On the basis of Article 5(6) of the Common Provision Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, the Commission set up an expert group with partners at EU level in the field of the European Structural and Investment Funds, for the programming period 2014-2020.

The “Structured Dialogue with European Structural and Investment Funds’ partners group of experts” was formally established through Commission Decision C(2014) 4175 of 26 June 2014 .

Minutes from the meeting: available here

Discussion topics advised by the Commission for the fourth meeting of the European Structural and Investment Funds Structured Dialogue group of experts (ESIF SD) meeting on the 26 April from 09:30hr-17:00 at the Centre de Conferences Albert Borschette (Brussels):

1. State of play of the implementation of the Partnership principle – presentations and exchange of views:

·         State of play of adoption of programmes

·         Update on the activities of the Thematic Network on Partnership

·         Results of the online survey on partnership in the European Social Fund operational programmes

·         Study on implementation of partnership carried out by DG REGIO – presentation of Final Report 

2. EU Urban agenda and related initiatives, in particular the four pilot “Partnerships” launched at the end of 2015 (Air Quality; Migrants & Refugees; Housing; Urban Poverty) – presentation and exchange of views

3. The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and the social dialogue – presentation and exchange of views

Presentations, Agenda and Documents from the Meeting:

Agenda

European Anti-Poverty Network Barometer 2016: Report – Summary

Presentations:

• EU Urban Agenda
• Contribution of ESIF to Europe 2020 and the political priorities of the Juncker Commission – DG Agriculture and Rural Development
• Partnership principle in 2014-2020 ESI Funds – Results of DG REGIO study
• Results of the online survey on partnership in the ESF Operational Programmes
• The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund: Social Dimension
• Thematic Network on Partnership

Objectives and transparency

The mission of the Structured Dialogue group of experts is to establish an open, frank and informal dialogue with partners working in the field of the ESI Funds. The Structured Dialogue is a mutual trust building mechanism in order to bring the ESI Funds closer to civil society, assist the Commission in the development of this policy in the different areas of expertise and to discuss the implementation of the ESI Funds.

Structured dialogue members

The members of the Structured Dialogue are umbrella organisations at EU level. They have been selected according to their representativeness of one of the three categories of partners set out in Article 5(1) of the above-mentioned Regulation, following an open call for applications:

• associations representing regional, local, urban and other public authorities,
• economic and social partners,
• bodies representing civil society, such as environmental partners, non-governmental organisations, and bodies responsible for promoting social inclusion, gender equality and non-discrimination).

All members of the Structured Dialogue must be registered in the Commission’s transparency register.

The complete list of members is available on the Register of Commission Expert Groups, along with other relevant information.

Structured Dialogue Group Rules of procedure.