Social Agenda 37: The new European Social Fund

Summary:

Until the 31 October 2014, EU citizens have the opportunity to reply to the public online consultation launched by the European Commission on the first four years of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth - and on how to make sure that it acts as an effective post-crisis strategy for growth and jobs in Europe. This consultation will pave the ground for a mid-term review of the strategy in 2015.

Whatever the outcome of the Europe 2020 mid-term review, Member States have already been called upon to focus more on the Europe 2020 objectives, through two recent developments. One is the European Semester process of economic governance, which is now taking place for the fourth year running. Through this collective process, the European Council sends customised recommendations to each EU country on how to better implement the Europe 2020 strategy. The Member States later report on how they have taken these recommendations into account in their national budgets.

The second development is the new EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the years 2014-2020. It explicitly connects the dissemination and management of EU funds to the way the Europe 2020 strategy is being implemented in each country.

Contents:

• Employment: Taking EURES out of the grey area
• Restructuring: Anticipation and good management
• Inclusive entrepreneurship: The missing entrepreneurs
• Europe 2020 Strategy: Adjusting the sights
• Special feature: The ESF and the EGF
• Special feature: the new European Social Fund
• Special feature: Nauras and Ebrahim, apprentice chefs
• Special feature: The EGF digs its heels in
• Special feature: What triggers EGF funding
• Traineeships: An EU quality framework
• Other voices: Pierre Baussand, Social Platform Director
• Interview: Michel Servoz, new Director General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission