We are happy to inform you about the finalisation of the core output of the COP on Partnerships in the ESF: the "Partnership Learning Manual".

The Partnership Learning Manual comprises all lessons learnt gathered within the last 3 years of the transnational learning partnership process. It assist Managing Authorities and other programme managers in further design and development of partnership approaches.

Thank you to all of you who contributed to this valuable publication!

The European Commission has adopted a draft legislative package which will frame cohesion policy for 2014-2020. The new proposals are designed to reinforce the strategic dimension of the policy and to ensure that EU investment is targeted on Europe's long-term goals for growth and jobs ("Europe 2020").

Through Partnership Contracts agreed with the Commission, Member States will commit to focussing on fewer investment priorities in line with these objectives. The package also harmonises the rules related to different funds, including rural development and maritime and fisheries, to increase the coherence of EU action.

For press release and more information on new proposals for Regulations please visit EC Regional Policy-Inforegio.

The European Community of Practice on Gender Mainstreaming is glad to present the position paper on Gender Mainstreaming in the next funding period of the Structural Funds!

Find the full-text version here: http://www.gendercop.com/position-paper-on-new-funding-period-of-the-str...

Through this position paper, the European Community of Practice on Gender Mainstreaming (Gender-CoP), asks the European Parliament, the EU Commission and the Member States to coherently anchor gender equality and gender mainstreaming in the preparatory work for the next Structural Funds period.

Please contact the Secretariat of Gender-CoP if you have any questions: http://www.gendercop.com/contact/secretariat

The “Community of Practice on Partnership in the ESF” was presented as one of 15 selected initiatives/projects at the Networking Session: Local Initiatives for Skills, Jobs, Social Inclusion and Economic Development, which was held in the frame of the 7th Annual Meeting of the OECD LEED Forum on Partnerships and Local Governance (Vienna, Austria, 10 March 2011). The session was open to all participants of the meeting and provided excellent opportunity to exchange knowledge with peers and establish professional networks and contacts. The “COP table” was visited by a number of participants coming from Poland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Germany, United Kingdom, Hungary, Portugal and Sweden who received information about the network implementation, main activities as well as information about key milestones of 2011: the International Partnership Conference and the Partnership Learning Manual.

Dear COP members,

We would like to draw your attention to the networking session on "Local Initiatives for Skills, Jobs, Social Inclusion and Economic Development" held on 10 March 2011 during the 7th Annual Meeting of the OECD LEED Forum on Partnership and Local Governance (12am - 1 pm).

This session will provide an excellent opportunity for all participants to exchange knowledge with peers and establish professional networks and contacts. A series of short interactive sessions will be organised featuring discussions around selected presentations of innovative initiatives and other topics of interest to partnership practitioners.

Should you wish to present your project/initiative in this networking session, please return the project template to Petra Moser (moser@zsi.at) no later than 14th February, 2011.

Thank you very much!

Dear COP members,

Addressing Committee of the Regions (CoR) members Wednesday afternoon in Brussels, Commission President José Manuel Barroso supported a greater role for regions and cities in achieving EU goals. Mr. Barroso said he would push member states to involve regional and local authorities through "territorial pacts".

Please follow this link to read the press release of the European Commission published on 02. December 2010.

Dear COP members,

Please find here a summary of benefits and added value of the Community of Practice on Partnership in the ESF.

We are happy to announce the current Call for Applications on “External Evaluation of Community of Practice on Partnership in the ESF”.

In order to assess the effectiveness and relevance of "COP on Partnership in the ESF", the COP Steering Group like to undertake an external evaluation. The tender application procedure will be operationalized by the ZSI - Centre for Social Innovation on behalf of the BMASK - Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection.

The evaluation expert should posses specific professional experiences such as:

• Expertise in partnerships or relevant corporate structures (e.g. in the area of partnerships and governance in the EU and abroad)
• Experience in analysing/evaluation of programmes in labour market policy (employment partnerships)
• Knowledge of the European Structural Funds (especially European Social Fund), EU-Programmes (e.g. Community Initiative EQUAL)

The deadline for submission is 30 August 2010.

Please find all details about the call for applications in the terms of references attached.

The European Commission organizes meetings of all approved COP networks in order to facilitate the communication and synergies between networks funded under the "Learning for change" initiative.

We are happy to announce the current Call for Applications on “External Evaluation of Community of Practice on Partnership in the ESF”.
In order to assess the effectiveness and relevance of "COP on Partnership in the ESF", the COP Steering Group like to undertake an external evaluation. The tender application procedure will be operationalized by the ZSI - Centre for Social Innovation on behalf of the BMASK - Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection.

The evaluation expert should posses specific professional experiences such as: