Workshop on the Legal Framework of EU Structural Funds’ Management for the Period 2007-2013 Riga – Latvia, 4 & 5 December 2006 Head of Division PREBEN GREGERSEN, Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs, National Agency for Enterprise and Construction, Managing Authority of ERDF and ESF administrations

The new European Social Fund (ESF) - principles and priorities Overview Policy framework Scope of assistance – ESF priorities Good governance and partnership Gender equality and equal opportunities Innovative activities & trans-national cooperation

Principal legal framework A General Regulation defines common principles, rules and standards for the implementation of the three cohesion instruments, the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund Council regulation 1083/2006 of 11 July 2006 The European Social Fund (ESF) regulation Regulation 1081/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006

European Social Fund principles Links between the ESF and the European Employment Strategy are being reinforced New ESF regulation more focussed, concentrated and flexible Good governance and partnership Gender equality and equal opportunities Innovative activities & trans-national cooperation

Policy Framework

Policy framework Conclusions intended to revitalise the pursuit of the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs were adopted by the European Council in March 2005 The aim is for the EU to have the most competitive, dynamic and knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010 The Structural Fund policy must underpin the fulfilment of the Lisbon Strategy

Policy framework In the Lisbon context the Member States shall ensure that the actions supported by the ESF are consistent with and contribute to actions undertaken in pursuance of the European Employment Strategy The strategy set out in the National Strategic Reference Framework and the actions set out in the Operational Programmes shall promote the strategy in each Member State within the framework of the National Reform Programmes and National Action Plans for Social Inclusion

Scope of assistance - ESF Priorities Convergence objective & Regional competitiveness and employment objective Increasing adaptability of workers, enterprises and entrepreneurs Enhancing access to employment Reinforcing the social inclusion Enhancing human capital Promoting partnerships, pacts and initiatives through networking of relevant stakeholders

Scope of assistance - ESF Priorities Additional priorities for Convergence objective Expanding and improving investment in human capital Strengthening institutional capacity and the efficiency of public administrations and public services

Expanding and improving investment in human capital Convergence objective In particular by promoting: Promoting the implementation of reforms in education and training systems Promoting increased participation in education and training throughout the life-cycle the development of human potential in research and innovation

Strengthening institutional capacity and the efficiency of public administrations and public services Convergence objective In particular by promoting: mechanisms to improve good policy and programme design, monitoring and evaluation capacity building in the delivery of policies and programmes

Promotion of good governance and partnership Support designed and implemented at the appropriate territorial level Involvement of the social partners and adequate consultation and participation of other stakeholders Adequate participation of the social partners in funded actions Adequate participation and access by non-governmental organisations to the funded activities

Promotion of good governance and partnership Adequate participation of social partners in actions Additional rule for Convergence objective Appropriate amount of ESF resources shall be allocated to capacity-building: Training Networking measures Strengthening social dialogue and Activities jointly undertaken by the social partners

Gender equality and equal opportunities Equality between men and women and the integration of the gender perspective is promoted during the various stages of implementation of the Funds. Reg. 1083/2006 laying down general provisions (art. 16) Operational programmes include a description of how gender equality and equal opportunities are promoted in the ESF-implementation Reg. 1083/2006 on the European Social Fund (art. 6) Balanced participation of women and men in the management and implementation of operational programmes at all levels.

Innovation activities & trans-national cooperation 2000-2006 ESF intervenes in support of all three objectives of the Structural Funds and under the Community Initiative EQUAL 2007-2013 ESF will provide support under the ‘Convergence Objective’ and under the ‘Regional Competitiveness and Employment Objective’ EQUAL-principles are ‘mainstreamed’ Particular attention shall be paid to the promotion and mainstreaming of innovative activities ESF will give priority to funding trans-national cooperation