1. How to foster efficient partnership in Cohesion policy programmes Jan OLSSON EESC Rapporteur

2. Exploratory Opinion requested by EU Commission Request from then Commissioners Hübner and Spidla Examine the partnership principle and identify best practice Help the Commission prepare the future of cohesion policy Convince Member States about importance partnership Result is an a-typical EESC Opinion: lengthy piece of detailed work – much field research carried out. An Opinion done in partnership – Annex with best practices

3. Good practice – some effective examples Patchworks of partnership (England) OP social inclusion run by partners (Spain) Capacity building created and managed by social partners (Mezzogiorno)

4. Other cases of good practice Peace Programme (Northern Ireland) Mecklenburg-Vorpommern – integrated policies Baden-Württemberg – decentralised ESF Territorial Employment Pacts - Austria Global grants Esprit Tuscany (It) - APCM Poitou Charentes (F) NGO technical assistance (Slovenia & Wales) Working groups in Poland

5. Why is Partnership important? Genuine and profound partnership greatly improves the effectiveness of cohesion policy Responds to the needs of the local actors Strengthens citizen participation Creates a visible link between the EU and civil society Real partnership creates a win-win for all stakeholders

6. What needs to change? At EU Level: Regulation 1083/2006 –> Article 11 needs to be modified for the future Role of the Commission: more hands-on National attitudes changed: dissemination of good practice – it takes two to tango! Build capacity with the partners Programmes to promote partnership

7. Main EESC Recommendations Set minimum requirements for partnership Develop European Code of good practice Build capacity with the partners Integrated and targeted programmes - community initiatives back and extended global grants SIMPLIFICATION of procedures and payments Network of regions of excellence – disseminate best practice

8. Further thoughts for post-2013 Programmes integrating all the Structural Funds Focussed Operational Programmes Community initiatives Local development Social inclusion Global grants Capacity building and technical assistance

9. Next steps Opinion was adopted by EESC Plenary Session in July 2010 Findings to be shared as widely as possible… Further presentations foreseen for Open Days & DG REGIO COCOF

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