Introduction 5 Chapter 1: a description of the organisational structure set up for the implementation of the Strategy 6

3.4 Other programmes

3.4.1. European Social fund programmes

The employment policy and the implementation of the ESF priorities generally contribute, although differently in each relevant Member States, to the implementation of the Strategy. Below we will present experiences of some Member States.

Within the Lithuanian 'Human Resource Development OP’, labour market inclusion and integration is mentioned in the prosperity pillar of the Baltic Sea Strategy as a pre-condition to achieving high productivity, high levels of innovation and sustainable economic growth in the region. The presence of a well-trained and adaptable workforce as well as low levels of social exclusion is considered as factors assuring both the competitiveness and attractiveness of the region. Therefore, the employment policy objectives and the implementation of the ESF priorities through the Lithuanian Human Resource Development Operational Programme contribute, albeit indirectly, to the implementation of the Strategy.

Regarding Finland, projects funded from the ESF OP have mainly contributed to actions supporting entrepreneurship and the efficient use of human resources. The second most important field has been support to education, culture and young people.

In relation to Sweden, the Strategy has had little involvement in ESF activities. It is also difficult to see that extensive engagement of the Swedish ESF in Baltic activities would be particular useful for the Swedish ESF activities. Some transnational activities with countries in the Baltic Region and with other countries in the EU would certainly be useful for some ESF projects in Sweden. However, the extensive requirements for Baltic transnational activities may reduce the possibilities for starting and carrying out otherwise useful ESF projects in Sweden.  

in May 2010, Estonia proposed modifying its three SF OPs, including the ESF OP, to acknowledge its intention of considering the EUSBSR objectives in the implementation of the SF. The aim has been to prepare certain criteria to assess whether certain measures financed through SF could contribute to the EUSBSR. The Annual Implementation Report 2010 concerning Estonia's ESF OP gave indications (preliminary information) on the kind of measures might contribute to the EUSBSR:

• 
  Priority axis 2 'Human Resource Development for R&D' contributes to EUSBSR priority 7 (to exploit full potential of the region in research and innovation) and 12 (to reinforce the attractiveness of the BSR through education).
  
• 
  Priority axis 4 'Knowledge and skills for innovative entrepreneurship': 30-40% of the projects under the 'Programme for start-up and micro-loans' and 'Start-up and development grant' contribute to EUSBSR priority 8 (Implementing the Small Business Act: to promote entrepreneurship, strengthen SMEs and increase efficient use of human resources) by easing access to capital for enterprises that are planning to export to BSR. In addition, some 10% of the projects under the 'Enterprise and innovation awareness programme' and 'Development of knowledge and skills grant' contribute to better cooperation within the BSR.
  

Concerning the Danish ESF involvement:

• 
  All ESF projects relevant to the Strategy will be registered and the Annual Implementation Reports covering the year 2010 will contain detailed information concerning these projects;
  
• 
  A reference to the Strategy will be included in the OP during an upcoming programme modification;
  
• 
  Two regions have included the Strategy in their Regional Development Strategies.
  

The Lithuanian ESF HRD Operational Programme contributed financially to the establishment of a financial engineering instrument aimed at promoting entrepreneurship (for both men and women). It is a package of different actions, including trainings and micro-credits with an interest rate rebate in order to help people to set-up an enterprise or to become self-employed. The focus groups are the long-term unemployed people, unemployed young people, the disabled, people above 50 years etc. These priority groups are given some additional financial incentives. Some €14.5 million was allocated for this financial engineering tool which is already operational - the first loan contract was signed in 2010.

As from the end of 2010, the Swedish ESF MA is including requirements for transnational activities in many of their calls for project proposals, often with priority being given to project portals that include transnational activities in the Baltic Region. This followed heavy pressure from the Swedish ERDF MA, Tillvaxtverket, to do more Baltic activities, as expressed in the ESF Monitoring Committee in Oct 2010. The ERDF MA made several references to the fact that the Commission (REGIO) were putting priority on activities related to the EUSBSR.

However, the requirements for transnational may be causing difficulties in getting a sufficient number of otherwise good project proposals. In an ongoing large call for proposals, there was originally a requirement for 15-20% transnational activities in a project proposal. The requirements have recently been changed to 5-20%.

To support the design of transnational project activities, especially in the Baltic Region, the ESF MA is carrying out a number of information events in various parts of Sweden. It is also organising for Swedish projects to take part in seminars in Poland where project leaders from countries in the Baltic who are interested in transnational activities can meet and make contacts. 

In case of Latvia, the EUSBSR has no special funding and relies heavily on SF/CF. Although the Latvian ESF programme formally contributes to the objectives of the EUSBSR to a large extent, it includes only a few limited transnational actions.

Regarding, for example, the Finish ESF, the structural funds management IT system in mainland Finland includes an identification box for projects that are considered supporting the BSS. 

The Swedish ESF Council has decided that in the next years there is a need to strengthen the transnational cooperation between projects financed by ESF in the Member States. A particular focus would be put on the cooperation between projects and actors around the Baltic Sea. Thus, the relation between ESF and the EUSBSR will be analysed and work started to enable projects within ESF to better support the implementation of the Strategy. An already existing informal network between authorities/ministries responsible for the implementation of ESF in the relevant Member States shall be consolidated and a number of common activities, such as conferences, partner seeking fora and seminars on experiences, shall be carried out in Sweden and other Member States in the region. A common platform shall be developed for information and communication with the network, actors in projects and others concerned, as well as for the distribution/dissemination of results and experiences.

Regarding Germany, the first ESF Baltic Sea Conference was hosted by the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The ESF Baltic Sea Conference 2009 ‘Working Together – Learning Together’ took place on the 26 May in Berlin. Around 60 participants (including representatives from Managing Authorities, intermediary bodies/support structures, transnational contact points for ESF OPs 2007-13 and experts and strategic stakeholders with networking experience) from Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden and Germany attended the conference.

1. 
   Establishing thematic cooperation patterns among the Baltic Sea States;
   
2. 
   Creating effective communication, within and outside the ESF, in order to exchange ideas, concepts, results and good practice;
   
3. 
   Supporting the transfer of promising ESF practice in order to contribute to its mainstreaming on national and EU level;
   
4. 
   Implementing common activities in order to push forward the thematic networking (seminars, peer reviews, good practice tools etc.);
   
5. 
   Supporting the exchange of strategic labour market actors.