1. European Social Fund 1 Mr Václav Čermák European Commission DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Unit B3 Czech Republic, Luxembourg and Portugal European Social Fund The conference Tourism industry: Employment and Labour market challenges Prague, 11 June 2009

2. European Social Fund 2 What is ESF European social fund (ESF) is the EU’s financial instrument for investing in people (employment in particular) In place since 1957 (the oldest structural fund) It channels European money into MS to fulfil priorities agreed in Operational programmes (shared management between EC and MS)

3. European Social Fund 3 The new programming period 2007-13 117 ESF operational programmes were approved by EC during 2007 (and early 2008) Total amount € 75 billion (8% of total EU budget) Implementation phase started in 2008 in all MS (too early for results)

4. European Social Fund 4 ESF 2007-13: Priorities

5. European Social Fund 5 What can be financed from ESF? Yes: Adaptability of workers, enterprises and entrepreneurs Active labour market policies Social inclusion of disadvantaged people Education projects (linked with labour market) Vocational training Institutional Capacity Building Equal opportunities International cooperation No: Passive labour market policies (unemployment benefits) Normal running costs of institutions

6. European Social Fund 6 Who are the ESF clients? Yearly average millions of individuals Unemployed and non-active Women Youth (under 25) Older persons (54+) minorities and migrants Disadvantages

7. European Social Fund 7 ESF 2007-13 per member state In billions EUR

8. European Social Fund 8 ESF 2007-13 per capita in EUR per capita

9. European Social Fund 9 ESF: 22% from €347 billion cohesion policy 8% from total EU budget

10. European Social Fund 10 Changes in 2007-13 ►Strategic approach – OPs based on priorities (no programming complements) ►10% flexibility (ESF↔ ERDF cross-financing) ►National eligibility rules ►Flat rate rule for indirect costs ►Standard unit costs ►Lump sums ►N+3 rule for years 2007-2010

11. European Social Fund 11 Czech Republic ESF 2007-13 OPs

12. European Social Fund 12 Financing tourism activities from ESF Soft investments only (10% cross-financing possible) Synergy between ESF and ERDF OPs Czech Republic 2007-13: no dedicated “tourism” ESF priority but possibilities in generally oriented priorities: 1.OP HRE priority 1: Adaptability 2.OP EfC priority 3: Further education 3.OP Prague Adaptability priority 1: Support of knowledge economy

13. European Social Fund 13 Financing tourism activities from ESF (II) Other MS: Similar approach in ESF programmes: broadly defined adaptability a vocational training priorities, no tourism only ESF priorities But exception: French OP Martinique: priority 2 “sub- priority” 2: training for hotel sector and tourism sector employees Tourism is often mentioned as important sector of economy in Analysis chapter of the Operational programmes

14. European Social Fund 14 The crisis measures Extension of Final eligibility date till 30 June 2009 (2000-06 programmes) Additional pre-financing Flat rate rule for indirect costs (possible from beginning of 2007-13 period), newly for ERDF too Standard unit costs Lump sums Possibility of reprogramming

15. European Social Fund 15 ESF on Europa http://ec.europa.eu/esf/ 2000-06 programming period “European Social Fund in action: SUCCESS STORIES” – over 70 success stories showing how ESF projects helped improve peoples’ lives across Europe Examples of successful projects from following areas: Active Labour market Social Inclusion Lifelong Learning Adaptability Women’s participation http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/esf/docs/success_book_en.pdf ESF in the Czech Republic http://www.esfcr.cz The sources of information

16. European Social Fund 16 The sources of information (II) ESF on Europa: http://ec.europa.eu/esf/http://ec.europa.eu/esf/

17. European Social Fund 17 Thank you for your attention Vaclav.Cermak@ec.europa.eu E-mail: Vaclav.Cermak@ec.europa.euVaclav.Cermak@ec.europa.eu DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities http://ec.europa.eu/social/