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Integrating the EQUAL experience into the new ESF Programmes: Guidance notes

June 2006

EQUAL has been organised as a learning programme for good governance by applying the principles of partnership, transnational co-operation, innovation and gender equality. Mainly based on the lessons learnt under EQUAL, working groups of Member State representatives have now drafted guidance notes on how to integrate these principles into the new ESF Programmes (2007-2013), and how to base their programming efforts on a sound planning approach.

The EQUAL Community Initiative has been organised as a learning programme not only for employment and social inclusion policies, but also for good governance. The principles of

• Partnership: Involving and empowering all relevant stakeholders;
• Trans-national Co-operation: Learning from experiences in other Member States;
• Innovation and Mainstreaming: Developing new approaches and demonstrating their benefits, sharing good practice and influencing policies and practices;
• Gender Equality: Making gender equality an integral part of all policies and practices

were tested and further elaborated in the EQUAL context.

Time has now come to take advantage of the experience of more than 3,300 EQUAL development partnerships. The new ESF regulation provides the legal basis for doing this by stipulating that the principles must be an integral part of the new ESF programmes that will run from 2007 to 2013.

However, it is for Member States to identify the most suitable implementation arrangements. To facilitate this, and in order to make best use of the EQUAL experience, In mid-2005 Member States represented in the ESF Committee set up four working groups with experienced officials to draft reflection notes that can provide guidance.

The four reflection notes have been finalised and were presented at the last plenary meeting of the ESF committee, where they were well received. They are now ready to be used by Member State representatives responsible for programming the new ESF programmes as well as all other interested stakeholders. In addition to the four reflection notes a sourcebook on sound planning has been drafted on the basis of the outcome of a seminar held in Vilnius, November 2005.

The principle of Partnership in the new ESF programmes (2007-2013):

The principle of Transnational and Interregional Cooperation in the new ESF programmes (2007-2013):  

The principle of Innovation in the new ESF programmes (2007-2013):  

The principle of Gender Equality in the new ESF programmes (2007-2013):  

Sourcebook on Sound Planning of ESF programmes

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