European Social Fund

European Social Fund(ESF)

THE ESF 2007-2013 SUPPORT

TO SOCIAL PARTNERSpresentation at the EFFAT Conference on

“Development of competences and training for new and qualified jobs in rural contractors’ companies”

Ana Maria Nogueira

European Commission – DG EMPL/A1 - ESF Coordination

Lisbon, 26 June 2008

European Social Fund

European Social Fund

Established under the Treaty in 1957

Aims (Article 146 Treaty) :

“In order to improve employment opportunities for workers in the internal market and to contribute thereby to raising the standard of living […]" ESF "shall aim to render the employment of workers easier and to increase their geographical and occupational mobility within the Community, and to facilitate their adaptation to industrial changes and to changes in production systems, in particular through vocational training and retraining."

European Social Fund

What is new in 2007-2013?

3 objectives

81,5%

2,5%

16,0%Convergence

Competitiveness &Employment

EU territorial cooperation

European Social Fund

What is new in 2007-2013?

3 financial instruments

as % of total58%

20%

22%

ESF

Cohesion Fund

ERDF

European Social Fund

What continues in 2007-2013?Principles

COMPLEMENTARITY … with national actions

COHERENCE … with EU policies

COORDINATION … between EU funds

CONFORMITY … with Treaty rules

ADDITIONALITY … with national funding

European Social Fund

What is new in 2007-2013?Principles

Proportionality (shared management)

Men / Women Equality & Non-discrimination

Sustainable Development

Growth & Jobs Targeting

Partnership principle (extended at all stages)

European Social Fund

What is new in 2007-2013?Strategic Approach

Integrated Guidelines for Growth & Jobs

National Reform Programme

Community Strategic Guidelines on Cohesion

National Strategic Reference Framework

Operational Programme(s)

Lisbon Agenda for Growth & Jobs

European Social Fund

What is new in 2007-2013 in ESF?New Objectives and Priorities

Regional competitiveness& employment

Convergence

adaptability of workers, enterprises & entrepreneurs

access to employment & inclusion labour market

social inclusion

human capital

partnerships

institutional capacity

European Social Fund

European Social Fund - Use per priority

18%

28%

33%

13%

3%4%

1%

adaptability of workers& enterprisesaccess to employment

human capital

social inclusion

institutional capacity

partnerships

Other

European Social Fund

Implementation by Member States

Member States set out their priorities in NSRFs and Operational Programmes

117 ESF Operational Programmes adopted by the Commission for 2007-13 period

Global ESF budget: 76.2 billion €

Complemented by important ERDF investments

European Social Fund

Role of Social Partners

Treaty-mandated tasks Role in the Lisbon Strategy Modernisation and performance of the work

place Involvement in company restructuring, economic

and financial maters

European Social Fund

Partnership in practice

Key principles – programming, partnership, co-financing, and evaluation

CSG recognise importance of involving regional and local actors and social partners

General regulation: MS to involve the most representative partners at national, regional, and local level in the economic, social, environmental fields

European Social Fund

Partnership in practice

Partnership in preparation To contribute to the preparation of the NSRF To contribute to the drafting of the OP

Partnership in Monitoring Committees Most visible aspect of the application of the

partnership principle in the Cohesion Policy Competence and jurisdiction of the MS Composition should reflect the principles of

partnership and gender equality and learn from the good practices in previous periods

European Social Fund

Good governance in ESF

Social partners as privileged actors in ESF Efficient and effective implementation of ESF

depends on partnership between all relevant socio-economic actors

Central role of SP in anticipating and managing change, strengthening economic and social cohesion

ESF Committee – tripartite Committee

European Social Fund

CAPACITY BUILDINGin Convergence

An appropriate amount of resources to support SP in two kinds of activities (Art 5):

Capacity building activities

and

Actions jointly undertaken by SP in particular related to adaptability of workers and

enterprises

European Social Fund

Actions that can be funded

Actions aiming at enhancing technical skills as regards social dialogue

Actions aiming to establish/reinforce sectoral dialogue and support the setting up of sectoral structures able to relay and feed in decisions taken at cross-industry level

Creation and functioning of bi-partite training funds (sectoral and cross-industry) to improve adaptability of enterprises and workers

European Social Fund

Complementarity and consistency

Social dialogue budget lines PROGRESS – Community Programme for Employment

and Social Solidarity

Avoid conflict of interest – SP as partners in OP not « mixed up » with their role as beneficiary or intermediary body

European Social Fund

ESF RegulationRole of social partners

actors of ESF governance Art.5.2 (…) monitoring committees

eligible to ESF support mainstream beneficiaries of ESF support

art 3 (b), art.5.3 §1 (…) specific ESF support for social partners in

Convergence regions Art. 5.3 §2 (…)

European Social Fund

The Commission provides guidance on ESF support for social partners

3 fiches on ESF support to Social Partners in the 2007-2013 programming period “Partnership in cohesion policy” (adopted) “Social Partners as beneficiaries”

(adopted) “Complementarity and consistency with other

Community financial instruments”

European Social Fund

The Commission promotes ESF support for social partners

set-up of Ad-hoc Group on ESF support to social partners (Art. 5.3 §2)

4 meetings: 22/03, 27/04, 29/05, 28/11 of 2007 main issues discussed:

social dialogue vs. civil dialogue social dialogue vs. tripartite consultations differences social partners / NGOs eligibility issues joint presentations by Member States and national

social partners

European Social Fund

Survey on Member States plans to implement Art. 5§3

As far as your Member State/Region is concerned what is an appropriate amount?

from 0,5% to 16% the Commission initially proposed 2%

European Social Fund

Survey on Member States plans to implement Art. 5§3

Is your Member State/Region programming support to social partners’ activities through a dedicated Operational Programme, priority axis, within a priority axis (which one?) Within priority axis – Adaptability of workers and

enterprises Within priority axis – Investing in Human Capital Priority axis Human Resources Development OP Support under activities as any other beneficiary

European Social Fund

Survey on Member States plans to implement Art. 5§3

Which type of activities are covered in OPs? set up of web pages support for research projects and studies legal services for employers, employees and

representative organisations capacity building for social partners and NGO needs in the workplace and labour market lifelong learning restructuring and anticipating and managing

economic change

European Social Fund

Survey on Member States plans to implement Art. 5§3

Which type of activities are covered in OPs? (cont.) development of professional qualification system training/counselling collection and dissemination of best practices labour relations social dialogue at sectoral level support for women in business migration HRD in enterprises education/training/labour market systems

European Social Fund

Survey on Member States plans to implement Art. 5§3

Does your Member State/Region make a clear distinction between “capacity-building activities” and “activities jointly undertaken by Social Partners” Both activities foreseen Focus on activities jointly undertaken 2 stages: support for strengthening social partners’

capacity to ensure effective participation in implemented reforms, followed by assistance in establishing local partnerships

European Social Fund

Survey on Member States plans to implement Art. 5§3

How is your Member State/Region intending to proceed regarding the allocation of funds to social partners?

Calls for proposals Call for tenders

European Social Fund

EXAMPLES of programming 07-13

CZ - launched a call for proposals For support:

activities leading to strengthening the social dialogue and capacity building of social partners with special attention to the issue of contractual arrangements between the employers and employees, health protection, safety at work,

HR development, flexible working arrangements, modern management methods - this all can include transnational cooperation.

other activities may include training of the social partners to strengthen their capacity.

European Social Fund

EXAMPLES of programming 07-13 PT – call for proposal launched For support:

Training actions for capacity building Social dialogue promoting articulation between the national and

European levels Networking – national and European level, exchange of

experiences and dissemination of practices Productions of studies, analysis, statistics, indicators Awareness raising campaigns (health & safety, diversity in the

workplace) Data basis – Reinforcing social partners’ role on the improving of working

conditions and LM

European Social Fund

Tripartite Social Summit – 13 March 2008

« Social dialogue is making an important contribution to the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs. We need a growing, job-creating Europe. But also a Europe which provides opportunities for every citizen and genuine and viable protection for workers. Social partners play a key role in our system of economic and social governance. They also have a role to play in discussions on climate change and energy issues »

President Barroso

European Social Fund

Tripartite Social Summit – 13 March 2008

« I welcome the social partners’ negotiations on granting better access to labour markets for disadvantage groups, notably through lifelong learning. And I call on the employers and trade unions to also launch negotiations on improving work-life balance. Their 1995 agreement on parental leave needs to be adapted to today’s realities »

Commissioner Spidla

European Social Fund

Thank you for your attention!!!

Questions?

For more information on the ESF, please visit:

http://ec.europa.eu/esf/