European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions

 The committee adopted the report by Marian HARKIN (ALDE, IE) broadly approving the proposal under the consultation procedure, subject to a number of mainly technical amendments. MEPs proposed various changes to provide for a system of checks and counter-checks to ensure that the activities of the Foundation's main bodies are carried out efficiently. For example, they called for the Bureau to monitor the implementation of the decisions taken by the Governing Board, and for the latter to be fully informed of the activities and decisions of the Bureau.

The committee also called for both current and future staff of the Foundation to be brought within the scope of the EC Staff Regulations (the current staff members are subject to the Foundation's own Staff Regulations adopted in 1976).

Other amendments were aimed at strengthening the references to a balanced representation of men and women in the governing and management bodies of the Agency, enhancing transparency and ensuring the "structured engagement" of the Foundation with civil society, in particular NGOs active in the social field.