This document summarizes discussions at a meeting of the ESF Transnational Platform regarding mutual learning and calls for proposals. Key points include: - Mutual learning through the platform has been a success but more engagement is needed from larger member states, regions, and social partners. - Participation in thematic networks has increased but some member states are still underrepresented. - The 2018 coordinated call for proposals needs stronger leadership and harmonization to improve outcomes from the first call. - A calls task force including managing authorities will help streamline the application and selection process for transnational projects. - Next steps outlined include establishing the task force, agreeing on project themes and criteria, and starting the process now to publish calls

1. Social Europe
ESF Transnational Platform
Toby Johnson, Team leader
ESF Committee
Bratislava 1 December 2016
Mutual learning a success –
We must take a lead on calls

2. Social Europe

3. Social Europe
Meeting rhythm
3
TN 1st meeting 2nd meeting 3rd meeting 4th meeting
Employment BEnl 14-15 Dec 20-21 Apr 12-13 Jul (Rome) 6/7/8 or 13/14 Dec (Paris)
Inclusion ES 10-11 Dec 14-15 Apr 18 Jul 16:00 (web) 12-13 Jan?
Youth employment
DE BEnl CZ FI
14-15 Dec 10-11 Mar 20 Jun 19-20 Oct (Helsinki)
Learning & skills IT 1-2 Dec 9 Mar (web) 20-21 Jun 17-18 Nov (Brussels + Mons)
Social economy PL 12-13 Jan 19-20 May (Warsaw) 11 Jul 15:30 (web) 30 Nov-1 Dec (Bratislava)
Governance CZ 18-19 Jan
25-26 Feb
(Amsterdam)
18-19 May (Sofia) 10-11 Nov (Bratislava)
Simplification BEnl 9-10 Dec 25-26 May 6-7 Jul (Rome) 27-28 Oct (Paris)
Partnership EE IE 23-24 Nov 29 Feb-1 Mar 1 Jul (web) 27-28 Oct (Dublin)
Migrants - 22-23 Feb 7-8 Jun 13-14 Oct
6/9 outside Brusselsred = web meetinggreen = lead MSs

4. Social Europe
4
TN participation – Member States
0
5
10
15
20
25
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
w
w
w
W = web
Averages:
Round 1: 9.4
Round 2: 9.9
Round 3: 9.9
w

5. Social Europe
5
TN participation – stakeholders
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Averages:
Round 1: 2.4
Round 2: 2.4
Round 3: 5.3

6. Social Europe
6
How many TNs
does each MS
attend?
21 countries attended at least 2 out of
the first 3 meetings (‘old’ MSs = 9
‘new’ MSs = 12)
6
2
2
5
4
3
5
1
7
2
4
CY = 1NB off map:
Most: BEnl, CZ PL
Next: EL, ES, HR, HU

7. Social Europe
Trends in TN participation
 People from 26 MSs have taken part so far
 Majority (57%) are ‘new’ MSs
 No. of stakeholders doubled
 More meetings hosted outside Brussels
 Confidence in web meetings growing (?)
but
 Large MSs, regions & social partners
underrepresented – esp. employers

8. Social Europe
A variety of activities & outputs
 Problem analysis
 Surveys
 Good practice identification
 Study visits
 Peer reviews
 Inspirational speakers
 Practice seminars
 Online learning + coaching
Logframes
Glossaries
Maps
Policy briefs
Peer review
reports

9. Social Europe
Service
quality
Integrated
services
Migrants
L&S SE
LTU INC
YTH
EMP
GOV
MIGMobility
Qualifications
Overlaps / synergies

10. Social Europe
Issues
 How to engage with participants’ daily issues
 How to move:
 from administrative  entrepreneurial mindset
 from subthemes  problem-solving
 How to raise horizons
 How to interest employers
 National networks

11. Social Europe
MS Themes Budget Projects
BEnl employment, inclusion, youth (not
mobility), learning & skills, social
economy, refugees
€2.5m 21
FI employment, inclusion, youth,
learning & skills
undefined 15
PL employment, social integration,
youth, lifelong learning, social
economy
€4.8m 43-60
SE inclusion, youth, social economy,
migrants
€7m 12
Total €14.3m+ c. 100
Low outturn on 1st co-ordinated call

12. Social Europe
Bouncing back
 Transnational learning in practice as well as
policy is critical to future of ESF
 Has an added value in enabling smart inclusive
growth
 EQUAL outcomes are still powering innovation
 What are the costs of non-transnationality? If
TNC dies, how will we know?
 Create a virtuous circle of participation
 Give a political lead!

13. Social Europe
EQUAL’s Community added value
 IT: pioneered work on migration
 CY, MT: women’s activity rate
 CY: enabled asylum seekers to work
 LV: new social services, target group involvement
 FI, DE: visibility for vulnerable groups (offenders, addicts…)
 FR: cross-cultural understanding
 EE: introduced gender equality requirements
 IE: repository of materials
 LT: new policy areas – reconciliation, asylum-seekers
 PL: partnership working
 EL: mental health deinstitutionalisation

14. Social Europe
Response to the problem of calls
 Capacity-building follow-up: geodesks, visits…
 Encourage flow of flexible calls
 2018 co-ordinated call:
 Define sub-themes in TNs – this time we have
enough time & knowledge
 Leadership: stronger harmonisation by an MA-
led calls task force
 Simple framework but with detailed guidance
and copious dialogue

15. Social Europe
Results of calls seminar 7-8 Nov
 10 MSs attended  need
to reach more
 Mutual learning is
valuable
 Need for political lead
as well as technical help
 Simple TCA – avoid
gold-plating
 MS task force needed
to harmonise differences
 National networks &
ambassadors are good
tools
Thankyou Finland,
Flanders, Poland,
Sweden!

16. Social Europe
Calls task force
 Must include critical mass of MAs
 Expenses reimbursed
 Tasks:
 Review ToR
 Synergy between themes
 Streamline and agree TCA format, debug system
 Stimulate national networks
 Help organise partner search fora
 Monitoring, impact maximisation…
 Report to conference June 2017

17. Social Europe
Timetable for 2018 Coord Call
Policy:
 EC letter to MSs
 MSs reply to online survey
 Discuss at ESF Committee
Practice:
 Task force set up
 Task force agrees ToR, TCA etc.
 Thematic Networks agree subthemes
 Discuss at annual conference
 Preparatory phase MAs publish calls
 All MAs publish calls
 Applications deadline
 Projects start
 Start now!
Dec 16
20 Jan (15 Feb) 17
5-6 Feb + 5-6 Apr 17
Jan 17
by May 17
by May 17
Jun 17
Jul 17
Oct-Dec 17
Feb-Apr 18
Oct 18

18. Social Europe
Member State actions
 Answer Commission survey
 Identify TNC champions
 Join the task force!