1. The renewed Lisbon Strategy is focused on the Growth and Jobs Agenda :  Make Europe a more attractive place to invest and work  Knowledge and innovation will be the beating heart of European growth  Shape policies to allow our businesses to create more and better jobs

2. Lisbon reform Agenda Calls for partnerships at all levels " to facilitate and speed up delivery of the reforms needed to boost growth and employment". Partnership "must bring solid added value if it is to produce tangible and swift results". Factors for success - Mobilise the different players to work together - Ensure that the reform objectives and issues are taken on board by all stakeholders

3. Promote partnerships, pacts, networking (ESF Reg., Art. 3) PROJECTS GOVERNANCE Stakeholder engagement in preparation, implementation and monitoring of ESF support (Gen. Reg., Art.11) New Structural Funds Regulations 2007-13 Mainstreaming EQUAL good practice How to practice, and how to support partnerships as ESF Managing Authority / Implementing body? involvement of social partners and NGOs (ESF Reg., Art 3+5) ESF 2007- 2013:

4. The role of partnerships under EQUAL Partnerships between strategic stakeholders facilitate transition between institutions and work environments Robust bridges from –education to work; –unemployment to work –prison to work; –inactivity to work; –Informal work to self-employment –migration to work; –Work to retirement

5. Sustainability of Partnership Sustainable innovations have to demonstrate that they are –suitable approaches –feasible solutions –acceptable to the assisted target groups, administrations and stakeholders Continuous encouragement and support - EQUAL results should not be stored in an ESF museum!

6. Transnational cooperation under the ESF 2007 -2013 Total budget of dedicated priorities: 1,43 billion € Estimated total budget for transnational and interregional cooperation: 3 billion € Popular themes for transnational cooperation: –disadvantaged, discrimination, diversity –gender and work/life balance –LLL in firms, entrepreneurship and innovation –promoting partnerships –Improving human capital: Reforms in education and training systems