Creation of the Employment Committee

PURPOSE : in accordance with the new title given to Employment in the Treaty of Amsterdam and the coordinated strategy for employment foreseen in this chapter, the establishment of a new Employment Committee to replace the present Employmment and Labour Market Committee (ELC). CONTENT : Article 130 of the Treaty of Amsterdam anticipates the creation of a Employment Committee of a consultative character by replacing the current ELC established by Council Decision of 20.12.1996 (Council Decision 97/16/EC). This new Committee will build on experience acquired by the former ELC by incorporating arrangements which are considered necessary for the more efficient operation of the Employment Committee. The Employment Committee would be established to promote coordination between the Member States on employment and labour market policies, in full compliance with the Treaty and with due regard to the powers of the Community's institutuions and organs. The Committee shall be responsible for : - monitoring the employment situation and employment policies in the Member States of the Community; - formulating opinions at the request of either the Council or the Commission or on its own initiative and contributing to the preparation of the Council's proceedings on the subject; - promoting exchanges of information and experience between Member States and with the Commisssion in these fields; - participating in the dialogue on macroeconomic policies at Community level. The draft decision foresees a close coordination of work with the other Committees in the Union, in particular the Economic and Financial Committee and the Economic Policy Committee. In addition, it foresees the formal and compulsory consultation of the social partners according to certain conditions, the procedures of which remain to be defined. Concerning its composition, the draft Decision provides for the membership composition of the Employment Committee to be changed in the following ways : - reference is made to seniority in order to ensure that the required level of knowledge, experience and standing is guaranteed; - the members of the Committee and the alternates shall be selected from among senior experts who have outstanding competence in the field of employment and labour market policy in the Member States. Lastly, the draft Decision foresees the incorporation of technical expertise via the setting up of working parties and ad hoc groups, where deemed appropriate. It is worth noting that from the entry into force of the present draft Decision, the former ELC will cease to exist (the Decision 97/16/EC will be repealed as a consequence).�