Communication from the Commission to the Member States establishing the guidelines for the Community initiative Equal concerning transnational cooperation to promote new means of combating all forms of discrimination and inequalities in connection with the labour market
Date: 2000-04-14
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, EU initiative, anti-discriminatory measure, cross-border cooperation, equal treatment, labour market

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Official Journal of the European Communities

5.5.2000

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE MEMBER STATES

establishing the guidelines for the Community initiative Equal concerning transnational coop-
eration to promote new means of combating all forms of discrimination and inequalities in
connection with the labour market

(2000/C 127/02)

1. On 14 april 2000,

the Commission of

Communities
Community initiative entitled Equal.

approved

these

the European
the
for

guidelines

2. Under Equal Community funding, in the form of European
Social Fund (ESF) grants, will be made available for
activities which respect the guidelines laid down in this
notice, and which are included in proposals presented by
each Member States and approved by the Commission of
the European Communities in the form of Community
Initiative programmes (CIPs). Equal applies to the whole
territory of the European Union.

I. AIM

3. The aim of Equal is to promote new means of combating
all forms of discrimination and inequalities in connection
with the labour market, through transnational cooperation.
Equal will also take due account of the social and voca-
tional integration of asylum seekers.

II. POLICY CONTEXT

4. The growing interdependence of Member States economies
has led to the inclusion of a new Title on employment in
the Amsterdam Treaty. This provides for a coordinated
strategy for employment and the adoption of guidelines
which the Member States take into account
in their
employment policies. The employment guidelines (based
on the four pillars of Employability, Entrepreneurship,
Adaptability, and Equal Opportunities) and their trans-
formation by the Member States into National Action
Plans for employment (NAPs) provide the framework for
financial support at EU level,
in particular through the
Structural Funds.

5. The European Employment Strategy has

the goal of
achieving a high level of employment for all groups in
the labour market. To achieve this, the development of
the skills and employability of those currently outside the
labour market is essential. The skills of those already in
work, especially in exposed or vulnerable sectors, must
also be renewed and updated. Furthermore, the capacity
for entrepreneurship must be broadened. The equal partici-
pation of women and men in the labour market must also
be ensured. This requires action to counter inequality and
discrimination suffered by both the jobless and the
employed.

6. To be fully effective, the European Employment Strategy
must be translated into action at the local and regional
level, in urban and rural districts (cid:151) that is to say at the
level of territories able to generate local cooperation. It
requires new approaches to shared priorities and the
effective dissemination of successful ideas.

7. The European Social Fund (ESF) is one of the Structural
Funds, along with those dealing with agriculture and
regional development. The ESF
concerned with
measures to prevent and combat unemployment and to
develop human resources and promote equal opportunities
for all in accessing the labour market. In particular, it is
intended to contribute to action which supports
the
European Employment Strategy.

is

8. At Community level

there is an integrated strategy to
combat discrimination (in particular that based on sex,
racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or
sexual orientation) and social exclusion. Focusing on the
labour market, Equal will form part of that strategy. It will
instruments and
be complementary to other policies,
actions developed in this respect and which go beyond
the labour market area and, in particular, the specific legis-
lation and action programmes under Articles 13 and 137
of the Treaty. The Commission and the Member States will
ensure coherence between Equal and such activities. Equal
will, therefore, play a key role in linking together the EU
supported actions under Articles 13 and 137,
the ESF
supported programmes
the political objectives
and
pursued in the framework of the European employment
Strategy.

III. GENERAL PRINCIPLES

Introduction

and

disseminate

9. Building on lessons learned under the Employment and
Adapt programmes, Equal will act as a testing ground to
delivering
develop
of
to combat all sorts of
employment policies in order
discrimination and
those
experienced by
inequality
seeking access to the labour market and those already
within it. The particular needs of asylum seekers will be
addressed taking into account their specific situation.

new ways

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10. Equal will operate in a number of thematic fields, defined
in the context of
the employment
the our pillars of
strategy and following discussion with the Member
States. These are the priority fields where groups of
transantional cooperation
that
Member States consider
will assist
them in improving ways of delivering their
national policies. In accordance with Article 1 of Regu-
European
lation
employment guidelines, Member States will adopt a
gender mainstreaming approach in each thematic field.

1260/1999 (1),

(EC) No

and

the

11. Equal will be implemented by partenrships established at
geographical or sectoral level and called Development Part-
nerships (DPs). The partners within the DPs will define and
agree a strategy to be followed, along with the means of
bringing it to fruition using innovative approaches. DPs
will undertake transnational cooperation and participate
in the dissemination and mainstreaming of good practice.

12. The successful

innovation developed under Equal should
be disseminated widely in order to achieve the maximum
impact on policy and, where appropriate,
it should be
incorporated into the Objective 1, 2 and 3 Structural
Fund programmes and the NAPs.

13. Equal will be distinguished from the Objective 1, 2 and 3
Structural Fund programmes by its focus on testing new
ways of delivery for policy priorities in the framework of
the European Employment Strategy and by the emphasis
on partnership in a context of transnational cooperation.

Thematic approach

strategy. Within these

thematic fields in the four pillars of

14. Member States shall formulate their strategy for Equal on
the
the basis of
European Employment
fields
Member States shall ensure that their proposals principally
benefit those subject to the main forms of discrimination
(based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief,
disability, age or sexual orientation) and inequality. Each
thematic field shall be fully accessible to all such groups.
Within this horizontal approach, the promotion of equality
between women and men will be integral to the thematic
fields in all four pillars as being targeted through specific
actions in the fourth pillar.

15. The thematic fields, which will serve as the basis for the
first call
for proposals, are set out below. The list of
thematic fields may be reviewed, before subsequent calls
to take acount of developments in the
for proposals,

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying

down general provisions on the Structural Funds.

employment

and in the

guidelines.
labour market
Proposals for revised thematic fields will be put forward
by the Commission following the necessary consultations.
They will be submitted for agreement to the Committee
pursuant to Article 147 of the Treaty, after discussion in
the Employment Committee,
and presented to the
European Parliament.

Thematic fields for the first call for proposals

their
should have

16. In setting out
strategy, based on these themes,
ideal of
Member States
in mind the
improving the supply of and demand for quality jobs
with a future. They should also encourage the effective
use of existing mechanismes
(for example those that
exict for social dialogue) to sensitise those in the labour
market to the factors leading to diescrimination, inequality
and exclusion for certain groups in connection with the
labour market.

Employability

(a) Facilitating access and return to the labour market for
those who have difficulty in being integrated or rein-
tegrated into a labour market wich must be open to all.

(b) Combating racism and xenophobia in relation to the

labour market.

Entrepreneurship

(c) Opening up the business creation process to all by
providing the tools required for setting up in business
and for the identification and exploitation of new
possibilities for creating employment
in urban and
rural areas.

(d) Strengthening the social economy (the third sector), in
particular the services of interest to the community,
with a focus on improving the quality of jobs.

Adaptability

(e) Promoting

lifelong

learning
practices which encourage
retention of
inequality in connection with the labour market.

inclusive work
and
discrimination and

recruitment

and
the

suffering

those

(f) Supporting the adaptability of firms and employees to
structural economic change and the use of information
technology and other new technologies.

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Equal opportunities for women and men

(g) Reconciling family and professional life, as well as the
re-integration of men and women who have left the
labour market, by developing more
flexible and
effective forms of work organisation and support
services.

(h) Reducing gender gaps and supporting job desegre-

gation.

17. Member States will select only the thematic fields in which
they want to cooperate. In addition, each Member States
must plan at least a minimum level of action aimed at
asylum seekers,
the
problem in the Member State.

in line with the dimensions of

18. Normally Member States will be expected to choose at
least one thematic field in each pillar for each call for
proposals. Exceptionally, the Commission may agree to a
reduction in this requirement in a Member State.

Asylum seekers

19. The position of asylum seekers within the Union is
complex. They may be divided essentially into three
categories (1):

(cid:151) those whose

asylum is
consideration by the Member States concerned,

application

for

under

(cid:151) those who have been admitted under a humanitarian
resettlement or evacuation programme or who benefit
from a temporary protection arrangement,

(cid:151) those who have not been granted refugee status, but
who benefit from another form of protection (comple-
mentary or subidiary protection) because their indi-
vidual situation prevents their return to their country
of origin.

20. In the majority of Member States, access to the labour
market by asylum seekers as such (the first category
above)
is either forbidden or hedged around with very
restrictive conditions. As regards the latter two categories,
however, Member States have shown themselves more
willing to consider access to the labour market. It could
also be noted that in the Joint Action of 26 April 1999,
the Council recognised the desirability of helping asylum
seekers who face repatriation with education and training,

(1) Refugees are not included under this heading because, as long-term
residents, they are eligible under normal Equal Development Part-
nerships.

in their home
which would give them skills useful
country (2).
this state of affairs be
is important
respected in implementing the (cid:145)asylum seeker(cid:146) element in
Equal.

that

It

21. Action in respect of asylum sekers may be programmed
either as a sectoral DP (i.e., a national partnership,
involving all the appropriate partners to support social
and vocational
integration for asylum seekers), or as a
geographical DP in a territory where there is a high
concentration of asylum seekers. The same types of part-
nership, strategy and activity should be envisaged as for
other Equal development partnerships.

Partnership approach

22. Equal will fund activities implemented by strategic part-
nerships. The Equal partnerships will operate within the
thematic fields and will be called Development Part-
nerships (DPs). They will bring together interested actors,
with relevant competence, who will cooperate to develop
an integrated approach to multi-dimensional problems.
The partners shall work together to identify the factors
leading to inequality and discrimination in connection
with the labour market, within their chosen thematic
their efforts and aresources in
field/s. They shall pool
pursuit
defined
solutions
innovative
problems and common goals.

jointly

of

to

sector

(NGOs);

the business

23. DPs should have a core of partners from the outset. They
should also ensure that relevant actors, such as: public
authorities, the public employment service; non-govern-
(in
mental organisations
particular SMEs); and the social partners, can become
involved during the life of the partnership. Small organi-
sations with innovative ideas must be able to make their
contribution by participating fully in DPs. The experience
of Employment and Adapt has shown the importance of
involving
to ensure
regional
coherence between the planned activities and the devel-
opment needs of
the territory. Their participation will
also strengthen the probability of mainstreaming the
results.

authorities

local

and

24. DPs may be geographically based, bringing together
relevant actiors in a given geographical area. These will

(2) Joint Action of 26 April 1999 adopted by the Council on the basis
of Article K.3 of
the Treaty on European Union, establishing
projects and measures to provide practical support in relation to
the reception and voluntary repatriation of refugees, displaced
persons and asylum seekers,
including emergency assistance to
persons who have fled as a result of recent events in Kosovo OJ
L 114, 1.5.1999, p. 2; see Article 5(c).

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be known as geographical partnerships. Geographical part-
nerships may not always be the most effective way to
tackle an identified problem and other forms of part-
nership are possible within the above guidelines. These
could cover particular economic sectors or industries. If
justified,
they might equally relate mainly to one or
more specific group amongst those subject to discrimi-
nation or
inequality in connection with the labour
market. These other partnerships will be known as sectoal
partnerships.

25. Under Equal, the final beneficiaries are the DPs as alredy
the point of
described in points 22 to 24 above. At
each DP must have
funding,
application for Equal
arrangements for ensuring that
the administrative and
financial responsibilities are handled by an organisation
which has
for
public funding.

the capacity to manage and account

Empowerment

26. The principle of empowerment will be central to each DP.
In practice this will mean that
those involved in the
implementation of activities should also take part in the
decision-making. On the other hand, the active partici-
pation of those targeted for assistance should be positively
assessed in the selection for Action 1 funding and the
confirmation of selection for Action 2.

Transnational cooperation

27. Equal will be based on the principle of transnational coop-
the Community
eration. The experience gained under
Initiatives Employment and Adapt
trans-
that
nationality is a dimension which can bring significant
added-value to project operators working with others in
similar situations. In addition, it shows that considerable
policy innovation can be achieved through transnational
cooperation. Transnationality will,
an
assential element of Equal.

therefore,

shows

be

Innovation

28. Equal will test innovative approaches to policy delivery.
These may be
the
transfer of elements from elsewhere, which increase the
effectiveness of policy delivery.

completely new approaches, or

is based on the
29. The definition of
typology which
of
evaluation
Employment and Adapt and which differentiated between
three types of innovation:

innovation in Equal
from the
emerged

(cid:151) process-oriented innovations will cover

the devel-
opment of new methods, tools or approaches as well
as the imporvement of existing methods,

(cid:151) goal-oriented innovations will

around the
formulation of new objectives and innovation could
include approaches to identify new and promising
qualifications and the opening up of new ares of
employment for the labour market,

centre

(cid:151) context-oriented innovations

relate to political and
structures. Context-oriented innovations
in

concerned with system development

institutional
will be
connection with the labour market.

Mainstreaming

30. Equal will fund the development of innovative solutions to
the delivery of the policy priorities of Member States as set
out in their NAPs. In order to obtain the maximum impact
from Equal, the results must be analysed, benchmarked and
disseminated both within Member States and across the
Union.
in particular
those in charge of the NAPs, and those involved in the
Objective 1, 2 and 3 Structrual Fund Programmes, receive
input from Equal.

It is important that policy makers,

IV. ACTIONS TO BE FUNDED BY EQUAL

31. Equal will fund activity under the followning four actions

Action 1: setting up development partnerships and trans-

national cooperation

Action 2:

implementing the work programmes of
development partnerships

the

Action 3:

thematic networking, dissemination of good
practice and making an impact on national
policy

Action 4:

technical assistance to support actions 1, 2 and
3.

Actions 1 and 2 are sequential. Member States will be
the
expected to be in a position to start Action 3 at
that results are available to disseminate.
earliest point
Action 4 will
the
commencement of Action 1.

from before

support

provide

Action 1: Setting up development partnerships and

transnational cooperation

32. The objective of Action 1 is to facilitate the creation of the
consolidation of durable,
effective development part-
nerships (DPs) and to ensure that transnational cooperation
will have a real added value. The time period available for
this Action will be decided by the managing authority but
the
would not normally exceed six months. Overall,

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Commission would not expect Action 1 to represent a
significant part of
funds available to the Member
State.

total

funding under Equal.

33. Selection for Action 1 will be the main stage in selection
for
It will be based upon an
application submitted jointly by a number of organisations
(DP initiatiors). In the context of the thematic field and
application should
territory/sector of operation,
identify:

the

(cid:151) the partners to be involved in the DP at the outset; the
arrangements for ensuring that all relevant partners can
become involved during the life of
the partenrship
including,
in particular, appropriate small organi-
sations; and the arrangements for handling the admin-
istrative and financial responsibilities,

(cid:151) the rationale for the partnership, a diagnosis of the
problem to be addressed and an explanation of how
the needs of all the potential beneficiary groups will be
taken into acount,

(cid:151) the objectives of the partnership,

(cid:151) a work programme for Action 1,

(cid:151) the nature of the activities they intend to implement in

Action 2,

(cid:151) a clear

identification of

the role of each partner,
including the arrangements for steering and managing
the partnership and administring the financial support,

(cid:151) a mechanism for on-going assessment including the
presentation of data and information on the DP and
the analysis of results,

(cid:151) the commitment of the DP to collaborate on Action 3,

(cid:151) its strategy and mechanisms for implementing a gender

mainstreaming approach.

Transnational cooperation

36. DPs must

identify at

least one partner

from another
Member State. As a general rule, cooperation should be
established between DPs, selected by the Member States
under Equal, and preferably those working in the same
thematic field;
such cooperation may also extend to
similar projects supported in a non Member State eligible
for funding under the Phare, Tacis or Meda programmes.
The CIP proposal may define paramenters for exceptions to
the general rule, subject to the condition that the potential
value added of cooperation with partners outside Equal is
these partners are able to
clearly identified, and that
their oven costs
demonstrate their capacity to cover
incurred by this cooperation.

(cid:151) the expectations for the transnational cooperation.

of a transantional cooperation agreement:

37. At the end of Action 1, the DP should set out in the form

34. Whilst

the procedures for selecting Development Part-
nerships fall within the competence of
the managing
authority, in cooperation with the monitoring committee
of the CIP, the Commission would expect selection criteria
to reflect
the general principles of Equal which are
explained in section III. Unsuccessful applicants should
be given reasons for their non-selection.

35. At the end of Action 1, the DP should be able to present a
common strategy in the form of a development part-
nership agreement. As a minimum this should contain:

(cid:151) a transnational work programme accompanied by a

budget:

(cid:151) the role of each transnational partner, the common
methods of decision making and the organisational
implementing the common work
arrangements for
programme,

(cid:151) the methodologies for monitoring and assessment of

joint activities.

(cid:151) an assessment of current

labour market exclusion,
discrimination and inequality, within the thematic
field and territory/sector concerned;

Action 2: Implementation of the work programmes of

development partnerships

(cid:151) objectives and priorities

reflecting the
learning from previous relevant action in the territory/
sector;

for action,

(cid:151) a detailed work programme accompanied by a realistic

budget,

38. In order

to have selection confirmed and to receive
funding to implement
its work programme through
Action 2 of Equal, each Development Partnership must
submit
Partnership
Agreement and a Transnational Cooperation Agreement,
which meet the criteria set out under Action 1. These
documents must also demonstrate that the DP fulfils the
following conditions:

two documents,

a Development

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(cid:151) transparency: the DP must demonstrate the availability
of the necessary cofinancing. The DP must also accept
that
instruments,
methods, etc.) will be public propety,

results obtained (products,

the

(cid:151) representative capacity: the DP must be able to demon-
strate its capacity to mobilise different actors in order
that they work together. particular attention will be
given to the arrangements
for ensuring that all
relevant actors, such as: public authorities; the public
employment service; NGOs;
the business sector (in
particular SMEs); and the social partners, can become
involved during the life of the partnership. The DP
must show that appropriate small organisations are
able to participate fully;

added

(cid:151) cooperative spirit: the DP must be able to demonstrate
its capacity and its willingness to work in a context of
transnational cooperation and explain the expected
in
transnational
value
implementing the different components of the work-
programme.
the DP must plan to
cooperate in networking, dissemination and main-
streaming activities at both national and European
level.

In addition,

cooperation

of

39. If the conditions in point 38 are fulfilled, the managing
the part-
authority will confirm the initial selection of
nership, and notify it of the multiannual budget available
to implement its work programme.

40. This work programme would normally cover an initial
period of
the results
two to three years. However,
obtained justify an extension, a furhter grant could be
the period of
approved, along with an extension of
financing for the DP.

if

Eligibility of activities

41. The normal eligibility rules of the ESF apply (see Article 3
of the ESF Regulation (1)). However, in order to achieve the
maximum effectiveness of activities Equal may fund action
normally eligible under the ERDF, EAGGF Guidance or
FIFG rules,
(Article 21(2) of Regulation (EC) No
1260/1999).

42. Member States shall check the activities of the DPs for
compatibility with the provisions of
in
particular with the State aid provisions, and if necessary
notify them under Article 88(3).

the Treaty,

Action 3: thematic networking, dissemination of good
practice and making an impact on national
policy

43. There will be a separate action, for networking, dissemi-
nation and mainstreaming activities within Equal. Partici-
pation in this Action shall be mandatory for all DPs in
to ensure the mainstreaming impact
order
that Equal
seeks.
It shall be organised under the responsibility of
the managing authority in such a way as to facilitate
maximum input
into labour market and employment
policy and should involve the social partners.

44. Member States

shall establish mechanisms wich will
facilitate mainstreaming at both the horizontal
level (the
level of organisations active in the same or a similar field)
and the vertical
level (the level of regional and national
policy, including the NAP and the Structural Funds). These
mechanisms should aim at:

(cid:151) identifying factors leading to inequality and discrimi-
nation and monitoring and analysing the impact or
impact of the DPs on the policy priorities
potential
set out
in the NAP and on the different groups
subject to discrimination and inequality in connection
with the labour market,

(cid:151) identifying and assessing the factors leading to good

practice and benchmark their performance,

(cid:151) disseminating good practice, from the end of Action 1.

45. These activities will normally involve DPs acting either
specific
in groups on the basis of
these

singly or
expertise and proven capacity. For this purpose,
DPs would receive additional funding.

their

Action 4: technical assistance

46. Technical assistance will be available to support

the
implementation of the CIP and will be used particularly:

(cid:151) to advise on and facilitate the consolidation of part-
nerships and the search for suitable transnational coop-
eration partners (Action 1),

(cid:151) to collect, edit and disseminate the experience and
results, including annual reports of the DPs (Action 2),

(cid:151) to support

the thematic networking,

the horizontal
dissemination activities and the setting up of mech-
anisms for policy impact (Action 3),

(1) Regulation (EC) No 1784/1999 of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 12 July 1999 on the European Social Fund (OJ L
213, 13.8.1999).

(cid:151) for cooperation in European networking and to ensure
the sharing of all relevant information with the other

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Member States and the Commission (cf. V. Actions at
European level).

the
nation) and 137 (in favour of social
Treaty. Candidate countries will be associated with the
discussion and exploitation of the results.

inclusion) of

47. Technical assistance will also be available to support the
monitoring, audit and evaluation of actions both within
Member States and at the European level.

48. The budget for technical assistance may not exceed 5 % of
the total ESF contribution to the CIP. The ESF rate of
contribution will be subject
to the ceilings in Article
29(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999.

49. Member States will apply their own procedures to the
those who will carry out

selection and funding of
technical assistance activities in a transparent way.

V. DISSEMINATION AND EVALUATION AT EUROPEAN

LEVEL

50. If Equal

is to fully play its role as a testing ground for
developing and promoting new ways of delivering
employment policies, there will need to be close coop-
eration between Member States and social partners, and
the Commission, to successfully exploit the potential for
impact on the European Employment Strategy of good
practice identified all over the Union.

51. Evaluation of the impact of Equal is crucial. At Union level,
the Commission will set up an evaluation mechanism, to
assess
the European
Employment Strategy and other Community programmes.

implications of Equal

the

for

52. The Commission proposes implementing three types of
action to support the process of creating an impact at
Union level:

(cid:151) thematic review at Union level;

(cid:151) a periodic assessment of the value added by Equal in
relation to the national action plans for employment
(NAP);

(cid:151) the use of discussion fora at Union level.

Thematic review

53. In order to disseminate good practice and benchmark the
achievements, the Commission will organise a series of
(cid:145)thematic reviews(cid:146) with clusters of development part-
nerships for each of the Equal thematic fields.

54. The results will be summarised and made public, and will
be used to enrich the policy peer reviews set up in the
context of
the
the European employment
evaluation activities at Union level, and the dissemination
and exchange
activities planned in the Community
programmes under Articles 13 (fight against discrimi-

strategy,

Periodic assessment (cid:151) Equal and the NAPs

55. On the basis of the activities undertaken in the framework
of Action 3 in each of the Member States, and data and
information collected from DPs by Member States,
the
Commission will establish a database of good practice
under Equal. The information can be used as a basis for
periodic assessment of the actual and potential impact on
the NAPs. These assessments should be presented for
information to the Objective 1, 2 and 3 Structural Fund
monitoring committees and be taken into account in the
implementation of the European Social Fund.

Discussion fora

56. Equal will be discussed in a number of existing fora:

(cid:151) the Employment Committee will be kept informed of
the results and on the review of the thematic fields,

(cid:151) the Committee pursuant to Article 147 of the Treaty
will deliver its opinion on the result of the review of
the thematic fields and respond to specific questions
referred by the Commission,

(cid:151) a forum for the discussion of Equal will be organised
on an annual basis with the existing NGO platform at
Union level
to facilitate discussions and
feedback from the organisations concerned,

in order

(cid:151) if required,

the Commission will organise meetings
focussing on more specific issues under Equal, such
in
as
candidate countries.

transfer of good practice

to policies

the

Technical assistance

57. The

successful

implementation of Equal demands

a
significant amount of collaboration between Member
States and the Commission: collecting and processing
information about Development Partnerships, setting up
data bases, animating the thematic review process, orga-
nising seminars, publicising results, etc. A certain number
of specific tasks which cannot take place without support
at European level will be assigned to outside service
providers, at the initiative and under supervision of the
Commission, on the basis of calls
to be
published in the Official Journal of European Communities.
The execution of these tasks shall be financed at a rate
of 100 % of the total cost.

tender

for

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VI. PREPARATION; PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF

PROGRAMMES

58. Section III of this Notice sets out the general principles
within which Equal will operate. This section sets out the
elements which the Commission expects to see in the
programme proposals to be presented by the designated
authorities in Member States in consultation with the
appropriate partners. The financial and administrative
management of the CIP fall entirely within the competence
of the designated managing authority, in cooperation with
the Monitoring Committee of the CIP.

59. On the basis of

(CIPs)

for Equal. These proposals

the indicative financial allocations per
Member State, adopted by the Commission, Member
States should propose their draft Community Initiative
programmes
should
meet the requirements set out in Article 16 of Regulation
(EC) No 1260/1999. The CIPs will take the form of a Single
Programming Document, supplemented by a Programme
Complement, as provided for in Article 19(3) of Regulation
(EC) No 1260/1999. The priorities in the CIP proposals
will be taken from the list of thematic fields set out in
point 16 above. The Actions outlined in Section IV
should be considered as
the measures within those
priorities.

60. Member States will be expected to introduce a gender
implementing, moni-

perspective in the programming,
toring and evaluating phases of Equal.

CIP proposals

61. The proposal for a CIP put forward by the Member States shall

contain the following:

(cid:151) a description of

the current

regards
discrimination and inequality in the labour market in
relation to the chosen themes, and as regards asylum
seekers,

situation as

(cid:151) an evaluation of the expected impact, including on the
social and economic situation at local or sectoral level
and the situation in terms of equality between men and
women, in accordance with Article 41(2) of Regulation
(EC) No 1260/1999,

(cid:151) a discription of the strategy for the implementation of
Equal, based on the selection of priorities, from the list
in point 16 plus specific action focused on asylum
seekers (see points 19 to 21 above). This
should
include specific objectives, quantified where they lend
themselves to quantification,

(cid:151) a description of the relationship between the strategy
and the previaling NAP as interpreted in the policy
frame of reference referred to Article 1 of Regulation
(EC) No 1260/1999,

(cid:151) a summary of arrangements to ensure complementarity
between Equal and other Community instruments and
programmes and the Territorial Employment Pacts,

(cid:151) a summary description of the meadures planned to
implement the priorities and the information needed
to check the compliance with Article 87 of the Treaty,

(cid:151) an indication of whether and to what extent the actions
proposed under each priority will contain activities
normally eligible under the ERDT, EAGGF or FIFG
(Article 21(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999), to
enable the Commission to make the appropriate
provision in its Decision on the CIP proposal,

the

(cid:151) a description of

technical
assistance expected to be required to implement the
CIP; both the types of activities and the procedures
for selecting those who will carry them out,

arrangements

for

(cid:151) an indicative financing plan specifying for each priority
and each year, in accordance with Article 19(3)(c) of
Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999, the financial allocation
envisaged for the contribution of the ESF, as well as the
total amount of eligible public or equivalent and
estimated
ESF
contribution,

funding

relating

private

the

to

(cid:151) a description of the actions and methods planned to
approach

gender mainstreaming

the

implement
effectively,

(cid:151) an account of the proces of programming, including
the arrangements made to consult partners, including
those with a specific interest
in the main areas of
discrimination or inequality and the social partners,
and the results of the consultations,

(cid:151) provisions for

the implementation, monitoring and

evaluation of the CIPs as described below.

Provisions for the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of
CIPs

62. The

provisions

implementing, monitoring

for
and
evaluating the CIP shall be set out,
in line with the
in Article 19(3)(d) of Regulation (EC)
requirements
1260/1999. In addition the CIP should cover the following:

(cid:151) a description of the mechanism for at least two calls for
for publicity, guidelines and

proposals
procedures for selection, including appeals),

(procedures

(cid:151) a synthesis of

the lessons learnt

from Adapt and

Employment for the selected thematic priorities,

(cid:151) types of contracts with final beneficiaries,

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EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

5.5.2000

(cid:151) national mechanisms to facillitate mainstreaming at
both the horizontal and vertical levels as described in
Action 3,

(cid:151) arrangements to ensure that Monitoring Committee
membership provides
the
for
social partners and those people with direct experience
of the main forms of discrimination and inequality in
connection with the labour market, including relevant
representative NGOs,

the involvement of

(cid:151) the type and amount of data and information that DPs
will be required to produce each year for on-going
monitoring
assessment
within the DP,

and the mechanisms

for

for

any

(cid:151) the mid term evaluation, at the level of the CIP, which
will be launched, upon adoption, to ensure continous
for
feed-back
successive calls for proposals. The CIP will
indicate
the specific parameters and quantitative and qualitative
indicators to be taken into account for the mid-term
evaluation and the final assessment,
in line with
common minimum requirements for all Member States.

readjustments

necessary

Presentation and approval of CIPs

63. These draft CIPs shall be submitted to the Commission by
the date of
the Member States within four months of
this notice in the Official
publication of
the
Europeen Community. A five-month period for negotiation
with the Commission will follow.

Journal of

64. In accordance with Article 28 of Regulation (EC) No
1260/1999,
the Commission will approve each CIP by
means of a Decision confirming the allocation of ESF
funding to each priority it contains.

65. Each CIP shall be

supplemented by a programme
complement as defined in Article 9(m) and described in
Article 18(3) of Regulation (EC) 1260/1999.

66. The programme

complement will be

to the
Commission no later than there three months after the
in
Commission Decision approving the CIP. However,
order
are
encouraged to send this at the same time as the draft CIP.

the process, Member

to simplify

States

sent

VII. FINANCING

the

and

The

European Community.

67. The Equal Initiative will be jointly financed by the Member
total
States
for
contribution of
the European Social Fund to Equal
In
the 2000 to 2006 period is EUR 2,847 million.
(EC)
accordance with Article
1260/1999,
take
the ESF contribution to Equal
account of the rate of indexation of 2 % a year up to
2003 and shall be decided at 2003 prices for the years
2004 to 2006. By 31 December 2003, the Commission
shall determine the rate of indexation applicable for 2004
to 2006.

of Regulation
shall

7(7)

68. The rates of Community contribution defined in Article 29
of the Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 will apply. In view of
the innovative nature of the methods used, a systematic
application of the ceilings indicated in the Regulations is
recommended.

69. An indicative amount of a maximum of 2 % of the total
ESF contribution will be reserved to finance activities
carried out at the initiative of the Commission as set out
in section V. These activities shall be financed at a rate of
100 % of the total cost.

VIII. TIMING

70. The Commission invites Member States to present their
draft Community initiative programme for Equal within
four months of the date of publication of this notice in
the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Address for all correspondence concerning this communi-
cation:

Mr A. Larsson
Director General
Directorate General Employment and Social Affairs
Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat, 200
B-1049 Brussels.