Mainstreaming Transnationality into European Social Fund
Programmes in Wales (2007-2013)
Neil Thomas (Welsh Assembly Government)
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
WALES EUROPEAN STRUCTURAL FUND REGIONS 2007 - 2013
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
West Wales & the Valleys Convergence Priorities
1. Supplying young people with the skills for employment (€164.9m*)
2. Increasing employment and tackling economic inactivity (€286.8m*)
3. Improving skill levels and the adaptability of the workforce (€331.8m*)
4. Modernising and improving the quality of our public services (€33.0m*)
(* ESF grant values)
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
Convergence Priority 1: Supplying young people with skills for learning
and future employment
• Priority focuses exclusively on young people 11-19;• Tackling underachievement as well as raising skills and
aspirations;• 70% of resources will be targeted at the 14-19 and 30% at 11-
13;• 25% of young people helped will be in the NEET category;• 30% of participants to gain qualifications and 60% to progress to
further learning.
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
Convergence Priority 2 and RC&E Priority 1: Increasing employment and tackling economic inactivity
• Shift of focus more towards the economically inactiveConvergence – 70%RC&E – 85%
• Targets to get 25% of participants into work; 30% to gain qualifications and 33% to progress to further learning (both programmes);
• Convergence priority can also support workplace heath programmes.
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
Convergence Priority 3 and RCE Priority 2: Improving skill levels and the adaptability
of the workforce
• 60% of Convergence funding will be targeted at raising the skills base (i.e. basic literacy and numeracy, and up to Level 2);
• 35% at higher level skills i.e. Levels 3, 4 and above;
• 5% at promoting gender equality;
• Strong emphasis within RCE programme on raising skills base but also scope for supporting training at higher levels within small businesses (up to 50 employees);
• Ambitious targets for qualifications achievement (e.g. 42% of Convergence participants to achieve qualifications, including 50% of those pursuing basic skills).
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
Convergence Priority 4: Modernising and improving the quality of our public services
• Convergence only and smallest priority; • New area of activity for ESF and fits well with Welsh public
services improvement agenda - Making the Connections;• 40% of funding in this priority will support collaborative projects
across public services;• 60% of the priority resources will be spent on workforce
planning and development.
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
East Wales Regional Competitiveness
& Employment 1. Increasing employment and tackling economic
inactivity (€ 29.8m*)
2. Improving skill levels and the adaptability of the workforce (€ 32.5m*)
(*ESF grant value)
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
Approach to Trans-national Projects
• Horizontal integration across all ESF Programmes
• No financial limits or targets for transnational activity
• Must fit priorities/themes in OPs & Strategic Frameworks
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
Key Themes for Transnational Activity (ESF)
• Adaptability
• Integration of job-seekers and inactive people
• Integration of disadvantaged groups and combating discrimination
• Enhancing human capital
• Identifying innovative technologies and successful leadership and management practices in a trans-national context.
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
Issues working transnationally……
• Culture change - transnational activity not an add-on • Extra time and effort to find right partners
• Different cultures and working practices.
Ewrop & Chymru: Buddsoddi yn eich Dyfodol Europe and Wales: Investing in your future
What is Wales doing…….?
Trans-national and Territorial Co-operation Strategy:
WEFO’s role:-• identify areas of co-operation – programme and project• raise awareness of stakeholders of new opportunity• partner signposting via networks e.g. EARLALL• guidance on practical aspects of trans-national working• website to post project ideas, links with other regions• seminars to publicise transnational project ideas;
Welsh Project Ideas
• ‘Roots to Success’• Vocational Education and Training Mobility• Recognition of learning for migrant workers