EU agencies Eurofound, EU-OSHA, Cedefop: Council approves the provisional agreement with the European Parliament - Hoofdinhoud
New rules are being introduced which update the objectives, tasks and structures of three EU i agencies. The agencies concerned are the European foundation for the improvement of living and working conditions (Eurofound), the European agency for safety and health at work (EU-OSHA) and the European centre for the development of vocational training (Cedefop). These changes reflect the need for all three agencies to adapt to wider social and economic developments.
The Committee of Permanent Representatives today approved the texts of the regulations which introduce these new rules.
The new rules approved today will improve the effectiveness of these three EU agencies. They will be better able to concentrate on their core tasks of improving living and working conditions, ensuring the safety and protection of health at work, and developing professional training.
Beate Hartinger-Klein, Minister of Labour, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer protection of Austria
What's new?
The main common features in the new rules are as follows:
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-The regulations introduce a new governance structure. A management board at the most senior level of each agency is responsible for the adoption of the budget and the approval of strategic priorities. It also has appointing authority powers. This board is assisted in its tasks by an executive board which supports the decision-making and monitoring processes;
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-An executive director is responsible for the day-to-day administration of each agency, including the management of both financial and human resources. The person selected for the post will make a statement before the European Parliament and respond to questions, without this delaying his/her appointment.
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-The regulations introduce for the first time important provisions on anti-fraud measures, conflict of interest policies, evaluations and reviews, and the establishment of headquarter agreements. In addition, the provisions on programming and reporting are brought into line with the requirements of the revised framework financial regulation.
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-The European Parliament will nominate one independent expert to the Management Board who will not be entitled to vote. All parties should aim to achieve a balanced representation between men and women on the Management Board.
Background
The Commission presented the proposals on the three EU agencies in August 2016. The common feature of the agencies is their tripartite nature, reflected in the fact that national authorities, trade unions and employer representatives participate in the governing bodies and advisory committees of each agency.
The revision of the founding regulation of Eurofound, which dates from 1975, ensures that its objectives and tasks better reflect developments and emerging trends in European policies in the area of living and working conditions. The new regulation provides for high quality research in the field of employment, industrial relations, and working and living conditions.
Compared with the 1994 regulation on EU-OSHA, the new rules define more clearly the role of the Agency in supplying the Union institutions and bodies and the Member States with objective technical, scientific and economic information as well as the relevant expertise they require to formulate and implement policies to protect the health and safety of workers.
The new Cedefop regulation adapts the activities of the Agency to reflect wider social and economic developments, as well as new trends in the field of vocational education and training. This includes technological developments, given that vocational occupations have been increasingly dependent on the use of digital technologies.
Next steps
Following the endorsement today by the Permanent Representatives Committee, the proposals will be sent to the European Parliament for approval in the plenary before final adoption by the Council.