1. EMPL Committee 15 July 2010 The ESF Committee Opinion on the future of the ESF and the 23/24 June conference Thomas Bender Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities DG 15 July 2010

2. Background Wish from the ESF Committee to express an opinion on the future of the ESF Wish from the ESF Committee to express an opinion on the future of the ESF Opinion of the ESF Committee: Opinion of the ESF Committee: ESF ESF not binding for MSs not binding for MSs Adopted on 3 June Adopted on 3 June

3. Structure of the opinion Based on 5 issues discussed in the Ad-hoc expert Group European Added value of the ESF European Added value of the ESF Scope and priorities of the ESF in the light of EU2020 Scope and priorities of the ESF in the light of EU2020 Geographical and thematic concentration Geographical and thematic concentration Relationship with other EU Funds, notably structural Funds Relationship with other EU Funds, notably structural Funds Delivery system Delivery system

4. European added value of the ESF High added value of the ESF in terms of High added value of the ESF in terms of –Volume and scope of support –Role and process … but need to better present and demonstrate it. A people-related Fund: Role to fight the crisis A people-related Fund: Role to fight the crisis ESF contribution to employment, equal opportunities and social inclusion highlighted in the next MFF. ESF contribution to employment, equal opportunities and social inclusion highlighted in the next MFF.

5. Scope and priorities of the ESF in the light of Europe 2020 Full alignment with Europe 2020, to deliver the three priorities. Full alignment with Europe 2020, to deliver the three priorities. => Base ESF priorities on the policy objectives of Integrated guidelines Capitalise ESF experience to enhance support for institutional capacity building and structural reforms (incl. social partners, civil society) Capitalise ESF experience to enhance support for institutional capacity building and structural reforms (incl. social partners, civil society) Key horizontal priorities & social innovation Key horizontal priorities & social innovation Developing financial engineering Developing financial engineering

6. Geographical and thematic concentration Open to all Member States and Regions … Open to all Member States and Regions … …But differentiation of intensity according to the relative socio economic situation and position vis-à-vis Europe 2020 targets Improve thematic concentration: limited number of priorities at programme level Improve thematic concentration: limited number of priorities at programme level

7. Relationship with other EU Funds, notably Structural Funds Dual nature of the ESF: Employment, contributing to Cohesion Dual nature of the ESF: Employment, contributing to Cohesion Maintain and where possible strengthen complementarity Maintain and where possible strengthen complementarity Simplify and streamline the strategic frameworks Simplify and streamline the strategic frameworks

8. Delivery system Guiding principles: Simplification, legal certainty for all stakeholders Guiding principles: Simplification, legal certainty for all stakeholders OPs more strategic & more focused on results OPs more strategic & more focused on results Implementing rules more focused on effectiveness of projects Implementing rules more focused on effectiveness of projects Limited set of core indicators Limited set of core indicators Wider application of proportionality principle Wider application of proportionality principle

9. Main remarks included in the minutes of the ESF Committee Large support to the Opinion, adopted nearly unchanged Large support to the Opinion, adopted nearly unchanged Main remarks in the minutes of the Committee: Main remarks in the minutes of the Committee: Concentration Concentration Link to Europe 2020 (degree of alignment, use of targets to allocate the amounts) Link to Europe 2020 (degree of alignment, use of targets to allocate the amounts) Option to have national framework different from NRP Option to have national framework different from NRP Audit role of the Commission reduced, increased advisory / preventive role of the Commission Audit role of the Commission reduced, increased advisory / preventive role of the Commission Reinforced partnership principle Reinforced partnership principle More emphasis on ESF in cohesion, complementarity between ESF – ERDF More emphasis on ESF in cohesion, complementarity between ESF – ERDF

10. Next steps Dissemination of the opinion Dissemination of the opinion This opinion is a first step This opinion is a first step Ad-hoc Group continues its discussions: specific demands on proportionality, on exploration of introduction of output / result based elements and conditionality, … Ad-hoc Group continues its discussions: specific demands on proportionality, on exploration of introduction of output / result based elements and conditionality, …

11. Year Budgetary issues Strategic issues Management & control issues 2010 Budget review Europe 2020 Flagships Integrated Guidelines European Employment Strategy Revision of Financial Regulation Cohesion report 2011 IIA & MFF ESF Regulation ESF Regulation General Regulation (+ ERDF/CF) 201120122013Negotiations with the European Parliament and the Council 2014 1 January = Start of the new programming period Time table for Commission proposal on the future ESF

12. Thank you for your attention Questions? Reactions?