Enabling environment for partnerships – Czech Republic Zdenek Foltyn, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, ESF Management Department ESF Exchange Event 18th January 2008 Malta

Levels of Partnerships Programme level –required by the EU legislation, –well established in the Czech Republic –relevant stakeholders involved in the preparation of the OPs, members of the Monitoring Committee(s), have access to ESF resources Project level –encouraged by the MAs but still a substantial space for improvement in the Czech Republic

Partnerships – experience Considerable drawbacks in the legislation – partnership was not defined in the relevant national legislation, act on public procurement applied to the partners The issue – partner or supplier? Major impact especially on EQUAL project, based on international partnerships Implementation of projects with partnership was endangered

Partnerships – experience The way out Amendment of the Act on budgetary rules (no. 218/2000) – partnership still not defined but though can be legally supported Patterns of contract between project promoters and partners published on the web, including typical examples of partners and suppliers in the ESF projects

Partnerships – Partnership is encouraged and supported Must be described in the project application and will be assessed (to exclude projects with “hidden suppliers”, however there are no extra points for partnership) Clear description of added value of the partnership is required in the application

Partnerships – In some kinds of projects limited to non financial partnerships (individual project based on public procurement) If financial partnership is allowed, a contract is to be signed (project promoter with each partner) The partner has to fulfil the same eligibility criteria as the project promoter itself, but only the project promoter can be the recipient of the grant (one institution)

Partnerships – Experience from – high added value of non financial partnerships (different levels of state administration, NGO´s with state administration) ESF projects improve capacity of the institutions involved Partnership in ESF projects helps to build the trust among stakeholders involved Long-term objective – to mainstream ESF type partnerships into national policies

Thank you for your attention! ESF Management Department Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Czech Republic