The Commission can accept nine of the 14 amendments proposed by Parliament on second reading. These include:
- the provision that the implementation of an active and transparent information policy on the European Employment Strategy will take into account the requirements of European citizens.
- support for evaluation of National Action Plans for Employment will include assessment of how social partners and local and regional authorities may be more fully involved in their implementation.
- evaluation of the effects of the European Employment Strategy will include assessment of the methodology which it uses.
- the Commission may have access to technical and/or administrative assistance, as well as to support expenditure, to implement effectively the activities which comprise this programme of incentive measures.
- activities to be undertaken will have special regard to the plight of persons on the labour market who experience a combination of disadvantages in their efforts to access employment. The aspect of the amendment requiring studies to be undertaken on support services for those responsible for children is not acceptable as this is undertaken elsewhere.
Those amendments not acceptable include:
- the provision for a budget of EUR 65 million, as against the EUR 55 million proposed by the Commission, which is considered to be sufficient.
- the designation of budgetary resources for undertaking pilot projects is not acceptable, as this is outside the scope of the programme.
- the provision for an advisory committee to oversee the programme. While such a committee was proposed by the Commission, it is now persuaded by the case which has been made for a combination of an advisory and management committee procedure, as provided for in the Common Position text.�