Brussels, 04/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - As already reported (see yesterday's EUROPE, p. 10), the European Commission adopted this Thursday, on the initiative of Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou a Communication on "the implementation of innovative actions under Article 6 of the Regulation on the European Social Funds (ESF) for the programming period 2000-2006".
These innovative actions aim to encourage new approaches within the framework of the ESF and identify examples of good practices which can later be used to improve the implementation of actions supported by the Social Funds. The actions must be implemented in a straightforward, transparent manner and comply with good financial management. They will be run in line with a series of principles (innovation and experimentation, concentration, complementarity, partnership, permanent improvements, transnational cooperation and networking, supporting the general programmes and equal opportunities), and will include a system of capitalising on and disseminating the results of the projects along with close collaboration between the Commission and national, regional and local authorities and with social partners and third system organisations. The innovative actions will be assessed and the Commission will draw up an annual report on their implementation in order to spread the results as widely as possible. The Commission will stress in its calls for proposals for these actions in 2001-2002 changes to social dialogue in line with the new economy and local strategies for employment and innovation.