luis vives foundation structural funds and social cohesion cii – coalition buildings among third...

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STRUCTURAL FUNDSAND

SOCIAL COHESION

CII – Coalition Buildings Among Third Sector Organizations

Speaker:

José Manuel FresnoLuis Vives Foundation

Spain

Tuesday 10 October 2006

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STRUCTURAL FUNDS AND SOCIAL COHESION

The purpose of the Structural Funds: The purpose of the Structural Funds: From the From the theory of social and economic cohesion to Practicetheory of social and economic cohesion to Practice

–There is a gap or imbalance between

the social and economic objectives. The

Funds are still not inclusive enough and

focus more on economic issues rather

than social.

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Why aren’t the Funds more oriented towards Why aren’t the Funds more oriented towards social inclusionsocial inclusion

– The regulations aren’t explicit enough

– There are not enough links between the European social policies and the management of the Funds (parallel agendas)

– The mechanisms of planning, monitoring and evaluation of the Funds aren’t effective enough

– Dynamics: There is a certain inertia and very little predisposition to innovate

– Lack of political priorities concerning social inclusion.

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What we need for the Funds to be more What we need for the Funds to be more inclusive:inclusive:

– Planning

– Implementation

– Monitoring and Evaluation

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When Planning, we must give special attention When Planning, we must give special attention

to: to:

– A comprehensive understanding of regulations

– Awareness raising of the policy makers

– A more open process

– The implications of other stakeholders

– Coordination on a national level

– A more clear definition of the objectives and

targets.

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When implementing, we should take care of:When implementing, we should take care of:

– The new actors in the process (especially the Third

Sector and the Civil Society)

– Work towards the local level

– Smaller initiatives

– The role of NGO

– etc.

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When monitoring and evaluating:When monitoring and evaluating:

– The effectiveness of the monitoring committees

– A clear definition of the indicators

– Accountability

– A more objective monitoring system

– Updating Operational Programmes

– Implication of the social actors in the process

– etc

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New Opportunities and changes for the New Opportunities and changes for the Structural Funds:Structural Funds:

a. A more social orientation of each of the Funds as well as new social priorities

• ERDF: European Regional Development Fund

• ESF: European Social Fund

• EGCC: European cross-border cooperation groupings

• EAGGF: European Agricultural Guidance and

Guarantee Fund

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a. A more social orientation of each of the Funds as well as new social priorities

• ERDF: European Regional Development Fund:

– The Fund aims to promote economic and social

cohesion by correcting the main regional

imbalances and participating in the development

and conversion of regions. Issues such as urban

balance and the protection of the environment

acquire a special relevance.



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• ESF: European Social Fund:

– The European Commission is proposing that ESF

resources be concentrated on four areas in the

2007-13 period: adaptability among workers and

businesses, access to employment, reducing

social exclusion, and promoting partnerships

for reform. Special relevance is given to new

target groups and the role of NGO.



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• EAGGF: European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund:

– The EAGGF is composed of two sections, the

Guidance section and the Guarantee section.

Within the framework of European economic and

social cohesion policy, the EAGGF supports rural

development and the improvement of

agricultural structures.

– On top of focusing on the sustainability of

agriculture and the diversification of rural areas,

it aims at the cohesion of rural areas.



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• EGCC: European cross-border cooperation groupings:

– As part of the reform of regional policy, the possibility

to create a special new legal entity has been proposed:

European groupings of cross-border cooperation. These

bodies are designed to facilitate cross-border

cooperation by implementing relevant projects,

whether or not part-financed by the Community.

Cooperation should not only focus on the improvement

of equipment and communications, but also on the

creation of thematic networks for social cohesion.



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b. New relevant issues on the Agenda, especially regarding the ESF (there are mentions to the fight against the exclusion of disfavoured groups)

b. More relevance to the local level as well as the social organizations

c. Using more flexible mechanisms:

• Simplification of the programming process (going from 5 to 2 documents)

• Technical assistance (it should not only be destined to administrative support)



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Example: The Multiregional Operational Example: The Multiregional Operational Program Fight Against DiscriminationProgram Fight Against Discrimination

– The Programme is oriented towards actions that compensate inequalities among groups of people who have special difficulties in accessing the labour market.

– The Programme is a good example of how the Structural Funds (ESF, ERDF) can contribute to the fight against exclusion and the strengthening of civil society through the establishment of partnerships among private and public bodies.

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Example: The Multiregional Operational Program Example: The Multiregional Operational Program Fight Against DiscriminationFight Against Discrimination

– The Programme is managed by the following institutions:

• Fundación Luis Vives

• Instituto de la Mujer

• IMSERSO

• OATP Penitenciarias

• DGOM

• Fundación ONCE

• Cruz Roja Española

• Caritas Española

• Fundación Secretariado Gitano

• Fundación Diagrama

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Example: The Multiregional Operational Program Example: The Multiregional Operational Program Fight Against DiscriminationFight Against Discrimination

– Main results of the Programme:

• 158.526 people with special difficulties of labour

insertion have received support through integrated

professional itineraries.

• 147.710 people have received professional orientations

• 41.578 people have received training in the areas most

demanded by the labour market

• 60.305 contracts have been signed

• 128 institutions have been granted over 200 projects

that have improved their structure, staff and labour

insertion departments.

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Example: The Multiregional Operational Program Fight Example: The Multiregional Operational Program Fight Against DiscriminationAgainst Discrimination

– Added Value of the participation of NGO in the Operational Programme:

• Flexible, dynamic and individualized professional itineraries

• Increase of the active population

• A partnership network has been created between public administrations and private companies mobilizing their corporate social responsibility.

• More awareness on behalf of economic and social bodies, as well as the public administration and society in general to reach equal treatment for all an fight against professional discrimination and the full social insertion of groups with special needs through training and the improvement of their employability.

• Etc.

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Fundación Luis Vives

Plaza de Oriente 7, bajo izda.

28013 Madrid

Tel: 91 540 08 78

Fax: 91 541 90 52

www.fundacionluisvives.org

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