European Economic and Social Committee Seminar ‘The participation of citizens from border regions in the Operational Programmes – The case of the EGTC 19/11/2013 Brussels

Institutional position of the EESC European Commission

Who sits on the EESC? Established by the Treaty of Rome 1957 Since the Treaty of Lisbon, includes representatives of organisations of employers, of the employed, and of other parties representative of civil society, notably in socio-economic, civic, professional and cultural areas Three groups: I Employers II Employees Group III – Various Interests  Farmers, consumers, the social economy, craftsmen and SMEs, social and environmental NGOs, the professions…

Working methods To issue opinions, the sections usually set up “study groups”, each with a rapporteur A continual quest for a “dynamic compromise” Constructive debate based on expertise A vote is taken in the section, and then in the plenary session

ECO/288 Fifth Cohesion Report, Brussels, 16 June 2011 Socio-economic partnership, Should become an ordinary and compulsory procedure, accompanying all processes to define, implement and assess cohesion policy. Should be directly linked with conditionality. Article 11 of the general regulation, stipulating the partnership rules, should be extended to all of the structural funds. Technical operational proposals The rules on co-financing should be tailored in accordance with the development conditions and available financial and social resources of zones and areas concerned by cohesion policy, particularly on the basis of regions' income, the calculation criteria for which should be appropriately revised, and their budget. Ex-ante conditionality should be aimed at improving the quality of spending, in connection with achieving objectives  More efficiency, not to penalise the most indebted regions for instance.

ECO/314 Structural Funds – General Provisions Brussels, 25 April 2012 The EESC recognises the efforts undertaken by the EC to simplify procedures but considers these insufficient. Excessive emphasis on auditing and procedures EU and MS are still stifling simple access to EU funding for SMEs and NGOs. Bureaucracy needs to be reduced, especially in countries with federal or decentralised systems.

ECO/314 Structural Funds – General Provisions Brussels, 25 April 2012 EU cohesion policy principles need adequate instruments Partnership: with civil society – the partnership contract The EESC has supported the partnership principle  All stakeholders should be represented in the preparatory work of partnership agreements and technical assistance. The EESC welcomes Article 5 of CPR and an EU-level CoC on Partnership including the different responsibilities and rights for participation among different partners as defined in Article 5(1) of the CPR. The participation of civil society should be ensured  equal access to funding, clear inclusive definition Barriers  Rules in co-funding, administrative burdens, inadequate goals of the national Operational Programmes and lack of participation in monitoring of the funds.

ECO/314 Structural Funds – General Provisions Brussels, 25 April 2012 The CoC should determine clear rules for the application, insist on timely processing and foresee a complaints procedure. Additional criteria for approval used by Member States should first be subjected to scrutiny to avoid additional bureaucracy (and national "gold-plating"). The CoC should clearly establish the different responsibilities and rights for participation among different partners as defined in Article 5(1) of the CPR. To this end, the EESC has also argued for a partnership contract between each Member State and its regions and civil society. The EESC highlights the need to create a broad partnership that should represent a large spectrum of different interests. The EESC regrets that the CPR does not provide a European mechanism of partnership with European partners as defined in Article 5(1) of the CPRT he EESC welcomes the EC’s proposal to strengthen Community–led initiatives based on the experience of the Leader approach and urges for the representation of civil society The EESC's Opinions on Efficient partnership in cohesion policy, OJ C 44/01, , p. 1

Europe 2020 strategy EESC mandate for implementing the Europe 2020 strategy The Spring European Councils of 2011 and 2012 have formally recognised the role of the EESC, social partners and other stakeholders in the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy. The European Commission has also asked to the Committee to play an active role in relation to the strategy  network of national Economic and social councils / similar organisations. President José Manuel Barroso has reiterated in 2011 that civil society organisations ‘should be included as key partners in the process’ and expressed the Commission’s desire to ‘continue and deepen the excellent cooperation on Europe 2020’.

Rue Belliard 99, 1040 Brussels, Belgium Tel.: Fax: Roman Haken, EESC member,