Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 1984 > Committee on the Secondary Legislation of the European Communities (4th Committee) > Report No. 04 - Community Employment Policy

APPENDIX 1

European Social Fund

Following the recent review of the European Social Fund, it was agreed that at least 75 per cent of the total credits available would be allocated to operations for young people under 25 years of age. The guidelines for the management of the Fund, which are laid down by the Commission and are reviewed annually, have now been finalised. They provide, inter alia, for the grant of assistance for:

(i)operations immediately after the end of full-time compulsory education to further the employment of young people under 25 years of age, consisting of basic vocational training and including work experience leading to real prospects of stable employment in the framework of a programme lasting a total of at least six months;

(ii)operations to further the employment of young people under 25 years of age whose qualifications have, through experience, proved to be inadequate or inappropriate consisting of a full-time or part-time vocational training aimed at equipping them with higher skills and qualifications adapted to labour market developments facilitating the introduction of new technology in particular and leading to real prospects of stable employment; and

(iii)operations concerning recruitment to additional and permanent jobs or operations concerning employment in projects for the creation of additional jobs which fulfil a public need.

The programmes for young people under 25 at present being carried out with Fund assistance in Ireland, will continue to benefit under the rules of the new Fund. Ireland has maintained its position as one of the six super-priority regions within the Community, which means that Fund assistance can continue to be paid at the rate of 55 per cent of eligible expenditure. The new rate of assistance for recruitment to additional jobs for those under 25 years may not exceed 15 per cent of the average gross industrial wage in the Community which, for Ireland, means that the Community premium will be equal to the amount of the Irish authorities’ contribution plus 10 per cent.