Considerations on COM(2000)134 - Social Protection Committee - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2000)134 - Social Protection Committee. |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2000)134  |
| date | March 13, 2000 |
(2) The European Parliament has welcomed the Commission's Communication and the creation of such a group in its Resolution on the Communication from the Commission on a concerted strategy for modernising social protection (A5-0033/2000);
(3) The Council, in its Conclusions of 17 December 1999 on the strengthening of co-operation for modernising and improving social protection (OJ 2000/C 8/7), underlined the need for co-operation in modernising social protection, based on a structured and permanent dialogue, follow-up and exchange of information, experience and good practice between the Member States;
(4) The Council, in the same Conclusions,
- supported the Commission's suggestion to establish a mechanism for enhanced co-operation brought about by the work of a group of high-level officials for the implementation of this action;
- underlined that this kind of co-operation should cover all forms of social protection and should help the Member States, where necessary, to improve and strengthen their social protection systems, including their financing, in accordance with their national priorities;
- considered it particularly important that this new co-operation towards improving and modernising social protection should be a coherent action, parallel to and interactive with the European employment strategy as well as to the macro-economic dialogue; and
- underlined the role of the social partners in the modernisation of the social protection process;
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
1. An Advisory Social Protection Committee (hereinafter referred to as 'the Committee') is hereby established to promote co-operation at Community level on social protection policies.
2. The tasks of the Committee shall be, inter alia,
- to monitor social protection policies in the Member States' and the Community;
- to facilitate exchanges of information, experience and good practice between Member States and with the Commission; and
- to prepare an annual report on Social protection to be submitted to the Council, reporting on policy developments in respect to the achievement of the objectives pointed out by the Council.
The Committee may, at the request of the Council or the Commission, prepare other reports or opinions or undertake other work in the area of its competence.
3. The Committee shall work as appropriate in co-operation with other relevant bodies and committees dealing with social and economic policy matters.
4. In fulfilling its mandate, the Committee shall establish appropriate contacts with the social partners.
Article 2
The Committee shall consist of two representatives appointed by each Member States and two representatives of the Commission. These representatives may be assisted by two alternates.
Article 3
1. The Committee shall elect its chairman from among the representatives of the Member States for a non-renewable term of two years.
2. The Secretariat of the Committee shall be provided by the Commission.
3. The Committee shall establish its own rules of procedure.
4. Meetings of the Committee shall be convened by the chairman, either on his own initiative or at the request of at least half of the members of the Committee.
Done at Brussels,
For the Council
The President
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
1. Title of operation
Creation of a Social Protection Committee.
2. Budget heading(s) involved
A 7031 Obligatory Committees.
A 7010 Mission expenses, travel expenses and incidental expenditure.
3. Legal basis
Title XI of the EC-Treaty. Council Decision expected during 2000.
4. Description of operation
4.1 General objective
In its Conclusions of 17 December 1999 (2000/C 8/7) on the strengthening of co-operation for modernising social protection, the Council supported the Commission's suggestion to establish a mechanism for enhanced co-operation brought about by the work of a group of high-level officials. This group has to examine the issues raised in the Commission Communication 'A Concerted Strategy for Modernising Social Protection' (COM(1999) 347 final) and in the Council's Conclusions, and will in particular, prepare an Annual Social Protection Report to be submitted to the Council. The Council underlined also 'the necessity to create this group as soon as possible.'
4.2 Period covered and arrangements for renewal
Indefinite.
5. Classification of expenditure or revenue
5.1 Compulsory/Non-compulsory expenditure
Non-compulsory expenditure.
5.2 Differentiated/Non-differentiated appropriations
Non-differentiated appropriations.
5.3 Type of revenue involved
Type of revenue involved: none.
6. Type of expenditure or revenue
100% for the necessary personnel and costs of meetings.
7. Financial impact
No impact on operational expenditure; for administrative expenditure see point 10.
8. Fraud prevention measures
Expenditure will be carried out in accordance with the normal administrative rules governing the payment of expenses of experts invited to meetings.
9. Elements of cost-effectiveness analysis
9.1 Specific and quantified objectives; target population
To set up an Social Protection Committee to assist the Council in carrying out its responsibilities in the field of social protection, in full compliance with the Treaties and with due regard for the powers of the Community's institutions and organs.
The Committee shall, in particular, be responsible for:
- monitoring social protection policies in the Member States' and the Community;
- facilitating exchanges of information, experience and good practice between Member States and with the Commission; and
- preparing an annual report on Social protection to be submitted to the Council, reporting on policy developments in respect to the achievement of the objectives pointed out by the Council.
The Committee shall work as appropriate in co-operation with other relevant bodies and committees dealing with social and economic policy matters.
9.2 Grounds for the operation
In order to ensure the continued success of the co-operation in the field of social protection, in particular of the Convergence of social protection objectives and policies as agreed by the Council (92/442 EEC) and of the follow-up of the Commission's Communication 'The Future of Social Protection: a Framework for a European Debate' (COM i 466 final), the Council supported the suggestion 'to establish a mechanism for enhanced co-operation brought about by the work of a group of high-level officials for the implementation of this action' and underlined "the necessity to create this group as soon as possible (Council Conclusions of 17 December 1999 on strengthening of co-operation for modernising and improving social protection, (2000/C 8/7)).
9.3 Monitoring and evaluation of the operation
The Committee shall be responsible for preparing opinions and reports for the Social Affairs Council and the European Council.
9.4 Coherence with financial programming
The measures provided for are included in the financial programming of DG EMPL.
10. Administrative expenditure (Section III, Part A of the budget)
10.1 Effect on the number of posts
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Pace at which additional posts will have to be made available: once Council Decision has been adopted, probably during second half of 2000.
10.2 Overall financial impact of additional human resources
EUR
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The amounts given must express the total cost of additional posts for the entire duration of the operation, if this duration is predetermined, or for 12 months if it is indefinite.
10.3 Increase in other administrative expenditure as a result of the operation
Travel costs for Member State experts will be provided in accordance with the rules currently in force. Meetings of the Committee will be organised by the Commission in Commission meeting rooms. Interpretation will be provided by the Commission. It is estimated that the Committee will meet around 8 times per year.
It is estimated that these 8 meetings (30 participants) will cost around 180 000 EUR per year under budget heading A 7031.
EUR
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The amounts given must correspond to total expenditure arising from the operation if its duration is predetermined or expenditure for 12 months if it is indefinite.
All expenditure attributed to Title A7 will be covered from the annual allocation for administrative credits.