1. Activity Report and Future Planning

2. European thematic work 2006 Main priorities: 1.Gather and analyze "good practice" and general information on operations (DPs and NTNs) 2.Communication (WEB, publications): disseminate information and valorisation of the achievements of EQUAL 3.Learning platforms/events for mainstreaming the lessons from EQUAL 4.Update of ECDB 5.Internal (DG EMPL and Commission) mainstreaming

3. 1. Gather and analyse "good practice" DP success stories ( round 2 ) : European thematic experts will make +- 45 visits (suggestions welcome) – database 50 DPs available, but not balanced… NTN success stories ( round 2) : European thematic experts will participate in NTNs meetings or make visits (suggestions welcome )

4. Please send an update (important!) on: current NTNs NTNs contact details NTNs calendar events/meetings Follow-up: written request from the Commission will be sent 1. Gather and analyse "good practice"

5. 1.Gather and analyse "good practice" – Mainstreaming strategy  Updating the mainstreaming strategy described on the Web at : http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/ equal/mainstreaming/index_en.cfm  Copy / paste in Ms Word, keeping the same structure, using track changes

6. Mainstreaming strategy : structure 1. National mainstreaming strategy 2. National mainstreaming activities 3. Results The key elements of the National mainstreaming strategy The mandates, members and activities of national thematic groups The methodology used for demonstrating what works and how, and what does not How good practice is communicated and transferred to policy makers and stakeholders Mainstreaming and networking activities currently organised Mainstreaming events 2006/2007 Outcomes, products, conclusions and policy messages already drafted Hyperlinks to national website explaining the mainstreaming activities and outcomes

7. 2. Communication – a reminder Member States thematic Focus on the EQUAL web site: Publication of 'Success Stories' end November 2005, to be followed by others in 2006 European Poster Exhibition on EQUAL EU EQUAL newsletter to be produced from April 2006

8. The EU EQUAL newsletter : n°0 to be issued soon…

9.  Collaboration between & Member States & Commission for: -passing on national information (news flash) -highlighting what is achieved at national level (Member State focus). -validating some DP or TCA information / contacts /requests

10. 3. Learning platforms/events Exchange Events Peer Reviews Learning Seminars Networks/Communities of Practice Policy Fora

11. Call for proposals 1 Call for Proposals for EQUAL mainstreaming platforms  VP/2006/007  Draft now available in CIRCA http://forum.europa.eu.int/Members/irc/empl/esf_equal/l ibrary?l=/call_for_proposals&vm=detailed&sb=Title http://forum.europa.eu.int/Members/irc/empl/esf_equal/l ibrary?l=/call_for_proposals&vm=detailed&sb=Title  Call open from February (date to be confirmed) until 15 November 2006

12. Call for proposals 2 Call for Proposals for EQUAL mainstreaming platforms -- Amounts  € 250,000  € 300,000 for Policy Fora and Networks or Communities of Practice  € 100,000  € 150,000 for Exchange Events, Peer Reviews and Learning Seminars

13. 3. Learning platforms/events: please update your intentions

14. Thematic Activities – Amsterdam 1 Exchange event Amsterdam 30/31 March 2006 “Building the tools for opening up entrepreneurship for all”

15. Thematic Activities – Amsterdam 2 Goals Chain of activities (community of practice) Final policy forum during German presidency Goals first event: Exchange of experience Start building a tool for assessing inclusive entrepreneurship strategies

16. Thematic Activities – Amsterdam 3 Involvement other MS Invited: all countries with EQUAL projects on business creation and social economy Preparation: good practices, set of questions on categories for entrepreneurship We need your cooperation!!!

17. Thematic Activities - Estonia Holding a job – Having a life EQUAL Exchange Event 3 - 4 April 2006, Tallinn

18. 4.Updating ECDB : Progress made but…

19. 5. Internal (DG EMPL and Commission) mainstreaming Examples: Request for collaboration from CEDEFOP has been received "Family needs partnership" conference in Vienna, on Feb 2-4, organised by the Austrian presidency Etc.

20. Thematic Activities – Social Partners seminar 1 EQUAL Social Partners Seminar 1300 DPs or social partners will be present (Round 1: 622, Round 2: 678) 147 DPs from both Rounds, and social partners, will be coordinators

21. EQUAL Social Partners Seminar Date: 30 May 2006 Place: Brussels Objective: to offer a forum for exchanges between social partners working on the ground, and social partners participating in European social dialogue Participants: interprifessional aand sectoral social partners at European and national level, social partners from DPs, social partners from Monitoring Committees Thematic Activities – Social Partners seminar 2

22. Principles 1  to exchange good practice in managing EQUAL: set up by the EQUAL Managing Authorities in May 2001set up by the EQUAL Managing Authorities in May 2001 mandate: to draft good practice guides, and organising learning seminars to support their use.mandate: to draft good practice guides, and organising learning seminars to support their use. Members are mainly experts from NSSMembers are mainly experts from NSS meetings on request.meetings on request.  to exchange good practice in planning the new ESF programmes set up by the ESF Committee set up by the ESF Committee mandate: to draft reflection notes on best ways for the integration of the principles, and to assist in organising exchange seminars. mandate: to draft reflection notes on best ways for the integration of the principles, and to assist in organising exchange seminars. Members are officials involved in programmingMembers are officials involved in programming Working groups on principles with Member States

23. Principles 2 Ad hoc working groups under the ESF Committee Mandate:  To share options and orientations on effective ways of integrating the leading principles into the NSRF and OPs.  to act as a steering group for a workshop in a seminar with member states officials responsible for ESF programming Membership:  Innovation & Mainstreaming: PL; UK ;PT; NL  Transnational Cooperation: SV;ES;FI; PL; CZ; BE(nl); UK  Gender equality: AT; FI; EE; ES; Be(nl); BE(fr)  Partnership &Empowerment: BE (nl); AT; CZ; DE; GR; PL; PT; SV

24. Principles 3 An opportunity for programme developers: Learning from others on effective implementation arrangements Activities to date (1) DG EMPL has assumed the roles of  a broker of good practice and the lessons learnt under EQUAL  a catalyst for reforms along the lines of the Lisbon agenda  To date the Commission has supported:  Ad -hoc meeting of the technical working group of the ESF Committee on June 29, 2005 to identify key issues  Drafting of reflection notes that present first proposals from Member States representatives  Collecting editing success stories from EQUAL

25. Principles 4 An opportunity for programme developers: Learning from others on effective implementation arrangements Activities to date (2)  Support of Ad hoc working groups of Member State representatives around the leading principles  Organisation of three exchange seminars on  experiences on sound programming, in Vilnius on November 17 and 18, 2005  Transnational/inter-regional co-operation and innovation/mainstreaming, in Brussels, on 8 December 2005  Partnership and Gender Equality,in Brussels, on January 19-20 2006

26. Principles 5 Learning from others – the moderation method The method has been used in the exchange seminars to enable: A broad range of issues to be discussed Participants to contribute equally Agreement to be reached on key issues All contributions are documented

27. The moderation method in practice! Principles 6