The Committee on Regional Development adopted the report by Younous OMARJEE (GUE/NGL, FR) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 as regards the resources for the specific allocation for the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI).
The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament adopt its position at first reading in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure, taking over the Commission proposal.
The aim of the proposal is to amend the Regulation on common provisions for the financing of the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) in 2020. It follows the decision taken by the budgetary authorities, in the framework of the annual negotiations for 2020, to increase the specific allocation for the YEI for 2020 by EUR 28 333 334 in current prices, bringing the total amount for 2020 to EUR 145 million.
The Commission further proposes that the provisions introduced in 2019 to facilitate the programming of additional resources for the YEI by allowing the transfer of up to 50% of additional resources to the European Social Fund should also apply in 2020.
It is recalled that the YEI supports young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEETs), including the long-term unemployed and those not registered as job-seekers. It ensures that, in those parts of Europe facing the greatest challenges, young people can receive targeted support.
The YEI is part of the Youth Guarantee, which is a scheme whereby Member States implement measures to ensure that young people up to the age of 25 receive a good quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within four months of leaving school or becoming unemployed.