Luis Vives Foundation STRUCTURAL FUNDS AND SOCIAL COHESION CII – Coalition Buildings Among Third Sector Organizations Speaker: José Manuel Fresno Luis Vives Foundation Spain Tuesday 10 October 2006

Luis Vives Foundation CII – Coalition Buildings Among Third Sector Organizations STRUCTURAL FUNDS AND SOCIAL COHESION  The purpose of the Structural Funds: From the theory of social and economic cohesion to Practice –There is a gap or imbalance between the social and economic objectives. The Funds are still not inclusive enough and focus more on economic issues rather than social.

Luis Vives Foundation CII – Coalition Buildings Among Third Sector Organizations STRUCTURAL FUNDS AND SOCIAL COHESION  Why aren’t the Funds more oriented towards social inclusion –The regulations aren’t explicit enough –There are not enough links between the European social policies and the management of the Funds (parallel agendas) –The mechanisms of planning, monitoring and evaluation of the Funds aren’t effective enough –Dynamics: There is a certain inertia and very little predisposition to innovate –Lack of political priorities concerning social inclusion.

Luis Vives Foundation CII – Coalition Buildings Among Third Sector Organizations STRUCTURAL FUNDS AND SOCIAL COHESION  What we need for the Funds to be more inclusive: –Planning –Implementation –Monitoring and Evaluation

Luis Vives Foundation CII – Coalition Buildings Among Third Sector Organizations STRUCTURAL FUNDS AND SOCIAL COHESION  When Planning, we must give special attention to: –A comprehensive understanding of regulations –Awareness raising of the policy makers –A more open process –The implications of other stakeholders –Coordination on a national level –A more clear definition of the objectives and targets.

Luis Vives Foundation CII – Coalition Buildings Among Third Sector Organizations STRUCTURAL FUNDS AND SOCIAL COHESION  When implementing, we should take care of: –The new actors in the process (especially the Third Sector and the Civil Society) –Work towards the local level –Smaller initiatives –The role of NGO –etc.

Luis Vives Foundation CII – Coalition Buildings Among Third Sector Organizations STRUCTURAL FUNDS AND SOCIAL COHESION  When monitoring and evaluating: –The effectiveness of the monitoring committees –A clear definition of the indicators –Accountability –A more objective monitoring system –Updating Operational Programmes –Implication of the social actors in the process –etc

Luis Vives Foundation CII – Coalition Buildings Among Third Sector Organizations STRUCTURAL FUNDS AND SOCIAL COHESION  New Opportunities and changes for the Structural Funds: a.A more social orientation of each of the Funds as well as new social priorities ERDF: European Regional Development Fund ESF: European Social Fund EGCC: European cross-border cooperation groupings EAGGF: European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund

Luis Vives Foundation a.A more social orientation of each of the Funds as well as new social priorities ERDF: European Regional Development Fund: –The Fund aims to promote economic and social cohesion by correcting the main regional imbalances and participating in the development and conversion of regions. Issues such as urban balance and the protection of the environment acquire a special relevance. CII – Coalition Buildings Among Third Sector Organizations STRUCTURAL FUNDS AND SOCIAL COHESION

Luis Vives Foundation ESF: European Social Fund: –The European Commission is proposing that ESF resources be concentrated on four areas in the period: adaptability among workers and businesses, access to employment, reducing social exclusion, and promoting partnerships for reform. Special relevance is given to new target groups and the role of NGO. CII – Coalition Buildings Among Third Sector Organizations STRUCTURAL FUNDS AND SOCIAL COHESION

Luis Vives Foundation EAGGF: European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund: –The EAGGF is composed of two sections, the Guidance section and the Guarantee section. Within the framework of European economic and social cohesion policy, the EAGGF supports rural development and the improvement of agricultural structures. –On top of focusing on the sustainability of agriculture and the diversification of rural areas, it aims at the cohesion of rural areas. CII – Coalition Buildings Among Third Sector Organizations STRUCTURAL FUNDS AND SOCIAL COHESION

Luis Vives Foundation EGCC: European cross-border cooperation groupings: –As part of the reform of regional policy, the possibility to create a special new legal entity has been proposed: European groupings of cross-border cooperation. These bodies are designed to facilitate cross-border cooperation by implementing relevant projects, whether or not part-financed by the Community. Cooperation should not only focus on the improvement of equipment and communications, but also on the creation of thematic networks for social cohesion. CII – Coalition Buildings Among Third Sector Organizations STRUCTURAL FUNDS AND SOCIAL COHESION

Luis Vives Foundation b.New relevant issues on the Agenda, especially regarding the ESF (there are mentions to the fight against the exclusion of disfavoured groups) b.More relevance to the local level as well as the social organizations c.Using more flexible mechanisms: Simplification of the programming process (going from 5 to 2 documents) Technical assistance (it should not only be destined to administrative support) CII – Coalition Buildings Among Third Sector Organizations STRUCTURAL FUNDS AND SOCIAL COHESION

Luis Vives Foundation CII – Coalition Buildings Among Third Sector Organizations STRUCTURAL FUNDS AND SOCIAL COHESION  Example: The Multiregional Operational Program Fight Against Discrimination –The Programme is oriented towards actions that compensate inequalities among groups of people who have special difficulties in accessing the labour market. –The Programme is a good example of how the Structural Funds (ESF, ERDF) can contribute to the fight against exclusion and the strengthening of civil society through the establishment of partnerships among private and public bodies.

Luis Vives Foundation CII – Coalition Buildings Among Third Sector Organizations STRUCTURAL FUNDS AND SOCIAL COHESION  Example: The Multiregional Operational Program Fight Against Discrimination –The Programme is managed by the following institutions: Fundación Luis Vives Instituto de la Mujer IMSERSO OATP Penitenciarias DGOM Fundación ONCE Cruz Roja Española Caritas Española Fundación Secretariado Gitano Fundación Diagrama

Luis Vives Foundation CII – Coalition Buildings Among Third Sector Organizations STRUCTURAL FUNDS AND SOCIAL COHESION  Example: The Multiregional Operational Program Fight Against Discrimination –Main results of the Programme: people with special difficulties of labour insertion have received support through integrated professional itineraries people have received professional orientations people have received training in the areas most demanded by the labour market contracts have been signed 128 institutions have been granted over 200 projects that have improved their structure, staff and labour insertion departments.

Luis Vives Foundation CII – Coalition Buildings Among Third Sector Organizations STRUCTURAL FUNDS AND SOCIAL COHESION  Example: The Multiregional Operational Program Fight Against Discrimination –Added Value of the participation of NGO in the Operational Programme: Flexible, dynamic and individualized professional itineraries Increase of the active population A partnership network has been created between public administrations and private companies mobilizing their corporate social responsibility. More awareness on behalf of economic and social bodies, as well as the public administration and society in general to reach equal treatment for all an fight against professional discrimination and the full social insertion of groups with special needs through training and the improvement of their employability. Etc.

Luis Vives Foundation CII – Coalition Buildings Among Third Sector Organizations STRUCTURAL FUNDS AND SOCIAL COHESION Fundación Luis Vives Plaza de Oriente 7, bajo izda Madrid Tel: Fax: