1. The partnership principle in the implementation of the CSF funds ___ Elements for a European Code of Conduct

2. Legislative package
Article 5 of the draft Common Provisions Regulation
- Obligation for the MS to organise a partnership for the Partnership Contract and each programme
- Main categories of partners listed
- Involvement of partners at all stages of the "policy cycle"
- Adoption by the Commission of a European code of conduct on Partnership (delegated act)
- At least once a year, for each CSF Fund, consultation of the organisations which represent the partners at Union level (at least twice during the programming period for the EMFF)

3. Purpose of the Staff Working Document (SWD)
- Staff Working Document sent to the Council, the Parliament, the Committee of Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee on 24 April.
- Double purpose reflected in its title:
to help Member States to shape their partnership appropriately during the preparatory work until the regulations are adopted – (good practices included)
to outline the main requirements that the future European Code of Conduct could contain – (basis for discussion with the Council and the Parliament + possible contributions from stakeholders)

4. Structure of the SWD 1. Introduction (context, purpose, added value)
2. Which partners to select?
3. How to involve the partners in the preparation of the programming documents?
4. How to involve the partners in the implementation phase?
5. How to involve the partners in the evaluation phase?
6. Assistance to partners
7. Continuous exchange of good practices

5. Which partners to select?
1. Competent regional, local, urban and other public authorities
Key role to play, but extent of their involvement will depend on the institutional set up of each Member State
Involvement of the different levels to be in line with their individual powers and the objectives of the programmes
Where regions are managing authorities, they must apply the partnership principle, involving the relevant partners at all the stages of the policy cycle
Urban areas should be directly involved, where integrated territorial investments (ITIs) will be carried out.

6. Which partners to select?
2. Economic and social partners
The nationally recognised social partners’ organisations should be included in the partnership organisations and equal representation of employers’ organisations and employees’ organisations must be guaranteed.
Strong involvement of business associations, in particular those representing SMEs, chambers of commerce, universities and research institutions is essential to foster development, innovation and competitiveness.
Economic and social partners are groups or associations representing the general interest of industries or branches, employers and employees, but in no case the interests of a sole company.

7. Which partners to select?
3. Bodies representing civil society, including environmental partners, non-governmental organisations, and bodies responsible for promoting equality and non- discrimination.
The selection of partners must include the most representative non- governmental organisations, which deal with the subject areas covered by the different funds.
Non-governmental organizations must be free to designate their individual representatives to be members of the partnership.
In case of large number of non-governmental organisations involved, platforms could be established to elect representatives who would be members of the partnership.

8. Involvement in the preparation of the strategic documents
Member States should take effective account of the multi-level governance arrangements agreed in the Territorial Pact, if they have put in place such a territorial pact.
Partners should be meaningfully involved in the preparation of the Partnership Contract/Agreement and the programmes (analysis of the challenges, definition of the priorities, coordination mechanisms).
Organising the partnership in a transparent manner for all partners is essential and should be ensured through minimal requirements in terms of procedure
The Partnership Contract/Agreement and the programmes should detail in particular how the partnership principle has been implemented during the preparation phase.

9. Involvement in the implementation phase
Minimum requirements proposed for selecting the members of the monitoring committees
Rules of procedure of the monitoring committees should be sufficiently detailed to ensure the good involvement of partners: deadlines for invitations, voting rights, publication and accessibility of the minutes, transparent process to establish and operate working parties…

10. Involvement in the implementation phase
Participation in project selection
- Partners should be involved, where appropriate, at the stage of defining calls for proposals and evaluating the resultant proposals.
- Clear pre-established procedures, training and information should be in place to prevent and address possible conflicts of interest

11. Involvement in the implementation phase
Involvement in reporting
- Managing Authorities should actively associate the partners, through the monitoring committees, in preparing the annual implementation reports on the programmes
- Member States should actively associate the partners in preparing the progress reports in 2017 and 2019 and should provide in these reports an overview of the opinions given by the partners during the consultation and the way they have been taken into account.

12. Involvement in the evaluation phase
- Managing Authorities should involve partners in the evaluation process through the monitoring committees, from establishment of the terms of reference to finalisation of the evaluation.
- Member States could be required to carry out an evaluation of the performance and the effectiveness of the partnership principle during the programming period across the funds and the programmes.
- Managing Authorities for the ERDF, ESF and Cohesion Fund programmes could be asked to consult the partners on the reports summarising the findings of the evaluations carried out during the programming period

13. Assistance to partners
- Member States and managing authorities should use part of their technical assistance to ensure that partners have the the capacity necessary to participate in preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Partnership Contracts/Agreements and programmes
- Support may take different forms (dedicated workshops, training sessions, coordination and networking structures or contributions to partners’ costs incurred for participation in the programmes.

14. Continuous exchange of good practices
- Structured dialogue meetings currently organised by the Commission could be the basis for the future formal meetings to be organised post-2013 under Article 5(4).
- In addition, regular exchanges of experience and best practice will be encouraged in different fora (COCOF, ESF Committee, Rural Development Committee, the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Committee).
- Interested managing authorities will also be encouraged to establish a Community of Practice (CoP) on Partnership common to the five funds, modelled on the current CoP on Partnership, funded from the ESF.

15. Next steps
Translation available in 22 languages at the beginning of June
CoR and EESC intend to express an opinion on the content of the future code of conduct
Stakeholders may comment on the document via a functional mailbox. Comments will be published on Europa website
Code of conduct to be established through a Delegated Act after the adoption of the Common Provisions Regulation

16. Thank you very much for your attention!