European Structural Funds

Social Inclusion & Tackling Poverty inEuropean Structural Funds: 2014-2020

Eleanor Warley

Welsh European Funding Office

What we’ll cover

Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future

Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich dyfodol Europe & Wales: Investing in your future

• Social Inclusion & Tackling Poverty in EU Structural Funds, considering:

• Current programmes

• European Commission proposals for future EU programmes

• Wales’ preparations for future programmes

Social Inclusion / Tackling Poverty in Current Programmes



• ESF Programme focused on:• Tackling Unemployment / Inactivity • Increasing Skills• Example Projects: WCVA Gateway, JCP Want to Work

• ERDF Programme focused on economic growth, including:• Support for social enterprises & credit unions• Promoting digital inclusion

EU Programme ProposalsTo achieve Europe 2020 goals Commission is proposing :

• Closer integration of funds (ERDF, ESF, EAFRD, EMFF).

• New, more directive, ‘architecture’ – Common Strategic Framework; Partnership Agreement; Operational Programmes.

• Stronger focus on performance/results

• Use of stronger (contractual) conditions / incentives.

• Social Inclusion & Combating Poverty – a key part of the Partnership Agreement



Investment Focus: ESF



ESF draft regulations are focused on Europe 2020 goals:

• Promoting employment and supporting labour mobility • Investing in education, skills and life-long learning• Promoting social inclusion and combating poverty – min. 20% of

ESF• Enhancing institutional capacity and efficient public administration

• Greater emphasis on fighting youth unemployment• Strengthened provision for transnational co-operation, social

innovation, gender equality and equal opportunities.

Planning for new programmes• Qualification – likely but still not 100% certain

• Amounts – awaiting confirmation of EU budget

• Planning in partnership



Welsh Government Guiding Principles



• Creation of sustainable jobs and growth: facilitating role of business.

• Balance between greater thematic concentration and more effective spatial targeting- essentially greater concentration in fewer geographic areas- to maximise impact.

• Alignment of programmes with relevant Welsh Government strategies and policies.

• Contribution to a transformational impact on the Welsh economy.

• Ensure sustainability of future investments: clear exit strategies, takes account of role of private sector, building social resilience etc.

• Demonstrate clear added value and based on sound evidence.

Future Priorities



• Informed by partnership engagement, Ministerial priorities

• Education, Skills and lifelong learning.• Research and Innovation.• Helping people into Work.• Sustainable transport and network infrastructure.• SME Competitiveness.• Sustainable ( renewable) energy and energy

efficiency.• Access to and exploitation of the digital economy.

Social Inclusion & Tackling Poverty



• Built into the ESF with a clear link to employability and increasing skills – both of which are key to tackling poverty.

• Early thoughts include:• Focusing on furthest from the labour market, workless households• Ensuring people gain essential skills and are digitally included• Targeted early years provision to prevent skills / employability gaps in

later life

• Scope within other funds – ERDF, EAFRD, EMFF - to support social inclusion / tackle poverty – emphasis on inclusive economic growth and employment

• Development in detail will take place during summer 2012 – consultation on draft programmes in late 2012.



Planning TimescalesPublish draft regulations & draft financial perspective (2014-2020?)

Publish draft Common Strategic Framework

Agreement of Financial Perspective and budget allocations

Agreement of Structural Fund Regulations

EU Negotiation of Budget / Regulations

Establish workstreams

Early programme development & consultation

Detailed programme development

Public consultation on draft documents

Negotiation of Operational Programmes

Begin programme implementation

WEFO key stages / milestones

2013

Negotiations

20122011 2014

First meeting of Post-2013 Partnership Forum

Thank you. Contact us on:

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.wefo.wales.gov.uk

Twitter: www.twitter.com/wefowales or www.twitter.com/wefocymru

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European Structural Funds

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