Legislative Observatory
European Parliament
Please fill in this field to find a procedure

Enhanced cooperation between Public Employment Services (PES)

2013/0202(COD)

PURPOSE: to improve co-operation between Public Employment Services (PES) of the Member States.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Decision No 573/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on enhanced cooperation between Public Employment Services (PES).

CONTENT: this Decision establishes a Union-wide network of Public Employment Services (PES) for the period from 17 June 2014 to 31 December 2020.

The Network shall be composed of:

  • the PES as nominated by the Member States;
  • the Commission.

The Employment Committee (EMCO) shall have an observer status.

Member States with subnational autonomous PES shall ensure their adequate representation in the specific initiatives of the Network.

Benchlearning: the Decision defines ‘benchlearning’ as the process of creating a systematic and integrated link between benchmarking and mutual learning activities, that consists of identifying good performances through indicator-based benchmarking systems, including data collection, data validation, data consolidation and assessments, with appropriate methodology, and of using findings for tangible and evidence-informed mutual learning activities, including good or best practice models.

Cooperation objectives between Member States: the aim of this Decision is to encourage cooperation between Member States through the Network in the field of employment, within the areas of PES responsibility, in order to contribute to ‘Europe 2020’ and to the implementation of relevant Union policies, thereby supporting:

  • the most vulnerable social groups with high unemployment rates, especially older workers and young persons not in employment, education or training (‘NEETs’);
  • decent and sustainable work;
  • the better functioning of the labour markets in the EU;
  • the identification of skills shortages and the provision of information on their extent and location, as well as the better matching of the skills of job-seekers with the needs of employers;
  • the better integration of labour markets;
  • increased voluntary geographical and occupational mobility on a fair basis to meet specific labour market needs;
  • the integration of persons excluded from the labour market as part of the combat against social exclusion;
  • the evaluation and assessment of active labour market initiatives and their effective and efficient implementation.

Initiatives of the Network: the Network shall in particular, carry out the following initiatives:

  • the development and implementation of Union-wide, evidence-based benchlearning among PES to compare, with appropriate methodology, the performance of their activities in the following areas: (i) contribution to reducing unemployment for all age groups and for vulnerable groups; (ii) contribution to reducing the duration of unemployment and reducing inactivity, so as to address long-term and structural unemployment, as well as social exclusion; (iii) filling of vacancies (including through voluntary labour mobility); (iv) customer satisfaction with PES services;
  • the provision of mutual assistance, either in the form of peer-to-peer or group activities, through cooperation, exchanges of information, experiences and staff between the members of the Network, including support for the implementation of PES-related country-specific recommendations issued by the Council upon request by the Member State or the PES concerned; contribute to modernising and strengthening PES in key areas, in line with the employment and social objectives of Europe 2020;
  • prepare reports at the request of the European Parliament, the Council or the Commission, or on its own initiative;
  • contribute to the implementation of relevant policy initiatives;
  • adopt and implement its annual work programme setting out its working methods, deliverables and the details related to the implementation of benchlearning;
  • promote and share best practices on the identification of NEETs and on the development of initiatives to ensure those young people gain the skills necessary to enter and remain in the labour market.

Member States shall remain competent to decide whether to engage on a voluntary basis in additional benchlearning exercises in areas other than those listed above.

Cooperation: the Network shall initiate cooperation with relevant labour market stakeholders including other providers of employment services, and, where appropriate, social partners, organisations representing unemployed persons or vulnerable groups, NGOs working in the field of employment, regional and local authorities, the European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network and private employment services, by involving them in relevant activities and meetings of the Network and by exchanging information and data with them.

Functioning of the Network: the Network shall be governed by a Board. The Decision sets the general framework for the functioning and composition of the network (full and alternate members) as well as the decision-making arrangements within the network to adopt the Network's annual work programme or other relevant decisions.

Financial support: the global resources for the implementation of this Decision shall be established within the PROGRESS/employment section of EaSI, the annual appropriations of which shall be authorised by the European Parliament and by the Council within the limits of the financial framework.

Review: by 18 June 2017, the Commission shall submit a report on the application of this Decision to the European Parliament and the Council. It shall assess how benchmarking has been developed and implemented by the Network.

Annex: an Annex sets out the benchmarking indicators.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 17.06.2014.

DELEGATED ACTS: the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 9 to amend the Annex laying down the benchmarking indicators. The delegation of power shall be conferred on the Commission from 17 June 2014 until 31 December 2020.

The European Parliament or the Council may raise objections with regard to a delegated act within two months of the date of notification (which may be extended by two months). If Parliament or Council raise objections, the delegated act will not enter into force.