Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion DG
Investment
ESF and FEAD Policy and Legislation
ESF Informal Technical Working Group meeting
5-6 April April 2017
Minutes
0. Adoption of draft agenda
The draft agenda was adopted.
1. Minutes of the previous TWG
The minutes of the previous TWG meeting were adopted.
2. Update on the Mid Term Review Package
The Commission updated the TWG on the mid-term review package (Block 3 & 4) and the YEI.
The Commission informed the TWG that it was unlikely the CPR would be amended by April The Commission informed the TWG that it was unlikely the CPR would be amended by April 2017 to include the additional amounts for the YEI following the expected adoption of the amendment to MFF Regulation[1]. This will be the basis for amending the Commission Implementing Decision containing the list of the eligible regions and the allocations. As Article 16 ESF Regulation establishes that the eligible regions have to be determined on the basis of the latest available annual data on youth unemployment(Eurostat data), which become available as from end of April 2017, the eligible regions will need to be determined on the basis of the 2016 data.
Belgium and UEAPME asked whether the recommendations made in the recently published European Court of Auditors report would be taken on board in the framework of the current MFF review or just as of 2020. The Commission replied that the youth unemployment challenge was larger than available ESF resources, and thus Member States ambitions when setting operational programmes should remain realistic. The YEI had been created in the framework of the ESF's rules which meant that requirements such as designation had to be taken into account. This said, and although the Commission expressed confidence in the quality of interventions on the ground, efforts to roll-out the YEI should be stepped up.
3. Ex-ante conditionalities Commission Staff Working Document
The Commission presented the recently adopted staff working document on ex-ante conditionalities.
4. Strategic report
The Commission presented the timeline and outline of the Strategic Report.
The Commission requested that the members of the TWG send information to the ESF Committee's functional mailbox, in case they were aware of possible reporting subjects.
The Commission underlined data should be provided by October, since information submitted at a later stage would not be taken into account.
5. Annual Implementation Reports
The Commission presented the state of play of the annual implementation reports.
Although the Commission was not yet able to present its formal internal position, it was striving to do it at the next meeting of the TWG. The evaluation and audit units of DG Employment were carefully considering all possible scenarios, with the aim of not excessively penalising Member States.
The Commission mentioned that one of the key issues it had identified inits preliminary analysis was underreporting.
Finally, the Commission informed the TWG that the monitoring and evaluation contract had just been launched. It would be active till April 2018. The Commission requested the TWG's cooperation in the information collection exercise which would be carried out by the contractor.
6. ESF Management: audit
The Commission presented the First results of the assessment of the ACR (2014-2020) and the enquiry Planning Memorandum on compliance audits.
7. EU TNC simplification progress (+ next phases)
The Commission updated the TWG on the latest steps taken in the framework of the ESF Transnational Cooperation network on Simplification.
8. Managing Authority – Audit Authority relations: the Swedish case
The Swedish Managing and Audit Authorities presented their working relations and tips for successful cooperation between MA and AA.
France asked whether ex-ante cooperation did not open the possibility of transfer of responsibility between MA and AA. In the Netherlands opinion, the independent role of the AA sometimes did not encourage open discussion. Germany underlined that both MA and AA should cooperate in good faith in order for issues to be solved.
The Commission replied that whenever disagreements existed between AA and MA it was not uncommon to refer them to the Commission. In any case an active exchange of views and debate between MA and AA was not only desirable, but highly encouraged by the Commission.
UEAPME underlined France's comment that the "consultancy" role of the AA should be extended in the next programming period.
9. Debrief High Level Group on Simplification
The members of the High Level Group debrief the TWG on the 7-8 March meeting of the HLG which focused on post 2020.
The meeting focused in particular on legislation and guidance and on options for post-2020 audit and management verifications.
10. ESF Management: state of play of ESF financial execution
The Commission presented the state of play of ESF financial execution, focusing in particular on, Member States reporting on implementation on the ground and N+3 risk.
Following a question by Ireland the Commission replied, that the interpretation of where the N+3 rule should apply on Multi-Fund OPs i.e. at the level of the OP or at the level of category of region per fund, was being discussed with the Legal Service. The first option would be more beneficial for Member States as it would reduce automatic de-commitments. DG Employment would convey the Legal Service's interpretation to all Member States as soon as it would be available.
The Commission added that the Performance reserve would be excluded of the N+3 de-commitment rule.
11. Transnational Cooperation
The Commission updated the TWG on the latest development on Transnational Cooperation, including the networks activities and the results of the task force aiming to increase the capacity of those Member States lagging behind.
The Commission informed the TWG that the Transnational Cooperation Conference would take place in Brussels on 1 and 2 June.
12. Disadvantaged Youths Mobility: Juventus proposal
Germany presented the Juventus proposal to the TWG. Any interested Managing Authorities were encouraged to come forward and either speak to the presenter or send a message to the ESF Committee functional mailbox.
13. Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC)
The Commission presented the Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies.
The Commission explained that both Greece and Slovakia had used ESF funds to support the rolling out of the PIAAC survey in their respective Member States. This had resulted in high media attention and both countries expressed an interest to take part in the second round. Other Member States were invited to learn from these positive examples.
14. Dutch paper on the future
The Netherlands presented its proposals on the future of the ESIF, as outlined in the paper submitted to the TWG.
AoB
- Presidency Conference: the Maltese delegation debriefed the TWG on the Presidency Conference and thanked those who attended this successful event.
- JAP: the Commission updated the TWG on its plans to launch a JAP call for proposals on the 2nd half of 2017.
- Open Data Platform: The Commission updated the TWG on the Open Data Platform, and informed the members it had won a prize from the European Ombudsman
1
[1] In the meantime the adoption of the amendments to the MFF Regulation has been postponed.