1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Policy Framework

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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.

15. Innovation activities & trans-national cooperation
ESF intervenes in support of all three objectives of the Structural Funds and under the Community Initiative EQUAL
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