Opinion on the future of the European Social Fund
3 June 2010
Last 3rd of June 2010, the European Social Fund Committee in a meeting in Brussels expressed its wish to formulate an Opinion on the future of the European Social Fund (ESF) with a view to making a contribution to the future orientations of the ESF.
In a half-way stage of 2007-2013 Structural Funds programming period several discussions are taking place
The Commission will propose its main orientations for the future of the EU financial framework in the forthcoming budget review paper in September 2010 and of the Structural Funds in the 5th Cohesion Report.
With a view to making a contribution to the future orientations of the ESF, several discussion are taking place and as a results the European Social Fund Committee adopted this Opinion presenting the ideas by topics: European Added-Value of the ESF; the Scope and Priorities of the ESF in the light of the Europe 2020 Strategy; Geographical and thematic concentration; Relationship with other Structural Funds and the Delivery System.
The Committee, among other contributions:
- Considers that there is a strong need to better present and demonstrate the European added value of the ESF to institutions, stakeholders and citizens. The ESF, as a fund that target people, has a particularly important role to play in the present economic crisis and the ESF contribution to employment, equal opportunities and social inclusion should be highlighted in the future financial framework.
- Recommends that the ESF should be fully aligned with the objectives and priorities of Europe 2020 and ESF priorities should be based on the policy objectives of the Integrated Guidelines. Gender equality, anti-discrimination and transnationality should remain key horizontal priorities for the ESF in the next programming period and the support for institutional capacity building and structural reforms should continue.
- Considers that the ESF should be an instrument open to all Member States and regions, since the fight against unemployment or social exclusion are not issues for poor countries or regions only. Anyhow, the intensity of ESF support should be differentiated in accordance with the relative socio-economic situation and taking into account their position the EU2020 targets. Recognises the need to achieve a better thematic concentration and thus a limited number of priorities should be chosen at operational programme level.
- Considers that the complementarity with other EU funds should be maintained and where possible strengthened in the context of Europe 2020. Stresses that ESF programming should rely on fewer strategic documents.
- Considers that simplification for all stakeholders in the Fund must be a guiding principle for the new programming period. Welcomes the idea of developing a limited set of core indicators for ESF funding. The future implementing rules should be more focused on the effectiveness of projects.
See the full document below.
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