Silver Pramann NENO, EU structural funds network project coordinator

 Since 1 May 2004 Estonia has been eligible for the support provided by the EU: ◦ the Structural Funds and ◦ the Cohesion Fund.  For the period of Estonia was allocated  million euros from the Structural Funds and million euros from the Cohesion Fund.  The use of the EU Structural Assistance was in based on the Estonian National Development Plan.

 In the period of Estonia was allocated more than 3.4 billion euros from the Structural Assistance.  The National Strategic Reference Framework defines the overall strategic approach to using structural support.  Operational programmes will be made for implementation of the National Strategic Reference Framework.  Three operational programmes will be drawn up in Estonia: Operational Programme for Human Resource Development; Operational Programme for the Development of Economic Environment; Operational Programme for the Development of the Living Environment.Operational Programme for Human Resource DevelopmentOperational Programme for the Development of Economic EnvironmentOperational Programme for the Development of the Living Environment

MEMBERS ◦ 22 organizations mainly big, roof organizations, different fields ◦ Representing smaller organizations WEBSITE LIST ◦ ◦ over 160 addressis ◦ organizations, ◦ individuals, ◦ many are not members

European Union funds network:  Partner for public sector  Representing common interests of NGO-s  Coordinating cross sector cooperation  Collecting and distributing information  Representing NGO-s in EU funds planning and implementing process  Raise awareness and public attention about EU funds implementation, transparency, participation “EU Structural Funds provide significant opportunities, but without transparency they will not be used effectively”.

 Represented:  Operational Programmes Steering Committees  Estonia-Latvia cross border cooperation Monitoring Committee  Norwegian and European Economic Area Financial Mechanisms Steering Committee  Other

 New members  New, smaller ngo-s  Non-Estonian speakers  New planning period for use of EU structural founds 2014 and beyond  Motivating NGO-s to participate in planning process and applying funds  cooperation

 Finding co-financing  Very long application period  Bureaucracy  Financing after spending  Lack of transparency in processes  Not enough measures for NGO-s

 Lack of time  Lack of communication  Lack of valuation of civil society  participation of NGO-s marginal  Decision making possess too centralized  Program evaluation needs more consultation with experts and not politicians  Application evaluation methods not so clear  Some unnecessary demands in application

 Procedures in Estonia more complicated than other states  Lack of cooperation between ministers  Efficiency  Cross sector cooperation  Participation and consulting needs more time and recourses  Decision makers do not take into account the opinions of experts