Social Agenda Issue 52 - EN

SOC I A L AG E NDA / J U LY 2 0 1 7 / 1 5 As a result, right across the Cohesion and Values cluster and beyond, the Pillar will provide the steer for future investment, in particular through the annual cycle of the European Semester economic policy coordination process (see pages 16 and 24). A new Reform Support Programme would provide financial incentives for key reforms identified as part of the European Semester, including in the areas of education and training and labour market policies. Beyond the “Cohesion and Values” heading, a new InvestEU Fund would take over from the Investment Plan for Europe (ex-Juncker Plan). It would have a €4 billion window on “Social investment and skills” which would focus on social enterprises and microenterprises. The MFF proposal also includes a 9-fold increase in investments in digital transformation and networks, complemented by investments supported by the InvestEU Fund via loans, guarantees and other financial instruments. The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund would be revamped. Its scope would be widened and its ceiling increased to €225 million a year (€1.6 billion altogether in current prices), compared to €170 million per year in the current period. Seamless transition On 29 May, the Commission adopted a proposal for a Common Provisions Regulation that establishes an action framework for all the funds that are part of the “Investing in People, Social Cohesion & Values” cluster. And on 30 May, the Commission put forward a proposal for a Regulation laying down the specificities of ESF+ (see page 16 onwards). The Commission now calls upon the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers to agree on its budgetary proposals before the end of 2019. This would make for a seamless transition between the 2014-20 framework and the new one, so that the projects may start on time and a maximum number of people may benefit from them. Thirty years of cohesion policy In 1988, cohesion policy was launched after a first series of EU enlargements (to Greece, in 1981, and to Spain and Portugal in 1986). Its aim was to promote and support the “overall harmonious development” of the Member States and regions of the European Economic Community, now the EU. A whole series of funds were integrated within the framework of this overarching cohesion policy: • The European Social Fund, (created in 1957, see Social Agenda n°47); • the European Regional Development Fund (created in 1975); • the Cohesion Fund (created in 1993, funding transport and environment projects in countries where the gross national income per inhabitant is less than 90% of the EU average); • the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development; • and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. From then on, those funds were programmed on a multiannual basis and managed in partnership with national, regional and local actors, including the social partners and civil society organisations. For the 2021-2027 period, the European Commission proposes to turn cohesion policy into the largest item in the EU budget. Investing in people: One of the novelties of the proposed 2021-2027 EU Multiannual Financial Framework is to give more visibility to social investment. © Belga Image More information: http://europa.eu/!Uf99Dq 8