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
The new European Social Fund (ESF)
- principles and priorities
Overview
ESF principles
Policy framework
Scope of assistance – ESF priorities
Good governance and partnership
Gender equality and equal opportunities
Innovative activities &
trans-national cooperation
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
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
Policy Framework
Lisbon
Strategy
for
Growth & Jobs
National
Reform
Programme
European
Employment
Strategy
ESF
Commission
Strategic
Guidelines
National
Strategic
Reference
Framework
National
Action Plan
for
Social Inclusion
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
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
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
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
 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
 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
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 nongovernmental organisations to the funded
activities
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:
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Training
Networking measures
Strengthening social dialogue and
Activities jointly undertaken by the social
partners
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.
Reg. 1083/2006 on the European Social Fund (art. 6)
Innovation activities
&
trans-national cooperation
 2000-2006 ESF intervenes in support of all three
objectives of the Structural Funds and under the
Community Initiative EQUAL
 2007-2013 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