The European Commission is seeking views from relevant stakeholders, including organisations involved in the management and delivery of ESF and ESF operations.
The purpose of the evaluation is twofold:
- On the one hand, it aims to take stock of the results of European Social Fund (ESF) operations for the period 2014-2018, thus contributing to the final stages of the current ESF programmes dedicated to promoting social inclusion, combating poverty and any discrimination.
- On the other hand, it aims to drawn lessons on how and when the support proved to be more effective, with a view to feeding into the next programming period (2021-2027).
Who is invited to contribute to this consultation?
All citizens and organisations are invited to contribute to this consultation. Contributions are particularly sought from:
- Organisations involved in the management of European Social Fund such as managing authorities, intermediate bodies, project implementers, members of Monitoring Committees, etc…
- Organisations involved in the delivery of European Social Fund operations as beneficiaries or partners of the project: public bodies, NGOs, municipalities;
- Citizens, whether or not they are receiving or have received support from the European Social Fund to promote social inclusion, combat poverty or any discrimination;
- Any organisation or citizen having a particular expertise in the area of social inclusion, poverty or discrimination.
How to contribute?
Contributions can be submitted until 19 December 2019 (midnight, Brussels time).
You can contribute to the consultation by filling the online questionnaire
Questionnaires are available in all official EU languages. You can submit your responses in any official EU language.
For reasons of transparency, organisations and businesses taking part in public consultations are asked to register in the EU’s Transparency Register.
Background information and next steps
This public consultation is an integral part of the evaluation of ESF support to promote social inclusion, combat poverty and any discrimination (Thematic Objective 9). The evaluation aims to assess:
- how the ESF promotes social inclusion (integrating disadvantaged people into society and ensuring fairer life opportunities for all) and combats poverty/discrimination;
- structural reforms;
- the visibility, usefulness, relevance, value for money and effectiveness of ESF measures.
The overall evaluation and the present consultation deal with the ESF support provided under the six so-called investment priorities of ESF Thematic Objective 9 ‘Promoting social inclusion, combating poverty and any discrimination’, notably:
- Active inclusion, including with a view to promoting equal opportunities and active participation, and improving employability;
- Socio-economic integration of marginalized communities such as the Roma;
- Combating all forms of discrimination and promoting equal opportunities;
- Enhancing access to affordable, sustainable and high-quality services, including health care and social services of general interest;
- Promoting social entrepreneurship and vocational integration in social enterprises and the social and solidarity economy in order to facilitate access to employment;
- Community-led local development strategies.
The results of this public consultation will be analysed and summarised in a synopsis report which will be published on the website of DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. The results will also be presented in the Staff Working Document of the evaluation of ESF support to promote social inclusion, combat poverty and any discrimination.
Further information
