In connection with the current challenge of migration to the EU of a particularly large scale, additional funds have been allocated for different purposes within the EU budget, including an increase in the funding of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). An increase in the European Social Fund (ESF) – the EU instrument that specifically targets integration into the labour market and social inclusion – has, however, thus far not been realized. In the view of the AK, a European employment initiative is therefore necessary, which could be achieved by increasing the ESF budget by at least EUR 10 billion and thus would be the order of the day.

Funds of the ESF should not only be reallocated

With regard to the increased use of the ESF in connection with the integration of refugees, the European Commission is currently thinking along the lines of the reallocation of existing resources within the European Social Fund. Each Member State may revise its planning for the current programming period running until 2020 and give greater consideration to this priority in the scope of the operational programmes. That form of flexibility, however, is far from sufficient given the current needs and emerging costs. The current ESF funds are already way too low in the face of the crisis-related rise in unemployment in Europe. In order to contribute to addressing the challenges of the refugee movements, the AK proposes increasing the ESF budget by at least EUR 10 billion for the labour market integration of refugees in the scope of a new employment initiative.

Starting points for implementation of the proposed employment initiative

The example of the employment initiative for young people shows that an increase in the ESF budget is possible. Extra funding in the amount of EUR 3 billion for the European Social Fund was budgeted for the youth employment initiative, and a further EUR 3 billion was allocated directly from the ESF for that purpose. The distribution criteria do not meet the usual ESF criteria in the case of the youth employment initiative either.

A European employment initiative to integrate refugees into the labour market would have European added value, which the EU has always considered central to the distribution of funds and also ensure that those Member States that make a special effort in the reception of refugees and their integration into the labour market benefit particularly from European support.

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