The document discusses the Valencian region of Spain and its efforts to manage European Union funds to promote employment, social inclusion, and economic development. It describes how the region has managed EU funds totaling over €3.7 billion between 1994 and 2013 across policy areas like environment, transportation, innovation, agriculture, and more. It also outlines the EU PROGRESS program that aims to support EU objectives in employment and social policy through 2013.

1. Mr Miguel Mares Garcés Youth and Sport activities. Pristina .Kosovo TAIEX – P2P STUDYTOUR 41562 Employment, Youth and Local development Best practices. Sport and social inclusion, equal opportunities and integration. PROGRESS 2007-2013 Prístina 2nd June 2010

2. Valencia region Valencia region in Brussels Employment and local development activities PROGRESS Best practices Region Level: SERVEF Castellón Alzira Contact detalils

3. Project Valencia Towers Port of Valencia

5. The Region of Valencia is located on the Mediterranean coast of Spain and is part of the so-called Mediterranean Arch , an axis which has experienced one of the fastest economic growth rates in the European Union COMUNITAT VALENCIANA Total surface area: 23.000 km2  4,800.000 inhabitants, the population of the region accounts for 10.5 % of the total Spanish population income per inhabitant: 93(EU25=100) Valencia is the third largest city in Spain population density:185 inhabitant/Km2 One of the co-official languages of Spain together with Galician, Catalan and Basque is Valenciano INTRODUCTION: VALENCIAN REGION

6. The Valencian Community in Europe

7. 3 2 1 2 3 3 7 1 12 3 3 187

8. VALENCIAN REGION: 20 YEARS MANAGING EUROPEAN FUNDS 1994 / 1999 1.040 M ecus 2000 / 2006 2.744 M € ERDF: 607M, ESF: 310M, Agriculture funds: 123M ERDF: 2.055M, ESF: 476M, Agriculture funds : 212M 2007 / 2013

10. VALENCIAN REGION: 20 YEARS MANAGING EUROPEAN FUNDS ENVIRONMENT AND HYDRIC RESOURCES TRANSPORT AND ENERGY NETWORKS COMPETITIVENESS AND PRODUCTIVE FABRIC IMPROVEMENT KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY (Innovation, I+D, INFSO) LOCAL AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

11. RETURN ON INVESTMENT 2003 - 2007

12. 1989 Opening of the first Valencian Office in Brussels 1999 Local pilot project: valenciainnova.info Nov 2003 : New regional approach How to cope with entering Objective 2 (Competitiveness) in 2007 65% less on EU funding Globalization and risks for local enterprises

14. Public Private Partnership (PPP) FCVRE Fundación Comunidad Valenciana – Región Europea

15. Fundación Comunidad Valenciana – Región Europea www.uegva.info Non-profit organisation, based in the Valencian Regional Office in Brussels Created in 2003 in order to help Valencian civil society to obtain European funding as the Valencian Region entered the ‘Competitiveness and Employment’ EU regional objective in 2007 Facilitates the participation of Valencian industrial groups, chambers of commerce, financial institutions, local development agencies, educational organisations, research institutes and other stakeholders in European policies and projects

17. COLABORATION WITH VALENCIA REGION UNIVERSITIES Formación Teórica: Tutor FCVRE, Aula Unión Europea... Formación Práctica: Prácticas voluntarias e integradas, Erasmus Prácticum… Debates Europeos

20. www.gva.es/sabenageber

23. Community Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity Decision Nº1672/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 Official Journal L315 of 15.11.2006 Entry into force: 01.01.2007 Expiry date: 31.12.2013 PROGRESS 2007-2013

24. BACKGROUND SIMPLIFICATION RATIONALISE THE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS PROGRESS 2007-2013

25. OVERALL GOAL OF THE PROGRAMM To financially support the implementation of the objectives of the European Union in the employment and social affairs area, as set out in the Social Agenda, and thereby contribute to the achievement of the Lisbon Strategy goals. PROGRESS

26. Growth, Competitiveness and Job creation Boost knowledge and innovation Make Europe a more attractive place to invest and work Create more and better jobs THE REVISED LISBON STRATEGY

27. The roadmap for actions in the employment and social area as part of the Lisbon Strategy Pursue an integrated European approach economic, social and employment policies Promote quality – of employment, social policy and industrial relations Modernise systems of social protection by adapting them to the current requirements of our societies, on the basis of solidarity THE SOCIAL AGENDA

28. Moving towards full employment Making work a real option for all Increasing the quality and productivity of work, and Anticipating and managing change Creating a more cohesive society: Equal opportunities for all: Modernising social protection Combatting poverty and promoting social inclusion Promoting diversity and non-discrimination MAIN GOALS OF THE SOCIAL AGENDA (2005-2010)

29. Mainly seen as a catalyst for change Support to the Member States in meeting their commitments or converging towards EU objectives by : Proposing EU strategies Implementing and following-up EU objectives and their translation into national policies Transposing and following-up application of EU legislation Promoting co-operation and coordination between Member States and with civil society organisations IMPLEMENTING THE SOCIAL AGENDA THE ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY - CONSEQUENCES

30. PROGRESS PREDECESSORS Simplification and streamlining of Community expenditure Integrated Programme Overall budget: 743 million€ D ivided into five policy sections SITUATION

31. Employment Linked to the European Employment Strategy Social inclusion and social protection Linked to Open Method of Coordination Working conditions Labour law, restructuring and anticipating change, strategy on health and safety at work Anti-discrimination Principle of non-discrimination and mainstreaming of the principle into all EU policies Gender equality Principle of gender equality and mainstreaming of the principle into all EU policies PROGRESS FIVE POLICY AREAS

32. To improve the knowledge and understanding of the situations prevailing in the Member States To support the development of statistical tools, methods and common indicators To support and monitor the implementation of policy objectives and Community law in the Member States, and assess their effectiveness and their impacct To promote networking/mutual learning, identification and dissemination of good practice and innovative approaches at EU level To enhance the awareness of stakeholders and the general public about the EU policies and objectives To boost the capacity of key EU networks to promote, support and further develop EU policies and objectives To promote gender mainstreaming into all sections and activities of PROGRESS PROGRESS GENERAL OBJECTIVES

33. LINKING PROGRESS WITH THE COMMUNITY STRATEGIC GOAL OF CREATING MORES AND BETTER JOBS AND OFFERING EQUAL OPPORTUNIITES FOR ALL Magnitude of the challenges, Limited eu competence, modest financial resources USING THE POSSIBILITIES OFFERED BY AN INTREGRATED PROGRAMME New possibilities to improve policy coherence and efficiency through cross-cutting work At the same time, taking account of the specificities os each policy section ESTABLISHING STRONG PARTNERSHIPS AND INCREASING PUBLIC TRUST Success and impact will depend on the establishment of partnerships with MSs and stakeholders, incluidng social partners & civil society Essential to take account of concerns and aspirtain of EU citizens PROGRESS GENERAL OBJECTIVES 2

34. Analytical activities (data/statistics; common indicators; studies; impact assessments) Mutual learning, Awareness & Dissemination (best practices & peer review; media campaigns and events ) (Assistance)Support to main actors (support to key EU networks; working groups; training seminars; experts' networks; EU level observatories; exchange of personnel; cooperation with international institutions) PROGRESS ACTIVITIES

35. Total financial envelope 743,29 m€ 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 82,9 95,72 103,56 110,07 113,63 116,96 120,41 Repartition of the budget among policy sections (2007-2013 Employment Social inclusion Working conditions Non-discrimination Gender equality 23% 30% 10% 23% 12% +Support 2% PROGRESS BUDGET

36. Participating countries Public employment services and their agencies Local and regional authorities Specialised bodies provided for under Community law Social partners NGOs, in particular those organised at European level Higher education institutions and research institutes Experts in evaluation National statistical offices Media ACCESS TO PROGRESS

37. Four axes Consolidation Focus Alignement Complementarity Increasing efficiency and performance – result-based management Developing a strategic framework for PROGRESS implementation Focusing on actions where EU added-value is highest Defining EU added-value Complementarity with ESF and other Community interventions ENHANCION PROGRESS IMPACT

38. Promoting partnership Coordination at Commission level Coordination at the national level Link between PROGRESS Committee and other policy Committees Partnership with NGOs and social partners Social Agenda Forum Putting in place a multi-annual programming Adoption fo the annual plan of cowek Promoting gender mainstreaming anad qeual access Procudeures for the selection of activities Agreement on the list of beneficiciaries Community financial support Reporting PROGRESS IMPLEMENTATION

39. Direct management by the Commission Commission is assisted by a Committee (with representatives from Member States) Approval by the Committee of the general guidelines for implementation and annual plans of work Annual Plans of Work implemented through Call for tenders (contracts) Call for proposals (subsidies - max 80% co-financing) METHOD

40. http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/progress/index_en.html + INFO

41. Regions can bring some relevant contributions towards the Lisbon objectives: 1.- Promoting economic growth: The regional planning of Stockholm in the economic field and education and training; Innovation strategies The creation of Employment and Economic Development Centres; Life long training strategies; The creation of economic development agencies; Consultancy and training for SMEs. Regional contribution 2.-Achieving full employment: Regional and local employment strategies; Active employment policies regarding job creation; Modernisation of the employment services.

42. 3. Strengthening social cohesion: Creation of support schemes with regard to disadvantaged people groups; Specific programmes for immigrants; Creation of working/learning places to improve the link between education and the labour market; Measures regarding prevention of school drop outs. 4. Governance: The formulation of regional employment strategies; Social dialogue; Monitoring and evaluation practices. Regional contribution

43. Despite the different administrative models, the Regions are all involved in instigating projects – in partnership with other players; Employment and training policies are still insufficiently integrated with policies in other areas that also contribute to competitiveness. However, a number of examples show that where strategic approaches do exist at regional level, policy integration and coordination is improved; Regions Decentralisation encourages policy coordination and integration. Regions that have greater competence achieve a greater degree of policy integration and coordination. Proximity to the issues at stake is therefore a key success factor; Governance is an important factor in the success of employment and training policies. Achievement of positive results in development processes is increasingly dependent on the capacity of the various public and private players to be actively involved in the design and delivery of policies;

44. In this context, the Regional Authorities are becoming catalysts and key coordinators of regional development processes. Their specific role is one of networking and getting various partners to work together towards achieving development objectives. Coordination with other administrative levels is necessary if the policies are to be effective. Considerable progress remains to be made in this area.

45. Objetive: promote the participation of municipalities among the transnational cooperation, participation in European projects, agreements in technological and innovation transfer between municipalities, as well as signature of agreements in technical assistance or regional networks. Local and regional governments can participate in the new strategic objectives of the EU The local and regional governments can be an example of change innovating directly in municipal structures and improving the services for citizens. The engagement of the FCVRE at local and regional level is to promote the relations between municipalities and provinces with other European regions

46. Cooperation with Local Development Agencies of Municipalities Agreement of cooperation between FCVRE and the Federation of Municipalities and Provinces Stage of Local Development Agents in Brussels Training programes Duration around 6 months Objective of the stage: direct participation in projects among european funds and municipalities networks

47. FIRST AGREEMENT with municipality of San Antonio de Benagéber . Incorporation date in Brussels: April 2005 . Objective: Leader in environment and cultural projects . Contact: Miguel Mares Garcés ( [email_address] ), AGREEMENT with municipality of Vila-Real . Incorporation date in Brussels : September 2006 . Objective : participation in three European projects 1. PROYECTO EASY ( IEE CALL FOR PROPOSAL 2006 ) 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL ENERGY AGENCY ( IEE CALL FOR PROPOSALS 2006 ) 3. TAXI DRIVER ( LEONARDO PROGRAMME ) Contact : Amelia Delcampo Carda ( [email_address] ) AGREEMENT with County Council of La Ribera Alta . Incorporation date: February 2007 . Objective: participation in European projects . Contact: Laura Bas ( [email_address] )

48. Some examples in European integration City Council of Vila-real: after municipal elections they have created a new European integration department to coordinate and develop European projects County Council of La Mancomunitat de la Ribera. Among a consortium with other County Council they have created two autonomous entities for economic and social development in the cities: PATER (Territorial Pact for Employment) involved in projects. and Energy Agency (AER) to establish a culture of energy saving and develop projects. WE ARE OPEN TO RECEIVE YOUR EXPERTS AND SHARE EXPERIENCES, TO PARTICIPATE IN EU FUNDING !

49. In the Valencian Regional Office our best asset is our Human Capital and we share our experience by the exchange of staff: We host your employees in our premises in Valencia or Brussels We can work out an exchange of staff

50. SERVEF: Employment and Training Services for the Valencia´s region The Servef is an organization independent from the administration that was created in 2000. Its aim is that the Generalitat Valenciana (Valencia´s region) receives the transfers from the active employment policies and manages them in an integrated way. Its staff is composed of 1.200 persons and it includes a network of 56 job centres and 13 training centres which attend to more than 400.000 jobseekers in the Valencia´s region. Its 2008 budget reaches 462 million Euros. Its main activities are work intermediation, training or retraining for work insertion and the promotion of employment and hiring, especially stable and quality jobs. It targets in particular those most in need: the young, women, disabled people or those who could be socially excluded .

51. Active Employment Policies Youth Employment Insertion Municipalities Non Governmental Organizations Special Job Centers Enterpreneurship Youth, Long Term Uneyployed, Women, Disabilities Training Beca Salario Vocational Training Escuela Taller Casa Oficios Counselling/ Professional Guiding

53. CASTELLÓN The project “City of Solidarity”

54. Castellón. Geographical situation

55. Castellón. Main data Capital of one of the 3 provinces of Comunitat Valenciana 180.000 inhabitants Universitat Jaume I (over than 10.000 students)

56. Castellón. Economy Ceramics (innovation) Citrus fruits Tourism

57. The City of Solidarity The project “City of Solidarity” is being developed in the facilities of the old Military Barracks and consist in a Workshop School and a Workshop of Employment. The Workshop School is organized in two years of duration and for a target of non trained people younger than 25. They train for a job and prepare the exams for the School Graduate exams. The students receive a grant during the first 6 months and afterwards they are hired for a job during the rest of the project.

58. The Workshop School The 2nd of November started the 2nd edition of the Workshop School in the City of Solidarity of Castellón. 3 lines of training: - Bricklaying (11 students) - Carpentry (12 students) - Plumbing (12 students) Teaching team: - 1 director - 1 administrative assistant - 1 support teacher - 5 training coach

59. Budget Castellon City Council contribution: 540.000 € SERVEF contribution: 997.000 €

60. Municipality of Alzira

61. Municipality of Alzira Located 40 km south Valencia. 44.892 inhabitants Capital “Ribera Alta” Industrial Services represent 74,68% of local Economy. New Industrial Park

62. I d e a Iniciativa per al Desenvolupament Econòmic d´Alzira

63. What is I D EA? Local Agency of Development (Council of Alzira). Created in 1995. Budget 2008: 2.023.113,04 € Employees: 25 Objective: increasing the employment and wealth of alzira through external resources. Users: unemployment and entrepreneurial. IDEA work areas. (Programs, Economic promotion, Information and laboral guidance)

64. Integral Plan of Employment “Youth Alzira” What is a “Integral Plan of Employment”? Objectives of the Plan. Users and Enterprises. How it works the Integral plan of Employment: Duration: 12 months Experts in employment: 3 People. Budget of the Plan: 132.000 Euros

65. SERVICES: Information about oficial Grants for rent/buy House, for Training. Information about study and work in European Union. Tourism. Cultural Activities. Internet Room

66. www.uegva.info We want to cooperate with you and are open to discuss new ideas for future initiatives You may find further information on our website:

67. LET’S WORK TOGETHER!

68. http://www.uegva.info

69. ±1300 CONTACTS Universities COMVAL Belgium Embassies COMVAL Job seekers Old employees and stagiers Erasmus Stagier OfficeUE Eurodyssée (COMVAL y Bélgica) Other contacts Employment and training institutions COMVAL Bélgica

70. Valencian Regional Office Rue de la Loi, 227 – 4th Floor B-1040 Brussels

71. Thank you for your kind attention! [email_address]