The European Parliament adopted by 527 votes to 31, with 48 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on a European Union Programme for Social Change and Innovation.
Parliament adopted its position at first reading, following the ordinary legislative procedure. The amendments adopted in plenary are the result of a compromise negotiated between the European Parliament and the Council. They amended the Commission proposal as follows:
General objectives: Parliament laid down the following objectives:
The Programme should also:
In pursuing those objectives, the Programme shall, in all its axes and actions, aim to: (i) pay particular attention to vulnerable groups, such as young people; (ii) promote equality between women and men; (iii) combat discrimination; (iv) promote a high-level of quality and sustainable employment; (v) guarantee adequate and decent social protection, combat long-term unemployment and fight against poverty and social exclusion.
Budget: the financial envelope for the implementation of the Programme for the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020 shall amount to EUR 919 469 000, in current prices. It shall be broken down as follows:
Thematic sections and financing:
1. The Progress axis shall support actions in one or more of the thematic sections:
From the overall allocation for the Progress axis, and within its different thematic sections, 15% to 20% shall be allocated to the promotion of social experimentation as a method for testing and evaluating innovative solutions with a view to up-scaling them.
Where activities under the Progress axis are financed following a call for proposals, they may receive Union co-financing which shall not exceed, as a general rule, 80 % of the total eligible expenditure.
2. The EURES axis shall support actions in one or more of the thematic sections:
Where activities under the EURES axis are financed following a call for proposals, they may receive Union co-financing which shall not exceed, as a general rule, 95 % of the total eligible expenditure.
3. The Microfinance and Social Entrepreneurship axis shall support actions in one or more of the thematic sections:
Support may be given to microfinance and social enterprises, including for institutional capacity building, in particular through the financial instruments.
Consistency and complementarity: in order to offer added-value, close synergies and complementarity should be developed between the Programme and other Union Programmes and the Structural Funds, especially the ESF and the Youth Employment Initiative. Consistency and complementarity shall also be ensured through close involvement by local and regional authorities.
Cooperation with relevant bodies: 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 the Programme.
The Commission shall inform Union stakeholders, including social partners and civil society organisations, of the results of the implementation of the Programme.