Workshop on the Legal Framework of EU Structural Funds’ Management for the Period Riga – Latvia, 4 & 5 December 2006 Head of Division, Preben Gregersen National Agency for Enterprise and Construction, Managing Authority of ERDF and ESF administrations Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs

Programming for the new European Social Fund - experience of Denmark The creation of a joint administration in Denmark for the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Regional Fund and (ERDF) The structural funds resources used in close coordination with the overall national policy The Danish structural fund strategy - the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) The ESF programme The administration – a few points Overview

Structural Funds Denmark

 Number of municipalities reduced from 271 to 98  Establishment of 5 new regions  Regions responsible for regional trade and industry development and thus for promoting regional competitiveness and employment Reform of local government 1 January 2007

 Regional ’growth forums’ the focal point for trade and industry development and the regional partner in the Structural Fund programmes  Comprised of regional politi- cians and representatives from trade and industry, knowledge institutions, educational institu- tions, management and labour Reform of local government January 1st 2007

Denmark’s Strategic Approach : NSRF Innovation and Knowledge More and Better Jobs Development of human resources Establishment and development of new enterprises Innovation, knowledge sharing and knowledge building Utilisation of new technology Areas facing structural difficulties, urban areas and rural areas Environmental policy Equal opportunity policy Employment policy

ESF DENMARK The European Social Fund Objective ”More and Better Jobs” Priority 1 (Better jobs) A qualified workforce Priority 2 (More jobs) Expansion of the workforce Priority 3 Technical assistance Field of action 1.1 Development of human resources Field of action 1.2 Innovation, knowledge sharing and knowledge building Field of action 1.3 Utilisation of new technology Field of action 2.1 Development of human resources Field of action 2.2 Establishment and development of new enterprises Field of action 2.3 Utilisation of new technology

The ESF-programme Priority 1 (Better jobs) A qualified workforce Goals:  Upgrading the qualifications of the workforce and better access to professional managerial skills and reinforced organisational development in enterprises  Reinforced innovative efforts in Danish enterprises  Better public sector and private use of new technology in the workforce.

The ESF-programme Priority 2 (More jobs) Expansion of the workforce Goals:  Higher employment frequencies  Reinforced entrepreneurial action  Broader access to new technology in the context of jobs.

10 pct. pool open to competition  Denmark’s Growth Council selects themes for a 10 pct. pool open to competition  Themes will be offered yearly and reflect actual business politic challenges.  Funds will be granted to the most promising and effective initiatives in accordance with set criteria.  The decision of grant of funds from the ‘competition pool’ will be made by the Minister for Economics and Business Affairs

JEREMIE (Joint European Resources for Micro to Medium Enterprises)  Denmark is exploring the implementation of JEREMIE.  An analysis process with the European Investment Fund has identified certain differences in supply and demand and regional disparities within Denmark’s SME Finance sector.  Appropriate financially engineered instruments have been prepared targeting the areas of concern.  Denmark could seek to implement the JEREMIE initiative utilising both ERDF and ESF An initiative of the European Commission, together with the EIB and the EIF, in order to increase access to finance for the development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Danish structural activities will be regulated by: Law [no. …, 2006] on management of support from the European Regional Fund and the European Social Fund Statutory Order [no. …, 2007] on accounts and auditing in connection with the management of support from the European Regional Fund and the European Social Fund Statutory Order [no. …, 2007] on responsibility and designation of duties, etc. in connection with the management of support from the European Regional Fund and the European Social Fund With adjoining

Law [no. …, 2006] on management of support from the European Regional Fund and the European Social Fund  Subject matter  Administrative set-up  Monitoring Committee and Regional Growth Fora etc. under the Regional competitiveness and employment objective  Committees and programmes under the Regional competitiveness and employment objective  Use of IT  Accounts and auditing etc.  Sanctions, limitation and entry in force

Cutting red tape  Sources of input  Lessons learned from national experience, inside and outside the administrations – positive and negative  Dialogue with other Member States and the European Commission  New possibilities through technological development

Conclusions Looking ahead Denmark bases the Structural Funds programming on:  Synergy of funds (ERDF & ESF)  Close coordination to national policy  Full regional implementation  Growth Drivers  Thematic approach  Cutting red tape