The first five year evaluation of the employment guidelines

The committee unanimously adopted the own-initiative report by Herman SCHMID (EUL/NGL, S) on the Commission communication on taking stock of five years of the European Employment Strategy (EES). MEPs noted that the EES had been very effective but that it was now time for a much more open, change-oriented discussion. The current pillars structure had served its purpose but had been left behind by policy development during recent years. The Commission was therefore asked to replace this structure and to simplify the Employment Guidelines. The committee also believed that the open coordination method needed to be reviewed. It stressed that the major problem was the lack of transposition of the EES at the levels where employment-related decisions were taken. To improve the situation, MEPs proposed that the National Action Plans should be adopted by the national parliaments. In this way, the National Action Plan would be better integrated at national level and the economic responsibilities entailed in the plan would be properly considered. The Commission was also urged to propose changes to the EES so as to turn it into a multi-level process involving interaction between various actors (at local, national, regional and European level). The report also drew attention to other issues to be borne in mind when reviewing the EES, such as: strengthening employment strategies aimed at developing local and regional labour markets; specifying and strengthening the crucial role of the social partners; and supporting and protecting women's employment.