The role, advantages and disadvantages of shared implementation: Partnership Principle

Transcription

1 The role, advantages and disadvantages of shared implementation: Partnership Principle Seventh meeting of the High Level Expert Group on simplification for beneficiaries of ESI Funds Brussels, 24 January 2017 Massimo Sabatini Regional Policy and Territorial Cohesion Confindustria

2 PURPOSE OF THE PRESENTATION Defining the role of partnership within the main principles of actual cohesion policy and its evolution Assessing the current implementation Summarizing some key points for next programming period as shared by the HLG Putting forward some proposals on how to reform the principle for post

3 PARTNERSHIP DEFINITION Is one of the main principles of Cohesion policy Is strictly related to multilevel governance It implies close cooperation between public authorities and any other relevant partner It increases the quality of interventions and of the policy itself 3

4 PARTNERSHIP IN THE CURRENT REGULATION - A broad and inclusive system.. -. with many tasks In a nutshell, partnership principle is seen as part of administrative capacity of institutional authorities The institutional capacity is not just a technical issue, but it depends also on the way public administration interacts with business and citizens and provides them with the services they need (6 th Cohesion report) In other terms, the capacity to interact with all the partners involved is a part of a well-functioning P.A. 4

5 A EUROPEAN CODE OF CONDUCT Main contents Adoption of a common legal basis Clearer extension of partnership rules to all MS Transparent procedures for identification of relevant partners for PA and for OP A broader involvement in the implementation phase (e.g. in the calls for proposals) Main principles and good practices concerning the involvement Use of the ESI Funds to strengthen the institutional capacity of relevant partners 5

6 FIRST ASSESSMENT Principle satisfactorily respected in a wide range of countries and programmes. Challenges across MS on partners mobilization; The modified legal framework increased awareness and visibility of the partnership principle. Stakeholder involvement improved since PP Sometimes differences between content of programming documents and perception of stakeholders Implementation of the partnership principle and multi-level governance during the ESI Funds, July

7 . AND SOME CLARIFICATIONS. from the partner s point of view, Main lessons: - A fundamental principle not applied in a coherent and uniform way all across the MS : - sometimes seen as an obligation to be fulfilled rather than an added value from which take advantage of; - partnership principle part of a system more focused on formal compliance and less on results - the Code of Conduct: a compliance approach; - Advantages and disadvantages of extension to new partners; - The role of intermediate organized bodies: the need of differentiated involvement 7

8 SOME KEY POINTS Starting from HLG recommendations & common points - fully adopting the beneficiaries point of view: - ensuring effective involvement of relevant stakeholders - promoting more trust amongst the different political and administrative level involved, to increase subsidiarity, and certainty; But mainly, we have agreed on the necessity to tend to a more result oriented cohesion policy 8

9 A POLICY FOCUSED ON RESULTS - Diversifying results from MS to MS - Concentration issue - a policy more focused on results, less on formal compliance - establishing results to be achieved linked to CSR - a consistent partnership system, result oriented - A streamlined, clear and effective delivery system, with clear responsibilities at each single level 9

10 EX ANTE CONDITIONALITIES: A CRUCIAL ROLE - One of the EAC must be the set up of a mechanism of involvement regarding all the partners concerned: - MS have to demonstrate: - how to fulfill not only the requirements of ECCP but - mainly, which added value is expected from each partner; - how to gain it; - and how to give evidence of concrete contributions obtained In the current system, responsibility is in charge of MS that, in accordance with its institutional and legal framework, have to organize a partnership with the competent regional and local authorities and other relevant partners - Involvement is now not binding: commitment must be strengthen 10

11 MONITORING COMMITTEES In this context, the role of Monitoring Committee, and the role of the partners within the MC, should be modified accordingly - from financial management to strategy assessment - (direct impact on partners selection); - increasing role for monitoring and evaluation - decision making role on follow up actions - a wider & better use of partners competences - a targeted technical assistance 11

12 PARTNERS CAPACITY In this new framework, partners have to modify their concrete involvement, and more accountability from their side is needed. It means: to be able to identify the needs and expectations of members/represented in terms of expected results; to develop strategic programming capacity; to develop planning capacity to be able to participate in projects selection; to increase involvement in evaluation, and in use of results 12

13 A MORE EFFECTIVE SHARED MANAGEMENT NEEDS Subsidiarity Results Partnership Competences The beneficiaries point of view 13

14 Thank you for your attention Massimo Sabatini Regional Policy and Territorial Cohesion - Confindustria m.sabatini@confindustria.it