The document discusses social inclusion and tackling poverty in European Structural Funds from 2014-2020. It outlines current programs focused on unemployment, skills, and digital inclusion. The European Commission is proposing closer fund integration and stronger focus on performance. For ESF, at least 20% will focus on social inclusion and poverty reduction. Wales is preparing for new programs by engaging partners and outlining priorities like education, innovation, and sustainable energy. Social inclusion will be built into ESF and other funds to support inclusive growth and employment.

1. Social Inclusion & Tackling Poverty in
European Structural Funds: 2014-2020
Eleanor Warley
Welsh European Funding Office

2. What we’ll cover
• Social Inclusion & Tackling Poverty in EU Structural
Funds, considering:
• Current programmes
• European Commission proposals for future EU
programmes
• Wales’ preparations for future programmes
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3. 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
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Europe and Wales: Investing in your future

4. EU Programme Proposals
To 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
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5. 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.
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6. Planning for new programmes
• Qualification – likely but still not 100% certain
• Amounts – awaiting confirmation of EU budget
• Planning in partnership
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Europe and Wales: Investing in your future

7. 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.
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Dyfodol Europe & Wales: Investing in your future
Europe and Wales: Investing in your future

8. 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.
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Dyfodol Europe & Wales: Investing in your future
Europe and Wales: Investing in your future

9. 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.
Ewrop & Chymru: Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich dyfodol
Buddsoddi yn eich
Dyfodol Europe & Wales: Investing in your future
Europe and Wales: Investing in your future

10. EU Negotiation of Budget / Regulations Planning Timescales
Publish draft Publish Agreement
regulations & draft of Financial
draft financial Common Perspective
perspective Strategic and budget Agreement of Structural
(2014-2020?) Framework Negotiations allocations Fund Regulations
2011 2012 2013 2014
First meeting Early Detailed Public Negotiation of Begin
of Post-2013 programme programme consultation Operational programme
Partnership development development on draft Programmes implementation
Forum & consultation documents
Establish
workstreams
WEFO key stages / milestones
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Europe and Wales: Investing in your future

11. Thank you. Contact us on:
E-mail: WEFO-Post2013Programmes@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.wefo.wales.gov.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/wefowales or
www.twitter.com/wefocymru