Allocation of the reserve for Community initiatives Employment-inclusion and Adapt until the end of 1999

OBJECTIVE: to strengthen the Community initiative on employment and human resources by adding a new strand entitled 'Employment-Inclusion', covering the planning period 1997-1999. SUBSTANCE: the new strand 'Employment-Inclusion' seeks to improve access to the labour market for economically and socially vulnerable groups (long-term unemployed, single parents, the homeless, itinerants, prisoners, substance abusers, etc.). Particular emphasis will be placed on measures dealing with the specific needs of migrants, ethnic minorities and refugees who are likely to be faced with greater discrimination on the labour market as a consequence of the rise in social tensions, racism and xenophobia. Special emphasis will be placed on actions targeted at disadvantaged urban areas, without precluding rural areas. All actions will be based on the principle of empowerment of the target groups and persons concerned, promoting their active participation in decision-making processes and offering structured pathways to inclusion. Similarly, efforts will be made to promote the involvement of actors such as public authorities, NGOs, cooperatives, associations, friendly societies and consumer organizations. With regard to the employment initiative, an additional allocation of ECU 300 million is proposed, of which ECU 100 million for Youthstart, ECU 100 million for Now and ECU 100 million for the new Employment-Inclusion strand. The total contribution from the Structural Funds for the period 1994-1999 is estimated at ECU 1.4 billion, of which ECU 0.8 billion will be allocated to Objective 1 regions. �