution of food and goods that are in conformity with the Union law on consumer product safety.
2.  Member States and beneficiaries shall choose the food and/or the basic material assistance on the basis of objective criteria related to the needs of the most deprived persons. The selection criteria for the food products, and where appropriate for goods, shall also take into consideration climatic and environmental aspects, in particular with a view to reduction of food waste. Where appropriate, the choice of the type of food products to be distributed shall be made having considered their contribution to the balanced diet of the most deprived persons.	2.  Member States and beneficiaries shall choose the food and/or the basic material assistance on the basis of objective criteria related to the needs of the most deprived persons. The selection criteria for the food products, and where appropriate for goods, shall also take into consideration climatic and environmental aspects, in particular with a view to reduction of food waste and single-use plastic. Where appropriate, the choice of the type of food products to be distributed shall be made having considered their contribution to the balanced diet of the most deprived persons.
The food and/or basic material assistance may be provided directly to the most deprived persons or indirectly through electronic vouchers or cards, provided that they can only be redeemed against food and/or basic material assistance as set out in Article 2(3).	The food and/or basic material assistance may be provided directly to the most deprived persons or indirectly through electronic vouchers or cards, provided that they can only be redeemed against food and/or basic material assistance as set out in Article 2(3) and are not replacing any existing social benefit.
The food provided for the most deprived persons may be obtained from the use, processing or sale of the products disposed of in accordance with Article 16(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, provided that this is economically the most favourable option and does not unduly delay the delivery of the food products to the most deprived persons.	The food provided for the most deprived persons may be obtained from the use, processing or sale of the products disposed of in accordance with Article 16(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, provided that this is economically the most favourable option and does not unduly delay the delivery of the food products to the most deprived persons.
Any amount derived from such a transaction shall be used for the benefit of the most deprived persons, in addition to the amounts already available to the programme.	Any amount derived from such a transaction shall be used for the benefit of the most deprived persons, in addition to the amounts already available to the programme.
3.  The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that aid provided in the framework of the ESF+ support for addressing material deprivation respects the dignity and prevents stigmatisation of the most deprived persons.	3.  The Commission and the Member States shall ensure that aid provided in the framework of the ESF+ support for addressing material deprivation respects the dignity and prevents stigmatisation of the most deprived persons.
4.  The delivery of food and/or material assistance may be complemented with re-orientation towards competent services and other accompanying measures aiming at the social inclusion of the most deprived persons.	4.  The delivery of food and/or material assistance shall be complemented with re-orientation towards competent services and other accompanying measures aiming at the social inclusion of the most deprived persons.
Amendment    106 Proposal for a regulation Article 20
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 20	Article 20
Eligibility of expenditure	Eligibility of expenditure
1.  The eligible costs of the ESF+ support for addressing material deprivation shall be:	1.  The eligible costs of the ESF+ support for addressing material deprivation shall be:
(a)  the costs of purchasing food and/or basic material assistance, including costs related to transporting food and/or basic material assistance to the beneficiaries delivering the food and/or basic material assistance to the end recipients;	(a)  the costs of purchasing food and/or basic material assistance, including costs related to transporting food and/or basic material assistance to the beneficiaries delivering the food and/or basic material assistance to the end recipients;
(b)  where the transport of the food and/or basic material assistance to the beneficiaries distributing them to the end recipients is not covered by point (a), the costs borne by the purchasing body related to transporting food and/or basic material assistance to the storage depots and/or the beneficiaries and storage costs at a flat-rate of 1% of the costs referred to in point (a) or, in duly justified cases, costs actually incurred and paid;	(b)  where the transport of the food and/or basic material assistance to the beneficiaries distributing them to the end recipients is not covered by point (a), the costs borne by the purchasing body related to transporting food and/or basic material assistance to the storage depots and/or the beneficiaries and storage costs at a flat-rate of 1% of the costs referred to in point (a) or, in duly justified cases, costs actually incurred and paid;
(c)  the administrative, transport and storage costs borne by the beneficiaries involved in the distribution of the food and/or basic material assistance to the most deprived at a flat-rate of 5% of the costs referred to in point (a); or 5% of the costs of the value of the food products disposed of in accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013	(c)  the administrative, transport and storage costs borne by the beneficiaries involved in the distribution of the food and/or basic material assistance to the most deprived at a flat-rate of 5% of the costs referred to in point (a); or 5% of the costs of the value of the food products disposed of in accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013
(d)  the cost of collection, transport, storage and distribution of food donations and directly related awareness raising activities;	(d)  the cost of collection, transport, storage and distribution of food donations and directly related awareness raising activities;
(e)  the costs of accompanying measures undertaken by or on behalf of beneficiaries and declared by the beneficiaries delivering the food and/or basic material assistance to the most deprived persons at a flat- rate of 5% of the costs referred to in point (a).	(e)  the costs of accompanying measures undertaken by or on behalf of beneficiaries and declared by the beneficiaries delivering the food and/or basic material assistance to the most deprived persons at a flat- rate of 5,5% of the costs referred to in point (a).
2.  A reduction of the eligible costs referred to in point (a) of paragraph 1 because the body responsible for the purchase of food and/or basic material assistance did not comply with applicable law, shall not lead to a reduction of the eligible costs set out in points (c) and (e) of paragraph 1.	2.  A reduction of the eligible costs referred to in point (a) of paragraph 1 because the body responsible for the purchase of food and/or basic material assistance did not comply with applicable law, shall not lead to a reduction of the eligible costs set out in points (c) and (e) of paragraph 1.
3.  The following costs shall not be eligible:	3.  The following costs shall not be eligible:
(a)  interest on debt;	(a)  interest on debt;
(b)  provision of infrastructure;	(b)  purchase of infrastructure;
(c)  costs of second-hand goods.	(c)  costs of second-hand goods of reduced quality.
Amendment    107 Proposal for a regulation Article 21
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 21	Article 21
Indicators and reporting	Indicators and reporting
1.  Priorities addressing material deprivation shall use common output and result indicators, as set out in Annex II to this Regulation to monitor progress in implementation. These programmes may also use programme-specific indicators.	1.  Priorities addressing material deprivation shall use common output and result indicators, as set out in Annex II to this Regulation to monitor progress in implementation. These programmes may also use programme-specific indicators.
2.  The reference values for common and programme-specific result indicators shall be established.	2.  The reference values for common and programme-specific result indicators shall be established. Reporting requirements shall be kept as simple as possible.
3.  By 30 June 2025 and 30 June 2028, Managing Authorities shall report to the Commission the results of a structured survey of the end recipients carried out during the previous year. This survey shall be based on the model which shall be established by the Commission by means of an implementing act.	3.  By 30 June 2025 and 30 June 2028, Managing Authorities shall report to the Commission the results of a structured anonymous survey of the end recipients carried out during the previous year and also focusing also on their living conditions and the nature of their material deprivation. This survey shall be based on the model which shall be established by the Commission by means of an implementing act.
4.  The Commission shall adopt an implementing act establishing the model to be used for the structured survey of end recipients in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 39(2) in order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Article.	4.  The Commission shall adopt an implementing act establishing the model to be used for the structured survey of end recipients in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 39(2) in order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Article.
5.  The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 38 to amend the indicators in Annex II where considered necessary to ensure effective assessment of progress in the implementation of programmes.	5.  The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 38 to amend the indicators in Annex II where considered necessary to ensure effective assessment of progress in the implementation of programmes.
Amendment    108 Proposal for a regulation Article 22 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Audit of operations may cover all stages of its implementation and all levels of the distribution chain, with the sole exception of control of the end recipients, unless a risk assessment establishes a specific risk of irregularity or fraud.	Audit of operations may cover all stages of its implementation and all levels of the distribution chain, with the sole exception of control of the end recipients, unless a risk assessment establishes a specific risk of irregularity or fraud. The audit of operations shall include more controls in the early stages of implementation so that in case of risk of fraud the funds may be re-directed to other projects.
Amendment    109 Proposal for a regulation Article 23
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 23	Article 23
Operational objectives	Operational objectives
The Employment and Social Innovation strand has the following operational objectives:	The Employment and Social Innovation strand has the following operational objectives:
a)  to develop high-quality comparative analytical knowledge in order to ensure that policies to achieve the specific objectives referred to in Article 4 are based on sound evidence and are relevant to needs, challenges and conditions in the associated countries;	a)  to develop high-quality comparative analytical knowledge in order to ensure that policies to achieve the specific objectives referred to in Article 4 are based on sound evidence and are relevant to needs, challenges and conditions in the associated countries;
b)  to facilitate effective and inclusive information-sharing, mutual learning, peer reviews and dialogue on policies in the fields referred to in Article 4 in order to assist the associated countries in taking appropriate policy measures;	b)  to facilitate effective and inclusive information-sharing, mutual learning, peer reviews and dialogue on policies in the fields referred to in Article 4 in order to assist the associated countries in taking appropriate policy measures;
c)  to support social experimentations in the fields referred to in Article 4 and build up the stakeholders' capacity to implement, transfer or upscale the tested social policy innovations;	c)  to support social experimentations in the fields referred to in Article 4 and build up the stakeholders' capacity to prepare, design and implement, transfer or upscale the tested social policy innovations with a special focus on promoting the scaling up of local projects developed by cities, local and regional authorities, social partners, civil society organisations and socio-economic actors in the field of reception and social inclusion and integration of third-country nationals;
d)  to provide specific support services to employers and job-seekers with a view to the development of integrated European labour markets, ranging from pre-recruitment preparation to post-placement assistance to fill vacancies in certain sectors, professions, countries, border regions or for particular groups (e.g. vulnerable people);	d)  to develop and provide specific support services to employers and job-seekers with a view to the development of integrated European labour markets, ranging from pre-recruitment preparation to post-placement assistance to fill vacancies in certain sectors, professions, countries, border regions or for particular groups (e.g. people in vulnerable situations);
	(da)  to support cross-border partnerships between public employment services, civil society and social partners to promote a cross-border labour market and cross-border mobility with adequate conditions;
	(db)  to support the provision of EURES services for the recruitment and placing of workers in quality and sustainable employment through the clearance of job vacancies and applications, including through cross-border partnerships;
	dc)  to facilitate the voluntary geographical mobility of workers with adequate social conditions and increase employment opportunities through the development of high-quality and inclusive labour markets in the Union, which are open and accessible to all, while respecting workers' rights throughout the Union;
e)  to support the development of the market eco-system related to the provision of microfinance for micro-enterprises in start-up and development phases, in particular those that employ vulnerable people;	e)  to support the development of the market eco-system related to the provision of microfinance, as well as its availability and accessibility for micro-enterprises social economy enterprises and vulnerable people in start-up and development phases, in particular those that employ people in vulnerable situations including disadvantage groups;
f)  to support networking at Union level and dialogue with and among relevant stakeholders in the fields referred to in Article 4 and contribute to build up the institutional capacity of these stakeholders, including the public employment services (PES), social security institutions, microfinance institutions and institutions providing finance to social enterprises and social economy;	f)  to support networking at Union level and dialogue with and among relevant stakeholders in the fields referred to in Article 4 and contribute to build up the institutional capacity of involved stakeholders, including the public employment services (PES), social security institutions, civil society, microfinance institutions and institutions providing finance to social economy enterprises and social economy;
g)  to support the development of social enterprises and the emergence of a social investment market, facilitating public and private interactions and the participation of foundations and philanthropic actors in that market;	g)  to support the development of social economy enterprises and the emergence of a social investment market, facilitating public and private interactions and the participation of foundations and philanthropic actors in that market;
h)  to provide guidance for the development of social infrastructure (including housing, child care and education and training, health care and long term care) needed for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights;	h)  to provide guidance for the development of social infrastructure (including housing, early childhood education and care, eldercare, accessibility requirements and transition from institutional to family and community-based care services including accessibility requirements for persons with disabilities, child care and education and training, health care and long term care) needed for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights;
i)  to support transnational cooperation to accelerate the transfer of, and to facilitate the scaling of, innovative solutions, in particular for the areas of employment, skills and social inclusion, across Europe.	i)  to support transnational cooperation to accelerate the transfer of, and to facilitate the scaling of, innovative solutions, in particular for the areas combatting poverty, employment, skills and social inclusion, across Europe.
j)  to support the implementation of relevant international social and labour standards in the context of harnessing globalisation and the external dimension of Union policies in the fields referred to in Article 4.	j)  to support the implementation of relevant international social and labour standards in the context of harnessing globalisation and the external dimension of Union policies in the fields referred to in Article 4.
Amendment    110 Proposal for a regulation Article 23 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 23a
	Thematic concentration and funding
	The part of the ESF+ financial envelope for the Employment and Social Innovation Strand referred to in Article 5(4)(a) shall be allocated over the whole period to the specific objectives set out in Article 4(2b) (new) according to the following indicative percentages:
	(a)  55% to the specific sbjective 1;
	(b)  18% to the specific objective 2;
	(c)  18% to the specific objective 3.
Amendment    111 Proposal for a regulation Article 24
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 24	Article 24
Eligible actions	Eligible actions
1.  Only actions pursuing the objectives referred to in Article 3 and 4 shall be eligible for funding.	1.  Only actions pursuing the objectives referred to in Article 3 and 4 shall be eligible for funding.
2.  The Employment and Social Innovation strand may support the following actions:	2.  The Employment and Social Innovation strand may support the following actions:
(a)  Analytical activities, including in relation to third countries, in particular:	(a)  Analytical activities, including in relation to third countries, in particular:
(i)  surveys, studies, statistical data, methodologies, classifications, micro-simulations, indicators, support to European-level observatories and benchmarks;	(i)  surveys, studies, statistical data, methodologies, classifications, micro-simulations, indicators, support to European-level observatories and benchmarks;
(ii)  social experimentations evaluating social innovations;	(ii)  social experimentations evaluating social innovations;
(iii)  monitoring and assessment of the transposition and application of Union law;	(iii)  monitoring and assessment of the transposition and application of Union law;
(b)  Policy implementation, in particular:	(b)  Policy implementation, in particular:
(i)  cross-border partnerships and support services in cross-border regions;	(i)  cross-border partnerships and support services in cross-border regions;
(ii)  an EU-wide labour targeted mobility scheme at Union level to fill job vacancies where labour market shortcomings have been identified;	(ii)  an EU-wide labour targeted mobility scheme at Union level to fill job vacancies where labour market shortcomings have been identified;
(iii)  support to microfinance and social enterprises, including through blending operations such as asymmetric risk sharing or reducing transaction costs, as well as support to the development of social infrastructure and skills;	(iii)  support to microfinance and social economy enterprises, including through blending operations such as asymmetric risk sharing or reducing transaction costs, as well as support to the development of social infrastructure and skills;
(iv)  support to transnational cooperation and partnership with a view to transferring and upscaling innovative solutions;	(iv)  support to transnational cooperation and partnership with a view to transferring and upscaling innovative solutions;
(c)  Capacity building, in particular:	(c)  Capacity building, in particular:
(i)  of networks at Union level related to the fields referred to in Article 4(1);	(i)  of networks at Union level related to the fields referred to in Article 4(1);
(ii)  of national contact points providing guidance, information and assistance related the implementation of the strand;	(ii)  of national contact points providing guidance, information and assistance related the implementation of the strand;
(iii)  of participating countries administrations, social security institutions and employment services responsible for promoting labour mobility, of microfinance institutions and of institutions providing finance to social enterprises or other social investment actors, as well as networking;	(iii)  of participating countries administrations, social security institutions and employment services responsible for promoting labour mobility, of microfinance institutions and of institutions providing finance to social economy enterprises or other social investment actors, as well as networking;
(iv)  of stakeholders in view of transnational cooperation;	(iv)  of the social partners and stakeholders in view of transnational cooperation;
(d)  Communication and dissemination activities, in particular:	(d)  Communication and dissemination activities, in particular:
(i)  mutual learning through exchange of good practices, innovative approaches, results of analytical activities, peer reviews, and benchmarking;	(i)  mutual learning through exchange of good practices, innovative approaches, results of analytical activities, peer reviews, and benchmarking;
(ii)  guides, reports, informative material and media coverage of initiatives related to the fields referred to in Article 4(1);	(ii)  guides, reports, informative material and media coverage of initiatives related to the fields referred to in Article 4(1);
(iii)  information systems disseminating evidence related to the fields referred to in Article 4(1);	(iii)  information systems disseminating evidence related to the fields referred to in Article 4(1);
(iv)  Council Presidency events, conferences and seminars.	(iv)  technical and administrative assistance for the implementation of the work programme, such as preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities including information technology systems.
Amendment    112 Proposal for a regulation Article 25 – paragraph 1 – point b
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(b)  Any legal entity created under Union law or any international organisation.	(b)  Any legal entity created under Union law or relevant international organisation;
Amendment    113 Proposal for a regulation Article 25 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 25a
	Governance
	1.  The Commission shall consult stakeholders within the Union, in particular social partners and civil society organisations, on the employment and social innovation work programmes, their priorities and strategic orientation and their implementation.
	2.  The Commission shall establish the necessary links with the Employment Committee, the Social Protection Committee, the Advisory Committee on Health and Safety at Work, the Group of Directors-General for Industrial Relations and the Advisory Committee on Freedom of Movement of Workers in order to ensure that they are regularly and appropriately informed of progress in implementing these programmes. The Commission shall also inform other committees dealing with policies, instruments and actions of relevance to the Employment and Social innovation Strand.
Amendment    114 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point –a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(-a)  Support a Union public health strategy aiming to:
	(i)  support Member States in their efforts to protect and enhance public health; and
	(ii)  advance the Union's mission in health in accordance with Article 168 TFEU, which stipulates that a high level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Union policies and activities.
Amendment    115 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point a – introductory part
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(a)  Strengthen crisis-preparedness, management and response in the Union to protect citizens against cross-border health threats.	(a)  Strengthen crisis-preparedness, management and response in the Union to address cross-border health threats
Amendment    116 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point a – point iv a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(iva)  Well-designed public health interventions for reducing the burden and impact of infection and preventable infectious diseases
Amendment    117 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point a – point iv b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ivb)  Support the development of skills and tools for effective risk communication
Amendment    118 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point i
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(i)  Invest in health promotion and disease prevention.	(i)  Invest in health promotion and disease prevention, including through health literacy and education programmes, and through the promotion of physical activity
Amendment    119 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point i a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ia)  Invest in early diagnosis and screening
Amendment    120 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point ii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(ii)  Support the digital transformation of health and care	(ii)  Support the digital transformation of health and care that address the needs and concerns of patients and citizens, in particular by establishing links to programmes that support media literacy and digital skills
Amendment    121 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point ii a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(iia)  Promote digital public services in areas such as health
Amendment    122 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point ii b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(iib)  Strengthen the security and quality of health information
Amendment    123 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point ii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(ii)  Support the development of a sustainable Union health information system	(ii)  Support the development of a sustainable, transparent and accessible Union health information system, whilst ensuring protection of private data.
(In the COM proposal the numbering of the points in Article 26, point b is not correct, there are two points numbered as (ii))
Amendment    124 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point iii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iii)  Support Member States with knowledge transfer useful for the national reform processes for more effective, accessible and resilient health systems and better health promotion and disease prevention addressing, in particular, the challenges identified in the European Semester.	(iii)  Support Member States with knowledge transfer and implementation support useful for the national reform processes for more effective, accessible, resilient, non-discriminatory, inclusive and equitable health systems tackling social inequalities, and better health promotion and disease prevention addressing, in particular, the challenges identified in the European Semester. This also includes supporting high-quality national registries that shall also deliver comparable data.
Amendment    125 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point iv a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(iva)  Support the transition towards person-centred care, proximity health and social services, and community-based integrated care, in particular promoting organizational models based on interprofessional teamwork and multi-stakeholders networking
Amendment    126 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point iv b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ivb)  Ensure the engagement of all relevant stakeholders in the above actions, at Union and/or national level as appropriate
Amendment    127 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point iv c (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ivc)  Develop and implement tools and strategies to prevent and tackle health inequalities and to promote social inclusion, citizen empowerment and community participation
Amendment    128 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point c – point i
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(i)  support the implementation of the legislation on medicinal products and medical devices	(i)  Support the implementation of the legislation on medicinal products, access to such products throughout the Union and medical devices
Amendment    129 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point c – point vi
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(vi)  Support to the Commission' scientific committees on "Consumer Safety" and on "Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks"	(vi)  Support the development of Health in All Policies and establish processes by which health implications can be considered and taken into account in all policies
Amendment    130 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ca)  Support the monitoring of, implementation of, and strengthen, other Union law and policies with health implications so as to help ensure a high level of protection of human health, including but not limited to those relating to:
	(i)  air pollution
	(ii)  endocrine disruptors and other chemicals with harmful properties
	(iii)  pesticide residues in food, water and air
	(iv)  food and food labelling, including on transfatty acids, alcohol labelling, additives and food contact materials
Justification
The addition of the need to strengthen and implement other Union legislation with health implications is a natural consequence of Article 168 TFEU which stipulates that 'a high level of human health shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Union policies and activities'
Amendment    131 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point d – point ii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(ii)  Support the development of cooperation on Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in preparation of new harmonised rules	(ii)  Support the development of cooperation on and capacity-building in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in preparation of new harmonised rules
Amendment    132 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point d – point iii a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(iiia)  Support the implementation of programmes and best practices on sexual and reproductive health education and campaigns for young people
Amendment    133 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point d – point iii b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(iiib)  Support Union-level civil society organisations working on health and health related issues
Amendment    134 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point d – point iii c (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(iiic)  Support the creation of a Steering Board for Health for implementing the actions under the Health strand
Amendment    135 Proposal for a regulation Article 27 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1.  Only actions pursuing the objectives referred to in Articles 3 and 26 are eligible for funding.	1.  Only actions related to health pursuing the objectives referred to in Articles 3, 4 and 26 are eligible for funding.
Amendment    136 Proposal for a regulation Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point a – point i a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ia)  activities designed to monitor the cumulative health impacts of environmental risk factors, including those arising from contaminants in food, water, air and other sources;
Amendment    137 Proposal for a regulation Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point a – point i b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ib)  activities monitoring the health impacts of Union law, such as pharmacovigilance and similar;
Amendment    138 Proposal for a regulation Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point a – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	The results of analytical activities, once finalised, shall be made publicly available.
Amendment    139 Proposal for a regulation Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point b – point i
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(i)  cross-border collaboration and partnerships, including in cross-border regions;	(i)  cross-border collaboration and partnerships, including in cross-border regions and including in relation to air pollution and other cross-border environmental contamination;
Amendment    140 Proposal for a regulation Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point c – point i
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(i)  through transfer, adaptation and roll-out of best practices with established Union level added value between Member States;	(i)  through exchange, transfer, adaptation and roll-out of best practices with established Union level added value between Member States;
Amendment    141 Proposal for a regulation Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point c – point ii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(ii)  of EU-level networks related to the fields referred to in Article 26;	(ii)  of EU-level networks related to the fields referred to in Article 26, in a continuous and sustainable way, ensuring the presence of an active civil society at Union level;
Justification
Umbrella NGOs with pan-European networks of grassroots members are important contributors to the European project, strengthening the links between the EU and civil society, and among different European civil society groups. These European NGOs represent a unique European value which should be recognised. The EU budget shall help to grow civil society around Europe and contribute to a thriving civil society in the EU.
Amendment    142 Proposal for a regulation Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point c – point iv
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iv)  of national contact points providing guidance, information and assistance related the implementation of the programme;	(iv)  of regional, subnational and national contact points providing guidance, information and assistance related the implementation of the programme;
Amendment    143 Proposal for a regulation Article 29 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The Commission shall consult the health authorities of the Member States in the Steering Group on Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Management of Non-Communicable Diseases or in other relevant Commission expert group or similar entities on the work plans established for the Health strand and its priorities and strategic orientations and its implementation, and also on the health policy perspective of other policies and support mechanisms, thus increasing their overall coordination and added value.	The Commission shall consult the health authorities of the Member States in the Steering Group on Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Management of Non-Communicable Diseases or in other relevant Commission expert group or similar entities such as professional bodies in the health sector, on the annual work plans established for the Health strand and its priorities and strategic orientations and its implementation, and also on the health policy perspective of other policies and support mechanisms, thus increasing their overall coordination and added value. Strong political leadership and adequate governance structure dedicated to health will ensure that health protection and promotion is guaranteed across all Commission portfolios, according to Article 168(1) TFEU.
Amendment    144 Proposal for a regulation Article 29 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 29a
	Steering Board for Health
	1.  The Commission shall establish a Steering Board for Health (‘the Steering Board’) for implementing the actions under the Health strand.
	2.  The Steering Board shall focus on creating synergies between the Health strand and other programmes where a health dimension is integrated, through coordination and cooperation, promoting patients and society engagement, and providing scientific advice and recommendations. Those actions shall provide value oriented health actions, sustainability, better health solutions, foster access and reduce health inequalities.
	3.  The Steering Board shall provide a comprehensive strategy and steering in developing the work plans under the Health strand.
	4.  The Steering Board shall be an independent stakeholder group, composed of actors from relevant sectors in the field of public health, wellbeing and social protection, with participation of representatives of regions and local health authorities, patient representatives and citizens.
	5.  The Steering Board shall be composed of 15 to 20 high level individuals drawn from across disciplines and activities referred to in paragraph 4. The members of the Steering Board shall be appointed by the Commission, following an open call for nominations or for expression of interests or both.
	6.  The Chair of the Steering Board  shall be appointed by the Commission from among its members.
	7.  The Steering Board shall:
	(i)  provide input to annual work plans for the Health strand, following a proposal from the Commission;
	(ii)  elaborate a blueprint for steering coordination and cooperation between the Health strand and other programmes where health dimension is integrated.
	The blueprint shall facilitate ensuring visibility and coordination of all the existing financial mechanisms relevant to health, and shall help steering coordination and cooperation.
Amendment    145 Proposal for a regulation Article 29 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 29b
	International cooperation
	The Commission shall develop cooperation with relevant international organisations such as the United Nations and its specialised agencies, in particular the World Health Organisation (WHO), as well as with the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to implement the Health strand, in order to maximise the effectiveness and efficiency of actions at Union and international level.
Amendment    146 Proposal for a regulation Article 31
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 31	Article 31
Forms of EU funding and methods of implementation	Forms of EU funding and methods of implementation
1.  The Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands may provide funding in any of the forms laid down in the Financial Regulation, in particular grants, prizes, procurement and voluntary payments to International Organisations of which the Union is a member or in whose work it participates.	1.  The Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands may provide funding in any of the forms laid down in the Financial Regulation, in particular grants, prizes, procurement, contributions, and voluntary payments to International Organisations of which the Union is a member or in whose work it participates.
2.  The Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands shall be implemented directly as provided for by the Financial Regulation or indirectly with bodies referred to in Article [61(1)(c)] of the Financial Regulation.	2.  The Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands shall be implemented directly as provided for by the Financial Regulation or indirectly with bodies referred to in Article [61(1)(c)] of the Financial Regulation.
When awarding grants, the evaluation committee referred to in article [150] of the Financial Regulation may be composed of external experts.	When awarding grants, the evaluation committee referred to in article [150] of the Financial Regulation may be composed of external experts.
3.  Blending operations under the Employment and Social Innovation strand shall be implemented in accordance with the [InvestEU regulation] and Title X of the Financial Regulation.	3.  Blending operations under the Employment and Social Innovation strand shall be implemented in accordance with the [InvestEU regulation] and Title X of the Financial Regulation.
4.  Under the Health strand, direct grants may be awarded without a call for proposals to fund actions having a clear Union added value co-financed by the competent authorities that are responsible for health in the Member States or in the third countries associated to the Programme, or by public sector bodies and non-governmental bodies, acting individually or as a network, mandated by those competent authorities.	4.  Under the Health strand, direct grants may be awarded without a call for proposals to fund actions having a clear Union added value co-financed by the competent authorities that are responsible for health in the Member States or in the third countries associated to the Programme, or by public sector bodies and non-governmental bodies, acting individually or as a network, mandated by those competent authorities.
5.  Under the Health strand, direct grants may be awarded without a call for proposals to European Reference Networks that are approved as Networks by the Board of Member States of the European Reference Networks, following the approval procedure set out in Commission Implementing Decision 2014/287/EU of 10 March 2014 setting out criteria for establishing and evaluating European Reference Networks and their Members and for facilitating the exchange of information and expertise on establishing and evaluating such Networks.	5.  Under the Health strand, direct grants may be awarded without a call for proposals to European Reference Networks that are approved as Networks by the Board of Member States of the European Reference Networks, following the approval procedure set out in Commission Implementing Decision 2014/287/EU of 10 March 2014 setting out criteria for establishing and evaluating European Reference Networks and their Members and for facilitating the exchange of information and expertise on establishing and evaluating such Networks.
Amendment    147 Proposal for a regulation Article 32
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 32	Article 32
Work programme and coordination	Work programme and coordination
The Employment and Social Innovation strand and Health strand shall be implemented by work programmes referred to in Article [108] of Financial Regulation. Work programmes shall set out, where applicable, the overall amount reserved for blending operations.	The Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 38 in order to supplement the Employment and Social Innovation strand and the Health strand by establishing work programmes as referred to in Article [108] of Financial Regulation. Those work programmes shall set out, where applicable, the overall amount reserved for blending operations.
The Commission shall foster synergies and ensure effective coordination between the Health strand of ESF+ and the Reform Support Programme, including the Reform Delivery Tool and the Technical Support Instrument.	The Commission shall foster synergies and ensure effective coordination between the Health strand of ESF+ and the Reform Support Programme, including the Reform Delivery Tool and the Technical Support Instrument.
Amendment    148 Proposal for a regulation Article 33
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 33	Article 33
Monitoring and reporting	Monitoring and reporting
1.  Indicators to monitor implementation and progress of the strands towards the achievement of the specific objectives set out in Article 4 and the operational objectives set out in Articles 23 and 26 shall be set.	1.  Indicators to monitor implementation and progress of the strands towards the achievement of the specific objectives set out in Article 4 and the operational objectives set out in Articles 23 and 26 shall be set.
2.  The performance reporting system shall ensure that data for monitoring implementation of the strands and results are collected efficiently, effectively and in a timely fashion. To that end, proportionate reporting requirements shall be imposed on recipients of Union funds and, where relevant, Member States.	2.  The performance reporting system shall ensure that data for monitoring implementation of the strands and results are collected efficiently, effectively and in a timely fashion. To that end, proportionate reporting requirements shall be imposed on recipients of Union funds and, where relevant, Member States.
3.  The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 38 to supplement or amend the indicators in Annex III where considered necessary to ensure effective assessment of progress in the implementation of the strands.	3.  The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 38 to supplement or amend the indicators in Annexes II b and III where considered necessary to ensure effective assessment of progress in the implementation of the strands.
	3a.  With a view to regular monitoring of the strands and to making any adjustments needed to their policy and funding priorities, the Commission shall draw up an initial qualitative and quantitative monitoring report covering the first year, followed by three reports covering consecutive two-year periods and shall submit those reports to the European Parliament and the Council. The reports shall also be submitted, for information, to the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. The reports shall include the results of the strands and the extent to which the principles of equality between women and men and gender mainstreaming have been applied, as well as how anti-discrimination considerations, including accessibility issues, have been addressed through their activities. The reports shall be made available to the public in order to enhance the transparency of the strands.
Amendment    149 Proposal for a regulation Article 35
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 35	Article 35
Evaluation	Evaluation
1.  Evaluations shall be carried out in a sufficiently timely manner to feed into the decision-making process.	1.  Evaluations shall be carried out in a sufficiently timely manner to feed into the decision-making process.
2.  The interim evaluation of the strands may be performed once there is sufficient information available about their implementation, but not later than four years after the start of the implementation of the strands.	2.  By 31 December 2024, the Commission shall carry out a mid-term evaluation of the strands in order to:
	(a)  measure, on a qualitative and quantitative basis, progress made in meeting the objectives of the strand;
	(b)  address the social environment within the Union and any major changes introduced by Union law;
	(c)  determine whether the resources of the strands have been used efficiently and to assess its Union added value.
	The results of that mid-term evaluation shall be presented to the European Parliament and to the Council.
3.  At the end of the implementation period, but no later than four years after the end of the period specified in Article 5, a final evaluation of the strands shall be carried out by the Commission.	3.  At the end of the implementation period, but no later than four years after the end of the period specified in Article 5, a final evaluation of the strands shall be carried out by the Commission.
4.  The Commission shall communicate the conclusions of the evaluations accompanied by its observations, to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.	4.  The Commission shall communicate the conclusions of the evaluations accompanied by its observations, to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.
Amendment    150 Proposal for a regulation Article 37
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 37	Article 37
Information, communication and publicity	Information, communication and publicity
1.  The recipients of Union funding shall acknowledge the origin and ensure the visibility of the Union funding (in particular when promoting the actions and their results), by providing coherent, effective and targeted information to multiple audiences, including the media and the public.	1.  The recipients of Union funding shall acknowledge the origin and ensure the visibility of the Union funding (in particular when promoting the actions and their results), by providing coherent, effective and targeted information to multiple audiences, including the media and the public.
2.  The Commission shall implement information and communication actions relating to the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands, and their actions and results. Financial resources allocated to the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands shall also contribute to the corporate communication of the political priorities of the Union, as far as they are related to the objectives referred to in Articles 4, 23 and 26.	2.  The Commission shall implement information and communication actions relating to the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands, and their actions and results. Financial resources allocated to the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands shall also contribute to the communication of the political priorities of the Union, as far as they are related to the objectives referred to in Articles 4, 23 and 26.
Amendment    151 Proposal for a regulation Article 38
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 38	Article 38
Exercise of the delegation	Exercise of the delegation
1.  The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.	1.  The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article.
2.  The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 15(6), Article 21(5) and Article 33(3) shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time from date of entry into force of this Regulation.	2.  The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 15(6), Article 21(5), Article 32 and Article 33(3) shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time from date of entry into force of this Regulation.
3.  The delegation of power referred to in Article 15(6), Article 21(5) and Article 33(3)may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.	3.  The delegation of power referred to in Article 15(6), Article 21(5), Article 32 and Article 33(3)may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.
4.  Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making of 13 April 201628 .	4.  Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making of 13 April 201628 .
5.  As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.	5.  As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.
6.  A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 15(6), Article 21(5) and Article 33(3) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or by the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.	6.  A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 15(6), Article 21(5), Article 32 and Article 33(3) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or by the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.
_________________________________	_________________________________
28.OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 13.	28. OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 13.
Amendment    152 Proposal for a regulation Article 40
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 40	Article 40
Committee under Article 163 TFEU	Committee under Article 163 TFEU
1.  The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee set up under Article 163 TFEU (the ‘ESF+ Committee’).	1.  The Commission shall be assisted by the Committee set up under Article 163 TFEU (the ‘ESF+ Committee’).
2.  Each Member State shall appoint one government representative, one representative of the workers' organisations, one representative of the employers' organisations and one alternate for each member for a maximum period of seven years. In the absence of a member, the alternate shall be automatically entitled to take part in the proceedings.	2.  Each Member State shall appoint one government representative, one representative of the workers' organisations, one representative of the employers' organisations, one representative of civil society, one representative of the equality bodies or other independent human rights institutions in accordance with point (c) of Article 6(1) of [the future CPR] and one alternate for each member for a maximum period of seven years. In the absence of a member, the alternate shall be automatically entitled to take part in the proceedings.
3.  The ESF+ Committee shall include one representative from each of the organisations representing workers' organisations and employers' organisations at Union level.	3.  The ESF+ Committee shall include one representative from each of the organisations representing workers' organisations, employers' organisations and civil society organisations at Union level.
	3a.  The ESF+ Committee may invite representatives of the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund.
	3b.  Gender balance and appropriate representation of minority and other excluded groups in the ESF+ Committee shall be safeguarded.
4.  The ESF+ Committee shall be consulted on the planned use of technical assistance in the case of support from the ESF+ strand under shared management, as well as on other issues having an impact on the implementation of strategies at Union level relevant to the ESF+;	4.  The ESF+ Committee shall be consulted on the planned use of technical assistance in the case of support from the ESF+ strand under shared management, as well as on other issues having an impact on the implementation of strategies at Union level relevant to the ESF+;
5.  The ESF+ Committee may deliver opinions on:	5.  The ESF+ Committee may deliver opinions on:
(a)  questions related to the ESF+ contribution to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, including country-specific recommendations and semester-related priorities (national reform programmes, etc.);	(a)  questions related to the ESF+ contribution to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, including country-specific recommendations and semester-related priorities (national reform programmes, etc.);
(b)  issues concerning the [future CPR] relevant for the ESF+;	(b)  issues concerning the [future CPR] relevant for the ESF+;
(c)  questions related to the ESF+ referred to it by the Commission other than those referred to in paragraph 4.	(c)  questions related to the ESF+ referred to it by the Commission other than those referred to in paragraph 4.
The opinions of the ESF+ Committee shall be adopted by an absolute majority of the votes validly cast, and shall be communicated to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, for information. The Commission shall inform the ESF+ Committee of the manner in which it has taken account of its opinions.	The opinions of the ESF+ Committee shall be adopted by an absolute majority of the votes validly cast, and shall be communicated to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, for information. The Commission shall inform the ESF+ Committee in writing of the manner in which it has taken account of its opinions.
6.  The ESF+ Committee may set up working groups for each of the strands of the ESF+.	6.  The ESF+ Committee may set up working groups for each of the strands of the ESF+.
Amendment    153 Proposal for a regulation Annex I
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
ANNEX I1	ANNEX I1
Common indicators for the general support of the ESF+ strand under shared management	Common indicators for the general support of the ESF+ strand under shared management
All personal data are to be broken down by gender (female, male, 'non binary'). If certain results are not possible, data for those results do not have to be collected and reported.	All personal data are to be broken down by gender (female, male, 'non binary'). If certain results are not available, data for those results do not have to be collected and reported. Sensitive personal data can be surveyed anonymously.
(1)  Common output indicators related to operations targeting people:	(1)  Common output indicators related to operations targeting people:
(1a)  Common output indicators for participants	(1a)  Common output indicators for participants
–  The common output indicators for participants are:	–  The common output indicators for participants are:
–  unemployed, including long-term unemployed*,	–  unemployed, including long-term unemployed*,
–  long-term unemployed*,	–  long-term unemployed*,
–  inactive*,	–  inactive*,
–  employed, including self-employed*,	–  employed, including self-employed*,
	–  not in education or training (NEET)*,
–  below 30 years of age *,	–  children below 18 years of age *,
	–  young people between 18-29 years of age *,
–  above 54 years of age*,	–  above 54 years of age*,
–  with lower secondary education or less (ISCED 0-2)*,	–  with lower secondary education or less (ISCED 0-2)*,
–  with upper secondary (ISCED 3) or post-secondary education (ISCED 4)*,	–  with upper secondary (ISCED 3) or post-secondary education (ISCED 4)*,
–  with tertiary education (ISCED 5 to 8)*.	–  with tertiary education (ISCED 5 to 8)*.
The total number of participants is to be calculated automatically on the basis of the common output indicators relating to employment status.	The total number of participants is to be calculated automatically on the basis of the common output indicators relating to employment status.
(1b)  Other common output indicators	(1b)  Other common output indicators
If data for these indicators is not collected from data registers, values on these indicators can be determined based on informed estimates by the beneficiary.	If data for these indicators is not collected from data registers, values on these indicators can be determined based on informed estimates by the beneficiary. Data is always provided by participants on a voluntary basis.
–  participants with disabilities**,	–  participants with disabilities**,
	–  participants below 18 years of age*,
–  third country nationals*,	–  third country nationals*,
–  participants with a foreign background*,	–  participants with a foreign background*,
–  minorities (including marginalised communities such as the Roma)**,	–  minorities (other than from the Roma community)**,
	–  participants from the Roma community**
–  homeless or affected by housing exclusion*,	–  homeless or affected by housing exclusion*,
–  participants from rural areas*.	–  participants from rural areas*
	–  participants from geographical areas with high levels of poverty and social exclusion*,
	–  participants transitioning from institutional to family and community based care**,
(2)  Common output indicators for entities are:	(2)  Common output indicators for entities are:
–  number of supported public administrations or public services at national, regional or local level,	–  number of supported public administrations or public services at national, regional or local level,
–  number of supported micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (including cooperative enterprises, social enterprises).	–  number of supported micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (including cooperative enterprises, social enterprises).
(3)  The common immediate result indicators for participants are:	(3)  The common immediate result indicators for participants are:
–  participants engaged in job searching upon leaving*,	–  participants engaged in job searching upon leaving*,
–  participants in education or training upon leaving*,	–  participants in education or training upon leaving*,
–  participants gaining a qualification upon leaving*,	–  participants gaining a qualification upon leaving*,
–  participants gaining a qualification upon leaving*,	–  participants gaining a qualification upon leaving*,
(4) Common longer-term result indicators for participants:	(4) Common longer-term result indicators for participants:
–  participants in employment, including self-employment, six months after leaving*,	–  participants in employment, including self-employment, six and twelve months after leaving*,
–  participants with an improved labour market situation six months after leaving*,	–  participants with an improved labour market situation six and twelve months after leaving*,
As a minimum requirement, these data are to be collected based on a representative sample of participants within each specific objective. Internal validity of the sample is to be ensured in such a way that the data can be generalised at the level of the specific objective.	As a minimum requirement, these data are to be collected based on a representative sample of participants within each specific objective. Internal validity of the sample is to be ensured in such a way that the data can be generalised at the level of the specific objective.
________________________________	__________________________________
1 Data reported under the indicators marked with * are personal data according to Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679.	1 Data reported under the indicators marked with * are personal data according to Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679.
Data reported under the indicators marked with ** are a special category of data according to Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679.	Data reported under the indicators marked with ** are a special category of data according to Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679.
Amendment    154 Proposal for a regulation Annex II
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
ANNEX II	ANNEX II
Common indicators for ESF+ support for addressing material deprivation	Common indicators for ESF+ support for addressing material deprivation
(1)  Output indicators	(1)  Output indicators
(a)  Total monetary value of distributed food and goods.	(a) Total monetary value of distributed food and goods.
(i)  total value of the food support;	(i)  total value of the food support;
(ia)  total monetary value of food for children;	(ia)  total monetary value of food for children;
(ib)  total monetary value of food for the homeless;	(ib)  total monetary value of food for the homeless;
(ic)  total monetary value of food for other target groups.	(ic)  total monetary value of food for other target groups.
(ii)  total value of goods distributed	(ii)  total value of goods distributed
(iia)  total monetary value of goods for children;	(iia)  total monetary value of goods for children;
(iib)  total monetary value of goods for the homeless;	(iib)  total monetary value of goods for the homeless;
(iic)  total monetary value of goods for other target groups.	(iic)  total monetary value of goods for other target groups.
(b)  Total quantity of food support distributed (tons).	(b)  Total quantity of food support distributed (tons).
Thereof2:	Thereof2:
(a)  share of food for which only transport, distribution and storage were paid for by the programme (in %);	(a)  share of food for which only transport, distribution and storage were paid for by the programme (in %);
(b)  proportion of the ESF+ co-financed food products in the total volume of food distributed the beneficiaries (in %)	(b)  proportion of the ESF+ co-financed food products in the total volume of food distributed the beneficiaries (in %)
(3) Common result indicators3	(3) Common result indicators3
–  Number of the end recipients receiving food support	–  Number of the end recipients receiving food support
–  Number of children below 18 years of age	–  Number of children below 18 years of age,
–  Number of youths aged 18-29 years;	–  Number of youths aged 18-29 years,
–  Number of end recipients above 54 years of age,	–  Number of end recipients above 54 years of age,
–  Number of end recipients with disabilities,	–  Number of end recipients with disabilities,
–  Number of third country nationals;	–  Number of third country nationals
–  Number of end recipients with a foreign background and minorities (including marginalised communities such as the Roma),	–  Number of end recipients with a foreign background and minorities (other than from the Roma community),
	–  participants from the Roma community,
–  Number of homeless end recipients or end-recipients affected by housing exclusion.	–  Number of homeless end recipients or end-recipients affected by housing exclusion.
Number of the end recipients receiving material support	Number of the end recipients receiving material support
–  Number of children below 18 years of age,	–  Number of children below 18 years of age,
–  Number of youths aged 18-29 years,	–  Number of youths aged 18-29 years,
–  Number of end recipients above 54 years of age,	–  Number of end recipients above 54 years of age,
–  Number of end recipients with disabilities,	–  Number of end recipients with disabilities,
–  Number of third country nationals,	–  Number of third country nationals,
–  Number of end recipients with a foreign background and minorities (including marginalised communities such as the Roma),	–  Number of end recipients with a foreign background and minorities (other than from the Roma community),
	–  participants from the Roma community
–  Number of homeless end recipient or end recipients affected by housing exclusion	–  Number of homeless end recipient or end recipients affected by housing exclusion
_________________________________	_________________________________
2 Values on these indicators shall be determined based on the informed estimation by the beneficiaries	2 Values on these indicators shall be determined based on the informed estimation by the beneficiaries
3 Ibid	3 Ibid
Amendment    155 Proposal for a regulation Annex II a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	ANNEX IIa
	Common indicators for ESF+ support for promoting social inclusion for the most deprived people
	Output indicators
	(1)  Total number of people who receive help towards social inclusion.
	Of which:
	(a)  number of children aged 15 or younger;
	(b)  number of persons aged 65 or older;
	(c)  number of women;
	(d)  number of people with a foreign background and minorities (other than from the Roma community);
	(e)  participants from the Roma community;
	(f)  number of homeless people.
Amendment    156 Proposal for a regulation Annex II b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	ANNEX IIb
	Indicators for the Employment and Social Innovation Strand
	1.  Level of declared gain of better understanding of Union policies and legislation
	(1)  Number of analytical activities,
	(2)  Number of mutual learning, awareness and dissemination activities,
	(3)  Support for main actors
	2.  Level of active collaboration and partnership between government institutions of the Union, Member States and associated countries
	(1)  Number of analytical activities,
	(2)  Number of mutual learning, awareness and dissemination activities,
	(3)  Support for main actors
	3.  Declared use of social policy innovation in the implementation of social CSRs and the results of social policy experimentation for policy making
	(1)  Number of analytical activities,
	(2)  Number of mutual learning, awareness and dissemination activities,
	(3)  Support for main actors
	4.  Number of visits of the EURES platform
	5.  Number of youth job placements achieved or supported under the Preparatory Action Your First EURES Job (YfEJ) as well as under Targeted Mobility Schemes
	6.  Number of individual personal contacts of EURES advisers with jobseekers, job changers and employers
	7.  Number of businesses created or consolidated that have benefitted from Union support
	8.  Proportion of beneficiaries that have created or further developed a business with Union microfinance that are unemployed or belonging to disadvantaged groups
Amendment    157 Proposal for a regulation Annex III – point 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
2.  Number of health technology joint clinical assessments	2.  Number of beneficiaries (professionals, citizens, patients) affected by the results of the programme
Justification
Considering the peculiarities and the wide range of projects of the health strand, we suggest to include other indicators such as the number of beneficiaries (professionals, citizens, patients) affected by the results of the programme.
Amendment    158 Proposal for a regulation Annex III – point 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
3.  Number of best practices transferred	3.  Number of health technology joint clinical assessments
Amendment    159 Proposal for a regulation Annex III – point 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
4.  Degree of use of the results of the programme in national health policy as measured by a "before and after" questionnaire	4.  Number of best practices transferred
Amendment    160 Proposal for a regulation Annex III – point 4 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	4a.  Degree of use of the results of the programme in regional and national health policies or tools as measured by validated methods

• [1]  OJ C ... / Not yet published in the Official Journal.
• [2]  OJ C ... / Not yet published in the Official Journal.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Ever since the European Social Fund was created in 1958 under the Treaty of Rome, it has been the main financial instrument for generating employment in Europe.

The Commission proposal on the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) for the period 2021-2027 not only continues to promote employment and social inclusion but also aims for clear progress in strengthening the European social dimension by directly linking its eleven specific objectives with the country specific recommendations adopted in the context of the European Semester, which at the same time links in with the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

The ESF+ will remain part of cohesion policy and will mainly be regulated via the Common Provisions Regulation (CPR). However, and so as to ensure closer consistency between funding objectives and implementation, the ESF+ constitutes a merger of the current European Social Fund, the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD), the EU Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI) and the European Health Programme.

That merger responds to the need to simplify, inject flexibility into and optimise current procedures while reducing administrative barriers, to facilitate visibility and accessibility for EU beneficiaries and citizens, and to ensure synergies through better-integrated approaches, which will afford the EU and Member States more integrated and targeted support in their response to the social and employment challenges facing EU citizens, both now and in the future.

The merger must not compromise the specific objectives of current funds and programmes.

Similarly, the ESF+ must be complementary to, and coordinated and consistent with, other EU funds and programmes such as Erasmus, the Asylum and Migration Fund and the Reform Support Programme. It must also ensure closer synergies with the other EU Structural and Investment Funds, and especially the European Regional Development Fund and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund.

The EU can only remain competitive in a global economy if it maintains high levels of employment, education, health and social inclusion. The existence of a skills gap, especially in the digital field, as well as the mismatch in many areas between education/training systems and the labour market, disadvantages European society as a whole.

Hence the need for active inclusion that recognises investments in human capital as an important means of growing the European economy.

At the same time, the individual projects and programmes developed must contribute to improving economic, social and territorial cohesion, taking into account the real needs on the ground, in line with Article 174 TFEU, especially in those regions suffering from severe and permanent demographic handicaps, such as regions with a low population density.

If they do not, they will be ineffective and disparities will remain both between and within regions, which will threaten the survival of many European rural areas that share the problem of an ageing population.

Support for young people is an essential objective that must be maintained. Although the youth unemployment rate has decreased from a peak of 24% in 2013 (and of over 50% in some Member States) to 15.1% in May 2018, it remains too high and is more than twice the general unemployment rate.

Similarly, the percentage of young people aged between 15 and 29 not in employment, education or training (NEETs) remains very high, standing at 13.4% in 2017.

The ESF+ must support the generation of youth employment through tailored measures in line with national Youth Guarantee schemes, with a particular focus on inactive young people, those furthest from the labour market and, therefore, those who are hardest to reach.

Given the great importance of supporting young people, as well as the problems experienced by several Member States in launching the requisite measures, it would be considered necessary to earmark 15% of the ESF+ budget for support for young people, making pre-financing possible where necessary.

The ESF+ should be used to improve the functioning of the labour markets, through support for the modernisation of public employment services and improving advisory and guidance services for workers. Similarly, it should provide support for intra-national and cross-border worker mobility.

Social inequalities are another major cause for concern among the European public. It is therefore necessary for at least 27% of resources under the ESF+ to be allocated to eradicating poverty and fostering social inclusion.

A clear distinction should be drawn between that support for the most disadvantaged groups and social assistance.

It is important that the objectives of ending material and nutritional deprivation and social inclusion of the most deprived are maintained and that Member States allocate for this at least 3% of their ESF+ resources under shared management. Those resources should be complementary to the amounts earmarked for eliminating poverty and promoting social inclusion, as this will ensure greater integration of the most disadvantaged.

The resources earmarked for eliminating poverty and social exclusion should therefore be channelled into active policies that ensure equal opportunities, from access to primary education to access to, and progress in, the labour market, with a special focus on children. This will help break the vicious cycle of poverty.

In order for the projects to run smoothly, the social partners and civil society organisations must be suitably involved in the implementation of employment, education and social inclusion policies.

It is important in this respect that policies to eliminate poverty and social exclusion, and especially those targeting the most disadvantaged, take into account the views of specialised NGOs and of the organisations representing people living in poverty and social exclusion themselves.

Furthermore, the ESF+ must help ensure that Member States’ social and employment policies reflect the principles of equal opportunity and non-discrimination, both between men and women and on the grounds of sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, especially as regards access to, and progress in, the labour market, while also promoting access to employment for persons with disabilities.

OPINION of the Committee on Budgets (6.11.2018)

for the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)
(COM(2018)0382 – C8-0232/2018 – 2018/0206(COD))

Rapporteur for opinion: Karine Gloanec Maurin

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Budgets calls on the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, as the committee responsible, to take into account the following amendments:

Amendment    1 Proposal for a regulation Recital 1 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(1 a)  Synergies between the European Social Fund Plus, the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, the European Investment Stabilisation Function, InvestEU and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund should be exploited.
Amendment    2 Proposal for a regulation Recital 1 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(1b)  On 14 March and 30 May 2018, the European Parliament stressed in its resolution on the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) the importance of the horizontal principles that should underpin the MFF 2021-2027 and all related Union policies. Parliament reaffirmed, in that context, its position that the Union must deliver on its commitment to be a frontrunner in implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and deplored the lack of a clear and visible commitment to that end in those proposals. Therefore, Parliament requested the mainstreaming of the SDGs into all Union policies and initiatives of the next MFF. It further underlined that the elimination of discrimination was vital to fulfil the EU’s commitments towards an inclusive Europe and therefore called for gender mainstreaming and gender equality commitments to be incorporated in all Union policies and initiatives in the next MFF. It stressed in its resolution that, in response to the Paris Agreement, cross-cutting climate-related spending should be significantly increased in comparison with the current MFF and reach 30% as soon as possible and at the latest by 2027.
Amendment    3 Proposal for a regulation Recital 1 c (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(1c)  In its resolution of 30 May 2018 on the Multiannual Financial Framework and own resources for 2021-2027, the European Parliament deplored the fact that the Commission proposal of 2 May 2018 on the MFF for 2021-2027 led directly to a 10% reduction in the level of cohesion policy, and stated that it was particularly opposed to any radical cuts that would adversely impact on the very nature and objectives of that policy. It also questioned, in this context, the proposal to reduce the European Social Fund by 6% despite its enlarged scope and the integration of the Youth Employment Initiative.
Amendment    4 Proposal for a regulation Recital 1 d (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(1d)  It is essential to maintain the funding allocated to the European Social Fund, the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived, the Programme for Employment and Social Innovation and the Union Action Programme in the field of health post-2020 for the EU-27 at least at the level of the 2014-2020 budget at constant prices. It is also essential for the Youth Employment Initiative envelope to be doubled, as well as for the EU Youth Guarantee to be fully implemented, while ensuring quick and simplified deployment of funds and permanent and stable financing in the next programming period.
Amendment    5 Proposal for a regulation Recital 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(4)  On 20 June 2017, the Council endorsed the Union response to the 'UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ - a sustainable European future. The Council underlined the importance of achieving sustainable development across the three dimensions (economic, social and environmental), in a balanced and integrated way. It is vital that sustainable development is mainstreamed into all Union internal and external policy areas, and that the Union is ambitious in the policies it uses to address global challenges. The Council welcomed the Commission Communication on "Next steps for a sustainable European future" of 22 November 2016 as a first step in mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals and applying sustainable development as an essential guiding principle for all Union policies, including through its financing instruments.	(4)  On 20 June 2017, the Council endorsed the Union response to the 'UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ - a sustainable European future. The Council underlined the importance of achieving sustainable development across the three dimensions (economic, social and environmental), in a balanced and integrated way. It is vital that sustainable development is mainstreamed into all Union internal and external policy areas, and that the Union is ambitious in the policies it uses to address global challenges. The Council welcomed the Commission Communication on "Next steps for a sustainable European future" of 22 November 2016 as a first step in mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals and applying sustainable development as an essential guiding principle for all Union policies, including through its financing instruments. The ESF+ should contribute to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals by reducing poverty and eradicating extreme forms of poverty, achieving quality and inclusive education, promoting gender equality, promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all, and reducing inequality.
Amendment    6 Proposal for a regulation Recital 13
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(13)  The ESF+ should aim to promote employment through active interventions enabling (re)integration into the labour market, notably for youth, the long-term unemployed and the inactive, as well as through promoting self–employment and the social economy. The ESF+ should aim to improve the functioning of labour markets by supporting the modernisation of labour market institutions such as the Public Employment Services in order to improve their capacity to provide intensified targeted counselling and guidance during the job search and the transition to employment and to enhance workers’ mobility. The ESF+ should promote women's participation in the labour market through measures aiming to ensure, amongst others, improved work/life balance and access to childcare. The ESF + should also aim to provide a healthy and well-adapted working environment in order to respond to health risks related to changing forms of work and the needs of the ageing workforce.	(13)  The ESF+ should aim to promote employment through active interventions enabling (re)integration into the labour market, notably for youth, the long-term unemployed, inactive and disadvantaged groups, as well as through promoting employment, self–employment and the social economy. The ESF+ should aim to improve the functioning of labour markets by supporting the modernisation of labour market institutions such as the Public Employment Services in order to improve their capacity to provide intensified targeted counselling and guidance during the job search and the transition to employment and to enhance workers’ mobility. The ESF+ should promote women's participation in the labour market through measures aiming to ensure, amongst others, improved work/life balance and access to childcare. The ESF + should also aim to provide a healthy and well-adapted working environment in order to respond to health risks related to changing forms of work and the needs of the ageing workforce.
Amendment    7 Proposal for a regulation Recital 13 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(13a)  In the context of budget management and the evaluation of Member States’ operational programmes, gender budgeting is an important instrument in equal opportunities policy for making gender gaps in ESF+ participation transparent.
Amendment    8 Proposal for a regulation Recital 14
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(14)  The ESF+ should provide support to improving the quality, effectiveness and labour market relevance of education and training systems in order to facilitate the acquisition of key competences notably as regards digital skills which all individuals need for personal fulfilment and development, employment, social inclusion and active citizenship. The ESF+ should help progression within education and training and transition to work, support lifelong learning and employability, and contribute to competitiveness and societal and economic innovation by supporting scalable and sustainable initiatives in these fields. This could be achieved for example through work-based learning and apprenticeships, lifelong guidance, skills anticipation in cooperation with industry, up-to-date training materials, forecasting and graduate tracking, training of educators, validation of learning outcomes and recognition of qualifications.	(14)  Asa main instrument in the EU’s promotion of social, economic and territorial cohesion, the ESF+ should provide support to improving the quality, effectiveness and labour market relevance of education and training systems in order to facilitate the acquisition of key competences notably as regards digital skills which all individuals need for personal fulfilment and development, employment, social inclusion and active citizenship. The ESF+ should help progression within education and training and transition to work, support lifelong learning and employability, and contribute to competitiveness and societal and economic innovation by supporting scalable and sustainable initiatives in these fields. This could be achieved for example through work-based learning and apprenticeships, lifelong guidance, skills anticipation in cooperation with industry, up-to-date training materials, forecasting and graduate tracking, training of educators, validation of learning outcomes and recognition of qualifications.
Amendment    9 Proposal for a regulation Recital 18
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(18)  The ESF+ should support Member States’ efforts to tackle poverty with a view to breaking the cycle of disadvantage across generations and promote social inclusion by ensuring equal opportunities for all, tackling discrimination and addressing health inequalities. This implies mobilising a range of policies targeting the most disadvantaged people regardless of their age, including children, marginalised communities such as the Roma, and the working poor. The ESF+ should promote the active inclusion of people far from the labour market with a view to ensuring their socio-economic integration. The ESF+ should be also used to enhance timely and equal access to affordable, sustainable and high quality services such as healthcare and long-term care, in particular family and community-based care services. The ESF+ should contribute to the modernisation of social protection systems with a view in particular to promoting their accessibility.	(18)  The ESF+ should support Member States’ efforts to tackle poverty with a view to breaking the cycle of disadvantage across generations and promote social inclusion by ensuring equal opportunities for all, tackling discrimination and addressing health inequalities. This implies mobilising a range of policies, adapted to the different levels of development between and within EU regions, aimed at targeting the most disadvantaged people regardless of their age, including children, marginalised communities such as the Roma, and the working poor. The ESF+ should promote the active inclusion of people far from the labour market with a view to ensuring their socio-economic integration. The ESF+ should be also used to enhance timely and equal access to affordable, sustainable and high quality services such as healthcare and long-term care, in particular family and community-based care services. The ESF+ should contribute to the modernisation of social protection systems with a view in particular to promoting their accessibility.
Amendment    10 Proposal for a regulation Recital 19
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(19)  The ESF+ should contribute to the reduction of poverty by supporting national schemes aiming to alleviate food and material deprivation and promote social integration of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion and the most deprived. With a view that at Union level at least 4% of the resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management supports the most deprived, Member States should allocate at least 2% of their national resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management to address the forms of extreme poverty with the greatest social exclusion impact, such as homelessness, child poverty and food deprivation. Due to the nature of the operations and the type of end recipients, it is necessary that simpler rules apply to support which addresses material deprivation of the most deprived.	(19)  The ESF+ should contribute to the reduction of poverty by supporting national schemes aiming to alleviate food and material deprivation and promote social integration of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion and the most deprived. With a view that at Union level at least 4% of the resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management supports the most deprived, Member States should allocate at least 2% of their national resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management to address the forms of extreme poverty with the greatest social exclusion impact, such as homelessness, child poverty and food deprivation, while maintaining the minimum level of basic social security within the national social security schemes. Due to the nature of the operations and the type of end recipients, it is necessary that simpler rules apply to support which addresses material deprivation of the most deprived.
Justification
Allocation for the most deprived within the ESF+ should not replace the efforts of Member States to maintain an appropriate level of basic social security for their citizens within their national social security schemes.
Amendment    11 Proposal for a regulation Recital 22 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(22 a)  In light of the high levels of child poverty and social exclusion in the EU (26.4% in 2017), and the European Pillar of Social Rights which states that children have the right to protection from poverty, and children from disadvantaged backgrounds have the rights to specific measures to enhance equal opportunities, Member States should allocate at least 5,6% - representing EUR 5.9 billion of ESF+ resources under shared management to European Child Guarantee scheme for the eradication of child poverty and social exclusion. Investing early in children yields significant returns for children and society as a whole. Supporting children to develop skills and capabilities enables them to develop their full potential, become active members of society and increase their chances on the labour market as young people.
Amendment    12 Proposal for a regulation Recital 23
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(23)  In the light of persistently high levels of youth unemployment and inactivity in a number of Member States and regions, in particular affecting young people who are neither in employment, nor in education or training, it is necessary that those Member States continue to invest sufficient resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management towards actions to promote youth employment including through the implementation of Youth Guarantee schemes. Building on the actions supported by the Youth Employment Initiative in the 2014-2020 programming period targeting individual persons, Member States should further promote employment and education reintegration pathways and outreach measures for young people by prioritising, where relevant, long-term unemployed, inactive and disadvantaged young people including through youth work. Member States should also invest in measures aimed at facilitating school-to-work transition as well as reforming and adapting employment services with a view to providing tailor-made support to young people. Member States concerned should therefore allocate at least 10% of their national resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management to support youth employability.	(23)  In the light of persistently high levels of youth unemployment and inactivity in a number of Member States and regions, in particular affecting young people who are neither in employment, nor in education or training, it is necessary that those Member States continue to invest sufficient resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management towards actions to promote youth employment including through the implementation of Youth Guarantee schemes. Building on the actions supported by the Youth Employment Initiative in the 2014-2020 programming period targeting individual persons, Member States should further promote employment and education reintegration pathways and outreach measures for young people by prioritising, where relevant, long-term unemployed, inactive and disadvantaged young people including through youth work and arrangements based on active involvement and volunteering. Member States should also invest in measures aimed at facilitating school-to-work transition as well as reforming and adapting employment services with a view to providing tailor-made support to young people. Member States concerned should therefore allocate at least 17,6 % – representing at least a doubling of the amounts allocated to the Youth Employment Initiative in comparison to the current MFF and current 2014-2020 programming1a – of their national resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management to support youth employability.
	_______________
	1a EUR 9 290 million at 2018 prices (and EUR 10 479.7 million at current prices).
Amendment    13 Proposal for a regulation Recital 25
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(25)  In accordance with Article 349 TFEU and Article 2 of Protocol No 6 to the 1994 Act of Accession, the outermost regions and the northern sparsely populated regions are entitled to specific measures under common policies and EU programmes. Due to the permanent constraints these regions require specific support.	(25)  In accordance with Article 349 and 174 TFEU and Article 2 of Protocol No 6 to the 1994 Act of Accession, the outermost regions, islands, and the northern sparsely populated regions, are entitled to specific measures under common policies and EU programmes. Due to the permanent constraints these regions require specific support.
Amendment    14 Proposal for a regulation Recital 28
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(28)  The Member States and the Commission should ensure that ESF+ contributes to the promotion of equality between women and men in accordance with Article 8 TFEU to foster equality of treatment and opportunities between women and men in all areas, including regarding participation in the labour market, terms and conditions of employment and career progression. They should also ensure that the ESF+ promotes equal opportunities for all, without discrimination in accordance with Article 10 TFEU and promotes the inclusion in society of persons with disabilities on equal basis with others and contributes to the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. These principles should be taken into account in all dimensions and in all stages of the preparation, monitoring, implementation and evaluation of programmes, in a timely and consistent manner while ensuring that specific actions are taken to promote gender equality and equal opportunities. The ESF+ should also promote the transition from residential/institutional care to family and community-based care, in particular for those who face multiple discrimination. The ESF+ should not support any action that contributes to segregation or to social exclusion.Regulation (EU) No [future CPR] provides that rules on eligibility of expenditure are to be established at national level, with certain exceptions for which it is necessary to lay down specific provisions with regard to the ESF+ strand under shared management.	(28)  The Member States and the Commission should ensure that ESF+ contributes to the promotion of equality between women and men in accordance with Article 8 TFEU to foster equality of treatment and opportunities between women and men in all areas, including regarding participation in the labour market, terms and conditions of employment and career progression. The gender aspect should be taken into account in all dimensions and stages of the planning and implementation of programmes. The Member States and the Commission should also ensure that the ESF+ promotes equal opportunities for all, without discrimination based on sex, racial, social or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age, sexual orientation, sex characteristics or gender identity in accordance with Article 10 TFEU and promotes the inclusion in society of persons with disabilities on equal basis with others and contributes to the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. These principles should be taken into account in all dimensions and in all stages of the preparation, monitoring, implementation and evaluation of programmes, in a timely and consistent manner while ensuring that specific actions are taken to promote gender equality and equal opportunities. The ESF+ should also promote the transition from residential/institutional care to family and community-based care, in particular for those who face multiple discrimination. The ESF+ should not support any action that contributes to segregation or to social exclusion.Regulation (EU) No [future CPR] provides that rules on eligibility of expenditure are to be established at national level, with certain exceptions for which it is necessary to lay down specific provisions with regard to the ESF+ strand under shared management.
Amendment    15 Proposal for a regulation Recital 32
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(32)  ESF+ lays down provisions intended to achieve freedom of movement for workers on a non-discriminatory basis by ensuring the close cooperation of the central employment services of Member States with one another and with the Commission. The European network of employment services should promote a better functioning of the labour markets by facilitating the cross-border mobility of workers and a greater transparency of information on the labour markets. The ESF+ scope also includes developing and supporting targeted mobility schemes with a view to filling vacancies where labour market shortcomings have been identified.	(32)  ESF+ lays down provisions intended to achieve freedom of movement for workers on a non-discriminatory basis by ensuring the close cooperation of the central employment services of Member States with one another and with the Commission. The European network of employment services (EURES) should promote a better functioning of the labour markets by facilitating the cross-border mobility of workers and a greater transparency of information on the labour markets. The ESF+ scope also includes developing and supporting targeted mobility schemes with a view to filling vacancies where labour market shortcomings have been identified.
Amendment    16 Proposal for a regulation Recital 46
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(46)  Reflecting the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union's commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, this Regulation will contribute to mainstream climate action in the Union's policies and to the achievement of an overall target of 25 % of the EU budget expenditures supporting climate objectives. Relevant actions will be identified during the preparation and implementation, and reassessed in the context of the mid-term evaluation.	(46)  Reflecting the importance of tackling climate change in line with the Union's commitments to implement the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, this Regulation will contribute to mainstream climate action in the Union's policies and to the achievement of an overall target of 25 % of the EU budget expenditures supporting climate objectives over the MFF 2021-2027 period, and an annual target of 30 % as soon as possible and at the latest by 2027. Relevant actions will be identified during the preparation and implementation, and reassessed in the context of the mid-term evaluation.
Justification
The European Parliament in its resolution of 14 March 2018 on the next MFF: Preparing the Parliament’s position on the MFF post-20206 (2017/2052(INI)) called for a 30 % target for the EU budget expenditures supporting climate objectives to be reached as soon as possible and at the latest by 2027.
Amendment    17 Proposal for a regulation Recital 50 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(50a)  It is important to ensure sound and fair financial management of the Fund to guarantee that it is implemented in such a way as to make it as clear, effective and easy to use as possible, while guaranteeing legal certainty and ensuring that the instrument is accessible to all participants. As ESF+ activities are carried out under shared management, the Member States are urged not to add additional rules or amend the rules as they go, as that would complicate the use of the funds for the beneficiary and may lead to a delay in the payment of invoices.
Amendment    18 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The ESF+ aims to support Member States to achieve high employment levels, fair social protection and a skilled and resilient workforce ready for the future world of work, in line with the principles set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights proclaimed by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on 17 November 2017.	The ESF+ aims to support Member States to achieve high employment levels, fair social protection and a skilled and resilient workforce ready for the future world of work, in line with the principles set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights proclaimed by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on 17 November 2017, and thus aim towards the strengthening of economic, social and territorial cohesion in the EU. The ESF+ shall also contribute to fulfilling the commitment of the Union and its Member States to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Amendment    19 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The ESF+ shall support, complement and add value to the policies of the Member States to ensure equal opportunities, access to the labour market, fair working conditions, social protection and inclusion, and a high level of human health protection.	The ESF+ shall support, complement and add value to the policies of the Member States to ensure equal opportunities, access to the labour market, fair working conditions, social protection, poverty eradication, social inclusion and a high level of human health protection.
Amendment    20 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point i
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(i)  improving access to employment of all jobseekers, in particular youth and long-term unemployed, and of inactive people, promoting self-employment and the social economy;	(i)  improving access to quality employment of all jobseekers, in particular youth and long-term unemployed, inactive people and disadvantaged groups, promoting employment, self-employment and the social economy;
Amendment    21 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point vii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(vii)  fostering active inclusion with a view to promoting equal opportunities and active participation, and improving employability;	(vii)  fostering active social and economic inclusion with a view to promoting equal opportunities, non-discrimination and active participation, and improving employability;
Amendment    22 Proposal for a regulation Article 5
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Article 5	Article 5
Budget	Budget
1.  The total financial envelope for the ESF+ for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 101 174 000 000 in current prices.	1.  The total financial envelope for the ESF+ for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 106 781 000 000 in 2018 prices (EUR 120 457 000 000 in current prices).
2.  The part of the financial envelope for the ESF+ strand under shared management under the Investment for Jobs and Growth goal shall be EUR 100 000 000 000 in current prices or EUR 88 646 194 590 in 2018 prices of which EUR 200 000 000 in current prices or EUR 175 000 000 in 2018 prices shall be allocated for transnational cooperation supporting innovative solutions as referred to in Article 23(i) and EUR 400 000 000 in current prices or EUR 376 928 934 in 2018 prices as additional funding to the outermost regions identified in Article 349 TFEU and the NUTS level 2 regions fulfilling the criteria laid down in Article 2 of Protocol No 6 to the 1994 Act of Accession.	2.  The part of the financial envelope for the ESF+ strand under shared management under the Investment for Jobs and Growth goal shall be EUR 105 686 000 000 in 2018 prices (EUR 119 222 000 000 in current prices) of which EUR 200 000 000 in current prices or EUR 175 000 000 in 2018 prices shall be allocated for transnational cooperation supporting innovative solutions as referred to in Article 23(i) and EUR 400 000 000 in current prices or EUR 376 928 934 in 2018 prices as additional funding to the outermost regions identified in Article 349 TFEU and the NUTS level 2 regions fulfilling the criteria laid down in Article 2 of Protocol No 6 to the 1994 Act of Accession.
3.  The financial envelope for the Employment and Social Innovation strand and the Health strand for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 1 174 000 000 in current prices.	3.  The financial envelope for the Employment and Social Innovation strand and the Health strand for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 1 095 000 000 in 2018 prices (EUR 1 234 000 000 in current prices).
4.  The indicative distribution of the amount referred in paragraph 3 shall be:	4.  The indicative distribution of the amount referred in paragraph 3 shall be:
a)  EUR 761 000 000 for the implementation of the Employment and Social Innovation strand;	a)  EUR 675 000 000 in 2018 prices (EUR 761 000 000 in current prices) for the implementation of the Employment and Social Innovation strand;
b)  EUR 413 000 000 for the implementation of the Health strand.	b)  EUR 420 000 000 in 2018 prices (EUR 473 000 000 in current prices) for the implementation of the Health strand.
5.   The amounts referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4 may also be used for technical and administrative assistance for the implementation of the programmes, such as preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities including corporate information technology systems.	5.   The amounts referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4 may also be used for technical and administrative assistance for the implementation of the programmes, such as preparatory, monitoring, control, audit and evaluation activities including corporate information technology systems.
Justification
In line with the decision of the Conference of Presidents of 13 September 2018, the compromise amendment reflects the latest breakdown of the MFF per programme as proposed for adoption by the MFF Rapporteurs in view of the vote on the draft interim report on the proposal for a Council regulation on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 – Parliament’s position with a view to an agreement.
Amendment    23 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Member States shall concentrate the ESF+ resources under shared management on interventions that address the challenges identified in their national reform programmes, in the European Semester as well as in the relevant country-specific recommendations adopted in accordance with Article 121(2) TFEU and Article 148(4) TFEU, and take into account principles and rights set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights.	Member States shall concentrate the ESF+ resources under shared management on interventions that address the challenges identified in their national reform programmes, in the European Semester as well as in the relevant country-specific recommendations adopted in accordance with Article 121(2) TFEU and Article 148(4) TFEU, and take into account principles and rights set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Amendment    24 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	3 a.  Member States shall allocate at least 5,6 % - representing EUR 5,9 billion of ESF+ resources under shared management to implement the European Child Guarantee in order to ensure children’s equal access to free healthcare, free education, free childcare, decent housing and adequate nutrition.
Amendment    25 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Member States having a rate of young people aged 15 to 29 not in employment, education or training above the Union average in 2019 on the basis of Eurostat data, shall allocate at least 10% of their ESF+ resources under shared management for the years 2021 to 2025 to targeted actions and structural reforms to support youth employment and school-to-work transition, pathways to reintegrate into education or training and second chance education, in particular in the context of implementing Youth Guarantee schemes.	Member States having a rate of young people aged 15 to 29 not in employment, education or training above the Union average in 2019 on the basis of Eurostat data, shall allocate at least 17,6 % – representing at least a doubling of the amounts allocated to the Youth Employment Initiative in comparison to the current MFF and current 2014-2020 programming1a – of their ESF+ resources under shared management for the years 2021 to 2025 to targeted actions and structural reforms to support youth employment and school-to-work transition, pathways to reintegrate into education or training and second chance education, in particular in the context of implementing Youth Guarantee schemes.
	_______________
	1a EUR 9 290 million at 2018 prices (and EUR 10 479.7 million at current prices).
Justification
It is proposed that the financial envelopes should be amended in line with the EP resolutions of 14 March and 30 May on the next MFF, based on a preliminary technical breakdown per programme that could be subject to further adjustments, while respecting the overall EP position as set out in those resolutions and the overall level of 1.3% of the GNI of the EU-27.
Amendment    26 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 7 – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	In ESF+ co-financed operational programmes, particular attention should be paid to rural areas, areas affected by industrial transition and regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps, in connection with Article 174 TFEU.
Amendment    27 Proposal for a regulation Article 13 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1.  Member States shall support actions of social innovation and social experimentations, or strengthen bottom-up approaches based on partnerships involving public authorities, the private sector, and civil society such as the Local Action Groups designing and implementing community-led local development strategies.	1.  Member States shall support actions of social innovation and social experimentations, or strengthen bottom-up approaches based on partnerships involving public authorities, the private sector, social entrepreneurs and civil society such as the Local Action Groups designing and implementing community-led local development strategies, as well as thematic actions focused on addressing the needs of targeted groups.

PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Title	European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)
References	COM(2018)0382 – C8-0232/2018 – 2018/0206(COD)
Committee responsible        Date announced in plenary	EMPL 11.6.2018
Opinion by        Date announced in plenary	BUDG 11.6.2018
Rapporteur        Date appointed	Karine Gloanec Maurin 28.6.2018
Discussed in committee	25.9.2018
Date adopted	5.11.2018
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	24 3 1
Members present for the final vote	Jean Arthuis, Reimer Böge, Lefteris Christoforou, Gérard Deprez, André Elissen, José Manuel Fernandes, Eider Gardiazabal Rubial, Ingeborg Gräßle, Monika Hohlmeier, John Howarth, Bernd Kölmel, Zbigniew Kuźmiuk, Vladimír Maňka, Siegfried Mureşan, Jan Olbrycht, Paul Rübig, Eleftherios Synadinos, Indrek Tarand, Isabelle Thomas, Inese Vaidere, Daniele Viotti, Tiemo Wölken, Marco Zanni
Substitutes present for the final vote	Karine Gloanec Maurin, Alain Lamassoure, Janusz Lewandowski, Andrey Novakov
Substitutes under Rule 200(2) present for the final vote	Michael Detjen

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

24	+
ALDE	Jean Arthuis, Gérard Deprez
ECR	Zbigniew Kuźmiuk
PPE	Reimer Böge, Lefteris Christoforou, José Manuel Fernandes, Ingeborg Gräßle, Monika Hohlmeier, Alain Lamassoure, Janusz Lewandowski, Siegfried Mureşan, Andrey Novakov, Jan Olbrycht, Paul Rübig, Inese Vaidere
S&D	Michael Detjen, Eider Gardiazabal Rubial, Karine Gloanec Maurin, John Howarth, Vladimír Maňka, Isabelle Thomas, Daniele Viotti, Tiemo Wölken
VERTS/ALE	Indrek Tarand

3	-
ECR	Bernd Kölmel
ENF	André Elissen
NI	Eleftherios Synadinos

1	0
ENF	Marco Zanni

Key to symbols:

+  :  in favour

-  :  against

0  :  abstention

OPINION of the Committee on Budgetary Control (16.11.2018)

for the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)
(COM(2018)0382 – C8‑0232/2018 – 2018/0206(COD))

Rapporteur for opinion: Georgi Pirinski

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

On 29 May 2018, the European Commission adopted its proposal for the new European Social Fund+ (ESF+), merging the existing European Social Fund (ESF) with the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), the Fund for European Aid to the most Deprived (FEAD), the Employment and Social Innovation Programme (EaSI) and the EU Health Programme.

The Commission justifies its proposal with the aim to “streamline and simplify the funding landscape and create additional opportunities for synergies through integrated funding approaches” (Recital 9, COM(2018) 382). This aim in principle is to be welcomed.

However, such merging should in no way put at risk proper implementation, performance and added value, as well as budgetary control of the new ESF+. In this regard, the following highly problematic aspects of the Commission’s proposals must be addressed with all due concern:

–  the lack of specific objectives and priorities for the ESF+ strand under shared management, which creates uncertainty regarding programming, monitoring and evaluation of support under this strand in the future, upon entry into force of the new Common Provisions Regulation (CPR), when Member States will be obliged to follow the relevant provisions in the CPR regarding ESF+;

–  in addition, in the Commission’s proposal objectives which for the current period are supported by programmes under shared management (ESF, YEI and FEAD) become also specific objectives to be addressed under direct and indirect management. This makes specific objectives such as ‘addressing material deprivation through food’ or ‘promoting social integration of people at risk of poverty’ automatically relevant for the Employment and Social Innovation Strand and the Health Strand. However, according to Chapter III of Prat II ‘addressing material deprivation through food’ is a specific objectives relevant only for the shared management strand, and in Part III there are no operational objectives which provide how the specific objective ‘promoting social integration of people at risk of poverty’ will be addressed under direct and indirect management;

–  there are no clear mechanisms spelling out in what way complementarity and synergies between the three strands are to be achieved;

–  besides, the provision for allocation of resources from the strand under shared management to a strand under direct management remains highly questionable and unclear, with no clarifications contained either in ESF+ or in the new CPR. Potential duplication or lack of support for certain measures should be strictly avoided, all the more since, in light of severe budgetary resource scarcity, the ESF+ shall be expected to play an important role in addressing a whole range of major challenges in the greatly expanded area of responsibilities for ensuring the social rights of every EU citizen;

–  the Proposal for a ESF+ Regulation does not include indicators for monitoring the implementation and performance of the Employment and Social Innovation strand, nor does it contain the necessary appropriate provisions for monitoring and reporting by the Commission, lacking which adequate programming and provision of support under this strand becomes highly problematic.

For the purposes of effective Parliamentary control of the Union budget, it is necessary for these shortcomings to be adequately addressed and eliminated. In this regard, it is most important that clear rules for programming under direct and indirect management of the ESF+ be spelled out in the Regulation;

In broader terms, for the purposes of sound financial management and real added value of the EU budget it is crucial that coordination and synergies are ensured not only within the three ESF+ strands, but also between them and other EU funds, instruments and programmes.

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Budgetary Control calls on the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, as the committee responsible, to take into account the following amendments:

Amendment    1 Proposal for a regulation Recital 6
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(6)  Regulation (EU) No […] establishes the framework for action by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), the Cohesion Fund, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), the Asylum and Migration Fund (AMIF), Internal Security Fund (ISF) and the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI) as a part of the Integrated Border Management Fund (IBMF), and lays down, in particular, the policy objectives and the rules concerning programming, monitoring and evaluation, management and control for Union funds implemented under shared management. It is therefore necessary to specify the general objectives of the ESF+, and to lay down specific provisions concerning the type of activities that may be financed by the ESF+.	(6)  Regulation (EU) No […] establishes the framework for action by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), the Cohesion Fund, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), the Asylum and Migration Fund (AMIF), Internal Security Fund (ISF) and the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI) as a part of the Integrated Border Management Fund (IBMF), and lays down, in particular, the policy objectives and the rules concerning programming, monitoring and evaluation, management and control for Union funds implemented under shared management. It is therefore necessary to specify the general objectives of the ESF+, and to lay down specific provisions concerning the type of activities that may be financed by the ESF+ under shared management.
Amendment    2 Proposal for a regulation Recital 7
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(7)  Regulation (EU, Euratom) No [the new FR] (the ‘Financial Regulation’) lays down rules on the implementation of the Union budget, including the rules on grants, prizes, procurement, indirect implementation, financial assistance, financial instruments and budgetary guarantees. In order to ensure coherence in the implementation of Union funding programmes, the Financial Regulation is to apply to the actions to be implemented in direct or indirect management under the ESF+.	(7)  Regulation (EU, Euratom) No [the new FR] (the ‘Financial Regulation’) lays down rules on the implementation of the Union budget, including the rules on grants, prizes, procurement, indirect implementation, financial assistance, financial instruments and budgetary guarantees. In order to ensure coherence in the implementation of Union funding programmes, the Financial Regulation is to apply to the actions to be implemented in direct or indirect management under the ESF+. This Regulation should specify the operational objectives and lay down the specific provisions concerning the eligible actions that may be financed by the ESF+ under direct and indirect management.
Amendment    3 Proposal for a regulation Recital 10
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(10)  In view of this wider scope of the ESF+ it is appropriate to foresee that the aims to enhance the effectiveness of labour markets and promote access to quality employment, to improve the access to and the quality of education and training as well as to promote social inclusion and health and to reduce poverty are not only implemented under shared management, but also under direct and indirect management under the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands for actions required at Union level.	(10)  In view of this wider scope of the ESF+ it is appropriate to foresee that the aims to enhance the effectiveness of labour markets and promote access to quality employment, to improve the access to and the quality of education and training as well as to promote social inclusion and health and to reduce poverty should continue to be implemented mainly under shared management, and where appropriate, complemented under direct and indirect management under the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands for actions required at Union level.
Amendment    4 Proposal for a regulation Recital 12
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(12)  This Regulation lays down a financial envelope for the ESF+. Parts of this financial envelope should be used for actions to be implemented in direct and indirect management under the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands.	(12)  This Regulation lays down a financial envelope for the ESF+. It should specify the allocations for activities to be implemented under shared management and the allocations for actions to be implemented in direct and indirect management.
Amendment    5 Proposal for a regulation Recital 15
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(15)  Support through the ESF+ should be used to promote equal access for all, in particular for disadvantaged groups, to quality, non-segregated and inclusive education and training, from early childhood education and care through general and vocational education and training and to tertiary level, as well as adult education and learning, thereby fostering permeability between education and training sectors, preventing early school leaving, improving health literacy, reinforcing links with non-formal and informal learning and facilitating learning mobility for all. Synergies with the Erasmus programme, notably to facilitate the participation of disadvantaged learners in learning mobility, should be supported within this context.	(15)  Support through the ESF+ should be used to promote equal and affordable access for all, in particular for disadvantaged groups, to quality, non-segregated and inclusive education and training, from early childhood education and care through general and vocational education and training and to tertiary level, as well as adult education and learning, thereby fostering permeability between education and training sectors, preventing early school leaving, improving health literacy, reinforcing links with non-formal and informal learning and facilitating learning mobility for all. Synergies with the Erasmus programme, notably to facilitate the participation of disadvantaged learners in learning mobility, should be supported within this context.
Amendment    6 Proposal for a regulation Recital 16
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(16)  The ESF+ should promote flexible upskilling and reskilling opportunities for all, notably digital skills and key enabling technologies, with a view to providing people with skills adjusted to digitalisation, technological change, innovation and social and economic change, facilitating career transitions, mobility and supporting in particular low-skilled and/or poorly qualified adults, in line with the Skills Agenda for Europe.	(16)  The ESF+ should promote affordable, flexible upskilling and reskilling opportunities for all, notably digital skills and key enabling technologies, with a view to providing people with skills adjusted to digitalisation, technological change, innovation and social and economic change, facilitating career transitions, mobility and supporting in particular low-skilled and/or poorly qualified adults, in line with the Skills Agenda for Europe.
Amendment    7 Proposal for a regulation Recital 18
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(18)  The ESF+ should support Member States’ efforts to tackle poverty with a view to breaking the cycle of disadvantage across generations and promote social inclusion by ensuring equal opportunities for all, tackling discrimination and addressing health inequalities. This implies mobilising a range of policies targeting the most disadvantaged people regardless of their age, including children, marginalised communities such as the Roma, and the working poor. The ESF+ should promote the active inclusion of people far from the labour market with a view to ensuring their socio-economic integration. The ESF+ should be also used to enhance timely and equal access to affordable, sustainable and high quality services such as healthcare and long-term care, in particular family and community-based care services. The ESF+ should contribute to the modernisation of social protection systems with a view in particular to promoting their accessibility.	(18)  The ESF+ should support Member States’ efforts to tackle poverty with a view to breaking the cycle of disadvantage across generations and promote social inclusion by ensuring equal opportunities for all, tackling discrimination and addressing health inequalities. This implies mobilising a range of policies targeting the most disadvantaged people regardless of their age, including children, marginalised communities such as the Roma, and the working poor. The ESF+ should promote the active inclusion of people far from the labour market with a view to ensuring their socio-economic integration. The ESF+ should be also used to enhance timely and equal access to affordable-for-all, sustainable and high quality services such as healthcare and long-term care, in particular family and community-based care services. The ESF+ should contribute to the modernisation of social protection systems with a view in particular to promoting their accessibility.
Amendment    8 Proposal for a regulation Recital 19
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(19)  The ESF+ should contribute to the reduction of poverty by supporting national schemes aiming to alleviate food and material deprivation and promote social integration of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion and the most deprived. With a view that at Union level at least 4% of the resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management supports the most deprived, Member States should allocate at least 2% of their national resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management to address the forms of extreme poverty with the greatest social exclusion impact, such as homelessness, child poverty and food deprivation. Due to the nature of the operations and the type of end recipients, it is necessary that simpler rules apply to support which addresses material deprivation of the most deprived.	(19)  The ESF+ should contribute to the reduction of poverty by supporting national schemes aiming to alleviate food, shelter and material deprivation and promote social integration of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion and the most deprived. With a view that at Union level at least 4% of the resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management supports the most deprived, Member States should allocate at least 2% of their national resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management to address the forms of extreme poverty with the greatest social exclusion impact, such as homelessness, child poverty and food deprivation. Due to the nature of the operations and the type of end recipients, it is necessary that simpler rules apply to support which addresses material deprivation of the most deprived.
Amendment    9 Proposal for a regulation Recital 20
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(20)  In light of the persistent need to enhance efforts to address the management of the migration flows in the Union as a whole and in order to ensure a coherent, strong and consistent support to the solidarity and responsibility-sharing efforts, the ESF+ should provide support to promote the socio-economic integration of third country nationals complementary to the actions financed under the Asylum and Migration Fund.	(20)  In light of the persistent need to enhance efforts to address the management of the migration flows in the Union as a whole and in order to ensure a coherent, strong and consistent support to the solidarity and responsibility-sharing efforts, the ESF+ should provide support to promote the socio-economic integration of third-country nationals complementary to the actions financed under the Asylum and Migration Fund.
Amendment    10 Proposal for a regulation Recital 21
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(21)  The ESF+ should support policy and system reforms in the fields of employment, social inclusion, healthcare and long-term care, and education and training. In order to strengthen alignment with the European Semester, Member States should allocate an appropriate amount of their resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management to implement relevant country-specific recommendations relating to structural challenges which it is appropriate to address through multiannual investments falling within the scope of the ESF+. The Commission and the Member States should ensure coherence, coordination and complementarity between the shared-management and Health strands of ESF+ and the Reform Support Programme, including the Reform Delivery Tool and the Technical Support Instrument. In particular, the Commission and the Member State should ensure, in all stages of the process, effective coordination in order to safeguard the consistency, coherence, complementarity and synergy among sources of funding, including technical assistance thereof.	(21)  The ESF+ should support policy and system reforms in the fields of employment, social inclusion, healthcare and long-term care, and education and training, as long as those policy reforms do not include privatisation of existing public services such as water, energy, health etc. The Commission and the Member State should ensure, in all stages of the process, effective coordination in order to safeguard the consistency, coherence, complementarity and synergy among sources of funding, including technical assistance thereof.
Amendment    11 Proposal for a regulation Recital 28
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(28)  The Member States and the Commission should ensure that ESF+ contributes to the promotion of equality between women and men in accordance with Article 8 TFEU to foster equality of treatment and opportunities between women and men in all areas, including regarding participation in the labour market, terms and conditions of employment and career progression. They should also ensure that the ESF+ promotes equal opportunities for all, without discrimination in accordance with Article 10 TFEU and promotes the inclusion in society of persons with disabilities on equal basis with others and contributes to the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. These principles should be taken into account in all dimensions and in all stages of the preparation, monitoring, implementation and evaluation of programmes, in a timely and consistent manner while ensuring that specific actions are taken to promote gender equality and equal opportunities. The ESF+ should also promote the transition from residential/institutional care to family and community-based care, in particular for those who face multiple discrimination. The ESF+ should not support any action that contributes to segregation or to social exclusion. Regulation (EU) No [future CPR] provides that rules on eligibility of expenditure are to be established at national level, with certain exceptions for which it is necessary to lay down specific provisions with regard to the ESF+ strand under shared management.	(28)  The Member States and the Commission should ensure that ESF+ contributes to the promotion of equality between genders in accordance with Article 8 TFEU to foster equality of treatment and opportunities between genders in all areas, including regarding participation in the labour market, terms and conditions of employment and career progression. They should also ensure that the ESF+ promotes equal opportunities for all, without discrimination in accordance with Article 10 TFEU and promotes the inclusion in society of persons with disabilities on equal basis with others and contributes to the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. These principles should be taken into account in all dimensions and in all stages of the preparation, monitoring, implementation and evaluation of programmes, in a timely and consistent manner while ensuring that specific actions are taken to promote gender equality and equal opportunities. The ESF+ should also promote the transition from residential/institutional care to family and community-based care, in particular for those who face multiple discrimination. The ESF+ should not support any action that contributes to segregation or to social exclusion. Regulation (EU) No [future CPR] provides that rules on eligibility of expenditure are to be established at national level, with certain exceptions for which it is necessary to lay down specific provisions with regard to the ESF+ strand under shared management.
Justification
There is more to gender than just male and female.
Amendment    12 Proposal for a regulation Recital 29
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(29)  In order to reduce the administrative burden for the collection of data, Member States should, where such data are available in registers, allow managing authorities to collect data from registers.	(29)  In order to reduce the administrative burden for the collection of data, Member States should, where such data are available in registers, allow managing authorities to collect data from registers. It is advisable to incentivise the continuation of the electronic transmission of data as it helps reducing the administrative burden.
Amendment    13 Proposal for a regulation Recital 34
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(34)  Social investment market players, including philanthropic actors, can play a key role in achieving several ESF+ objectives, as they offer financing as well as innovative and complementary approaches to combatting social exclusion and poverty, reducing unemployment and contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, philanthropic actors such as foundations and donors should be involved, as appropriate, in ESF+ actions in particular in those aimed at developing the social investment market ecosystem.	(34)  Social investment market players, including philanthropic actors, can play a key role in achieving several ESF+ objectives, as they offer financing as well as innovative and complementary approaches to combatting social exclusion and poverty, reducing unemployment and contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, philanthropic actors such as foundations and donors should be involved, as appropriate and as long as those foundations and donors do not have a political or social agenda in conflict with Union ideals, in ESF+ actions in particular in those aimed at developing the social investment market ecosystem.
Amendment    14 Proposal for a regulation Recital 48
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(48)  Third countries which are members of the European Economic Area (EEA) may participate in Union programmes in the framework of the cooperation established under the EEA agreement, which provides for the implementation of the programmes by a decision under that agreement. A specific provision should be introduced in this Regulation to grant the necessary rights for and access to the authorising officer responsible, the European Anti-Fraud Office as well as the European Court of Auditors to comprehensively exert their respective competences.	(48)  Subject to complying with all the relevant rules and regulations, third countries which are members of the European Economic Area (EEA) may participate in Union programmes in the framework of the cooperation established under the EEA agreement, which provides for the implementation of the programmes by a decision under that agreement. A specific provision should be introduced in this Regulation to grant the necessary rights for and access to the authorising officer responsible, the European Anti-Fraud Office as well as the European Court of Auditors to comprehensively exert their respective competences.
Amendment    15 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	2a.  The definitions in Article 2 of the Financial Regulation shall also apply to the Employment and Social Innovation strand and the Health strand under direct and indirect management.
Amendment    16 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The ESF+ shall support, complement and add value to the policies of the Member States to ensure equal opportunities, access to the labour market, fair working conditions, social protection and inclusion, and a high level of human health protection.	The ESF+ shall support, complement and add value to the policies of the Union and of the Member States to ensure equal opportunities, access to the labour market, fair working conditions, social protection and inclusion, investment in children and young people, and a high level of human health protection.
Amendment    17 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Under the Health strand, the ESF+ shall support health promotion and disease prevention, contribute to the effectiveness, accessibility and resilience of health systems, make healthcare affordable-for-all and safer, reduce health inequalities, protect citizens from cross-border health threats, and support Union health legislation.
Amendment    18 Proposal for a regulation Article 6 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 6a
	Scope of support and specific objectives
	1.  Under shared management ESF+ shall pursue the goal ‘Investment for jobs and growth’, set out in Article 4(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No [future CPR], and it shall contribute to the policy objective for ‘a more social Europe implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights, set out in Article 4(1)(d) of that Regulation.
	2.  In accordance with the general objectives set in Article 3 and in accordance with the policy objective referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, it shall support the following specific objectives:
	(i)  improving access to quality and sustainable employment that adheres to all existing Union Labour laws and respects the rights of all jobseekers, in particular youth and long- term unemployed, and of inactive people, while promoting self-employment and the social economy;
	(ii)  modernising labour market institutions and services to assess and anticipate skills needs and ensure timely and tailor-made assistance and support to labour market matching, transitions and mobility;
	(iii)  promoting women’s labour market participation and a better work-life balance including access to childcare;
	(iiia)  promoting a healthy and well–adapted working environment addressing health risks, adaptation of workers, enterprises and entrepreneurs to change, and active and healthy ageing;
	(iv)  improving the quality, effectiveness and labour market relevance of education and training systems to support acquisition of key competences, including digital skills;
	(v)  promoting equal access to, and completion of, quality and inclusive education and training, in particular for disadvantaged groups, from early childhood education and care through general and vocational education and training, and to tertiary level, as well as adult education and learning, including facilitating learning mobility for all;
	(vi)  promoting lifelong learning, notably flexible upskilling and reskilling opportunities for all, taking into account digital skills, better anticipating change and new skills requirements based on labour market needs, facilitating career transitions and promoting professional mobility;
	(vii)  fostering active inclusion with a view to promoting equal opportunities and active participation, and improving employability;
	(viii)  promoting socio-economic integration of third country nationals and of marginalised communities, such as the Roma;
	(ix)  enhancing the equal and timely access to quality, sustainable and affordable services, modernising social protection systems, including promoting access to social protection, and improving accessibility, effectiveness and resilience of healthcare systems and long-term care services;
	(x)  promoting social integration of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion, including the most deprived and children;
	(xi)  addressing material deprivation through food or basic material assistance to the most deprived, including accompanying measures.
	3.  Through the actions implemented to achieve the specific objectives referred to in paragraph 2, the ESF+ shall also aim to contribute to the other policy objectives listed in Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) No [the future CPR], in particular those related to:
	(i)  a smarter Europe through the development of skills for smart specialisation, skills for key enabling technologies and industrial transition, and sectorial cooperation on skills and entrepreneurship, the training of researchers, networking activities and partnerships between higher education institutions, vocational and educational training (VET) institutions, research and technological centres and enterprises and clusters, and support to micro, small and medium sized enterprises and the social economy;
	(ii)  a greener, low carbon Europe through the improvement of education and training systems necessary for the adaptation of skills and qualifications, the upskilling of all, including the labour force, and the creation of new jobs in sectors related to the environment, climate and energy, and the bioeconomy.
Amendment    19 Proposal for a regulation Article 15 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1.  Programmes benefitting from the general support of the ESF+ strand under shared management shall use common output and result indicators, as set out in Annex 1 to this Regulation to monitor progress in implementation. The programmes may also use programme-specific indicators.	1.  Programmes benefitting from the general support of the ESF+ strand under shared management shall use common output and result indicators, as set out in Annex 1 to this Regulation to monitor progress in implementation. The programmes shall also use programme-specific indicators.
Amendment    20 Proposal for a regulation Article 15 – paragraph 6 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	6a.  In compliance with its reporting requirement pursuant to Article [38(3)(e)(i)] of the Financial regulation, the Commission shall present to the European Parliament and the Council information on performance and results in accordance with the indicators by reporting on both progress and shortfalls and by ensuring a clear link between spending and performance.
Amendment    21 Proposal for a regulation Article 21 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	5a.  In compliance with its reporting requirement pursuant to Article [38(3)(e)(i)] of the Financial Regulation, the Commission shall present to the European Parliament and the Council information on performance and results in accordance with the indicators by reporting on both progress and shortfalls and by ensuring a clear link between spending and performance.
Amendment    22 Proposal for a regulation Article 22 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Audit of operations may cover all stages of its implementation and all levels of the distribution chain, with the sole exception of control of the end recipients, unless a risk assessment establishes a specific risk of irregularity or fraud.	Audit of operations may cover all stages of its implementation and all levels of the distribution chain, with the sole exception of control of the end recipients, unless a risk assessment establishes a specific risk of irregularity or fraud. The audit of operations shall include more controls in the early stages of implementation so that in case of risk of fraud the funds may be re-directed to other projects
Amendment    23 Proposal for a regulation Article 33 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	3a.  With a view to regular monitoring of the strands and to making any adjustments needed to their policy and funding priorities, the Commission shall draw up an initial qualitative and quantitative monitoring report covering the first year, followed by three reports covering consecutive two-year periods, and shall send those reports to the European Parliament and to the Council. The reports shall also be transmitted, for information purposes, to the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. The reports shall cover the strands' results and the extent to which the principles of equality between women and men and gender mainstreaming have been applied, as well as how anti-discrimination considerations, including accessibility issues, have been addressed through their activities. The Commission shall make the reports available to the public in order to enhance the transparency of the strands
Justification
Absence of proper monitoring reports as they are envisaged for the current period will be a step back with regard transparency and accountability of the ESF+ strands under direct and indirect management.
Amendment    24 Proposal for a regulation Article 33 – paragraph 3 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	3b.  In compliance with its reporting requirement pursuant to Article [38(3)(e)(i)] of the Financial Regulation, the Commission shall present to the European Parliament and the Council information on performance and results in accordance with the indicators by reporting on both progress and shortfalls and by ensuring a clear link between spending and performance.
Amendment    25 Proposal for a regulation Article 35 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1.  Evaluations shall be carried out in a sufficiently timely manner to feed into the decision-making process.	1.  Evaluations shall be carried out in a sufficiently timely manner to feed into the decision-making process and shall contain information on performance, Union added value and sound financial management.
Amendment    26 Proposal for a regulation Article 35 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
2.  The interim evaluation of the strands may be performed once there is sufficient information available about their implementation, but not later than four years after the start of the implementation of the strands.	2.  A mid-term evaluation of the strands shall be carried out by 31 December 2024 to measure, on a qualitative and quantitative basis, progress made in meeting the strands' objectives, to address the social environment within the Union and any major changes introduced by Union law, to determine whether the resources of the strands have been used efficiently and to assess its Union added value. The results of that mid-term evaluation shall be presented to the European Parliament and to the Council.
Amendment    27 Proposal for a regulation Article 35 – paragraph 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
4.  The Commission shall communicate the conclusions of the evaluations accompanied by its observations, to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.	4.  The Commission shall communicate the conclusions of the evaluations, accompanied by its observations and by improved qualitative and quantitative information on performance and results against the objectives set, to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.
Amendment    28 Proposal for a regulation Annex II a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Annex IIa
	Indicators for the Employment and Social Innovation Strand
	1.  Level of declared gain of better understanding of Union policies and legislation:
	(1a) Number of analytical activities;
	(1b) Number of mutual learning, awareness and dissemination activities;
	(1c) Support for main actors.
	2.  Level of active collaboration and partnership between the Union and government institutions of Member States and associated third-countries:
	(2a) Number of analytical activities;
	(2b) Number of mutual learning, awareness and dissemination activities;
	(2b) Support for main actors.
	3.  Declared use of social policy innovation in the implementation of social country specific recommendations (CSRs) and the results of social policy experimentation for policy making:
	(3a) Number of analytical activities;
	(3b) Number of mutual learning, awareness and dissemination activities.
	(3c) Support for main actors.
	4. Number of visits of the EURES platform
	5.  Number of youth job placements achieved or supported under the Preparatory Action Your First EURES Job (YfEJ) as well as under Targeted Mobility Schemes.
	6.  Number of individual personal contacts of EURES advisers with jobseekers, job changers and employers.
	7.  Number of businesses created or consolidated that have benefitted from Union support.
	8.  Proportion of beneficiaries that have created or further developed a business with Union microfinance that are unemployed or belonging to disadvantaged groups.
Justification
List of indicators for monitoring the implementation of the Employment and Social Innovation strand is missing in the Commission's proposal. The Employment and Social Innovation strand is a continuation of the Programme for Employment and Social Innovations (EaSI) 2014-2020. Therefore, the indicators which the Commission uses to present EaSI performance in the Programme Statements presented in the package of the Union's annual budgets should continue to be used as indicators for the Employment and Social Innovation Strand.

PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Title	European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)
References	COM(2018)0382 – C8-0232/2018 – 2018/0206(COD)
Committee responsible        Date announced in plenary	EMPL 11.6.2018
Opinion by        Date announced in plenary	CONT 11.6.2018
Rapporteur        Date appointed	Georgi Pirinski 10.7.2018
Date adopted	15.11.2018
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	20 1 1
Members present for the final vote	Nedzhmi Ali, Inés Ayala Sender, Zigmantas Balčytis, Dennis de Jong, Tamás Deutsch, Martina Dlabajová, Luke Ming Flanagan, Ingeborg Gräßle, Arndt Kohn, Gilles Pargneaux, Georgi Pirinski, Petri Sarvamaa, Bart Staes, Indrek Tarand, Derek Vaughan, Tomáš Zdechovský, Joachim Zeller
Substitutes present for the final vote	Caterina Chinnici, Marian-Jean Marinescu, Andrey Novakov, Julia Pitera, Richard Sulík

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

20	+
ALDE	Nedzhmi Ali, Martina Dlabajová,
GUE/NGL	Luke Ming Flanagan,
EPP	Tamás Deutsch, Ingeborg Gräßle, Marian‑Jean Marinescu, Andrey Novakov, Julia Pitera, Petri Sarvamaa, Tomáš Zdechovský, Joachim Zeller
S&D	Inés Ayala Sender, Zigmantas Balčytis, Caterina Chinnici, Arndt Kohn, Gilles Pargneaux, Georgi Pirinski, Derek Vaughan
GREENS/EFA	Bart Staes, Indrek Tarand

1	-
ECR	Richard Sulík

1	0
GUE/NGL	Dennis de Jong

Key to symbols:

+  :  in favour

-  :  against

0  :  abstention

OPINION of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (13.11.2018)

for the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)
(COM(2018)0382 – C8‑0232/2018 – 2018/0206(COD))

Rapporteur for opinion (*): Cristian‑Silviu Buşoi

(*)  Associated committee – Rule 54 of the Rules of Procedure

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

On 30 May 2018, the Commission presented a proposal for a Regulation on the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) which pools the scope and resources of the following funds and programmes: the European Social Fund and the Youth Employment Initiative; the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived; the Employment and Social Innovation Programme; and the Health Programme. The former Health Programme therefore forms part of the ESF+ as its Health strand.

While the Rapporteur salutes the reinforcement of the Union’s social dimension through a flexible mechanism and the need to further simplify fund programming in order to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and aim efficiency in the interest of our citizens, he believes that this should not be done at the detriment of EU’s ability to better deliver on citizens’ expectations to protect and improve their health. Consequently the Rapporteur expresses multiple concerns about the ESF+ proposal as it stands.

Firstly, in present-worrying times of Brexit and alarmingly growing Euroscepticism, the Rapporteur finds the withdrawal of health as a separate and central programme undoubtedly to be in the detriment of Member States’ citizens, who already overwhelmingly support the notion of the EU intervening further in health, according to recent surveys of the Eurobarometer. Furthermore the Rapporteur would have preferred to take out of the ESF+ the Health strand, and that the Health Programme is re-established as a separate programme during the next MFF.

The previous programmes of the Union action in the field of public health (2003-2008) and in the field of health (2008-2013 and 2014-2020) have been positively assessed as resulting in a number of important developments and improvements. Since their inception, these programmes have been providing massive EU-added value policies with limited resources. They have boosted the cooperation between Member States in joint actions and knowledge sharing, and shaped the EU’s strategy in order to ensure much needed improvements in health and healthcare across the Member States. The rapporteur highlights that, only, at the mid-term evaluation of the Third Health Programme, considerable achievements have been made so far, as: establishment of 24 European Reference Networks, support for increased capacity-building to respond to outbreaks, support to respond to the health needs of migrants and refugees, exchanges of good practice in sensitive areas as cancer screening, alcohol reduction, HIV/AIDS and TB prevention, but also enhanced support for EU health legislation on medicinal products and medical devices, the eHealth Network activities and Health Technology Assessment.

The Rapporteur therefore believes that a separate, robust and ambitious Health Programme would have the capacity to face the forthcoming worrying realities and health threats, such as antimicrobial resistance, cross-border threats, chronic diseases, but also address the challenges of an ageing population or disease prevention, promote a healthy life style, or prepare our health systems for emerging technologies.

Secondly, the Rapporteur finds the significant decrease in funding for the Health strand unacceptable. While the financial envelope available to the Health Programme 2014 - 2020 is EUR 458 million in current prices, the Commission has decreased it to EUR 413 million in current prices. The budget available for Union action in the field of health during the next MFF should be increased at least to the same level as in the current MFF.

Finally, in respect of the content of the proposal, the Rapporteur feels that certain clarifications are necessary. For example, it should be stressed that access to quality, sustainable and affordable care services should be patient-centred, that the Union’s action in the field of health should, among its objectives, include fostering disease prevention and early diagnosis, and health promotion throughout the lifetime. Last but not least, the Rapporteur proposes adding to the operational objectives: well-designed public health interventions for reducing the burden and impact of infection; invest in early diagnosis and screening; and support the creation of a Steering Board for Health for implementing the actions under the Health strand.

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety calls on the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, as the committee responsible, to take into account the following amendments:

Amendment    1 Proposal for a regulation Recital 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(1)  On 17 November 2017, the European Pillar of Social Rights was jointly proclaimed by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission as a response to social challenges in Europe. The twenty key principles of the pillar are structured around three categories: equal opportunities and access to the labour market; fair working conditions; social protection and inclusion. The twenty principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights should guide the actions under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). In order to contribute to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights the ESF+ should support investments in people and systems in the policy areas of employment, education and social inclusion, thereby supporting economic, territorial and social cohesion in accordance with Article 174 TFEU.	(1)  On 17 November 2017, the European Pillar of Social Rights was jointly proclaimed by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission as a response to social challenges in Europe. The twenty key principles of the pillar are structured around three categories: equal opportunities and access to the labour market; fair working conditions; social protection and inclusion. The twenty principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights should guide the actions under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+). In order to contribute to the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights the ESF+ should support investments in people and systems in the policy areas of employment, public services, education, health, and social inclusion, thereby supporting economic, territorial and social cohesion in accordance with Article 174 TFEU.
Amendment    2 Proposal for a regulation Recital 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(3)  The Council of […] adopted revised guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States to align the text with the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights, with a view to improving Europe's competitiveness and making it a better place to invest, create jobs and foster social cohesion. In order to ensure the full alignment of the ESF+ with the objectives of these guidelines, particularly as regards employment, education, training and the fight against social exclusion, poverty and discrimination, the ESF+ should support Member States, taking account of the relevant Integrated Guidelines and relevant country-specific recommendations adopted in accordance with Article 121(2) TFEU and Article 148(4) TFEU and, where appropriate, at national level, the national reform programmes underpinned by national strategies. The ESF+ should also contribute to relevant aspects of the implementation of key Union initiatives and activities, in particular the "Skills Agenda for Europe" and the European Education Area, relevant Council Recommendations and other initiatives such as the Youth Guarantee, Upskilling Pathways and on Integration of the long-term unemployed.	(3)  The Council of […] adopted revised guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States to align the text with the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights, with a view to improving Europe's competitiveness and making it a better place to invest, create jobs and foster social cohesion. In order to ensure the full alignment of the ESF+ with the objectives of these guidelines, particularly as regards employment, improved public services in the health and other sectors, education, training and the fight against social exclusion, poverty and discrimination, the ESF+ should support Member States, taking account of the relevant Integrated Guidelines and relevant country-specific recommendations adopted in accordance with Article 121(2) TFEU and Article 148(4) TFEU and, where appropriate, at national level, the national reform programmes underpinned by national strategies. The ESF+ should also contribute to relevant aspects of the implementation of key Union initiatives and activities, in particular the “Skills Agenda for Europe” and the European Education Area, relevant Council Recommendations and other initiatives such as the Youth Guarantee, Upskilling Pathways and on Integration of the long-term unemployed.
Amendment    3 Proposal for a regulation Recital 5
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(5)  The Union is confronted with structural challenges arising from economic globalisation, the management of migration flows and the increased security threat, clean energy transition, technological change and an increasingly ageing workforce and growing skills and labour shortages in some sectors and regions, experienced especially by SMEs. Taking into account the changing realities of the world of work, the Union should be prepared for the current and future challenges by investing in relevant skills, making growth more inclusive and by improving employment and social policies, including in view of labour mobility.	(5)  The Union is confronted with structural challenges arising from economic globalisation, the management of migration flows and the increased security threat, clean energy transition, technological change and an increasingly ageing workforce and growing skills and labour shortages in some sectors and regions, experienced especially by SMEs. Taking into account the changing realities of the world of work, the Union should be prepared for the current and future challenges by investing in relevant skills, making growth more inclusive and by improving employment and social policies, including in view of labour mobility and addressing increasing health inequalities between and within Member States.
Amendment    4 Proposal for a regulation Recital 8
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(8)  The types of financing and the methods of implementation under this Regulation should be chosen on the basis of their ability to achieve the specific objectives of the actions and to deliver results, taking into account, in particular, the costs of controls, the administrative burden, and the expected risk of non-compliance. For grants, this should include consideration of the use of lump sums, flat rates and unit costs, as well as financing not linked to costs as envisaged in Article 125(1) of the Financial Regulation. To implement measures linked to the socio-economic integration of third country nationals, and in accordance with Article 88 of the Common Provisions Regulation, the Commission may reimburse Member States using simplified cost options including the use of lump sums.	(8)  The types of financing and the methods of implementation under this Regulation should be chosen on the basis of their ability to achieve the specific objectives of the actions and to deliver results, taking into account, in particular, the costs of controls, the administrative burden, and the expected risk of non-compliance. For grants, this should include consideration of the use of lump sums, flat rates and unit costs, as well as financing not linked to costs as envisaged in Article 125(1) of the Financial Regulation. To implement measures linked to the socio-economic inclusion of third country nationals, and in accordance with Article 88 of the Common Provisions Regulation, the Commission may reimburse Member States using simplified cost options including the use of lump sums.
Amendment    5 Proposal for a regulation Recital 11
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(11)  The integration of the Programme for the Union's action in the field of health with the ESF+ will also create synergies between the developments and testing of initiatives and policies to improve the effectiveness, resilience and sustainability of health systems developed by the Health strand of the ESF+ Programme and their implementation in the Member States by the tools provided by the other strands of the ESF+ Regulation.	(11)  The integration of the Programme for the Union's action in the field of health with the ESF+ will also create synergies between the developments and testing of initiatives and policies to improve the effectiveness, accessibility, resilience and sustainability of health systems developed by the Health strand of the ESF+ Programme and their implementation in the Member States by the tools provided by the other strands of the ESF+ Regulation.
Amendment    6 Proposal for a regulation Recital 13
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(13)  The ESF+ should aim to promote employment through active interventions enabling (re)integration into the labour market, notably for youth, the long-term unemployed and the inactive, as well as through promoting self–employment and the social economy. The ESF+ should aim to improve the functioning of labour markets by supporting the modernisation of labour market institutions such as the Public Employment Services in order to improve their capacity to provide intensified targeted counselling and guidance during the job search and the transition to employment and to enhance workers’ mobility. The ESF+ should promote women's participation in the labour market through measures aiming to ensure, amongst others, improved work/life balance and access to childcare. The ESF + should also aim to provide a healthy and well-adapted working environment in order to respond to health risks related to changing forms of work and the needs of the ageing workforce.	(13)  The ESF+ should aim to promote employment through active interventions enabling (re)integration into the labour market, notably for youth, persons with disabilities and people with chronic diseases, the long-term unemployed and the economically inactive, as well as those facing multiple forms of discrimination through promoting self–employment and the social economy. The ESF+ should aim to improve the functioning of labour markets by supporting the modernisation of labour market institutions such as the Public Employment Services in order to improve their capacity to provide intensified targeted counselling and guidance during the job search and the transition to employment and to enhance workers’ mobility. The ESF+ should promote women’s participation in the labour market through measures aiming to ensure, amongst others, improved work/life balance and access to childcare. The ESF + should also aim to provide a healthy and well-adapted working environment in order to respond to health risks related to work as well as to changing forms of work and the needs of the ageing workforce.
Amendment    7 Proposal for a regulation Recital 14
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(14)  The ESF+ should provide support to improving the quality, effectiveness and labour market relevance of education and training systems in order to facilitate the acquisition of key competences notably as regards digital skills which all individuals need for personal fulfilment and development, employment, social inclusion and active citizenship. The ESF+ should help progression within education and training and transition to work, support lifelong learning and employability, and contribute to competitiveness and societal and economic innovation by supporting scalable and sustainable initiatives in these fields. This could be achieved for example through work-based learning and apprenticeships, lifelong guidance, skills anticipation in cooperation with industry, up-to-date training materials, forecasting and graduate tracking, training of educators, validation of learning outcomes and recognition of qualifications.	(14)  The ESF + should provide support to improving the quality, effectiveness and labour market relevance of education and training systems in order to facilitate the acquisition of key competences notably as regards digital skills which all individuals need for personal fulfilment and development, employment, social inclusion and active citizenship. The ESF+ should help progression within education and training and transition to work, support lifelong learning and employability, and contribute to competitiveness and societal and economic innovation by supporting scalable and sustainable initiatives in these fields. This could be achieved for example through work-based learning and apprenticeships, lifelong guidance, skills anticipation in cooperation with industry, up-to-date training materials, forecasting and graduate tracking, training of educators, regular and ongoing validation of learning outcomes and recognition of qualifications.
Amendment    8 Proposal for a regulation Recital 17
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(17)  Synergies with the Horizon Europe programme should ensure that the ESF+ can mainstream and scale up innovative curricula supported by Horizon Europe in order to equip people with the skills and competences needed for the jobs of the future.	(17)  Synergies with the Horizon Europe programme should ensure that the ESF+ can mainstream and scale up innovative curricula supported by Horizon Europe in order to equip people with the skills and competences needed for their personal and professional development and for the jobs of the future. The Commission should ensure synergies between the Health strand and the Horizon Europe programme in order to boost the results achieved in the area of health protection and disease prevention.
Amendment    9 Proposal for a regulation Recital 17 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(17a)  The synergies created thanks to European territorial cooperation at regional and cross-border levels have also resulted in cooperation projects to improve employment, inclusion of the most vulnerable sections of the population, demographic challenges, health and education, not only in the Union but also with countries in the pre-accession phase and in neighbouring countries, where European cooperation is an added value. The ESF+ should consider improving funding for projects of this type and ensure the transfer of knowledge between them and the legislative process to improve the European regulatory framework and promote the sharing of good practices between the territories of the Union.
Amendment    10 Proposal for a regulation Recital 18
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(18)  The ESF+ should support Member States’ efforts to tackle poverty with a view to breaking the cycle of disadvantage across generations and promote social inclusion by ensuring equal opportunities for all, tackling discrimination and addressing health inequalities. This implies mobilising a range of policies targeting the most disadvantaged people regardless of their age, including children, marginalised communities such as the Roma, and the working poor. The ESF+ should promote the active inclusion of people far from the labour market with a view to ensuring their socio-economic integration. The ESF+ should be also used to enhance timely and equal access to affordable, sustainable and high quality services such as healthcare and long-term care, in particular family and community-based care services. The ESF+ should contribute to the modernisation of social protection systems with a view in particular to promoting their accessibility.	(18)  The ESF+ should support Member States’ efforts to tackle poverty with a view to breaking the cycle of disadvantage across generations and promote social inclusion by ensuring equal opportunities for all, reducing barriers, tackling discrimination and addressing health inequalities. This implies also, but is not limited to, mobilising a range of policies targeting the most disadvantaged people regardless of their age, including children, marginalised communities such as the Roma, and the working poor. The ESF+ should promote the active inclusion of people far from the labour market with a view to ensuring their socio-economic integration. The ESF+ should be also used to enhance timely and equal access to affordable, sustainable and high quality services such as person-centred healthcare, related care and long-term care, in particular family and community-based care services. This includes health promotion and disease prevention services as part of primary healthcare services. The ESF+ should contribute to the modernisation of social protection systems with a view in particular to promoting their accessibility.
Amendment    11 Proposal for a regulation Recital 35 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(35a)  The Commission should increase participation of Member States and underrepresented organisations by lowering as much as possible the barriers to participation, including the administrative burden of applying for and receiving funding.
Amendment    12 Proposal for a regulation Recital 35 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(35b)  One of the main Union objectives is to strengthen health systems by supporting the digital transformation of health and patient care and developing a sustainable health information system as well as supporting national reforms to make health systems more effective, accessible and resilient.
Amendment    13 Proposal for a regulation Recital 36
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(36)  Keeping people healthy and active longer and empowering them to take an active role in managing their health will have positive effects on health, health inequalities, quality of life, productivity, competitiveness and inclusiveness, while reducing pressures on national budgets. The Commission has been committed to help Member States to reach their sustainable development goals (SDG), in particular SDG 3 "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages".17	(36)  Continued effort is required in order to meet the requirements set out in Article 168 TFEU. Keeping all people healthy and active in a non-discriminatory way and empowering them to take an active role in managing their health will have positive effects on health, health inequalities, quality of life, productivity, competitiveness and inclusiveness, while reducing pressures on national budgets. Support for, and recognition of, innovation, including social innovation, which has an impact on health, helps in order to take up the challenge of sustainability in the health sector in the context of addressing the challenges of demographic change. Moreover, action to reduce inequalities in health is important for the purposes of achieving 'inclusive growth'. The Commission has been committed to help Member States to reach their sustainable development goals (SDG), in particular SDG 3 "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.17
_________________	_________________
17 COM (2016) 739 final	17 COM (2016) 739 final
Amendment    14 Proposal for a regulation Recital 36 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(36a)  According to the definition of the World Health Organisation (WHO), "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". In order to improve the health of the population in the Union, it is essential not to focus only on physical health and social well-being. According to the WHO, mental health problems account for almost 40 % of years lived with disability. Mental health problems are also wide-ranging, long-lasting and a source of discrimination, and contribute significantly to inequality in health. Moreover, the economic crisis affects factors determining mental health, as protective factors are weakened and risk factors increased.
Amendment    15 Proposal for a regulation Recital 37
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(37)  Evidence and the common values and principles in European Union Health Systems as set out in the Council Conclusions of 2 June 2006 should support the decision-making processes for planning and managing innovative, efficient and resilient health systems, promoting tools for ensuring universal access to quality healthcare, and the voluntary wider scale implementation of best practices.	(37)  Evidence and the common values and principles in European Union Health Systems as set out in the Council Conclusions of 2 June 2006 should support the decision-making processes for planning and managing innovative, efficient and resilient health systems, promoting tools for ensuring universal access to quality person-centred healthcare and related care, and the voluntary wider scale implementation of best practices. This includes health promotion and disease prevention services as part of primary healthcare services.
Amendment    16 Proposal for a regulation Recital 37 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(37a)  The previous programmes of Union action in the field of public health (2003-2008) and in the field of health (2008-2013 and 2014-2020), established respectively by Decisions No 1786/2002/EC1a and 1350/2007/EC1b and Regulation (EU) No 282/20141c of the European Parliament and of the Council ("the previous health programmes"), have been positively assessed as resulting in a number of important developments and improvements. The Health strand of the ESF+ should build on the achievements of the previous health programmes.
	____________________
	1a Decision No 1786/2002/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2002 adopting a programme of Community action in the field of public health (2003-2008) (OJ L 271, 9.10.2002, p. 1).
	1b Decision No 1350/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 establishing a second programme of Community action in the field of health (2008-13) (OJ L 301, 20.11.2007, p. 3).
	1c Regulation (EU) No 282/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 on the establishment of a third Programme for the Union's action in the field of health (2014-2020) and repealing Decision No 1350/2007/EC (OJ L 86, 21.3.2014, p. 1).
Amendment    17 Proposal for a regulation Recital 37 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(37b)  The Health strand of the ESF+ should be a means of promoting actions in areas where there is Union added value that can be demonstrated on the basis of the following: exchanging good practices between Member States and between Regions; supporting networks for knowledge sharing or mutual learning; supporting qualification of health professionals; addressing cross-border threats to reduce their risks and mitigate their consequences; addressing certain issues relating to the internal market where the Union has substantial legitimacy to ensure high-quality solutions across Member States; unlocking the potential of innovation in health; actions that could lead to a system for benchmarking to allow informed decision-making at Union level; improving efficiency by avoiding a waste of resources due to duplication, and optimising the use of financial resources.
Amendment    18 Proposal for a regulation Recital 38
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(38)  The Health strand of the ESF+ should contribute to disease prevention throughout the lifetime of the Union's citizens and to health promotion by addressing health risk factors such as tobacco use and passive smoking, harmful use of alcohol, consumption of illicit drugs and reduction of drugs-related health damage, unhealthy dietary habits and physical inactivity and foster supportive environments for healthy lifestyles in order to complement Member States action in line with the relevant strategies. The Health strand of the ESF+ should mainstream effective prevention models, innovative technologies and new business models and solutions to contribute to innovative, efficient and sustainable health systems of the Member States and facilitate access to better and safer healthcare for European citizens.	(38)  The Health strand of the ESF+ should contribute to disease prevention, early diagnosis throughout the lifetime of the people living in the Union and to health promotion by addressing health risk factors such as tobacco use, smoking and passive smoking, harmful use of alcohol, environmental health risk factors, consumption of illicit drugs and reduction of drugs-related health damage, obesity and unhealthy dietary habits, also related to poverty and physical inactivity and foster supportive environments for healthy lifestyles, greater public awareness of risk factors, well-designed public health interventions for reducing the burden and impact of infections and preventable infectious diseases, including through vaccinations, in the overall health throughout life in order to complement Member States action in line with the relevant strategies. In this context, special attention should be given to health education as it helps individuals and communities improve their health, increase their knowledge and influence their attitudes. Current health challenges can only be effectively addressed through collaboration at Union level and continued Union action in the field of health. The Health strand of the ESF+ should support implementation of the relevant Union legislation, mainstream effective prevention and awareness raising models reaching out to all, innovative technologies and new business models and solutions to contribute to innovative, accessible, efficient and sustainable health systems of the Member States and facilitate access to better and safer healthcare for people living in the Union in both urban and rural areas. With a view to fully tapping into the potential of cross-sectorial cooperation and to improving synergies and coherence with other policy fields to achieve the general objectives of the ESF+, sport and physical activity should be used as a tool in ESF+ actions aimed, in particular, at health promotion, and disease prevention.
Amendment    19 Proposal for a regulation Recital 38 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(38a)  In order to implement the actions under the Health strand, the Commission should support the creation of a Steering Board for Health. In addition, the Commission should propose ways and methodology for aligning the health-related activities with the European Semester process, now empowered to recommend health systems (and other social determinants of health in fact) reforms towards greater accessibility and sustainability of healthcare and social protection provisions in Member States.
Amendment    20 Proposal for a regulation Recital 39
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(39)  Non-communicable diseases are responsible for over 80 % of premature mortality in the Union and an effective prevention entails multiple cross border dimensions. In parallel, the European Parliament and the Council underlined the need to minimise the public health consequences of serious cross-border threats to health such as communicable diseases and other biological, chemical, environmental and unknown threats, by supporting preparedness and response capacity building.	(39)  Non-communicable diseases are responsible for over 80 % of premature mortality in the Union and an effective prevention entails multiple cross-sectoral actions and cross border dimensions. In parallel, the European Parliament and the Council underlined the need to minimise the public health consequences of serious cross-border threats to health such as sudden and cumulative environmental emissions and pollution, communicable diseases and other biological, chemical, environmental and unknown threats, by supporting preparedness and response capacity building.
Amendment    21 Proposal for a regulation Recital 39 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(39a)  Continuous investments in innovative community-based approaches to tackle cross-border diseases such as the epidemics of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and viral hepatitis are vital as the social dimension of the diseases is a major factor affecting the ability to tackle them as epidemics in the Union and neighbouring countries. A more ambitious political leadership and adequate technical and financial means to provide a sustainable regional response to the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and hepatitis in Europe will be instrumental to reach the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals on these diseases.
Amendment    22 Proposal for a regulation Recital 40
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(40)  Reducing the burden of resistant infections and healthcare associated infections and securing the availability of effective antimicrobials is essential for the efficiency of health systems and for the health of citizens.	(40)  Reducing the burden of resistant infections and healthcare associated infections and securing the availability of effective antimicrobials, whilst nonetheless reducing their use in order to help tackle antimicrobial resistance, is essential for the efficiency of health systems and for the health of citizens.
Amendment    23 Proposal for a regulation Recital 42
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(42)  Given the specific nature of some of the objectives covered by the Health strand of the ESF+ and by the type of the actions under that strand, the respective competent authorities of the Member States are best placed to implement the related activities. Those authorities, designated by the Member States themselves, should therefore be considered to be identified beneficiaries for the purpose of Article [195]of [the new Financial Regulation] and the grants be awarded to such authorities without prior publication of calls for proposals.	(42)  Given the specific nature of some of the objectives covered by the Health strand of the ESF+ and by the type of the actions under that strand, the respective competent authorities of the Member States are best placed to implement the related activities with the active support of civil society. Those authorities, designated by the Member States themselves, and additionally, civil society organisations, as appropriate, should therefore be considered to be identified beneficiaries for the purpose of Article [195]of [the new Financial Regulation] and the grants be awarded to such authorities without prior publication of calls for proposals.
Justification
The report should ask that civil society is meaningfully involved supporting the Member States' competent authorities. Their involvement is vital to achieve the goals of the proposal.
Amendment    24 Proposal for a regulation Recital 42 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(42a)  In order to increase the performance of programme monitoring inefficiencies and inadequacies, the Commission should implement and use programmatic and action specific monitoring indicators to ensure that programme objectives are achieved.
Amendment    25 Proposal for a regulation Recital 42 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(42b)  The ESF+ programme should address existing obstacles to civil society participation, for example through simplifying the application procedures, easing the financial criteria by waiving the co-financing percentage in some cases, but also through building the capacity of patients, their organisations and other stakeholders through training and education. The programme shall also aim to enable the functioning of civil society networks and organisations at European level that contribute to the achievement of its objectives, including Union level organisations.
Justification
“The role of civil society is key to achieving societal well-being. They bring a unique added value by empowering people which absence results in poor health.”. (Greer, S., Wismar, M., Pastorino, G. and Kosinska, M. (2017) Civil society and health).
Amendment    26 Proposal for a regulation Recital 42 c (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(42c)  The implementation of the Health strand of the ESF+ should be such that the responsibilities of the Member States, for the definition of their health policy and for the organisation and delivery of health services and medical care, are respected. Whilst respecting Treaty obligations and the role of Member States as the primary interlocutor in the Union decision-making process, competent authorities at sub-national level should be engaged in order to ensure an effective and lasting impact of Union health policy through their integration with social policies on the ground.
Amendment    27 Proposal for a regulation Recital 44
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(44)  EU health legislation has an immediate impact on the lives of citizen, on the efficiency and resilience of the health systems and the good functioning of the internal market. The regulatory framework for medical products and technologies (medicinal products, medical devices and substances of human origin), as well as on tobacco legislation, patients' rights on cross-border health and serious cross-border threats to health is essential to health protection in the EU. Regulation, as well its implementation and enforcement, must keep pace with innovation and research advances and with societal changes in this area, while delivering on health objectives. It is therefore necessary to continuously develop the evidence base required for implementing legislation of such a scientific nature.	(44)  EU health legislation has an immediate impact on the lives of citizen, on the efficiency and resilience of the health systems and the good functioning of the internal market. The regulatory framework for medical products and technologies (medicinal products, medical devices and substances of human origin), as well as on tobacco legislation, patients' rights on cross-border health and serious cross-border threats to health is essential to health protection in the EU. In addition, many other Union legal acts have significant impacts on health such as those relating to food and food labelling, air pollution, endocrine disruptors and pesticides. In some cases, the cumulative impacts of environmental risk factors are not clearly understood, potentially leading to unacceptable risks to citizens' health.
Amendment    28 Proposal for a regulation Recital 44 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(44a)  Regulation with health implications, as well as its implementation and enforcement, should keep pace with innovation and research advances and with societal change in this area, whilst remaining underpinned by the precautionary principle, as enshrined in the Treaties. It is therefore necessary to continuously develop the evidence base required for implementing legislation of such scientific nature and, in order to ensure the possibility of independent scrutiny thereby re-gaining public trust in Union processes and because, by its very nature the sharing of this evidence is in the public interest, the highest level of transparency should be guaranteed.
Amendment    29 Proposal for a regulation Recital 44 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(44b)  Facing health challenges cannot be done by the health sector alone, as health is determined by multiple factors outside of it. Hence, as stated in the Maastricht and Amsterdam Treaties, Health in All Policies is important for the Union's ability to face future challenges. However, making other sectors aware of the health impacts of their decisions and to integrate health into their policies is one of the biggest challenges the European health sector currently encounters. Important advances in health have been registered so far through policies in sectors such as education, traffic, nutrition, agriculture, labour, or planning. As an example, heart health has registered significant improvements through changes in policies and regulations regarding the quality of food, increased physical activity and decreased smoking.
Amendment    30 Proposal for a regulation Recital 52
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(52)  In order to amend certain non-essential elements of this Regulation, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission in respect of amending and supplementing the annexes on the indictors. It is of particular importance that the Commission carries out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making of 13 April 2016. In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council receive all documents at the same time as Member States' experts, and their experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts.	(52)  In order to amend certain non-essential elements of this Regulation, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission in respect of amending and supplementing the annexes on the indictors. It is of particular importance that the Commission carries out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including of relevant experts and professional regulatory authorities, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Law-Making of 13 April 2016. In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council receive all documents at the same time as Member States' experts, and their experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts.
Amendment    31 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The ESF+ aims to support Member States to achieve high employment levels, fair social protection and a skilled and resilient workforce ready for the future world of work, in line with the principles set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights proclaimed by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on 17 November 2017.	The ESF+ aims to support Member States to achieve high employment levels, fair social protection and a skilled and resilient workforce ready for the future world of work, in line with the principles set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights proclaimed by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on 17 November 2017. The ESF+ also aims to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals and commitments made under the Paris Agreement.
Amendment    32 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The ESF+ shall support, complement and add value to the policies of the Member States to ensure equal opportunities, access to the labour market, fair working conditions, social protection and inclusion, and a high level of human health protection.	The ESF+ shall support, complement and add value to the policies of the Member States to ensure equal opportunities, access to the labour market, fair working conditions, social protection, poverty eradication, social inclusion and a high level of human health protection.
Amendment    33 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point ix
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(ix)  enhancing the equal and timely access to quality, sustainable and affordable services; modernising social protection systems, including promoting access to social protection; improving accessibility, effectiveness and resilience of healthcare systems and long-term care services;	(ix)  enhancing the equal and timely access to quality, sustainable and affordable person-centred healthcare and related care services (including health promotion and disease prevention); modernising social protection systems, including promoting access to social protection; improving accessibility, effectiveness and resilience of healthcare systems and long-term care services;
Amendment    34 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point ix a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ixa)  fostering disease prevention and early diagnosis, and health promotion throughout the lifetime;
Amendment    35 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point x
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(x)  promoting social integration of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion, including the most deprived and children;	(x)  promoting social integration of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion, including the most deprived and children, including by taking into account the use of innovative measures, such as social inclusion through sport and physical activity;
Amendment    36 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1.  a smarter Europe through the development of skills for smart specialisation, skills for key enabling technologies, industrial transition, sectorial cooperation on skills and entrepreneurship, the training of researchers, networking activities and partnerships between higher education institutions, vocational and educational training (VET) institutions, research and technological centres and enterprises and clusters, support to micro, small and medium sized enterprises and the social economy;	1.  a smarter Europe through the development of skills for smart specialisation, skills for key enabling technologies, industrial transition, sectorial cooperation on skills and entrepreneurship, the training of researchers, networking activities and partnerships between higher education institutions, vocational and educational training (VET) institutions, research and technological centres, medical and healthcare centres, enterprises and clusters, support to micro, small and medium sized enterprises and the social economy;
Amendment    37 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
2.  a greener, low carbon Europe through the improvement of education and training systems necessary for the adaptation of skills and qualifications, the upskilling of all, including the labour force, the creation of new jobs in sectors related to the environment, climate and energy, and the bioeconomy.	2.  a greener, low carbon Europe through the improvement of education and training systems necessary for the adaptation of skills and qualifications, awareness raising among the population about sustainable development and lifestyles, the upskilling of all, including the labour force, the creation of new high-quality jobs in sectors related to the environment, climate and energy, and the circular economy and bioeconomy.
Amendment    38 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
3.  Under the Health strand, the ESF+ shall support health promotion and disease prevention, contribute to effectiveness, accessibility and resilience of health systems, make healthcare safer, reduce health inequalities, protect citizens from cross-border health threats, and support EU health legislation.	3.  Under the Health strand, the ESF+ shall contribute to a high level of human health protection and disease prevention, including through the promotion of physical activity and promotion of health education, contribute to effectiveness, accessibility and resilience of health systems, make healthcare safer, reduce health inequalities, increase life expectancy at birth, protect citizens from cross-border health threats, and strengthen and support EU health-related legislation, including in the area of environmental health, and fostering Health in All Policies. The Union’s health policy should be guided by Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to ensure that the Union and Member States reach the targets of SDG 3 "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”.
Amendment    39 Proposal for a regulation Article 5 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1.  The total financial envelope for the ESF+ for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 101 174 000 000 in current prices.	1.  The total financial envelope for the ESF+ for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 120 457 000 000 in current prices.
Amendment    40 Proposal for a regulation Article 5 – paragraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
3.  The financial envelope for the Employment and Social Innovation strand and the Health strand for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 1 174 000 000 in current prices.	3.  The financial envelope for the Employment and Social Innovation strand and the Health strand for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 1 234 000 000 in current prices.
Amendment    41 Proposal for a regulation Article 5 – paragraph 4 – point b
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(b)  EUR 413 000 000 for the implementation of the Health strand.	(b)  EUR 473 000 000 (0,36 % of the MFF 2021-2027) for the implementation of the Health strand.
Amendment    42 Proposal for a regulation Article 6 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1.  All programmes implemented under the ESF+ strand under shared management, as well as the operations supported by the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands shall ensure equality between men and women throughout their preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. They shall also promote equal opportunities for all, without discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation throughout their preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.	1.  All programmes implemented under the ESF+ strand under shared management, as well as the operations supported by the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands shall ensure equality between men and women throughout their preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. They shall also promote equal opportunities for all, including access to the labour market for persons with disabilities, without discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability or health condition, age or sexual orientation throughout their preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
Justification
There is clear evidence both from research and patient organisations that patients face various forms of discrimination in the European Union, because of their health status and/or other grounds. Patients are not always protected by non-discrimination legislation within the European Union, depending on the grounds on which they are discriminated against and on the Member States where the act of discrimination occurs. It is important that any new legislative text explicitly tackles this form of discrimination.
Amendment    43 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Member States shall concentrate the ESF+ resources under shared management on interventions that address the challenges identified in their national reform programmes, in the European Semester as well as in the relevant country-specific recommendations adopted in accordance with Article 121(2) TFEU and Article 148(4) TFEU, and take into account principles and rights set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights.	Member States shall concentrate the ESF+ resources under shared management on interventions that address the challenges identified in their national reform programmes, in the European Semester as well as in the relevant country-specific recommendations adopted in accordance with Article 121(2) TFEU and Article 148(4) TFEU, that take into account principles and rights set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights and that are fully in line with the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Amendment    44 Proposal for a regulation Article 15 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1.  Programmes benefitting from the general support of the ESF+ strand under shared management shall use common output and result indicators, as set out in Annex 1 to this Regulation to monitor progress in implementation. The programmes may also use programme-specific indicators.	1.  Programmes benefitting from the general support of the ESF+ strand under shared management shall use common output and result indicators, as set out in Annex 1 to this Regulation to monitor progress in implementation. The programmes may also use programme-specific indicators and action-specific indicators.
Amendment    45 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point –a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(-a)  Support a Union public health strategy aimed at:
	(i)  supporting Member States in their efforts to protect and enhance public health
	(ii)  advancing the Union's mission in health in accordance with Article 168 TFEU, which stipulates that a high level of human health protection shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Union policies and activities
Amendment    46 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point a – introductory part
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(a)  Strengthen crisis-preparedness, management and response in the Union to protect citizens against cross-border health threats.	(a)  Strengthen crisis-preparedness, management and response in the Union to address cross-border health threats
Amendment    47 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point a – point iv a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(iva)  Well-designed public health interventions for reducing the burden and impact of infection and preventable infectious diseases
Amendment    48 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point a – point iv b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ivb)  Support the development of skills and tools for effective risk communication
Amendment    49 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point i
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(i)  Invest in health promotion and disease prevention.	(i)  Invest in health promotion and disease prevention, including through health literacy and education programmes, and through the promotion of physical activity
Amendment    50 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point i a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ia)  Invest in early diagnosis and screening
Amendment    51 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point ii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(ii)  Support the digital transformation of health and care	(ii)  Support the digital transformation of health and care that address the needs and concerns of patients and citizens, in particular by establishing links to programmes that support media literacy and digital skills
Amendment    52 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point ii a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(iia)  Promote digital public services in areas such as health
Amendment    53 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point ii b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(iib)  Strengthen the security and quality of health information
Amendment    54 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point ii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(ii)  Support the development of a sustainable Union health information system	(ii)  Support the development of a sustainable, transparent and accessible Union health information system, whilst ensuring protection of private data.
(In the COM proposal the numbering of the points in Article 26, point b is not correct, there are two points numbered as (ii))
Amendment    55 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point iii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iii)  Support Member States with knowledge transfer useful for the national reform processes for more effective, accessible and resilient health systems and better health promotion and disease prevention addressing, in particular, the challenges identified in the European Semester.	(iii)  Support Member States with knowledge transfer and implementation support useful for the national reform processes for more effective, accessible, resilient, non-discriminatory, inclusive and equitable health systems tackling social inequalities, and better health promotion and disease prevention addressing, in particular, the challenges identified in the European Semester. This also includes supporting high quality national registries that shall also deliver comparable data.
Amendment    56 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point iv a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(iva)  Support the transition towards person-centred care, proximity health and social services, and community-based integrated care, in particular promoting organizational models based on interprofessional teamwork and multi-stakeholders networking
Amendment    57 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point iv b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ivb)  Ensure the engagement of all relevant stakeholders in the above actions, at Union and/or national level as appropriate
Amendment    58 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point iv c (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ivc)  Develop and implement tools and strategies to prevent and tackle health inequalities and to promote social inclusion, citizen empowerment and community participation
Amendment    59 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point c – point i
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(i)  support the implementation of the legislation on medicinal products and medical devices	(i)  Support the implementation of the legislation on medicinal products, access to such products throughout the Union and medical devices
Amendment    60 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point c – point vi
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(vi)  Support to the Commission' scientific committees on "Consumer Safety" and on "Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks"	(vi)  Support the development of Health in All Policies and establish processes by which health implications can be considered and taken into account in all policies
Amendment    61 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point c a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ca)  Support the monitoring of, implementation of, and strengthen, other Union legislation and policies with health implications so as to help ensure a high level of protection of human health, including but not limited to those relating to:
	(i)  air pollution
	(ii)  endocrine disruptors and other chemicals with harmful properties
	(iii)  pesticide residues in food, water and air
	(iv)  food and food labelling, including on transfatty acids, alcohol labelling, additives and food contact materials
Justification
The addition of the need to strengthen and implement other Union legislation with health implications is a natural consequence of Article 168 TFEU which stipulates that 'a high level of human health shall be ensured in the definition and implementation of all Union policies and activities'
Amendment    62 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point d – point ii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(ii)  Support the development of cooperation on Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in preparation of new harmonised rules	(ii)  Support the development of cooperation on and capacity-building in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in preparation of new harmonised rules
Amendment    63 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point d – point iii a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(iiia)  Support the implementation of programmes and best practices on sexual and reproductive health education and campaigns for young people
Amendment    64 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point d – point iii b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(iiib)  Support European level civil society organisations working on health and health related issues
Amendment    65 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point d – point iii c (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(iiic)  Support the creation of a Steering Board for Health for implementing the actions under the Health strand
Amendment    66 Proposal for a regulation Article 27 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1.  Only actions pursuing the objectives referred to in Articles 3 and 26 are eligible for funding.	1.  Only actions related to health pursuing the objectives referred to in Articles 3, 4 and 26 are eligible for funding.
Amendment    67 Proposal for a regulation Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point a – point i a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ia)  activities designed to monitor the cumulative health impacts of environmental risk factors, including those arising from contaminants in food, water, air and other sources;
Amendment    68 Proposal for a regulation Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point a – point i b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ib)  activities monitoring the health impacts of Union legislation, such as pharmacovigilance and similar;
Amendment    69 Proposal for a regulation Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point a – subparagraph 1 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	The results of analytical activities, once finalised, shall be made publicly available.
Amendment    70 Proposal for a regulation Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point b – point i
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(i)  cross-border collaboration and partnerships, including in cross-border regions;	(i)  cross-border collaboration and partnerships, including in cross-border regions and including in relation to air pollution and other cross-border environmental contamination;
Amendment    71 Proposal for a regulation Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point c – point i
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(i)  through transfer, adaptation and roll-out of best practices with established Union level added value between Member States;	(i)  through exchange, transfer, adaptation and roll-out of best practices with established Union level added value between Member States;
Amendment    72 Proposal for a regulation Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point c – point ii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(ii)  of EU-level networks related to the fields referred to in Article 26;	(ii)  of EU-level networks related to the fields referred to in Article 26, in a continuous and sustainable way, ensuring the presence of an active civil society at European level;
Justification
Umbrella NGOs with pan-European networks of grassroots members are important contributors to the European project, strengthening the links between the EU and civil society, and among different European civil society groups. These European NGOs represent a unique European value which should be recognised. The EU budget shall help to grow civil society around Europe and contribute to a thriving civil society in the EU.
Amendment    73 Proposal for a regulation Article 27 – paragraph 2 – point c – point iv
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iv)  of national contact points providing guidance, information and assistance related the implementation of the programme;	(iv)  of regional, subnational and national contact points providing guidance, information and assistance related the implementation of the programme;
Amendment    74 Proposal for a regulation Article 29 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The Commission shall consult the health authorities of the Member States in the Steering Group on Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Management of Non-Communicable Diseases or in other relevant Commission expert group or similar entities on the work plans established for the Health strand and its priorities and strategic orientations and its implementation, and also on the health policy perspective of other policies and support mechanisms, thus increasing their overall coordination and added value.	The Commission shall consult the health authorities of the Member States in the Steering Group on Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Management of Non-Communicable Diseases or in other relevant Commission expert group or similar entities such as professional bodies in the health sector, on the annual work plans established for the Health strand and its priorities and strategic orientations and its implementation, and also on the health policy perspective of other policies and support mechanisms, thus increasing their overall coordination and added value. Strong political leadership and adequate governance structure dedicated to health will ensure that health protection and promotion is guaranteed across all Commission portfolios, according to Article 168(1) of TFEU.
Amendment    75 Proposal for a regulation Article 29 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 29a
	Steering Board for Health
	1.  The Commission shall establish a Steering Board for Health (‘the Steering Board’) for implementing the actions under the Health strand.
	2.  The Steering Board shall focus on creating synergies between the Health strand and other Programmes where a health dimension is integrated, through coordination and cooperation, promoting patients and society engagement, and providing scientific advice and recommendations. Those actions shall provide value oriented health actions, sustainability, better health solutions, foster access and reduce health inequalities.
	3.  The Steering Board shall provide a comprehensive strategy and steering in developing the work plans under the Health strand.
	4.  The Steering Board shall be an independent stakeholder group, composed of actors from relevant sectors in the field of public health, wellbeing and social protection, with participation of representatives of Regions and local health authorities, patient representatives and citizens.
	5.  The Steering Board shall be composed of 15 to 20 high level individuals drawn from across disciplines and activities referred to in paragraph 4. The members of the Steering Board shall be appointed by the Commission, following an open call for nominations or for expression of interests or both.
	6.  The Steering Board shall have a chair who shall be appointed by the Commission from among its members.
	7.  The Steering Board shall:
	i.  provide input to annual work plans for the Health strand, following a proposal from the Commission;
	ii.  elaborate a blueprint for steering coordination and cooperation between the Health strand and other Programmes where health dimension is integrated.
	The blueprint shall facilitate ensuring visibility and coordination of all the existing financial mechanisms relevant to health, and shall help steering coordination and cooperation.
Amendment    76 Proposal for a regulation Article 29 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 29b
	International cooperation
	The Commission shall develop cooperation with relevant international organisations such as the United Nations and its specialised agencies, in particular the World Health Organisation (WHO), as well as with the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to implement the Health strand, in order to maximise the effectiveness and efficiency of actions at Union and international level.
Amendment    77 Proposal for a regulation Article 33 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1.  Indicators to monitor implementation and progress of the strands towards the achievement of the specific objectives set out in Article 4 and the operational objectives set out in Articles 23 and 26 shall be set.	1.  Indicators, including programmatic and action specific indicators, to monitor implementation and progress of the strands towards the achievement of the specific objectives set out in Article 4 and the operational objectives set out in Articles 23 and 26 shall be set.
Amendment    78 Proposal for a regulation Annex III – point 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
2.  Number of health technology joint clinical assessments	2.  Number of beneficiaries (professionals, citizens, patients) affected by the results of the programme
Justification
Considering the peculiarities and the wide range of projects of the health strand, we suggest to include other indicators such as the number of beneficiaries (professionals, citizens, patients) affected by the results of the programme.
Amendment    79 Proposal for a regulation Annex III – point 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
3.  Number of best practices transferred	3.  Number of health technology joint clinical assessments
Amendment    80 Proposal for a regulation Annex III – point 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
4.  Degree of use of the results of the programme in national health policy as measured by a "before and after" questionnaire	4.  Number of best practices transferred
Amendment    81 Proposal for a regulation Annex III – point 4 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	4a.  Degree of use of the results of the programme in regional and national health policies or tools as measured by validated methods

PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Title	European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)
References	COM(2018)0382 – C8-0232/2018 – 2018/0206(COD)
Committee responsible        Date announced in plenary	EMPL 11.6.2018
Opinion by        Date announced in plenary	ENVI 11.6.2018
Associated committees - date announced in plenary	5.7.2018
Rapporteur        Date appointed	Cristian-Silviu Buşoi 19.4.2018
Discussed in committee	10.10.2018
Date adopted	12.11.2018
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	47 1 1
Members present for the final vote	Margrete Auken, Pilar Ayuso, Ivo Belet, Biljana Borzan, Lynn Boylan, Paul Brannen, Soledad Cabezón Ruiz, Nessa Childers, Birgit Collin-Langen, Miriam Dalli, Seb Dance, Angélique Delahaye, Mark Demesmaeker, Stefan Eck, Bas Eickhout, Francesc Gambús, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Arne Gericke, Jens Gieseke, Julie Girling, Françoise Grossetête, Andrzej Grzyb, Jytte Guteland, György Hölvényi, Anneli Jäätteenmäki, Jean-François Jalkh, Benedek Jávor, Karin Kadenbach, Urszula Krupa, Jo Leinen, Peter Liese, Jiří Maštálka, Susanne Melior, Rory Palmer, Bolesław G. Piecha, Annie Schreijer-Pierik, Davor Škrlec, Nils Torvalds, Adina-Ioana Vălean, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Damiano Zoffoli
Substitutes present for the final vote	Cristian-Silviu Buşoi, Fredrick Federley, Giorgos Grammatikakis, Christophe Hansen, Tilly Metz, Carolina Punset
Substitutes under Rule 200(2) present for the final vote	Paul Rübig, Tomáš Zdechovský

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

47	+
ALDE	Fredrick Federley, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Anneli Jäätteenmäki, Carolina Punset, Nils Torvalds
ECR	Arne Gericke, Urszula Krupa, Bolesław G. Piecha, Jadwiga Wiśniewska
GUE/NGL	Lynn Boylan, Stefan Eck, Jiří Maštálka
PEE	Pilar Ayuso, Ivo Belet, Cristian-Silviu Buşoi, Birgit Collin-Langen, Angélique Delahaye, Francesc Gambús, Jens Gieseke, Julie Girling, Françoise Grossetête, Andrzej Grzyb, Christophe Hansen, György Hölvényi, Peter Liese, Paul Rübig, Annie Schreijer-Pierik, Adina-Ioana Vălean, Tomáš Zdechovský
S&D	Biljana Borzan, Paul Brannen, Soledad Cabezón Ruiz, Nessa Childers, Miriam Dalli, Seb Dance, Giorgos Grammatikakis, Jytte Guteland, Karin Kadenbach, Jo Leinen, Susanne Melior, Rory Palmer, Damiano Zoffoli
VERTS/ALE	Margrete Auken, Bas Eickhout, Benedek Jávor, Tilly Metz, Davor Škrlec

1	-
ENF	Jean-François Jalkh

1	0
ECR	Mark Demesmaeker

Key to symbols:

+  :  in favour

-  :  against

0  :  abstention

OPINION of the Committee on Regional Development (8.11.2018)

for the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)
(COM(2018)0382 – C8‑0232/2018 – 2018/0206(COD))

Rapporteur for opinion: Mercedes Bresso

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

The European Social Fund (ESF) is the European Union main instrument for supporting high quality jobs and ensuring fairer job opportunities for all its citizens. It works by investing in Europe’s human capital – its workers, its young people and all those seeking employment.

On 29 May 2018, the European Commission adopted its proposal for the new European Social Fund+ (ESF+), merging the existing European Social Fund (ESF) with the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI), the Fund for European Aid to the most Deprived (FEAD), the Employment and Social Innovation Programme (EaSI) and the EU Health Programme. The ESF+ is one of a number of structural funds that together make up the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF).

Your Rapporteur supports the idea that the ESF+ should continue to play a key role in supporting the creation of new and high quality jobs and in promoting social inclusion in particular for disadvantaged groups such as young people, long-term unemployed and people with disabilities.

Your rapporteur welcomes the provision to address social inclusion with a 25% of the envelope dedicated to this matter, the 2% dedicated to fight against material deprivation and welcomes also the 10% to be dedicate to youth employment in countries with an high level of NEETs. While recognizing the importance of these specific actions, your rapporteur underlines also the importance of the traditional objectives of the ESF - supporting active employment, education and training, particularly through active labour market policies - which should continue to be key in the next ESF+.

Your Rapporteur recognises the importance of the development of skills for smart specialization through lifelong learning and training models addressed in particular to young people not in education, employment and training (NEET), but also to teachers, trainers, mentors, coaches, and entrepreneurs and researchers.

Your Rapporteur believes that a clear role of the regions, both as beneficiary and managing authority, has to be better recognized in the legislative text in order to guarantee more effectiveness to the objectives set out in the proposal and to ensure an appropriate coordination between the ESF+ and the broader cohesion and regional policy and its financing tools.

Your Rapporteur welcomes the intention of the Commission to simplify the regulatory framework and believes that synergies and coordination between the ESF+ and the other Structural Funds (in particular ERDF and CF) represent an important factor of improved effectiveness and increased efficiency in the achievement of the objectives of the ESF+.

The Commission’s proposal establishes a link between the European Semester, Country Specific Recommendations (CSRs) and ESF+ investments. Your rapporteur acknowledges the importance of the European Semester and the CSRs in order to create the context in which investments should be programmed. She believes however that an appropriate flexibility should be guaranteed at managing authority level, both national and regional, to identify the priorities and the areas where investments are required, with the need to better define the relation between cohesion policy and the European Semester so that the latter acquires a more social and territorial dimension.

In this perspective, your Rapporteur believes also that the link between CSRs and ESF+ should also be coherent and coordinated with the principles and rights as set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights, which should be effectively taken into account and implemented.

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Regional Development calls on the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, as the committee responsible, to take into account the following amendments:

Amendment    1 Proposal for a regulation Citation 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 46(d), Article 149, Article 153(2)(a), Article 164, Article 168(5), Article 175(3) and Article 349 thereof,	Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 46(d), Article 149, Article 153(2)(a), Article 164, Article 168(5), Article 174, Article 175(3) and Article 349 thereof,
Amendment    2 Proposal for a regulation Recital 1 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(1a)  Support under the investment priority "community-led local development" may contribute to all objectives as set out in this Regulation. Community-led local development strategies supported by the ESF+ should be inclusive with regard to disadvantaged people present on the territory, both in terms of governance of local action groups and in terms of content of the strategy. The ESF may support community-led local development strategies in urban and rural areas, as well as Integrated territorial investments (ITI).
Amendment    3 Proposal for a regulation Recital 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(2)  At Union level, the European Semester of economic policy coordination is the framework to identify national reform priorities and monitor their implementation. Member States develop their own national multiannual investment strategies in support of those reform priorities. Those strategies should be presented alongside the yearly National Reform Programmes as a way to outline and coordinate priority investment projects to be supported by national and/or Union funding. They should also serve to use Union funding in a coherent manner and to maximise the added value of the financial support to be received notably from the programmes supported by the Union under the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, the European Investment Stabilisation Function and InvestEU, where relevant.	(2)  At Union level, the European Semester of economic policy coordination is the framework to identify national reform priorities and monitor their implementation in order to achieve set objectives. Member States develop their own national multiannual investment strategies in support of those reform priorities. Those strategies should be developed together with partnership with national, regional and local authorities and presented alongside the yearly National Reform Programmes as a way to outline and coordinate priority investment projects to be supported by national and/or Union funding. They should also serve to use Union funding in a coherent manner and to maximise the added value of the financial support to be received notably from the programmes supported by the Union under the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, the European Investment Stabilisation Function and InvestEU, where relevant.
Amendment    4 Proposal for a regulation Recital 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(3)  The Council of […] adopted revised guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States to align the text with the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights, with a view to improving Europe's competitiveness and making it a better place to invest, create jobs and foster social cohesion. In order to ensure the full alignment of the ESF+ with the objectives of these guidelines, particularly as regards employment, education, training and the fight against social exclusion, poverty and discrimination, the ESF+ should support Member States, taking account of the relevant Integrated Guidelines and relevant country-specific recommendations adopted in accordance with Article 121(2) TFEU and Article 148(4) TFEU and, where appropriate, at national level, the national reform programmes underpinned by national strategies. The ESF+ should also contribute to relevant aspects of the implementation of key Union initiatives and activities, in particular the "Skills Agenda for Europe" and the European Education Area, relevant Council Recommendations and other initiatives such as the Youth Guarantee, Upskilling Pathways and on Integration of the long-term unemployed.	(3)  The Council of […] adopted revised guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States to align the text with the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights, with a view to improving Europe's competitiveness and making it a better place to invest, create jobs and foster social cohesion. In order to ensure the full alignment of the ESF+ with the objectives of these guidelines, particularly as regards employment, education, training and the fight against social exclusion, poverty and discrimination, the ESF+ should support Member States at national, regional and local level, taking account of the relevant Integrated Guidelines and relevant country-specific recommendations adopted in accordance with Article 121(2) TFEU and Article 148(4) TFEU and, where appropriate, at national level, the national reform programmes underpinned by national strategies. The ESF+ should also contribute to an upward social convergence in the EU and to relevant aspects of the implementation of key Union initiatives and activities, in particular the "Skills Agenda for Europe" and the European Education Area, relevant Council Recommendations and other initiatives such as the Youth Guarantee, Upskilling Pathways and on Integration of the long-term unemployed. To strengthen the European dimension of the programme, the ESF+ should continue to support the activities under its Transnational Platform.
Amendment    5 Proposal for a regulation Recital 5
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(5)  The Union is confronted with structural challenges arising from economic globalisation, the management of migration flows and the increased security threat, clean energy transition, technological change and an increasingly ageing workforce and growing skills and labour shortages in some sectors and regions, experienced especially by SMEs. Taking into account the changing realities of the world of work, the Union should be prepared for the current and future challenges by investing in relevant skills, making growth more inclusive and by improving employment and social policies, including in view of labour mobility.	(5)  The Union is confronted with structural challenges arising from social and economic inequalities, globalisation, the management of migration flows and related integration challenges, clean energy transition, technological change, demographic developments, unequal access to education and digitalization, an increasingly ageing workforce and growing skills and labour shortages in some sectors and regions, experienced especially by SMEs. Taking into account the changing realities of the world of work, the Union should be prepared for the current and future challenges by investing in relevant skills, making labour market, including quality education and training, lifelong learning, more inclusive and by improving employment, education and social policies, including in view of a voluntary labour mobility.
Amendment    6 Proposal for a regulation Recital 7
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(7)  Regulation (EU, Euratom) No [the new FR] (the ‘Financial Regulation’) lays down rules on the implementation of the Union budget, including the rules on grants, prizes, procurement, indirect implementation, financial assistance, financial instruments and budgetary guarantees. In order to ensure coherence in the implementation of Union funding programmes, the Financial Regulation is to apply to the actions to be implemented in direct or indirect management under the ESF+.	(7)  Regulation (EU, Euratom) No [the new FR] (the ‘Financial Regulation’) lays down rules on the implementation of the Union budget, including the rules on grants, prizes, procurement, indirect implementation, financial assistance, financial instruments and budgetary guarantees and synergies between financial instruments. In order to ensure coherence in the implementation of Union funding programmes, the Financial Regulation is to apply to the actions to be implemented in direct or indirect management under the ESF+.
Amendment    7 Proposal for a regulation Recital 10
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(10)  In view of this wider scope of the ESF+ it is appropriate to foresee that the aims to enhance the effectiveness of labour markets and promote access to quality employment, to improve the access to and the quality of education and training as well as to promote social inclusion and health and to reduce poverty are not only implemented under shared management, but also under direct and indirect management under the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands for actions required at Union level.	(10)  In view of this wider scope of the ESF+ it is appropriate to foresee that the aims to enhance the effectiveness of inclusive labour markets and promote access to quality employment, to improve the access to and the quality of education, training and healthcare as well as to promote social inclusion and health and to reduce poverty are not only implemented under shared management, but also under direct and indirect management under the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands for actions required at Union level.
Amendments    8 Proposal for a regulation Recital 11
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendments
(11)  The integration of the Programme for the Union's action in the field of health with the ESF+ will also create synergies between the developments and testing of initiatives and policies to improve the effectiveness, resilience and sustainability of health systems developed by the Health strand of the ESF+ Programme and their implementation in the Member States by the tools provided by the other strands of the ESF+ Regulation.	(11)  The integration of the Programme for the Union's action in the field of health with the ESF+ will also create synergies between the developments and testing of initiatives and policies to improve the effectiveness, resilience and sustainability of health systems developed by the Health strand of the ESF+ Programme and their implementation in the Member States at national, regional and local level by the tools provided by the other strands of the ESF+ Regulation.
Amendment    9 Proposal for a regulation Recital 13
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(13)  The ESF+ should aim to promote employment through active interventions enabling (re)integration into the labour market, notably for youth, the long-term unemployed and the inactive, as well as through promoting self–employment and the social economy. The ESF+ should aim to improve the functioning of labour markets by supporting the modernisation of labour market institutions such as the Public Employment Services in order to improve their capacity to provide intensified targeted counselling and guidance during the job search and the transition to employment and to enhance workers’ mobility. The ESF+ should promote women's participation in the labour market through measures aiming to ensure, amongst others, improved work/life balance and access to childcare. The ESF + should also aim to provide a healthy and well-adapted working environment in order to respond to health risks related to changing forms of work and the needs of the ageing workforce.	(13)  The ESF+ should support measures aimed to ease young people’s transition from education to employment. Furthermore, the ESF+ should aim to promote high-quality employment through active interventions enabling (re)integration into the labour market, notably for youth, persons with disabilities and people with chronic diseases, marginalised groups, the long-term unemployed and the economically inactive, as well as through encouraging and promoting self–employment, accompanied by specific training programmes, and the social economy. The ESF+ should aim to improve the functioning of labour markets, by supporting the modernisation of labour market institutions such as the Public Employment Services in order to improve their capacity to provide intensified targeted and geared towards individual counselling and guidance during the job search and the transition to employment and to facilitate workers’ mobility. The ESF+ should promote women's participation in the labour market, encourage gender equality through measures aiming to ensure, amongst others, improved work/life balance and access to affordable quality childcare and other care services or support. The ESF+ should also aim to provide a healthy and well-adapted working environment in order to respond to health risks related to changing forms of work and the needs of the ageing workforce.
Amendment    10 Proposal for a regulation Recital 14
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(14)  The ESF+ should provide support to improving the quality, effectiveness and labour market relevance of education and training systems in order to facilitate the acquisition of key competences notably as regards digital skills which all individuals need for personal fulfilment and development, employment, social inclusion and active citizenship. The ESF+ should help progression within education and training and transition to work, support lifelong learning and employability, and contribute to competitiveness and societal and economic innovation by supporting scalable and sustainable initiatives in these fields. This could be achieved for example through work-based learning and apprenticeships, lifelong guidance, skills anticipation in cooperation with industry, up-to-date training materials, forecasting and graduate tracking, training of educators, validation of learning outcomes and recognition of qualifications.	(14)  As the main EU instrument for investing in human capital and skills, the ESF+ plays a key role in promoting social, economic and territorial cohesion. The ESF+ should provide support to improving the quality, effectiveness and labour market relevance of education and training and - in need - retraining systems in order to facilitate the acquisition of key competences notably as regards digital and transversal skills which all individuals need for personal fulfilment and development, employment, social inclusion and active citizenship. The ESF+ should help progression within education and training, bearing in mind technological developments and increasing pace of change in the required knowledge and skills, and transition to work, support lifelong learning and employability, and contribute to competitiveness and societal and economic innovation by supporting scalable and sustainable initiatives in these fields. This could be achieved for example through high-quality work-based learning and apprenticeships, lifelong guidance, skills anticipation in cooperation with industry, up-to-date training materials, forecasting and graduate tracking, training of educators, validation of learning outcomes and recognition of qualifications.
Amendment    11 Proposal for a regulation Recital 15
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(15)  Support through the ESF+ should be used to promote equal access for all, in particular for disadvantaged groups, to quality, non-segregated and inclusive education and training, from early childhood education and care through general and vocational education and training and to tertiary level, as well as adult education and learning, thereby fostering permeability between education and training sectors, preventing early school leaving, improving health literacy, reinforcing links with non-formal and informal learning and facilitating learning mobility for all. Synergies with the Erasmus programme, notably to facilitate the participation of disadvantaged learners in learning mobility, should be supported within this context.	(15)  Support through the ESF+ should be used to promote equal access for all, in particular for disadvantaged groups, to quality, non-segregated and inclusive education and training, from early childhood education and care through general and vocational education and training and to tertiary level, as well as adult education and learning, thereby fostering permeability between education and training sectors and adaptation to social challenges, preventing early school leaving, improving health literacy, reinforcing links with non-formal and informal learning and facilitating learning mobility for all. Synergies should be sought with other EU programmes, such as the Erasmus programme, in order to upscale innovative practices and to facilitate the participation of disadvantaged learners and young people in vulnerable situations.
Amendment    12 Proposal for a regulation Recital 16
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(16)  The ESF+ should promote flexible upskilling and reskilling opportunities for all, notably digital skills and key enabling technologies, with a view to providing people with skills adjusted to digitalisation, technological change, innovation and social and economic change, facilitating career transitions, mobility and supporting in particular low-skilled and/or poorly qualified adults, in line with the Skills Agenda for Europe.	(16)  The ESF+ should promote flexible upskilling and reskilling opportunities for all through formal and non-formal education providers, including by developing digital skills and key enabling technologies, with a view to providing people with skills adjusted to digitalisation, technological change, innovation and social and economic change, facilitating transitions from education to employment, career transitions, voluntary mobility and supporting in particular low-skilled, persons with disabilities or chronic diseases and/or poorly qualified adults, or negatively affected by globalization, in line with the Skills Agenda for Europe.
Amendment    13 Proposal for a regulation Recital 17
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(17)  Synergies with the Horizon Europe programme should ensure that the ESF+ can mainstream and scale up innovative curricula supported by Horizon Europe in order to equip people with the skills and competences needed for the jobs of the future.	(17)  Synergies with the Horizon Europe programme should ensure that the ESF+ can mainstream and scale up innovative curricula supported by Horizon Europe in order to equip people with the skills and competences needed for the jobs of the future and to address current and future societal challenges.
Amendment    14 Proposal for a regulation Recital 18
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(18)  The ESF+ should support Member States’ efforts to tackle poverty with a view to breaking the cycle of disadvantage across generations and promote social inclusion by ensuring equal opportunities for all, tackling discrimination and addressing health inequalities. This implies mobilising a range of policies targeting the most disadvantaged people regardless of their age, including children, marginalised communities such as the Roma, and the working poor. The ESF+ should promote the active inclusion of people far from the labour market with a view to ensuring their socio-economic integration. The ESF+ should be also used to enhance timely and equal access to affordable, sustainable and high quality services such as healthcare and long-term care, in particular family and community-based care services. The ESF+ should contribute to the modernisation of social protection systems with a view in particular to promoting their accessibility.	(18)  The ESF+ should support Member States efforts at all levels of government, including at regional and local level, to tackle poverty with a view to breaking the cycle of disadvantage across generations and promote social inclusion by ensuring equal opportunities for all, tackling discrimination and addressing health inequalities. This implies mobilising a range of policies, strategies and action plans targeting the most disadvantaged people regardless of their age, including children, marginalised communities such as the Roma, migrants, people with illness and chronic conditions, homeless people facing multiple social challenges, and the working poor. Furthermore, attention should be paid to those regions which, due to their poor economic, social or demographic situation, are faced with “brain-drain” of mainly young people. The ESF+ should promote the active inclusion of people far from the labour market, including by improved access to the internet and hence to teleworking, with a view to ensuring their socio-economic integration. The ESF+ should be also used to enhance timely and equal access to affordable, sustainable and high quality services such as healthcare and long-term care, in particular family and community-based care services. The ESF+ should contribute to the modernisation of social protection systems with a view in particular to promoting their accessibility.
Amendment    15 Proposal for a regulation Recital 19
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(19)  The ESF+ should contribute to the reduction of poverty by supporting national schemes aiming to alleviate food and material deprivation and promote social integration of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion and the most deprived. With a view that at Union level at least 4% of the resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management supports the most deprived, Member States should allocate at least 2% of their national resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management to address the forms of extreme poverty with the greatest social exclusion impact, such as homelessness, child poverty and food deprivation. Due to the nature of the operations and the type of end recipients, it is necessary that simpler rules apply to support which addresses material deprivation of the most deprived.	(19)  The ESF+ should contribute to the reduction of poverty by supporting national, regional and local, where appropriate, schemes aiming to alleviate food and material deprivation and promote social integration of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion and the most deprived. With a view that at Union level at least 4% of the resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management supports the most deprived, Member States are encouraged to allocate at least 4% of their national resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management to address the forms of extreme poverty with the greatest social exclusion impact, such as homelessness, child poverty and food deprivation. Due to the nature of the operations and the type of end recipients, it is necessary that simpler rules apply to support which addresses material deprivation of the most deprived.
Amendment    16 Proposal for a regulation Recital 20
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(20)  In light of the persistent need to enhance efforts to address the management of the migration flows in the Union as a whole and in order to ensure a coherent, strong and consistent support to the solidarity and responsibility-sharing efforts, the ESF+ should provide support to promote the socio-economic integration of third country nationals complementary to the actions financed under the Asylum and Migration Fund.	(20)  In light of the persistent need to enhance efforts to address the management of the migration flows in the Union as a whole and in order to ensure a coherent, strong and consistent support to the solidarity and responsibility-sharing efforts, the ESF+ should provide support for the socio-economic integration of third country nationals, including refugees and asylum seekers, complementary to the actions financed under the Asylum and Migration Fund and better integration of migrants in the labour market. Member States should allocate an appropriate amount of ESF+ resources to local authorities in order to meet the needs for integration of migrants at local level.
Amendment    17 Proposal for a regulation Recital 21
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(21)  The ESF+ should support policy and system reforms in the fields of employment, social inclusion, healthcare and long-term care, and education and training. In order to strengthen alignment with the European Semester, Member States should allocate an appropriate amount of their resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management to implement relevant country-specific recommendations relating to structural challenges which it is appropriate to address through multiannual investments falling within the scope of the ESF+. The Commission and the Member States should ensure coherence, coordination and complementarity between the shared-management and Health strands of ESF+ and the Reform Support Programme, including the Reform Delivery Tool and the Technical Support Instrument. In particular, the Commission and the Member State should ensure, in all stages of the process, effective coordination in order to safeguard the consistency, coherence, complementarity and synergy among sources of funding, including technical assistance thereof.	(21)  The ESF+ should support policy and system reforms in the fields of employment, high-quality jobs, social inclusion, healthcare and long-term care, and education and training linked to the challenges identified by the social scoreboard within the European Semester. Member States should allocate an appropriate amount of their resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management to implement relevant country-specific recommendations relating to structural challenges which it is appropriate to address through multiannual investments falling within the scope of the ESF+, particularly for the ones issued in the first programming year and on the occasion of the mid-term review and which are consistent with the rationale of the ESF+. The Commission and the Member States should meaningfully involve regional and local authorities in the process to ensure coherence, coordination and complementarity between the shared-management and Health strands of ESF+ and the Reform Support Programme (the Reform Delivery Tool and the Technical Support Instrument). In particular, the Commission and the Member State should ensure, in all stages of the process, effective coordination in order to safeguard the consistency, coherence, complementarity and synergy among sources of funding, including technical assistance thereof, with respect to the Partnership principle.
Amendment    18 Proposal for a regulation Recital 23
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(23)  In the light of persistently high levels of youth unemployment and inactivity in a number of Member States and regions, in particular affecting young people who are neither in employment, nor in education or training, it is necessary that those Member States continue to invest sufficient resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management towards actions to promote youth employment including through the implementation of Youth Guarantee schemes. Building on the actions supported by the Youth Employment Initiative in the 2014-2020 programming period targeting individual persons, Member States should further promote employment and education reintegration pathways and outreach measures for young people by prioritising, where relevant, long-term unemployed, inactive and disadvantaged young people including through youth work. Member States should also invest in measures aimed at facilitating school-to-work transition as well as reforming and adapting employment services with a view to providing tailor-made support to young people. Member States concerned should therefore allocate at least 10% of their national resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management to support youth employability.	(23)  In the light of persistently high levels of youth unemployment and inactivity in a number of Member States and regions, in particular affecting young people who are neither in employment, nor in education or training, it is necessary that those Member States continue to invest sufficient resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management towards actions to promote youth employment and young people’s access to high-quality jobs, including through the implementation of Youth Guarantee schemes. Building on the actions supported by the Youth Employment Initiative in the 2014-2020 programming period targeting individual persons, Member States and their regions should further promote employment and education reintegration pathways and outreach measures for young people by prioritising, where relevant, long-term unemployed, inactive and disadvantaged young people including through youth work, including through programmes enabling the development of entrepreuneurial activities. Member States should also invest in measures aimed at facilitating school-to-work transition as well as reforming and adapting employment services with a view to providing tailor-made support to young people and in particular young people in vulnerable situations. Member States concerned should allocate 10% of their national resources of the ESF+ strand under shared management to support youth employability.
Amendment    19 Proposal for a regulation Recital 24
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(24)  Member States should ensure coordination and complementarity between the actions supported by these funds.	(24)  Member States should ensure coordination and complementarity between the actions supported by these funds and facilitate the balanced development of the less developed regions in relation to the average EU indicators.
Amendments    20 Proposal for a regulation Recital 25
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendments
(25)  In accordance with Article 349 TFEU and Article 2 of Protocol No 6 to the 1994 Act of Accession, the outermost regions and the northern sparsely populated regions are entitled to specific measures under common policies and EU programmes. Due to the permanent constraints these regions require specific support.	(25)  In accordance with Articles 174 and 349 TFEU and Article 2 of Protocol No 6 to the 1994 Act of Accession, the outermost regions and the northern sparsely populated regions are entitled to specific measures under common policies and EU programmes. Due to their suffering from severe and permanent natural handicaps, these regions need specific support.
Amendment    21 Proposal for a regulation Recital 26
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(26)  Efficient and effective implementation of actions supported by the ESF+ depends on good governance and partnership between all actors at the relevant territorial levels and the socio-economic actors, in particular the social partners and civil society. It is therefore essential that Member States encourage the participation of social partners and civil society in the implementation of the ESF+ under shared management.	(26)  Efficient and effective implementation of actions supported by the ESF+ depends on good governance and partnership between all actors at the relevant territorial levels and the socio-economic actors, the social partners and civil society (CPR, Art. 6). It is therefore essential that Member States involve regional and local authorities in the implementation of the ESF+ under shared management, as they are best placed to know the needs at sub-national level, and encourage the participation of social partners and civil society in line with the legal and institutional framework of the Member State.
Amendment    22 Proposal for a regulation Recital 27
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(27)  With a view to rendering policies more responsive to social change and to encourage and support innovative solutions, support for social innovation is crucial. In particular, testing and evaluating innovative solutions before scaling them up is instrumental in improving the efficiency of the policies and thus justifies specific support from the ESF+.	(27)  With a view to rendering policies more responsive to social change and to encourage and support innovative solutions, support for social innovation is crucial. In particular, testing and evaluating innovative solutions at local level before scaling them up is instrumental in improving the efficiency of the policies and thus justifies specific support from the ESF+.
Amendment    23 Proposal for a regulation Recital 27 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(27a)  The European Union and all its Member States are parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Amendment    24 Proposal for a regulation Recital 28
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(28)  The Member States and the Commission should ensure that ESF+ contributes to the promotion of equality between women and men in accordance with Article 8 TFEU to foster equality of treatment and opportunities between women and men in all areas, including regarding participation in the labour market, terms and conditions of employment and career progression. They should also ensure that the ESF+ promotes equal opportunities for all, without discrimination in accordance with Article 10 TFEU and promotes the inclusion in society of persons with disabilities on equal basis with others and contributes to the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. These principles should be taken into account in all dimensions and in all stages of the preparation, monitoring, implementation and evaluation of programmes, in a timely and consistent manner while ensuring that specific actions are taken to promote gender equality and equal opportunities. The ESF+ should also promote the transition from residential/institutional care to family and community-based care, in particular for those who face multiple discrimination. The ESF+ should not support any action that contributes to segregation or to social exclusion. Regulation (EU) No [future CPR] provides that rules on eligibility of expenditure are to be established at national level, with certain exceptions for which it is necessary to lay down specific provisions with regard to the ESF+ strand under shared management.	(28)  The Member States, also through their management authorities at national and regional level, and the Commission should ensure that ESF+ contributes to the promotion of equality between women and men in accordance with Article 8 TFEU to foster equality of treatment and opportunities between women and men in all areas, including regarding participation in the labour market, terms and conditions of employment and career progression and pensions. They should also ensure that the ESF+ promotes equal opportunities for all, without discrimination in accordance with Article 10 TFEU and promotes the inclusion in society of persons with disabilities and chronic diseases on equal basis with others and contributes to the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. These principles should be taken into account in all dimensions and in all stages of the preparation, monitoring, implementation and evaluation of programmes, in a timely and consistent manner while ensuring that specific actions are taken to promote gender equality and equal opportunities. The ESF+ should also promote the transition from institutional care to family and community-based care, in particular for those who face multiple discrimination. This should also include the development of a national/regional deinstitutionalisation strategy and action plan. The ESF+ should not support any action that contributes to segregation or to social exclusion. Regulation (EU) No [future CPR] provides that rules on eligibility of expenditure are to be established at national level, with certain exceptions for which it is necessary to lay down specific provisions with regard to the ESF+ strand under shared management.
Amendment    25 Proposal for a regulation Recital 29
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(29)  In order to reduce the administrative burden for the collection of data, Member States should, where such data are available in registers, allow managing authorities to collect data from registers.	(29)  In order to reduce the administrative burden for the collection of data, Member States should, where such data are available in registers, allow managing authorities to collect data from registers, provided that such data is properly protected.
Amendment    26 Proposal for a regulation Recital 32
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(32)  ESF+ lays down provisions intended to achieve freedom of movement for workers on a non-discriminatory basis by ensuring the close cooperation of the central employment services of Member States with one another and with the Commission. The European network of employment services should promote a better functioning of the labour markets by facilitating the cross-border mobility of workers and a greater transparency of information on the labour markets. The ESF+ scope also includes developing and supporting targeted mobility schemes with a view to filling vacancies where labour market shortcomings have been identified.	(32)  ESF+ lays down provisions intended to achieve freedom of movement for workers on a non-discriminatory basis by ensuring the close cooperation of the central public employment services of Member States with one another and with the Commission. The European network of employment and cross-border services, with the involvement of the social partners should promote a better functioning of the labour markets by facilitating the voluntary cross-border mobility of workers under fair conditions and a greater transparency of information on the labour markets. The ESF+ scope also includes developing and supporting targeted mobility schemes with a view to filling vacancies of a high-quality where labour market shortcomings have been identified.
Amendment    27 Proposal for a regulation Recital 34 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(34a)  Transnational cooperation has significant added value and should therefore be supported by all Member States with the exception of duly justified cases taking account of the principle of proportionality. It is also necessary to reinforce the Commission’s role in facilitating exchanges of experience and coordinating implementation of relevant initiatives
Amendments    28 Proposal for a regulation Recital 36
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendments
(36)  Keeping people healthy and active longer and empowering them to take an active role in managing their health will have positive effects on health, health inequalities, quality of life, productivity, competitiveness and inclusiveness, while reducing pressures on national budgets. The Commission has been committed to help Member States to reach their sustainable development goals (SDG), in particular SDG 3 "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages"17 .	(36)  Keeping people healthy and active longer and empowering them to take an active role in managing their health will have positive effects on health, health inequalities, quality of life, productivity, competitiveness and inclusiveness, while reducing pressures on national and regional budgets. The Commission has been committed to help Member States to reach their sustainable development goals (SDG), in particular SDG 3 "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages"17
.	.
17COM(2016) 739 final	17COM(2016) 739 final
Amendments    29 Proposal for a regulation Recital 38
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendments
(38)  The Health strand of the ESF+ should contribute to disease prevention throughout the lifetime of the Union's citizens and to health promotion by addressing health risk factors such as tobacco use and passive smoking, harmful use of alcohol, consumption of illicit drugs and reduction of drugs-related health damage, unhealthy dietary habits and physical inactivity and foster supportive environments for healthy lifestyles in order to complement Member States action in line with the relevant strategies. The Health strand of the ESF+ should mainstream effective prevention models, innovative technologies and new business models and solutions to contribute to innovative, efficient and sustainable health systems of the Member States and facilitate access to better and safer healthcare for European citizens.	(38)  The Health strand of the ESF+ should contribute to disease prevention throughout the lifetime of the Union's citizens and to health promotion by addressing health risk factors such as tobacco use and passive smoking, harmful use of alcohol, consumption of illicit drugs and reduction of drugs-related health damage, unhealthy dietary habits and physical inactivity and foster supportive environments for healthy lifestyles in order to complement Member States action in line with the relevant strategies. The Health strand of the ESF+ should mainstream effective prevention models, innovative technologies and new business models and solutions to contribute to innovative, efficient and sustainable health systems of the Member States at national, regional and local level and facilitate access to better and safer healthcare for European citizens.
Amendment    30 Proposal for a regulation Recital 50 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(50a)  Given the diversity of the level of development in the regions and different social realities across Europe, the degree of flexibility of the ESF+ should be sufficient to take the regional and territorial specificities into account.
Amendment    31 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(3a)  "social inclusion measures" means a process by which efforts are made to combat poverty and social exclusion, to ensure equal opportunities, and to create conditions enabling full and active participation in the society;
Amendment    32 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 13
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
13.  'most deprived persons' means natural persons, whether individuals, families, households or groups composed of such persons, whose need for assistance has been established according to the objective criteria set by the national competent authorities in consultation with relevant stakeholders, while avoiding conflicts of interest and which are approved by those national competent authorities and which may include elements that allow the targeting of the most deprived persons in certain geographical areas;	13.  'most deprived persons' means natural persons, whether individuals, families – including single-parent families –, households or groups composed of such persons, whose need for assistance has been established according to the objective criteria set by the national competent authorities in consultation with relevant stakeholders, while avoiding conflicts of interest and which are approved by those national competent authorities and which may include elements that allow the targeting of the most deprived persons in certain geographical areas;
Amendment    33 Proposal for a regulation Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 13 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(13a)  ‘social inclusion’ means the improvement of the terms of participation in society, particularly for people who are disadvantaged, through enhancing their opportunities.
Amendment    34 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The ESF+ aims to support Member States to achieve high employment levels, fair social protection and a skilled and resilient workforce ready for the future world of work, in line with the principles set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights proclaimed by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on 17 November 2017.	The ESF+ aims to support Member States, at national, regional and local level, to achieve, through sustainable job creation, high employment levels, fair social protection, social inclusion and a skilled and resilient workforce ready for the current and future world of work, in line with the principles and rights set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights proclaimed by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on 17 November 2017, thereby contributing to the goals of the Union towards the strengthening of economic, social and territorial cohesion.
Amendment    35 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The ESF+ shall support, complement and add value to the policies of the Member States to ensure equal opportunities, access to the labour market, fair working conditions, social protection and inclusion, and a high level of human health protection.	The ESF+ shall support, add value and complement the policies of the Member States at national, regional and local level to ensure equal opportunities, gender equality, access to the labour market, fair working conditions, social protection and inclusion, and a high level of human health protection, as set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Amendment    36 Proposal for a regulation Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point a
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
a)  under shared management, for the part of the assistance which corresponds to the specific objectives indicated in Article 4(1) (the ‘ESF+ strand under shared management’), and	a)  under shared management, taking into account the regional authorities , where the institutional and legal framework of the Member States so envisages, for the part of the assistance which corresponds to the specific objectives indicated in Article 4(1) (the ‘ESF+ strand under shared management’), and
Amendment    37 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1.  The ESF+ shall support the following specific objectives in the policy areas of employment, education, social inclusion and health and thereby also contributing to the policy objective for “A more social Europe - Implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights” set out in Article [4] of the [future CPR]:	1.  The ESF+ shall support the following specific objectives in the policy areas of employment, education, fighting poverty, social inclusion and health and thereby also contributing to the policy objective for “A more social Europe - Implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights” set out in Article [4] of the [future CPR]:
Amendment    38 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point i
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
i)  improving access to employment of all jobseekers, in particular youth and long-term unemployed, and of inactive people, promoting self-employment and the social economy;	i)  improving access to high - quality employment of all jobseekers, including youth, in relation to its high unemployment, marginalised or disadvantaged groups, those with disabilities, or living in rural, mountainous and deprived urban areas, people close to retirement; long-term unemployed, and inactive people, promoting self-employment, entrepreneurship, including the development of SMEs, accompanied by specific training programmes and the social economy also through on the spot job training and apprenticeship;
Amendment    39 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point ii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(ii)  modernising labour market institutions and services to assess and anticipate skills needs and ensure timely and tailor-made assistance and support to labour market matching, transitions and mobility;	(ii)  modernising and integrating labour market institutions and services at national, regional and local level to assess and anticipate skills needs and ensure timely and tailor-made assistance and support to labour market matching, transitions across the life-cycle and voluntary mobility, including at cross-border level while improving the job quality in all its aspects;
Amendment    40 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point iii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iii)  promoting women’s labour market participation, a better work/life balance including access to childcare, a healthy and well–adapted working environment addressing health risks, adaptation of workers, enterprises and entrepreneurs to change, and active and healthy ageing;	(iii)  encouraging and promoting gender equality, women’s labour market participation, also to allow them to build up rights towards a pension, a better work/life balance including access to childcare, a healthy and well–adapted working environment addressing health risks, adaptation of workers, enterprises and entrepreneurs to change, and active and healthy ageing;
Amendment    41 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point iv
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iv)  improving the quality, effectiveness and labour market relevance of education and training systems, to support acquisition of key competences including digital skills;	(iv)  improving the quality, effectiveness, flexibility and labour market relevance of education and training systems, including informal ones, to support acquisition of key competences including digital skills, to keep up with ever changing society, while also promoting e-inclusion;
Amendment    42 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point v
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(v)  promoting equal access to and completion of, quality and inclusive education and training, in particular for disadvantaged groups, from early childhood education and care through general and vocational education and training, and to tertiary level, as well as adult education and learning, including facilitating learning mobility for all;	(v)  promoting equal access to and completion of, quality and inclusive education and training, adequately adressing early school leaving, in particular for marginalised and disadvantaged groups, for those in urban, rural and remote areas, from early childhood education and care through general and vocational education and training, and to tertiary level, as well as adult education and learning, including facilitating learning mobility for all and accessibility for persons with disabilities;
Amendment    43 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point vi
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(vi)  promoting lifelong learning, notably flexible upskilling and reskilling opportunities for all taking into account digital skills, better anticipating change and new skills requirements based on labour market needs, facilitating career transitions and promoting professional mobility;	(vi)  promoting lifelong learning as well as informal and non-formal learning, notably flexible upskilling and reskilling opportunities for all taking into account digital skills, better anticipating change and new skills requirements based on labour market needs, facilitating career transitions and promoting professional mobility, fostering participation in society and tackling societal challenges;
Amendment    44 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point vii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(vii)  fostering active inclusion with a view to promoting equal opportunities and active participation, and improving employability;	(vii)  fostering active inclusion with a view to promoting equal opportunities and active participation, and improving employability and access to employment for disadvantaged groups;
Amendment    45 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point viii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
viii.  promoting socio-economic integration of third country nationals and of marginalised communities such as the Roma;	viii.  promoting socio-economic integration of third country nationals including migrants and refugees under international protection and of marginalised communities such as the Roma, and better integration of migrants in the labour market;
Amendment    46 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point xi a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(xia)  enhancing institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders and efficient public administration;
Amendment    47 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point xi b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(xib)  increasing the socioeconomic integration of marginalised communities, migrants and disadvantaged groups, through integrated measures including housing and social services;
Amendment    48 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1.  a smarter Europe through the development of skills for smart specialisation, skills for key enabling technologies, industrial transition, sectorial cooperation on skills and entrepreneurship, the training of researchers, networking activities and partnerships between higher education institutions, vocational and educational training (VET) institutions, research and technological centres and enterprises and clusters, support to micro, small and medium sized enterprises and the social economy;	1.  a smarter Europe through the development and ongoing adaptation of skills for smart specialisation in close conjunction with developments in new technologies, skills for key enabling technologies, industrial transition, green jobs and sustainable development, sectorial cooperation on skills and entrepreneurship, the training of researchers, mentors, coaches and trainers, in particular in the field of human capital and human resources development, networking activities and partnerships between higher education institutions, vocational and educational training (VET) institutions, research and technological centres and enterprises and clusters, support to micro, small and medium sized enterprises and the social economy and professional corporations;
Amendment    49 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
2.  a greener, low carbon Europe through the improvement of education and training systems necessary for the adaptation of skills and qualifications, the upskilling of all, including the labour force, the creation of new jobs in sectors related to the environment, climate and energy, and the bioeconomy.	2.  a greener, low carbon Europe through the improvement of education and training systems at the various stages of professional activity necessary for raising awareness of climate change, the adaptation of skills and qualifications, the upskilling of persons in active employment and jobseekers, the creation of new green jobs in sectors related to the environment, climate and energy, circular economy and the bioeconomy.
Amendment    50 Proposal for a regulation Article 4 – paragraph 2 – point 2 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	2 a.  A Europe closer to citizens through poverty reduction and social inclusion measures taking into account the specificities of urban, rural and coastal areas in view of tackling the socio-economic inequalities in cities and regions.
Amendment    51 Proposal for a regulation Article 5 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1.  The total financial envelope for the ESF+ for the period 2021-2027 shall be EUR 101 174 000 000 in current prices.	1.  The resources available for the ESF+ shall amount to27.5 % of the resources under the Investment for jobs and growth goal (i.e.,EUR 99 786 000 000 in 2018 prices), excluding the amount for health, employment and social innovation
Amendment    52 Proposal for a regulation Article 6 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1.  All programmes implemented under the ESF+ strand under shared management, as well as the operations supported by the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands shall ensure equality between men and women throughout their preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. They shall also promote equal opportunities for all, without discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation throughout their preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.	1.  All programmes implemented under the ESF+ strand under shared management, as well as the operations supported by the Employment and Social Innovation and Health strands shall ensure equality between men and women throughout their preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. They shall also promote equal opportunities for all, without discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, as well as accessibility for persons with disabilities, throughout their preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
Amendment    53 Proposal for a regulation Article 6 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
2.  The Member States and the Commission shall also support specific targeted actions to promote the principles referred to in paragraph 1 within any of the objectives of the ESF+, including the transition from residential/institutional care to family and community-based care.	2.  The Member States and the Commission shall also support specific targeted actions and the development of national and regional strategies and action plans to promote the principles referred to in paragraph 1 within any of the objectives of the ESF+, including the reasonable transition from residential/institutional care to family and community-based care.
Amendment    54 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Member States shall concentrate the ESF+ resources under shared management on interventions that address the challenges identified in their national reform programmes, in the European Semester as well as in the relevant country-specific recommendations adopted in accordance with Article 121(2) TFEU and Article 148(4) TFEU, and take into account principles and rights set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights.	Member States also through their managing authorities at national and regional level shall concentrate the ESF+ resources under shared management on interventions that address the challenges linked to the scope and mission of the ESF+ and identified in their regional strategies, national reform programmes, relevant Country Specific recommendations, taking into account the social scoreboard of the European Semester, and adopted in accordance with Article 121(2) TFEU and Article 148(4) TFEU, respecting the principles and rights set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights, the local, regional and national investment needs and the ownership of the reforms on the ground.
Amendment    55 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Member States and, where appropriate the Commission, shall foster synergies and ensure coordination, complementarity and coherence between the ESF+ and other Union funds, programmes and instruments such as Erasmus, the Asylum and Migration Fund and the Reform Support Programme, including the Reform Delivery Tool and the Technical Support Instrument, both in the planning phase and during implementation. Member States and, where appropriate the Commission, shall optimise mechanisms for coordination to avoid duplication of effort and ensure close cooperation between those responsible for implementation to deliver coherent and streamlined support actions.	Member States through their managing authorities, at national and regional level, and, where appropriate the Commission, shall foster synergies and ensure coordination, complementarity and coherence between the ESF+ and other Union funds, such as the ESI Funds and in particular the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund, as well as programmes and instruments such as Erasmus, Horizon Europe, the Asylum and Migration Fund and the Reform Support Programme, including the Reform Delivery Tool and the Technical Support Instrument, both in the planning phase and during implementation, without prejudice to the objectives of the ESF+ as set out in Articles 3 and 4. Member States and, where appropriate the Commission, shall optimise mechanisms for coordination to avoid duplication of effort and ensure close cooperation between those managing authorities responsible for implementation to deliver integrated approaches, coherent and streamlined support actions.
Amendment    56 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
2.  Member States shall allocate an appropriate amount of their ESF+ resources under shared management to address challenges identified in relevant country-specific recommendations adopted in accordance with Article 121(2) TFEU and Article 148(4) TFEU and in the European Semester falling within the scope of the ESF+ as set out in Article 4.	2.  Member States shall allocate an appropriate amount of their ESF+ resources under shared management, taking into account regional specificities to address challenges identified in relevant country-specific recommendations adopted in accordance with Article 121(2) TFEU and Article 148(4) TFEU and in the European Semester falling within the scope of the ESF+ as set out in Article 4 complemented by sufficient flexibility at managing authority level to identify priorities and areas for ESF+ investments in line with the specific local/ regional challenges and taking into account principles and rights as set out in the European Pillar of Social Rights, as well as the objective of improving economic, social and territorial convergence.
Amendment    57 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
3.  Member States shall allocate at least 25% of their ESF+ resources under shared management to the specific objectives for the social inclusion policy area set out in points (vii) to (xi) of Article 4(1), including the promotion of the socio-economic integration of third country nationals.	3.  Member States shall allocate at least 25% of their ESF+ resources under shared management, where relevant, to the specific objectives for the social inclusion policy area set out in points (vii) to (xi) of Article 4(1), including the modernisation of social protection systems and the promotion of the socio-economic integration of third country nationals. Member States may use this allocation to address challenges different from unemployment to support anti-poverty measures that go beyond active labour market measures.
Amendment    58 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Member States shall allocate at least 2% of their ESF+ resources under shared management to the specific objective of addressing material deprivation set out in point (xi) of Article 4(1).	Member States shall allocate at least 4% of their ESF+ resources under shared management to the specific objective of addressing social inclusion of the most deprived and/or material deprivation set out in point (xi) of Article 4(1).
Justification
A minimum allocation of 4% would also allow to sustain the level of resources available under the current Fund for European Aid to the most Deprived (FEAD) (EUR 4 billion between 2014 and 2020). Member States should be free to decide whether they want to provide food aid, material aid or social inclusion measures for the most deprived, depending on their national contexts.
Amendment    59 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Member States having a rate of young people aged 15 to 29 not in employment, education or training above the Union average in 2019 on the basis of Eurostat data, shall allocate at least 10% of their ESF+ resources under shared management for the years 2021 to 2025 to targeted actions and structural reforms to support youth employment and school-to-work transition, pathways to reintegrate into education or training and second chance education, in particular in the context of implementing Youth Guarantee schemes.	Member States having a rate of young people aged 15 to 29 not in employment, education or training above the Union average in 2019 on the basis of Eurostat data, shall allocate at least 10% of their ESF+ resources under shared management for the years 2021 to 2025 to targeted actions and structural reforms to support youth employment, apprenticeship schemes and school-to-work transition, entrepreneurship, pathways to reintegrate into education or training and second chance education, with particular reference to the best practices in the context of implementing Youth Guarantee schemes at national and regional level.
Amendment    60 Proposal for a regulation Article 7 – paragraph 5 – subparagraph 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
When implementing such actions, Member States shall give priority to inactive and long-term unemployed young people and put in place targeted outreach measures.	When implementing such actions, Member States shall give priority to inactive and long-term unemployed young people, focusing on those in rural areas to prevent depopulation, and put in place targeted outreach measures.
Amendment    61 Proposal for a regulation Article 8 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
1.  Each Member State shall ensure adequate participation of social partners and civil society organisations in the delivery of employment, education and social inclusion policies supported by the ESF+ strand under shared management.	1.  Member State' managing authorities, at national and regional level, shall ensure that the participation of regional and local authorities, social and economic partners, civil society organisations and beneficiaries in all stages of the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation under ESF+ is guaranteed in line with the principles set out in the Art. 6 of the Common Provisions Regulation, including the European Code of Conduct on Partnership (ECCP). This shall apply to delivery of employment, education and social inclusion policies supported by the ESF+ strand under shared management.
Amendment    62 Proposal for a regulation Article 8 – paragraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
2.  Member States shall allocate an appropriate amount of ESF+ resources under shared management in each programme for the capacity building of social partners and civil society organisations.	2.  Member States shall allocate at least 2% of ESF+ resources under shared management in each programme for the capacity building of local and regional authorities, social and economic partners and civil society organisations.
Amendment    63 Proposal for a regulation Article 9 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The resources referred to in Article 7(4) shall be programmed under a dedicated priority or programme.	The resources referred to in Article 7(4) shall be programmed under a dedicated priority or programme. The co-financing rate for this priority or programme is set at 85%.
Amendment    64 Proposal for a regulation Article 10 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Support in accordance with Article 7(5) shall be programmed under a dedicated priority and it shall support the specific objective set out in point (i) of Article 4(1).	Support in accordance with Article 7(5) shall be programmed under a dedicated priority and it shall support the specific objective set out in point (i) and (v) of Article 4(1).
Amendment    65 Proposal for a regulation Article 11 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The actions addressing the challenges identified in relevant country-specific recommendations and in the European Semester as referred to in Article 7(2) shall be programmed under one or more dedicated priorities.	The actions addressing the challenges identified in relevant country-specific recommendations (CSRs) and in the European Semester as referred to in Article 7(2) shall be programmed under one or more dedicated priorities. Sufficient flexibility shall be ensured at managing authority level to identify priorities and areas for ESF+ investments in line with the specific local or regional challenges, due to annual character of CSRs and multiannual character of the ESF+ programming. Member States shall ensure consistency, coherence and synergies of these priorities with the European Pillar of Social Rights, Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. Sufficient flexibility shall be ensured at managing authority level to identify priorities and areas for ESF+ investments in line with the specific local or regional challenges.
Amendment    66 Proposal for a regulation Article 11 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 11a
	Integrated territorial development
	The ESF+ may support integrated territorial development within programmes under both goals referred to in Article 4(2) of Regulation(EU) 2018/xxxx [new CPR] in accordance with Chapter II of Title III of that Regulation[new CPR]. 2. Member States shall implement integrated territorialdevelopment, supported by the ESF+, exclusively through the forms referred to in Article [22] of Regulation (EU) 2018/xxxx [new CPR].
Amendment    67 Proposal for a regulation Article 11 b (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	Article 11b
	Transnational cooperation
	Member States may support transnational cooperation actions under a specific priority.3. Transnational cooperation actions may be programmed under any of the specific objectives set out in points (i) to (x) of Article 4(1).4. The maximum co-financing rate for this priority may be increased to 95% for the allocation of maximum 5% of the national ESF+ allocation under shared management to such priorities.
Amendment    68 Proposal for a regulation Article 13 – title
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
Innovative actions	Innovative actions and integrated territorial development
Amendment    69 Proposal for a regulation Article 13 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(1)  Member States shall support actions of social innovation and social experimentations, or strengthen bottom-up approaches based on partnerships involving public authorities, the private sector, and civil society such as the Local Action Groups designing and implementing community-led local development strategies.	(1)  Through ESF+, Member States shall support actions of social innovation and experimentation, including the upscaling of innovative approaches tested on a smaller scale, or strengthen bottom-up approaches based on partnerships involving public authorities, in particular on local and regional level, the private sector, and civil society such as the Local Action Groups designing and implementing community-led local development strategies which take into account local characteristics.
Amendment    70 Proposal for a regulation Article 13 – paragraph 3
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
3.  Innovative actions and approaches may be programmed under any of the specific objectives set out in points (i) to (x) of Article 4(1).	3.  Innovative actions and approaches, as well as integrated territorial development may be programmed under any of the specific objectives set out in points (i) to (x) of Article 4(1).
Amendment    71 Proposal for a regulation Article 13 – paragraph 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
4.  Each Member State shall dedicate at least one priority to the implementation of paragraphs 1 or 2 or to both. The maximum co-financing rate for these priorities may be increased to 95% for the allocation of maximum 5% of the national ESF+ allocation under shared management to such priorities.	4.  At least 10% of the ESF+ resources at national level shall be allocated to the implementation of paragraphs 1 or 2 or both.
Amendment    72 Proposal for a regulation Article 15 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	4a.  Indicators that refer to individuals must always be disaggregated by sex.
Amendment    73 Proposal for a regulation Article 17 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
The food and/or basic material assistance may be provided directly to the most deprived persons or indirectly through electronic vouchers or cards, provided that they can only be redeemed against food and/or basic material assistance as set out in Article 2(3).	The food and/or basic material assistance may be provided directly to the most deprived persons or indirectly through electronic vouchers or cards, provided that they can only be redeemed against food and/or basic material assistance as set out in Article 2(3) and are not replacing any existing social benefits.
Amendment    74 Proposal for a regulation Article 17 – paragraph 4
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
4.  The delivery of food and/or material assistance may be complemented with re-orientation towards competent services and other accompanying measures aiming at the social inclusion of the most deprived persons.	4.  The delivery of food and/or material assistance shall be complemented with re-orientation towards competent services and other accompanying measures aiming at the social inclusion of the most deprived persons.
Amendment    75 Proposal for a regulation Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point a
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(a)  the costs of purchasing food and/or basic material assistance, including costs related to transporting food and/or basic material assistance to the beneficiaries delivering the food and/or basic material assistance to the end recipients;	(a)  the costs of purchasing food, promoting local purchasing , and/or basic material assistance, including costs related to transporting food and/or basic material assistance to the beneficiaries delivering the food and/or basic material assistance to the end recipients;
Amendment    76 Proposal for a regulation Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point c
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(c)  the administrative, transport and storage costs borne by the beneficiaries involved in the distribution of the food and/or basic material assistance to the most deprived at a flat-rate of 5% of the costs referred to in point (a); or 5% of the costs of the value of the food products disposed of in accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013	(c)  the administrative, transport and storage costs borne by the beneficiaries involved in the distribution of the food and/or basic material assistance to the most deprived at a flat-rate of 5% of the costs referred to in point (a); or 5% of the costs of the value of the food products disposed of in accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013; a higher flat rate may be established by the Managing Authority using a fair, equitable and verifiable calculation method based on: (i) statistical data, other objective information or an expert judgement; or (ii) the verified historical data of individual beneficiaries.
Amendment    77 Proposal for a regulation Article 20 – paragraph 1 – point d
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(d)  the cost of collection, transport, storage and distribution of food donations and directly related awareness raising activities;	(d)  the cost of collection, transport, storage and distribution of food donations and directly related information and awareness raising activities;
Amendment    78 Proposal for a regulation Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point d
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(d)  to provide specific support services to employers and job-seekers with a view to the development of integrated European labour markets, ranging from pre-recruitment preparation to post-placement assistance to fill vacancies in certain sectors, professions, countries, border regions or for particular groups (e.g. vulnerable people);	(d)  to provide specific support services to employers and job-seekers with a view to the development of integrated European labour markets, ranging from pre-recruitment preparation to post-placement assistance to fill vacancies in certain sectors, with an emphasis on fields with labour shortages, professions, countries, border regions or for particular groups (e.g. vulnerable people);
Amendment    79 Proposal for a regulation Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point e
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(e)  to support the development of the market eco-system related to the provision of microfinance for micro-enterprises in start-up and development phases, in particular those that employ vulnerable people;	(e)  to support the development of the market eco-system related to the provision of microfinance for micro-enterprises in start-up and development phases, in particular those that employ vulnerable people and ones started by young people in rural areas, to prevent depopulation;
Amendment    80 Proposal for a regulation Article 23 – paragraph 1 – point f
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
f)  to support networking at Union level and dialogue with and among relevant stakeholders in the fields referred to in Article 4 and contribute to build up the institutional capacity of these stakeholders, including the public employment services (PES), social security institutions, microfinance institutions and institutions providing finance to social enterprises and social economy;	f)  to support integration and networking at Union level, as well as dialogue with and among relevant stakeholders in the fields referred to in Article 4 and contribute to build up the institutional capacity of these stakeholders, including the public employment services (PES), social security institutions, microfinance institutions and institutions providing finance to social enterprises and social economy;
Amendment    81 Proposal for a regulation Article 24 – paragraph 2 – point c – introductory part
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(c)  Capacity building, in particular:	(c)  Integration and capacity building, in particular:
Amendment    82 Proposal for a regulation Article 24 – paragraph 2 – point c – point iii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iii)  of participating countries administrations, social security institutions and employment services responsible for promoting labour mobility, of microfinance institutions and of institutions providing finance to social enterprises or other social investment actors, as well as networking;	(iii)  of participating countries administrations, in particular on regional and local level, social security institutions and employment services responsible for promoting labour mobility, of microfinance institutions and of institutions providing finance to social enterprises or other social investment actors, as well as networking;
Amendment    83 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point a – introductory part
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(a)  Strengthen crisis-preparedness, management and response in the Union to protect citizens against cross-border health threats.	(a)  Strengthen crisis-preparedness, management and response in the Union, including via mixed cross-border response teams, to protect citizens against cross-border health threats.
Amendment    84 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point a – point i
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(i)  Capacity-building measures for crisis preparedness, management and response	(i)  Capacity-building measures for crisis preparedness, management and response, taking into account potential climate change events;
Amendment    85 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point a – point iii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
(iii)  Support laboratory capacity	(iii)  Support laboratories’ capacity to respond rapidly to emergencies when needed;
Amendments    86 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point iii
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendments
(iii)  Support Member States with knowledge transfer useful for the national reform processes for more effective, accessible and resilient health systems and better health promotion and disease prevention addressing, in particular, the challenges identified in the European Semester	(iii)  Support Member States with knowledge transfer useful for the national and regional reform processes for more effective, accessible and resilient health systems and better health promotion at national, regional and local level and disease prevention addressing, in particular, the challenges identified in the European Semester,
Amendments    87 Proposal for a regulation Article 26 – paragraph 2 – point b – point iv
Text proposed by the Commission	Amendments
(iv)  Develop and implement approaches responding to future health system challenges.	(iv)  Develop and implement approaches responding to future national and regional health system challenges,