Future of the Future of the European Social Fund European Social Fund

(ESF) and (ESF) and Europe Europe 20202020

Brian Harvey, TSEN, London, Brian Harvey, TSEN, London, 3030thth March 2011 March 2011

brharvey@iol.iebrharvey@iol.ie

HistoryHistory►Structural funds (ERDF, ESF) important :Structural funds (ERDF, ESF) important :

Real money for voluntary organizations (ESF)Real money for voluntary organizations (ESF) One of largest areas of EU spending One of largest areas of EU spending (€39bn, 2011)(€39bn, 2011)

New policy priorities e.g. genderNew policy priorities e.g. gender

►55thth round of the structural funds round of the structural funds 1989-931989-93 First reformed round (Delors I)First reformed round (Delors I) 1994-91994-9 Most expansive, ambitious (Delors II)Most expansive, ambitious (Delors II) 2000-62000-6 The great accessionThe great accession 2007-132007-13 Simplified, connected to Lisbon, Simplified, connected to Lisbon, Jobs & Jobs &

growth growth (‘earmarking’ 60 % to 75%)*.(‘earmarking’ 60 % to 75%)*.

*e.g. Innovation, energy, R&D, knowledge economy*e.g. Innovation, energy, R&D, knowledge economy

Timetable for new ESFTimetable for new ESF20092009 Barca report (‘what might have been’)Barca report (‘what might have been’)

- Focus on social inclusion- Focus on social inclusion- Involve civil society- Involve civil society- Professional management- Professional management

2010 Nov2010 Nov 55thth cohesion report cohesion report2011Jun 30 Multi-annual financial framework 2014-2020 2011Jun 30 Multi-annual financial framework 2014-2020

New regulationsNew regulations20122012 Common Strategic Framework (CSF)Common Strategic Framework (CSF)20132013 Development & investment partnership contractDevelopment & investment partnership contract

CSF priorities at national levelCSF priorities at national levelNegotiation Operational Programmes (OPs)Negotiation Operational Programmes (OPs)

2014 Jan 12014 Jan 1 StartStart

*An agenda for a reformed cohesion policy*An agenda for a reformed cohesion policy

EU2020 Strategy 2014-2020EU2020 Strategy 2014-2020►Objectives agreed June 2010Objectives agreed June 2010

16% reduction poverty, 120m down to 100m + platform16% reduction poverty, 120m down to 100m + platform Education: ESL 15% to 10%, raise post secondary 31% to 40%Education: ESL 15% to 10%, raise post secondary 31% to 40% Environment: gases, consumption -20%, efficiency +20% (20/20/20)Environment: gases, consumption -20%, efficiency +20% (20/20/20) Raise employment 69% to 75%. R&D to 3% GDPRaise employment 69% to 75%. R&D to 3% GDP

Now bilateral discussions Commission – member statesNow bilateral discussions Commission – member states►Commission set indicative targets across member statesCommission set indicative targets across member states► Indicative range for Britain 2.3m -2.5m people (rate 18%)Indicative range for Britain 2.3m -2.5m people (rate 18%)►Required to file targets by November, delayed to AprilRequired to file targets by November, delayed to April►Member state proposals so far below indicative range e.g. Member state proposals so far below indicative range e.g.

Germany, Italy and the overall targets will not be metGermany, Italy and the overall targets will not be met►EAPN has complained of lack of consultation with civil societyEAPN has complained of lack of consultation with civil society

ESF, ERDF: NGO concernsESF, ERDF: NGO concerns

►Commitment , priority to social inclusion, Commitment , priority to social inclusion, sustainability, gender, minorities, sustainability, gender, minorities, reaching reaching most disadvantagedmost disadvantaged

► Partnership principle (#11 of regulations)Partnership principle (#11 of regulations) From design through to monitoring, evaluationFrom design through to monitoring, evaluation

► Access to funding by NGO communityAccess to funding by NGO community► Suitable Suitable methodsmethods: global grants, technical : global grants, technical

assistance, EQUAL-type programmes, trans-assistance, EQUAL-type programmes, trans-nationality. nationality.

► Proportionate administration/rulesProportionate administration/rules Striking a balanceStriking a balance

►Commission role, supervision, managementCommission role, supervision, management

55thth cohesion report cohesion report (301pp)(301pp)

Investing in Europe’s futureInvesting in Europe’s futureand COM 2010/642 (1)and COM 2010/642 (1)

► Align ESF, ERDF with Align ESF, ERDF with EU2020EU2020 All five for poorest regions, but only 2-3 for richerAll five for poorest regions, but only 2-3 for richer

►But will they include the poverty objective?But will they include the poverty objective? Scope for specific target groups for experimental Scope for specific target groups for experimental

approaches e.g. local development (global grants)approaches e.g. local development (global grants) Must also respect 10 integrated employment guidelinesMust also respect 10 integrated employment guidelines Supported by European Platform against Poverty (later)Supported by European Platform against Poverty (later)

► More attention to social inclusion now, but More attention to social inclusion now, but ►Poor places rather than poor people Poor places rather than poor people e.g. e.g.

Severozapaden (BG), 28%; London, 343%Severozapaden (BG), 28%; London, 343%

Key features new ESF, ERDF Key features new ESF, ERDF (2)(2)►5 regions:5 regions:

Less developed regions/convergence/>75% GDPLess developed regions/convergence/>75% GDP More developed regions (competiveness)More developed regions (competiveness) Intermediate regions Intermediate regions (>75% to <90% GDP) (over)(>75% to <90% GDP) (over) Cross border [incl. transnational, interregional] Cross border [incl. transnational, interregional] Cohesion Fund (>90%, transport/environment)Cohesion Fund (>90%, transport/environment)

►New objective: territorial cohesion for:New objective: territorial cohesion for: Cities/urban agendaCities/urban agenda Regions (towns, rivers, sea basins, outermost Regions (towns, rivers, sea basins, outermost

regions, low population, islands, cross-border, regions, low population, islands, cross-border, mountains) mountains)

Intermediary regions 75% to 90%Intermediary regions 75% to 90%In Britain, these are Cornwall & Isles of Scilly, Highlands & In Britain, these are Cornwall & Isles of Scilly, Highlands & Islands, Merseyside, South YorkshireIslands, Merseyside, South Yorkshire

Partnership in ESF, ERDFPartnership in ESF, ERDF

►Strengthen, reinforce, support social Strengthen, reinforce, support social partners, civil society, NGOspartners, civil society, NGOs

►Need for local development Need for local development approachesapproaches Active inclusionActive inclusion Fostering social innovationFostering social innovation Regeneration of deprived areasRegeneration of deprived areas Rural and maritime areasRural and maritime areas

Extracts (1)Extracts (1)Ring-fencing for specific target groups or Ring-fencing for specific target groups or

experimental approaches (e.g. local experimental approaches (e.g. local development) might also be considered, development) might also be considered, possibly in the form of global grantspossibly in the form of global grants

Representation of local and regional Representation of local and regional stakeholders, social partners and civil stakeholders, social partners and civil society in both the policy dialogue and society in both the policy dialogue and implementation of social policy should be implementation of social policy should be strengthened. Support for the dialogue strengthened. Support for the dialogue with socio-economic partners and NGOs with socio-economic partners and NGOs should be maintained.should be maintained.

Extracts (2)Extracts (2)

Local development approaches should Local development approaches should be reinforced for example by be reinforced for example by supporting active inclusion, fostering supporting active inclusion, fostering social innovation or designing social innovation or designing schemes for regeneration of deprived schemes for regeneration of deprived areasareas

Territorial cohesion means addressing Territorial cohesion means addressing regions with high concentrations of regions with high concentrations of socially marginalized communitiessocially marginalized communities

Extracts (3)Extracts (3)Institutional reform is critical, Institutional reform is critical,

complemented by support to develop complemented by support to develop administrative and institutional administrative and institutional capacity and effective governance, capacity and effective governance, available to every member state and available to every member state and regionregion

The Commission needs some resources The Commission needs some resources to support directly experimentation to support directly experimentation and networkingand networking

Meeting third sector Meeting third sector concerns?concerns?

► Social inclusion prioritySocial inclusion priority √ convergence, rest?√ convergence, rest?► Partnership/civil societyPartnership/civil society √ but await regulation√ but await regulation► Innovation/trans nationalityInnovation/trans nationality √?√?► Local developmentLocal development √ (part of new objective) √ (part of new objective)► Global grantsGlobal grants √?√?► Improved evaluationImproved evaluation √? Heard this before √? Heard this before► Targeting disadvantageTargeting disadvantage ??► Technical assistanceTechnical assistance XX► Commission supervisionCommission supervision XX► Improved administrationImproved administration X (lump sum payments?)X (lump sum payments?)► Improved NGO accessImproved NGO access X (100% proposal lost)X (100% proposal lost)

- EU level debate has focussed on what regions in, - EU level debate has focussed on what regions in, out - out -

Why this mattersWhy this matters►ESF, ERDF mean:ESF, ERDF mean:

European European prioritiespriorities not reflected in domestic agenda not reflected in domestic agenda Additional Additional resourcesresources to tackle important problems to tackle important problems MethodsMethods which can be enlightened, imaginative, which can be enlightened, imaginative,

effectiveeffective Benefits of programmes Benefits of programmes frameworks and disciplinesframeworks and disciplines

that extend beyond lifetime of a parliament that extend beyond lifetime of a parliament BUTBUT

► ESF is not dominant fund, ERDF is. Cohesion ESF is not dominant fund, ERDF is. Cohesion policy directed by DG REGIO where inequality policy directed by DG REGIO where inequality is seen as geographical, spatialis seen as geographical, spatial

► Over, the key personalities for the next stage...Over, the key personalities for the next stage...

Johannes HahnJohannes HahnRegional affairs commissionerRegional affairs commissioner

Laszlo AndorLaszlo AndorCommissioner for employment, social affairs and inclusionCommissioner for employment, social affairs and inclusion

Danuta HubnerDanuta HubnerParliament regional affairs committeeParliament regional affairs committee

Finally, the European Platform and the ESF (over)Finally, the European Platform and the ESF (over)

Platform Platform COM 2010/758 and ESF COM 2010/758 and ESF (1)(1)►Greater, more effective use of ESF, ERDFGreater, more effective use of ESF, ERDF

Simplified access for NGOs, tailor made grantsSimplified access for NGOs, tailor made grants Improved access high poverty, multiple disadvantageImproved access high poverty, multiple disadvantage Facilitating access to global grants small orgs.Facilitating access to global grants small orgs. Roma, vulnerable groups, institutions, digital literacyRoma, vulnerable groups, institutions, digital literacy

► PartnershipPartnership NGOs “essential actors”. Participation “uneven”NGOs “essential actors”. Participation “uneven” ““Strengthen, stabilize” incl. people experiencing Strengthen, stabilize” incl. people experiencing

povertypoverty VoluntaryVoluntary guidelines on stakeholder participation. guidelines on stakeholder participation.

CSF will outline how poverty target will be metCSF will outline how poverty target will be met

Platform and ESF (2)Platform and ESF (2)►Evidence-based social innovationEvidence-based social innovation

““Social experimentation”Social experimentation” Small-scale actions to test policy innovationSmall-scale actions to test policy innovation

►E.g. Active retirement, utilities, child poverty, E.g. Active retirement, utilities, child poverty, education, homeless, health, welfare-to-workeducation, homeless, health, welfare-to-work

Drawn from ESF and PROGRESSDrawn from ESF and PROGRESS High level steering committeeHigh level steering committee Research excellence networkResearch excellence network Devising of methods and impact Devising of methods and impact

measurementmeasurement

What’s missing...? (EAPN)What’s missing...? (EAPN)►Lack of governance structureLack of governance structure►No European, national platformsNo European, national platforms

Only Only voluntaryvoluntary guidelines on participation guidelines on participation Not even involvement of social NGOs in Not even involvement of social NGOs in

the social innovation steering committeethe social innovation steering committee► EAPN proposes a SF Technical Assistance EAPN proposes a SF Technical Assistance

Unit in each state to assist social NGOs.Unit in each state to assist social NGOs.► So: improved funding from ESF, but no So: improved funding from ESF, but no

more influence?more influence?

Final commentsFinal comments►Next years will settle:Next years will settle:

ESF, ERDF for 2014-2020ESF, ERDF for 2014-2020 Key battleground : Parliament (regulations)Key battleground : Parliament (regulations) European Platform against povertyEuropean Platform against poverty

►Effective, skilful NGO action at national, Effective, skilful NGO action at national, European level for enlightened European level for enlightened structural funds, structural funds, EU2020EU2020 strategy has strategy has never been more importantnever been more important

► Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!