Evaluation of the ESF contribution to the European Employment Strategy (EES)

Undertaken in 2009 and 2010 – i.e. Lisbon Strategy as the reference

point

Contribution of ESF to EES

Purpose:• An overall assessment of the contribution of

the ESF 2007-2013 to the EES.Perspectives:• How does ESF contribute to EES• To what extent does ESF contribute to EESFocus:• Governance – intentionality and strategies

behind ensuring contribution

Data sources• Documents

(NRP, NSRF, OP, implementation reports)• Interviews

with ESF and EES responsible• Delphi – surveys (experts)• Case studies:

interviews with policymakers, project managers and social partners

To what extent does ESF contribute• ESF relevant contribution chains contribute to all

IEG• ESF is regarded important for EES• Extent of contribution by volume, scope or

innovation depending on MS, especially– Relative size of ESF– Climate for trying new measures

Contributions to different EES guidelines

EES guidelines

Number of examples during the preliminary analysis

19 – Inclusive labour markets, enhance work attractiveness, and make work pay for job-seekers, including disadvantaged people, and the inactive 7623 – Investment in human capital 6618 – A life-cycle approach to work 5220 – Matching of labour market needs 4224 – Adapt education and training systems in response to new competence requirements 4221 – Flexibility combined with employment security and reduce labour market segmentation, having due regard to the role of the social partners 4017 – Full employment 33N/A 31

Total 382

How does ESF contribute to EES

• ESF contributes to the EES mainly through the results of activities, and only to a limited extent through transfer of ideas.

• In Member States with few national resources for ALMP, the ESF can be essential for achieving the NRP objectives.

• In Member States where innovation in labour market policy is less practised ESF can be used to test innovative ideas.

• All Member States can benefit from using ESF funds to broaden existing activities to new target groups or with new measures that make them more effective.

Strategic linkage between ESF and EES has been poor

• The different cycles of ESF and EES make such linkage difficult.

• The catch-all character of the Integrated Guidelines means that strategic linkage is not necessary.

• Drafting NRP and OP development and implementation do not include the same people/departments

Recommendations I • A clear statement is needed that a main objective of the

ESF is to contribute to the EES in a strategic way. • Member States should be encouraged to use ESF to fund

the implementation of country specific recommendations when relevant.

• ESF should mainly contribute to the EES through the results of activities and less through the transfer of ideas.

• Clear strategies for and systems to support transfer of ideas from EES to ESF should be designed.

• It is recommended not to invest too much energy and effort into “bottom up” transfer of ideas and innovations from ESF to EES.

Recommendations II• The OPs should be based on the NRP (contribution to

specific measures of the NRP)• OP and NRP should be more directly linked, to reduce

bureaucracy (OP as an implementation plan for NRP)• The policy cycles of the NRP and the OP should be

synchronised.• A country specific procedure or structure should be

designed for coordination and communication purposes, linking the NRP and the OP processes.

• The “raison d'être” of the NSRF as a strategic document for the OP is to be assessed.