[pic] | KUMMISSJONI TAL-KOMUNITAJIET EWROPEJ |

Brussel 25.1.2006

KUMM(2006) 18 finali

KOMUNIKAZZJONI MILL-KUMMISSJONI LILL-KUNSILL U LILL-PARLAMENT EWROPEW

Investiment fin-nies Komunikazzjoni dwar il-programm tematiku għall-iżvilupp soċjali u uman u l-perspettivi finanzjarji għall-2007-2013

WERREJ

I. Introduzzjoni ġenerali dwar il-programmi tematiċi 3

II. Kuntest: Investiment fil-persuni – il-politika ta’ l-UE dwar l-iżvilupp soċjali u uman 3

Esperjenza miksuba u tagħlimiet meħuda 4

Ir-raġunament u l-valur miżjud tal-programm tematiku “ Investiment fin-nies” 5

III. Programm tematiku propost “Investiment fil-persuni” 5

Skop...... 5

Prijoritajiet għal azzjoni tematika dwar l-iżvilupp soċjali u uman 6

1. Saħħa għal kulħadd 6

2. Tagħrif u ħiliet għal kulħadd 7

3. Kultura 8

4. Ix-xogħol u l-koeżjoni soċjali 8

5. L-ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi 9

6. Żgħażagħ u tfal 10

IV. Programmar u Implimentazzjoni 11

Anness... 12

KOMUNIKAZZJONI MILL-KUMMISSJONI LILL-KUNSILL U LILL-PARLAMENT EWROPEW

Investiment fin-nies Komunikazzjoni dwar il-programm tematiku għall-iżvilupp soċjali u uman u l-perspettivi finanzjarji għall-2007-2013

I. INTRODUZZJONI ġENERALI DWAR IL-PROGRAMMI TEMATIċI

Biex tirrazzjonalizza u tissimplifika l-qafas leġiżlattiv attwali li jirregola l-azzjonijiet esterni tal-Komunità, il-Kummissjoni Ewropea pproponiet sett ġdid ta’ sitt strumenti taħt il-Perspettivi Finanzjarji għall-2007-2013. Tlieta minnhom huma strumenti orizzontali biex jirrispondu għall-bżonnijiet u ċ-ċirkostanzi. Tlieta huma maħsuba biex jimplimentaw politiki speċifiċi (għajnuna ta' qabel l-adeżjoni, il-politika Ewropea tal-ġirien u ta’ l-imsieħba, il-kooperazzjoni għall-iżvilupp u l-kooperazzjoni ekonomika) u għandhom kopertura ġeografika definita. Fil-ġejjieni, dawn l-istrumenti se jipprovdu l-bażi legali għall-infiq Komunitarju b’appoġġ għall-programmi ta’ kooperazzjoni esterna, inklużi programmi tematiċi xierqa li se jaqsmu l-kopertura ġeografika tat-tliet strumenti li huma mmexxija mill-politika u se jieħdu post, inter alia , ir-regolamenti tematiċi eżistenti. Minħabba li l-Istrument għall-Għajnuna għal qabel l-Adeżjoni (l-IPA) huwa mfassal speċifikament biex jgħin lill pajjiżi kandidati u lil dawk potenzjalment kandidati biex jadottaw u jimplimentaw l- acquis communautaire, il-benefiċċjarji ta’ l-IPA ma jaqgħux taħt l-iskop ta’ dan il-programm tematiku.

Il-programmi tematiċi jipprovdu valur miżjud distint u jikkumplimentaw programmi ġeografiċi, li jibqgħu l-qafas privileġġjat għall-kooperazzjoni tal-Komunità ma’ pajjiżi terzi.[i] Il-Kummissjoni impenjat ruħha li tidħol f’diskussjonijiet mal-Parlament Ewropew u mal-Kunsill dwar l-ambitu, l-objettivi u l-prijoritajiet ta’ kull programm tematiku fuq il-bażi tal- komunikazzjonijiet formali liż-żewġ Istituzzjonijiet. Dan il-proċess se jipprovdi linjigwida politiċi għall-istadji sussegwenti tal-programmazzjoni, b’mod partikolari tad-dokumenti ta’ strateġija tematika li għandhom jitħejjew skond l-istrumenti msemmija hawn fuq.

II. KUNTEST: INVESTIMENT FIL-PERSUNI – IL-POLITIKA TA’ L-UE DWAR L-IżVILUPP SOċJALI U UMAN

L-iżvilupp soċjali u uman jirrigwarda l-persuna[ii]. Il-bżonnijiet u l-opportunitajiet tal-persuni jiddeterminaw l-iżvilupp, it-tkabbir, is-sigurtà u t-tnaqqis tal-povertà. Huwa element strateġiku ewlieni tal-"Konsensus Ewropew”[iii] u hu jenfasizzat b’mod qawwi fl-impenji internazzjonali tal-KE bħal dawk taħt id-Dikjarazzjoni tal-Millenju u dawk li sar qbil dwarhom fil-Konferenza Internazzjonali tal-Kajr dwar il-Popolazzjoni u l-Iżvilupp, is-Samit Dinji għall-Iżvilupp Soċjali, il-Pjattaforma ta’ Beijing għall-Azzjoni dwar l-ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi u s-Samit ta’ l-NU ta’ Settembru 2005.

Fil-kuntest ta’ l-azzjoni esterna, inkluż politika ta’ żvilupp, il-programm tematiku Investiment fin-nies se jiffoka fuq it-temi prinċipali ta' saħħa għal kulħadd, tagħrif u ħiliet, kultura, koeżjoni fix-xogħol u s-sigurtà, ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi, tfal u żgħażagħ. Dan se jirrifletti l-politiki interna ta’ l-UE u jikkontribwixxi għall-koerenza tal-politiki esterni ta’ l-UE. Għalhekk il-programm se jappoġġa l-arkitettura ta’ l-għajnuna esterna l-ġdida, u b'hekk jagħti lill-UE mezzi biex taġixxi f'xi oqsma kruċjali. B’mod partikolari, se jipprovdi qafas tematiku biex jinqasam it-tagħrif, il-prattika tajba u l-esperjenza, għall-monitoraġġ, ġbir u analiżi tad- data , għal metodi innovattivi u proġetti pilota fl-oqsma li jaffettwaw b’mod dirett l-għixien tan-nies madwar id-dinja. Dan se jsaħħaħ il-vuċi ta’ l-UE fuq livell internazzjonali. Se jippermetti li l-UE jkompli jkollha rwol viżibbli u kredibbli fl-organizzazzjonijiet u s-sħubiji internazzjonali dwar dawn it-temi.

Esperjenza miksuba u tagħlimiet meħuda

Il-qafas tematiku jinbena fuq ir-rikezza tat-tagħlimiet meħuda mill-esperjenza fuq livelli nazzjonali u internazzjonali, li hu żviluppat aktar fl-anness 2. Dan jieħdu wkoll kunsiderazzjoni ta’ l-evalwazzjonijiet u l-analiżi riċenti ta’ azzjoni f’dawn l-oqsma.[iv] Il-KE għamlet konsultazzjonijiet estensivi dwar it-tfassil ta’ dan il-programm tematiku[v].

It-tagħlimiet meħuda juru l-bżonn ta’ metodu tematiku ħolistiku u koerenti għall-iżvilupp soċjali u uman, li huwa ankrat b’mod sod fil-metodu komprensiv ifformulat mill-UE fl-iżvilupp il-ġdid tagħha u fil-politiki esterni li se jikkumplimentaw u jżidu l-valur tal-programmar tal-pajjiż fl-oqsma fokali differenti. Konsegwentement, il-programm qed joħloq innovazzjoni billi jmur lilhinn mill-istrateġija preżenti, li kienet ibbażata fuq is-saħħa, is-sessi u l-edukazzjoni bażika.

Fl-oqsma tal-mard marbut mal-faqar, is-saħħa u d-drittijiet sesswali u riproduttivi (SRHR) u s-sessi, l-istrateġija tematika hija mibnija fuq l-esperjenza mal-linji speċifiċi tal-baġit għal dawk l-oqsma li se jiskadu fit-tmiem ta’ l-2006[vi].

F’oqsma oħra, bħall-edukazzjoni, programmi tematiċi ġew implimentati permezz tal-fondi reġjonali jew azzjoni pilota u preparatorja.

L-esperjenza f’dawn l-oqsma tematiċi u minn pajjiżi individwali wriet li l-KE għandu jkollha rwol fejn il-politiki u l-istrateġija komuni ta’ l-UE jistgħu jagħmlu differenza.

Kwistjonijiet ta’ xogħol u koeżjoni soċjali qed jingħataw aktar attenzjoni fid-dibattitu internazzjonali. Aktar u aktar pajjiżi u reġjuni għandhom interess partikolari fl-esperjenza ta' l-UE fl-ekonomija, l-politiki soċjali u tax-xogħol u bdew jikkooperaw ma’ l-UE. Il-fokus fuq il-koeżjoni soċjali u x-xogħol fil-programm tematiku se jiffaċilita r-rispons għal din id-domanda li qed dejjem tiżdied u jirrifletti r-rieda ta’ l-UE biex issib metodi ġodda biex jiġu indirizzati r-relazzjoni tkabbir-investiment-xogħol, il-kummerċ, u kwistjonijiet ta’ inklużjoni soċjali u protezzjoni.

Il-kultura kienet imsemmija ftit li xejn fix-xogħol ta’ l-iżvilupp, imma qed ikun rikonoxxut dejjem aktar li l-kultura u l-fattur inter-kulturali jinfluwenzaw b'mod konsiderevoli l-iżvilupp u għandhom bżonn jiġu indirizzati mill-tliet angoli: jitrawwem id-djalogu bejn il-kulturi, tiġi indirizzata d-diversità kulturali madwar id-dinja permezz ta’ kooperazzjoni internazzjonali u jiġu promossi s-settur kulturali u l-industriji bħala fattur tat-tkabbir u x-xogħol.

Investiment fin-nies jista’ għalhekk ikun mezz biex jiġu fformulati u ttestjati l-istrateġiji dwar kif għandhom jiġu indirizzati dawn il-prijoritajiet ġodda bil-valur miżjud Ewropew.

Rigward l-ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi u t-tfal, it-tagħlimiet meħuda mill-esperjenza u mill-kontribuzzjonijiet tal-partijiet interessati huma li l- mainstreaming huwa importanti, imma mhux effettiv biżżejjed, u jrid jiġi sostnut b’azzjoni speċifika.

Dan il-programm, potenzjali, jista' jindirizza ħafna kwistjonijiet oħra, imma minħabba r-riżorsi limitati, iridu jsiru għażliet, li jiffokaw fuq attivitajiet fejn is-saħħa u l-kredibilità ta’ l-UE huwa l-akbar.

Ir-raġunament u l-valur miżjud tal-programm tematiku “ Investiment fin-nies”

Kif iddikjarat mill-Kummissjoni Ewropea[vii], programm tematiku jinkludi qasam speċifiku ta’ interess għal grupp ta’ pajjiżi sieħba mhux iddeterminati bil-ġeografija, jew attivitajiet ta’ kooperazzjoni indirizzati lil reġjuni jew gruppi ta’ pajjiżi sieħba, jew operazzjoni internazzjonali li mhix speċifika ġeografikament, inkluż inizjattivi multilaterali jew globali biex jippromwovu l-politika interna ta' l-Unjoni, barra l-Unjoni.

Prinċipju importanti li jservi ta’ bażi għall-kunċett tal-programmi tematiċi huwa s-“sussidarjetà”. Il-programmi ġeografiċi huma strument preferut għall-kooperazzjoni ma’ pajjiżi terzi. Madankollu, f’xi ċirkostanzi il-programmi ġeografiċi (pajjiż, multi-pajjiż u reġjonali) m’humiex l-aqwa strument għal azzjoni fil-qasam partikolari: xi għanijiet tal-politika ta’ l-UE ma jistgħux jinkisbu permezz ta’ programmi tal-pajjiż u reġjonali u/jew parti mill-azzjoni taħt il-programmi tal-pajjiż jew reġjonali tista’ tiġi ssupplimentata b’azzjoni tematika. Il-programm tematiku jżid il-valur għall-programmi ġeografiċi minħabba li dan:

1. jappoġġa l-innovazzjoni u jistimula żieda ta’ miżuri innovattivi u joħloq u jġib flimkien tagħrif u prattiċi tajba madwar ir-reġjuni;

2. itejjeb il-kooperazzjoni teknika bejn il-pajjiżi u l-organizzazzjonijiet reġjonali sabiex isir progress fl-impenji internazzjonali, u jsaħħaħ il-parteċipazzjoni u l-qbil tal-pajjiżi u r-reġjuni sieħba fil-konvenzjonijiet, inizjattivi jew proċessi internazzjonali. F’każijiet speċifiċi, jista’ jipprovdi l-għodod għal benchmarking u monitoraġġ effettiv tul ir-reġjuni u b’dan il-mod jibbenefikaw il-politika tal-pajjiż, l-effettività ta’ l-għajnuna u l-armonizzazzjoni tad-donaturi, skond id-Dikjarazzjoni ta’ Pariġi dwar l-Armonizzazzjoni ta’ l-Għajnuna;

3. jappoġġa l-iżvilupp f’sitwazzjonijiet u reġjuni fejn il-kooperazzjoni bilaterali ma jistax ikun hemm qbil dwarha jew m’hemmx qafas ta’ kooperazzjoni, bħal fi stati fraġli u fil-każ ta’ programmi kritiċi.

4. jiffoka fuq li jintlaħqu l-obbligi internazzjonali tal-KE, għal leħen globali għal kwistjonijiet kritiċi, dwar titjib tal-governanza globali, aktar effiċjenza fl-għajnuna u fl-assigurar ta’ qafas politiku multilaterali effettiv.

III. PROGRAMM TEMATIKU PROPOST “INVESTIMENT FIL-PERSUNI”

Skop

Il-programm għandu jitwaqqaf fil-qafas “Konsensus Ewropew”, id-dimensjoni esterna tal-politiki ta’ l-UE u l-impenji internazzjonali u se jiffoka fuq li jipprovdi sinerġiji bejn it-temi u l-politiki ta’ l-UE f’dawn l-oqsma sabiex tissaħħaħ il-koerenza. L- Investiment fil-persuni huwa mibni u jintegra l- acquis fformulata f’serji ta’ dokumenti ewlenin ta’ politika[viii]. Dan jikkumplimenta l-istrateġiji tal-pajjiż.

Il-KE se tirrapporta regolarment lill-Kunsill u lill-Parlament Ewropew dwar l-implimentazzjoni ta’ l-istrateġija u se tippubblika rapporti ta’ evalwazzjoni.

Prijoritajiet għal azzjoni tematika dwar l-iżvilupp soċjali u uman

Il-fokus tal-programm huwa dwar sitt temi kruċjali għall-iżvilupp soċjali u uman imressaq quddiem il-“Konsensus Ewropew” u fuq l-impenji internazzjonali oħra tal-KE f’dan il-qasam imsemmija qabel: saħħa, tagħrif u ħiliet, kultura, u koeżjoni soċjali u impjiegi, ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi, żgħażagħ u tfal. Dawn il-prijoritajiet huma marbuta strateġikament u s-sinerġiji huma żviluppati bejn it-temi kollha.

1. Saħħa għal kulħadd

Is-saħħa hija kruċjali għall-benesseri individwali, tagħlim, xogħol u attività soċjali, għall-ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi u għal kull tkabbir u żvilupp tas-soċjetà. Is-sistemi tas-saħħa għal pajjiżi individwali u l-aċċess għas-servizzi essenzjali huma preokkupazzjoni ċentrali. Ir-riżorsi umani għall-kura tas-saħħa huma problema kruċjali biex jiġu indirizzata fuq livell ta’ pajjiż u dak internazzjonali. Is-sistemi ta’ informazzjoni tas-saħħa li jkunu kapaċi jiġġeneraw, ikejlu u janalizzaw id- data diżaggregata ta’ l-informazzjoni huma essenzjali biex jiżguraw riżultati aħjar tas-saħħa u l-iżvilupp u li r-riżorsi domestiċi u esterni jikkontribwixxu b'mod effettiv għal aktar progress. L-iżgurar ta' mekkaniżmi ġusti għall-iffinanzjar ta’ aċċess ugwali għall-kura tas-saħħa għal kulħadd hija prijorità prinċipali oħra tal-politiki ta’ l-UE sabiex tittejjeb is-sistema tas-saħħa u l-koeżjoni soċjali. Il-mard relatat mal-faqar jirrappreżenta sfida partikolari bejn is-setturi li tmur lil hinn mill-fruntieri nazzjonali. L-UE ilha tmexxi u tappoġġa sforza internazzjonali fil-ġlieda kontra l-HIV/AIDS, it-tuberkolosi, il-malarja u mard ieħor. Finalment, l-UE għada waħda mill-forzi ewlenin fil-qasam tas-saħħa u d-drittijiet riproduttivi u sesswali (SRHR) bbażati fur l-aġenda sħiħa tal-Kajr. L-azzjoni f’dawn iż-żewġ oqsma se tkompli bl-istess definizzjonijiet u skop kif provdut fir-Regolament (KE) 1568/2003 tal-Parlament Ewropew u tal-Kunsill dwar għajnuna għall-ġlieda kontra mard relatat mal-faqar fil-pajjiżi li qed jiżviluppaw u r-Regolament (KE) 1567/2003 tal-Parlament Ewropew u tal-Kunsill dwar is-saħħa u d-drittijiet riproduttivi u sesswali fil-pajjiżi li qed jiżviluppaw. Il-Kummissjoni Ewropea reċentement adottat orjentazzjonijiet għall-ġlieda kontra l-HIV/AIDS fi ħdan l-UE u l-pajjiżi ġirien li jittieħed kont tagħhom speċifikament għall-pajjiżi li qed jiżviluppaw u l-ġirien ta’ l-UE. Il-programm tematiku jista’ jwieġeb għal dawn l-isfidi b’diversi modi:

- jitħaffef l-iżvilupp u titejjeb id-disponibbiltà ta’ u l-aċċess ugwali għal oġġetti globali pubbliċi, inkluż prodotti farmaċewtiċi siguri u bi prezz li wieħed ikun jista’ jixtrihom, komoditajiet u innovazzjonijiet għas-saħħa riproduttiva, inkluż kokomunikazzjonijiet elettroniċi, għal strateġiji kontra l-mard u li jipprevjenu l-infezzjonijiet, appoġġ għal miżuri innovattivi għas-saħħa ambjentali sabiex jipprevjenu l-mard u jiġu appoġġati l-parteċipazzjoni u l-kapaċitajiet ta’ l-istituzzjonijiet u l-komunitajiet sabiex ikun hemm l-implimentazzjoni etika u effiċjenti ta’ provi kliniċi u tittejjeb il-kapaċità regolatorja.

- jiġu appoġġati attivitajiet u informazzjoni biex tiżdied il-kuxjenza pubblika u politika u tittejjeb l-edukazzjoni tal-pubbliku, inklżu sensittività għad-drittijiet, ugwaljanza, sessi u kwistjonijiet kulturali relatati ma' riżultati mixtieqa fis-saħħa u l-prevenzjoni;

- bini ta’ kapaċità, inkluż l-użu ta’ l-għodod ta’ l-ICT, għal dawk li jfasslu l-politika u partijiet interessari oħra fuq livell ta’ pajjiż, reġjonali u globali biex tittejjeb il-kontribuzzjoni tagħhom għar-riżultati ta’ l-iżvilupp f'dawn l-oqsma;

2. Tagħrif u ħiliet għal kulħadd

L-UE qed tikkontribwixxi sabiex jittejjeb l-aċċess għall-edukazzjoni għat-tfal kollha, u għan-nisa u t-tfal ta’ kull età, bil-għan li jiżdied it-tagħrif, il-ħiliet u l-kapaċità għax-xogħol fis-suq tax-xogħol, li jikkontrbwixxu għal ċittadinanza attiva u s-sodisfazzjoni individwali tul il-ħajja, appoġġ għal soċjetà ta’ l-informazzjoni inklużiva u kontribut sabiex titnaqqas il-firda diġitali, u n-nuqqas ta' tagħrif u informazzjoni. Se tingħata attenzjoni lill-adulti li ma jafux jaqraw u jiktbu u għal programmi ta’ tagħlim simili għall-adulti. Wara l-edukazzjoni primarja universali, il-pajjiżi, flimkien mas-setturi u d-donaturi tan-negozju, issa jridu jibni edukazzjoni u taħriġ vokazzjonali (VET) sabiex jippermettu aktar tax-xogħol u jipprovdu aktar aċċess għal edukazzjoni sekondarja u terzjarja ta’ kwalità tajba. L-edukazzjoni terzjarja għandha rwol ewlieni sabiex jinħolqu ċentri lokali ta' tagħrif u sabiex ikun hemm personell ta’ l-edukazzjoni u s-saħħa u nies li bil-ħiliet, kapaċitajiet u spirtu ta' imprendituri tagħhom jikkontribwixxu għat-tkabbir u għalhekk inaqqsu l-faqar. Il-kapaċità u l-kwalità ta’ l-edukazjzoni terzjarja, inkluż VET avvanzat, iridu jiġu mtejba f’ħafna pajjiżi li qed jiżviluppaw. L-iniżjattivi żviluppati fl-UE jew fi ħdan programmi esterni bilaterali ta’ għajnuna dwar l-iżvilupp ta’ ħiliet u riżorsi uman jista’ wkoll ikun ta’ interess għal xi partijiet.

Dan il-metodu komprensiv jenfasizza l-fatt li l-aċċess għat-tagħrif u l-ħiliet huwa għodda biex tagħti s-setgħa lit-tfal, liż-żgħażagħ u n-nisa biex tittejjeb il-kuxjenza u l-ħiliet relatati mal-prevenzjoni tal-mard u l-kura, ppjanar tal-familja, kuxjenza dwar id-drittijiet tal-bniedem, tolleranza, solidarjetà u paċi. It-tagħrif u l-innovazzjoni permezz tax-xjenza u t-teknoloġija kif ukoll l-iżvilupp ta’ u l-aċċess għan-netwerks tal-komunikazzjoni elettronika huma importanti sabiex jippromwovu t-tkabbir soċjo-ekonomiku u l-iżvilupp sostenibbli u jeħtieġ li jkunu indirizzati f’sinerġija mad-dimensjoni internazzjonali tal-politika ta’ riċerka ta’ l-UE. L-isforzi kollha għall-promozzjoni ta’ l-edukazzjoni u t-taħriġ għandhom jimminimizzaw l-effett tal- brain drain .

Dan il-programm tematiku jikkontribwixxi għall-programmi tal-pajjiż permezz ta’ l-insegwiment ta’ l-azzjoni kumplimentari:

- l-għajnuna għal pajjiżi bi dħul baxx biex isiru eliġibbli għal appoġġ internazzjoni għall-iżvilupp ta’ politiki ta’ l-edukazzjoni adegwati u ta’ kwalità; tikkontribwixxi għal mekkaniżmi internazzjoni mmirati biex jappoġġaw pajjiżi li qed jonqsu milli jimmobilizzaw għajnuna ta’ donaturi biex jiffinanzjaw il-pjanijiet edukattivi tagħhom;

- jippromwovi skambji internazzjonali ta’ l-esperjenza u l-prattika tajba għall-iżvilupp ta’ l-edukazzjoni u t-taħriġ sekondarju u vokazzjonali inkluż kooperazzjoni mill-qrib ma’ l-organizzazzjonijiet li jirrappreżentaw lil min iħaddem u lill-ħaddiema u partijiet interessati oħra, bil-għan li tkun assigurata l-kwalità u jintlaħqu l-bżonnijiet tal-ħaddiem, u jiġu massimizzati u l-adattabilità tal-ħaddiema u l-kapaċità tagħhom biex jiġu impjegati;

- jippromwovi l-kooperazzjoni universitarja transnazzjonali u l-mobbiltà ta’ l-istudenti u l-iskulari fuq livell internazzjonali permezz ta’ miżuri li jakkumpanjawha li jiffaċilitaw programmi reġjonali bejn pajjiż u ieħor, l-użu tan-netwerks ta’ l-ICT biex jibnu netwerks edukattivi nofsinhar-nofsinhar u nofsinhar-tramuntana u l-aċċess għar-riżorsi ta’ l-informazzjoni, inkluż il-programm ERASMUS mundus , tagħlim b’distanza u mobbiltà virtwali.

- japoġġa l-iżvilupp tal-kapaċità statistika u metodi ta’ konsistenza għall-kisba ta’ data kwantitattiva u kwalittativa bbażata fuq indikaturi komuni definiti, kunċetti komuni għall-analiżi tad- data u l-espansjoni tal-qafas globali tal-monitoraġġ. Dan se jibbenefika għajnuna ta’ programmar, monitoraġġ u evalwazzjoni, b’mod partikolari appoġġ għall-baġit, għar-reċipjenti u d-donaturi;

- tfal marġinalizzati u vulnerabbli (eż. tfal li jaħdmu, orfni, tfal diżabbli, tfal f’sitwazzjonijiet f'kunflitt/post-kunflitt, tfal indiġeni u f’minorità, jew tfal f’żoni rurali remoti, partikolarment bniet) li m’għandhomx opportunità li jmorru l-iskola. Din is-sitwazzjoni tista’ tkun intrinsikament marbuta mal-kundizzjonijiet tat-tfal u l-familji jew ma' sistemi ta' l-iskejjel defiċjenti. Il-programm jista' jippromwovi aktar attenzjoni għal dawn it-tfal fuq livell globali, proġetti pilota, skambju ta’ esperjenza u prattiċi tajba, filwaqt li l-parti l-kbira ta’ l-appoġġ irid jiġi minn programmi tal-pajjiżi jew reġjonali. Ir-rabta bejn l-edukazzjoni u l-ġlieda kontra l-forom kollha tax-xogħol tat-tfal għandha tkun qasam ta' prijorità.

3. Kultura

Il-kultura tiddetermina kif jaħdmu s-soċjetajiet u l-ekonomiji u għandha impatt fuq l-isferi kollha ta' interazzjoni bejn l-UE u l-pajjiżi sieħba, b'implikazzjonijiet għall-politiki soċjali, ekonomiċi u esterni. Il-prinċipji tal-propjetà u l-parteċipazzjoni, jekk applikati sewwa u b’mod sħiħ jiksbu stima personali u “parità ta’ l-istima”, għandhom jagħmluha possibbli sabiex jittieħed kont xieraq tar-realtà kulturali tas-sieħba fil-kooperazzjoni, mingħajr ma jsiru mistoqsijiet dwar l-universalità tad-drittijiet tal-bniedem u l-libertajiet fundamentali. L-adozzjoni reċenti tal-Konvenzjoni tal-UNESCO dwar il-protezzjoni u l-promozzjoni tad-diversità ta' l-espressjonijiet kulturali tissottolinea l-konsensus internazzjonali biex tippromwovi b’mod attiv u titrawwem id-diversità kulturali fir-relazzjonijiet internazzjonali, notevolment mal-pajjiżi li qed jiżviluppaw. Il-mezzi awdjoviżivi jistgħu jkunu mezz effettiv biex jippromwovu l-kultura kif ukoll biex jiġu trasferiti l-esperjenza u l-prattiċi tajba.

It-tagħlim, ir-rwoli tas-sessi u l-isterjotipi, metodi ta’ ħajja, attitudnijiet lejn l-oħra, stigma, diskriminazzjoni, kunflitt u ħafna kwistjonijiet oħra huma influwenzati b’mod qawwi mill-kultura.

- L-investiment fin-nies jista’ jgħin biex jippromwovi l-ftehim reċiproku u d-djalogu bejn il-popli u l-kulturi, jgħin id-diversità kulturali u r-rispett għad-dinjità ugwali tal-kulturi u jsaħħaħ il-kooperazzjoni u l-iskambju ta’ l-esperjenza f’oqsma varji tal-kultura, l-edukazzjoni u r-riċerka. L-importanza tal-promozzjoni tar-rispett għall-valuri soċjali, kulturali u spiritwali tal-popli indiġeni u l-minoritajiet tgħin fil-ġlieda kontra l-inugwaljanzi soċjali u l-inġustizzji f’soċjetajiet multi-etniċi.

- Aktar minn hekk, il-kultura hija wkoll settur ekonomiku promettenti għall-iżvilupp u t-tkabbir. Il-kooperazzjoni internazzjonali, b’mod partikolari mal-pajjiżi li qed jiżviluppaw, għandha tagħti rwol sostanzjali lis-settur tal-kultura, u b’mod partikolari l-industriji tal-kultura, biex jisfruttaw il-potenzjali ekonomiku.

4. Ix-xogħol u l-koeżjoni soċjali

Qed jikber l-interess fuq livell globali u f'reġjuni u pajjiżi varji fl-istrateġija ekonomika u soċjali li jieħu in kunsiderazzjoni is-sitwazzjonijiet, bżonnijiet interessi u possibbiltajiet differenti tal-pajjiżi u reġjuni sieħba[ix]. Ix-xogħol, il-ġlieda lill-inugwaljanzi u l-promozzjoni tal-koeżjoni soċjali jifformaw tema ġdida importanti mil-politika ta’ l-Unjoni dwar ir-relazzjonijeit esterni u l-iżvilupp. Dan jinkludi xogħol diċenti għal kulħadd, inklużjoni u benesseri soċjali, xogħol produttiv, djalogu soċjali, żvilupp tar-riżorsi umani, għoti ta’ setgħa lin-nisa u drittijiet fundamentali soċjali, inkluż ġlieda kontra kull forma ta’ xogħol tat-tfal u traffikar ta’ persuni. Jinkludi wkoll il-promozzjoni ta’ strateġija integrata soċjali u ekonomika li tqis l-ekonomija, l-kummerċ, ix-xogħol u l-koeżjoni soċjali bħala elementi interdipendenti bil-għan li jiġu miġġielda l-inugwaljanzi. L-UE se tiffoka b’mod partikolari fuq ir-riformi soċjali u fiskali biex tiġi promossa l-ekwità u dwar li jiġu integrati progressivament is-setturi informali fl-ekonomija formali.

Is-Samit tan-NU ta’ l-2005 issottolinea l-kontribuzzjoni importanti li jistgħu jġibu x-xogħol produttiv u x-xogħol diċenti għal kulħadd sabiex jipprevjenu u jiġġieldu l-faqar u l-bżonn sabiex jiġu integrati fi strateġiji ta’ żvilupp. L-istrateġiji soċjali u ekonomiċi integrati, il-politiki tal-kummerċ li jippromwovu l-iżvilupp soċjali, il-politiki ta’ investiment li joħolqu intraprendituri ġodda, ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi fuq ix-xogħol, xogħol u ħiliet lokali, istituzzjonijiet effiċjenti tas-suq tax-xogħol u kooperazzjoni bejn is-sieħba soċjali għalhekk ikunu kruċjali għall-istrateġiji ta’ l-iżvilupp.

L-iskemi tas-sigurtà soċjali u l-inklużjoni soċjali huma elementi ewlenin biex jittrattaw il-vulnerabbiltà u jnaqqsu r-riskju tal-faqar. Dawn jappoġġaw id-djar u jikkontribwixxu għall-aġenda ta' l-ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi fik ukoll għall-ġlieda kontra x-xogħol tat-tfal. Ikun meħtieġ li jiġi indirizzat in-nuqqas ta’ ħarsien soċjali fl-ekonomija informali.

Il-programm tematiku jista’:

- jikkontribwixxi għall-promorzzjoni ta’ l-aġenda “xogħol diċenti għal kulħadd” bħala għan universali, inkluż permezz ta' inizjattivi globali u multi-pajjiżi oħra biex jimplimentaw l-istandards internazzjonali tax-xogħol, assessjar ta’ l-impatt tal-kummerċ fuq ix-xogħol diċenti, djalogu soċjali, mekkaniżmi sostnuti u adegwati għall-iffinanzjar ġust, funzjonar effettiv - u kopertura aktar wiesgħa - tas-sistemi tal-protezzjoni soċjali, inkluż skemi tal-pensjoni u benefiċċji tal-ħarsien soċjali bażiċi;

- jappoġġa inizjattivi biex jippromwovu t-titjib tal-kundizzjonijiet tax-xogħol kif ukoll l-aġġustament tal-liberalizzazzjoni tal-kummerċ. Dan għandu jinkludi d-dimensjoni tax-xogħol fil-politiki ta’ l-iżvilupp u li wieħed jieħu aktar ir-Responsabbiltà Soċjali Korporattiva bħala prattika tan-negozju volontarja, biex jixterdu l-valuri soċjali Ewropej.

- jgħin fil-promozzjoni tad-dimensjoni soċjali tal-globalizzazzjoni ta’ l-esperjenza ta' l-UE.

5. L-ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi

Il-promozzjoni ta’ l-ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi u d-drittijiet tan-nisa huwa kruċjali mhux biss fih innifsu imma huwa dritt uman fundamentali imnaqqax fil-Konvenzjoni Ewropea tad-Drittijiet Umani u kwistjoni tal-ġustizzja soċjali, kif ukoll huma instrumentali kif kisba ta’ l-MDGs u fl-implimentar ta’ impenji bħal dawk mogħtija taħt il-Pjattaforma ta’ Beijing għall-Azzjoni, il-Programm tal-Kajr għall-Azzjoni u l-Konvenzjoni dwar l-Eliminazzjoni tal-Forom Kollha tad-Diskriminazzjoni kontra n-Nisa[x]. Matul dan il-programm tematiku, kwistjonijiet ta’ ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi bħall-aċċess għall-ħiliet u t-tagħrif min-nisa u l-irġiel, ambjent sigur fl-iskejjel, is-saħħa u d-drittijiet sesswali u riproduttivi, xogħol u protezzjoni soċjali għandhom ikunu indirizzati taħt l-erba’ prijoritajiet msemmija hawn fuq. L-inizjattivi fil-qasam tal-kultura jikkontribwixxu biex jimmodifikaw il-konfigurazzjonijiet tal-kondotta ta' l-irġiel u n-nies, bil-għan li jiksbu l-eliminazzjoni tal-preġudizzju u l-prattiċi tradizzjonali li huma bbażati fuq l-idea ta’ inferjorità jew superjorità ta’ wieħed mis-sessi jew dwar ir-rwoli għan-nisa u l-irġiel.

Lilhinn minn din id-dimensjoni orizzontali, l-ugwalijanza bejn is-sess hija tema fiha nfisha li se tiġi indirizzata permezz ta’ azzjoni speċifiika dwar l-ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi. Dan il-programm tematiku jista jikkumplimenta l-azzjoni neċessarja tal-pajjiż bil-forom ta' appoġġ globali jew madwar ir-reġjuni:

- jipprovdi appoġġ strateġiku għall-programmi li jikkontribwixxu għall-kisba ta’ l-għanijiet tad-Dikjarazzjoni ta’ Beijing;

- jippromwovi l-organizzazzjonijiet tas-soċjetà ċivili, notevolment organizzazzjonijiet u netwerks tan-nisa, fix-xogħol tagħhom biex jippromwovu l-ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi u l-għoti tal-potenzjal ekonomiku u soċjali, inkluż netwerking u tramuntana-nofsinhar u nofsinhar-nofsinhar.

- Jippromwovi prespettiva tas-sessi fl-isforzi biex jippromwovu l-kapaċità statistika, billi jappoġġa l-iżvilupp u d-disseminazzjoni tad- data u l-indikaturi disaggregati mis-sessi, kif ukoll data u indikaturi ta’ l-ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi.

6. Żgħażagħ u tfal

L-investiment fiż-żgħażagħ u t-tfal huwa investiment fil-futur. L-akbar grupp ta’ tfal u żgħażagħ li qatt rat id-dinja jippreżenta sfidi u opportunitajiet għall-pajjiżi li qed jiżviluppaw. Dawn huwa partikolarment vulnerabbli u d-drittijiet u l-interessi tagħhom jeħtieġu attenzjoni speċjali, li tibda bil-parteċipazzjoni u l-għoti tas-setgħa u tinkludi l-promozzjoni u l-promozzjoni tad-drittijiet tagħhom, saħħa u għixien. Tfal u żgħażagħ b’saħħithom u li ħadu edukazzjoni, li jdawdu d-drittijiet bażiċi, huma opportunità. It-tagħrif u l-ħiliet jippermettulhom li jipparteċipaw fis-suq tax-xogħol u fis-soċjetà ġenerali. L-aqwa interessi tat-tfal u taż-żgħażagħ għandhom jiġu ikkunsidrati fl-azzjoni kollha relevanti u l-parteċipazzjoni tat-tfal u ż-żgħażagħ għandha tkun żgurata, filwaqt li tiġi żgurata l-konsistenza bi strateġija għal tul il-ħajja u li tmur minn ġenerazzjoni għall-oħra. Lil hinn mill- mainstreaming u l-appoġġ għall-pajjiż il-programm tematiku jista’:

- iżid l-attenzjoni tal-pajjiżi u l-kapaċità li jirdirzzaw kwistjonijiet taż-żgħażagħ u t-tfal fl-azzjoni esterna;

- inizjattivi ta’ appoġġ reġjonali, inter-reġjonali u globali f’oqsma ewlenin, bħal prevenzjoni tal-forom kollha tax-xogħol, traffikar u vjolenza sesswali tat-tfal, u appoġġ għan-netwerk ta’ l-impjegar taż-żgħażagħ.

- l-azzjoni ta’ l-appoġġ biex jippromwovu ż-żgħażagħ u t-tfal f’sitwazzjonijiet u reġjuni fejn il-kooperazzjoni bilaterali għandha l-limitazzjonijiet, bħal fi stati fraġli;

- appoġġ għal problemi ta’ mmappjar, ġbir u monitoraġġ tad- data (inkluż reġistrazzjoni tat-twelid), politiki ta’ l-iżvilupp u proġetti pilota, u qsim ta’ l-aqwa prattiċi sabiex isalvaw tfal vittmi tax-xogħol, traffikar u vjolenza u reintregrar fis-soċjetà (edukazzjoni, taħriġ fil-ħiliet, kura medika u psikoloġika), żieda fl-għarfien u inizjattivi innovattivi (eż, kontra x-xogħol tat-tfal, traffikar, mutilazzjoni tal-ġenitali, relazzjonijet sesswali furzati u żwieġ furzat).

IV. PROGRAMMAR U IMPLIMENTAZZJONI

- Erba’ snin (2007-2010) u, sussegwentement, tliet snin (2011-2013) Karti Strateġiċi Tematiċi (dokumenti ta’ l-ipprogrammar) ikunu deċiżi mill-Kummissjoni wara l-proċeduri tal-Komitoloġija[xi].

- Fuq il-bażi ta’ dan l-iprogrammar multi-annwali, il-Kummissjoni għandha tipproduċi programmi ta’ azzjoni annwali li tistabbilixxi azzjonijiet ta' prijorità li jridu jiġu appoġġati, għanijiet speċifiċi, riżultati antiċipati kif ukoll ammonti indikattivi.

- Il-programm għandu jiġi implimentat skond ir-Riforma ta’ l-2000 ta’ l-Immaniġġjar ta’ l-Għajnuna Esterna li tipprevedi inter alia, devoluzzjoni tar-risponsabbiltajiet ta’ l-immaniġġjar lid-delegazzjonijiet fejn xieraq.

- Rigward ir-reviżjoni ta’ nofs it-terminu taż-żmien, issir evalwazzjoni esterna ta' l-operazzjonijiet matul l-ewwel perjodu ta' tliet snin (2007-2009) biex tipprovdi kontribut għall-preparazzjonijiet tat-tieni Karta ta’ Strateġija Tematika (2011-2013). Ir-rapporti jiġu trażmessi lil u diskussi ma' l-Istati Membri u l-Parlament Ewropew.

ANNEX 1

List of key policy documents on human and social development 2002-2005

- United Nations Millennium Declaration, New York, 2000;http://www.un.org/millennium/summit.htm

- The 2005 World Summit; http://www.un.org/summit2005/

- The 2005 World Summit on Information Society; http://www.itu.int/wsis/

- UNDP Human Development Report 2004, “ Cultural Liberty in Today’s Diverse World”, http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2004/

- High-level Forum on the Health Millennium Development Goals, Geneva, 2004;http://www.who.int/hdp/hlf/en/

- UNGASS Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, 2001; http://www.unaids.org/en/events/un+special+session+on+hiv_aids/declaration+of+commitment+on+hiv_aids.asp

- Education For All: Meeting our collective commitments, Dakar, 2000;http://www.unesco.org/education/efa/ed_for_all/dakfram_eng.shtml

- Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing Declaration, 1995;http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/beijing/platform/declar.htm and Beijing + 10

- World Summit for Social Development, Copenhagen, 1995;http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/wssd/

- United Nations International Conference on Population and Development, Cairo, 1994 and Cairo + 10; http://www.iisd.ca/cairo.html

- A Fair Globalisation: Creating opportunities for all, World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation, Geneva, 2004;http://www.ilo.org/public/english/fairglobalization/index.htm

- ILO decent work agenda: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/decent.htm

- Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC); http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/k2crc.htm

- Joint Statement by the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission on European Union Development Policy: “The European Consensus”, 22 November 2005.

- Proposal for a joint declaration by the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission on the European Union Development Policy “The European Consensus” (COM(2005) 311 final of 13 July 2005)

- Policy Coherence for Development - Accelerating progress towards attaining the Millennium Development Goals (COM(2005) 134 final of 12 April 2005)

- Health and Poverty Reduction in Developing Countries (COM(2002) 129 final)

- EU Strategy for Action on the Crisis in Human Resources for Health in Developing Countries (COM(2005) 642 final)

AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis

- Regulation (EC) No 1568/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on aid to fight poverty diseases (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria) in developing countries

- Report on the Commission Communication on the Update of the EC Programme for Action: Accelerated Action on HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis in the Context of Poverty Reduction – Outstanding Policy Issues and Future Challenges – European Parliament Committee on Development and Cooperation (PE 326.776/DEF A5-0055/2004)

- Second Progress Report on the EC Programme for Action: Accelerated action on HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in the context of poverty reduction (SEC(2004) 1326)

- A Coherent European Policy Framework for External Action to Confront HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis (COM(2004) 726 final)

- Council Conclusions on a Coherent European Policy Framework for External Action to Confront HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, 23 November 2004

- A European Programme for Action to Confront HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis through External Action (COM(2005) 179 final)

- Council Conclusions on a European Programme for Action to Confront HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis through External Action, 24 May 2005

- Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on combating HIV/AIDS within the European Union and the neighbouring countries 2006-2009. COM (2005) 654 final, 15 December 2005.

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)

- Regulation (EC) No 1567/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on aid for policies and actions on reproductive and sexual health and rights in developing countries

- Council conclusions on "Cairo ICPD +10", 24/11/04

Education

- Education and training in the context of poverty reduction in developing countries (COM(2002) 116 of 6.3.2002). This document paved the way for the adoption of a Council Resolution on “Education and poverty” on 30 May 2002 and of a European Parliament Resolution on “Education and training in the context of poverty reduction in developing countries” on 15 May 2003

Culture :

Convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions. UNESCO, Paris, 20 October 2005. http://portal.unesco.org/culture/en/ev.php-URL_ID=11281&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

Social protection, social dialogue, employment, rights at work, children’s rights, social dimension of globalisation, decent work for all

- The Social Dimension of Globalisation – the EU’s policy contribution on extending the benefits to all (COM(2004) 383 final)

- The Social Agenda (COM(2005) 33 final)

- Promoting core labour standards and improving social governance in the context of globalisation (COM(2001) 416 final, 18 July 2001)

- December 2004 and June 2005 European Council conclusions on the social dimension of globalisation

- Council Conclusions of 21 July 2003, 5 March 2005 and 24 May 2005

- EP Report on promoting core labour standards, July 2003 (M.H. Gillig)

- EP Report A6-0308/2005 on the Social Dimension of Globalisation, 14 November 2005 (M. Brejc)

Gender equality

- Regulation (EC) No 806/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on promoting gender equality in development cooperation

- Programme of Action for the mainstreaming of gender equality in Community Development Cooperation (COM(2001) 295 final)

- Council Conclusions C/10/403 of 8 November 2001

- Report on equality between women and men 2004 and 2005 (COM(2004) 115 and COM(2005) 44

- Council Conclusions on the "Review of the implementation by the Member States and the EU institutions of the Beijing Platform for Action", 2/3 June 2005

- EP resolution on the follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing + 10), 10/03/2005 - EP05-027

- EP Report A-5-0066/2002 (Maria Martens/Luisa Morgantini)

- http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/gender_equality/gender_mainstreaming/global/global_en.html

Main international and EU policy frameworks concerning children

- The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)[xii]

- International Conference on Population and Development ( ICPD ) and its Programme of Action, especially on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (Chapter VII)

- ILO Conventions 182 and 138 on the elimination of the worst forms of child labour and the minimum age for admission to employment[xiii]

- UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children[xiv]

UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on Children’s Rights of May 2002[xv]

Main International and EU policy frameworks concerning Indigenous Peoples

The ILO convention no. 169 on the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples in independent countries.

The UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

The UN Draft declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (1994/45)(E.CN.4.SUB.2.RES.1994)

European Commission Working Document of 11 May 1998 on support for indigenous peoples in development cooperation of the Community and Member States.

Council Resolution of 30th November 1998 on Indigenous Peoples within the Frame work of Development Cooperation of the Community and Member States.

Council Conclusion of 18th November 2002 on Indigenous issues.

The Convention on biological diversity (art. 8J)

Agenda 21 (article 24)

World Bank Operational Policies on Indigenous Peoples (O.P 4.10 May 10, 2005)

World Bank Bank Procedures on Indigenous Peoples (BP 4.10 May 10, 2005

ANNEX 2

Lessons learnt and past experience

Overall, while recognising the added value of thematic programmes, the new architecture of the instruments for external action provides an opportunity to rethink the scope and content of thematic programmes, including their budget appropriations, and to extend the concept of simplification to them by consolidating and rationalising them with a view to improving their effectiveness and efficiency. The scope and rationale for the programme envisaged and the management procedures for programming, budgeting and adopting them take into account the lessons learnt from evaluations. The Commission has evaluated most of the thematic regulations under the current Financial Perspectives. Moreover, a significant number of country strategy evaluations have been undertaken in recent years, which throw light upon the link between country programmes and thematic programmes. Certain general findings and lessons drawn from these studies need to be taken into account in the concept and definition of the future thematic programme, particularly where it is implemented at country level. On the one hand, the evaluations show that generally thematic programmes have had a positive impact.

Thematic programmes have proven useful for implementing Community action in cases where the government of the partner country blocks action under the geographical programmes, which is particularly the case in sensitive areas such as human rights, democracy or support to civil society.

They are a useful, if not the only, tool to create or contribute to international initiatives and partnerships, to pursue global advocacy and to buttress a leadership role for the EU on key issues on the international agenda.

They have been found useful to initiate actions, often with innovative approaches, with pre-selected partners.

Action is often more easily accepted by partner countries when funding is “additional”.

Thematic programmes have proven useful to intervene in fragile states and difficult partnerships, particularly in supporting programmes implemented by non-state entities.

On the other hand, the thematic programmes and budget lines have demonstrated certain weaknesses. They are currently extremely numerous and fragmented. The narrowly defined thematic focus, once determined by a legislative act, limits the flexibility to adapt to new needs. Parallel implementation of numerous thematic programmes and the country programme poses managerial challenges and leads to loss of efficiency[xvi]. By nature, action in non-Community countries funded under thematic programmes creates problems of coherence with country and regional strategies[xvii]. Thematic action needs to be consistent with the country analysis and should respond or relate to country strategies[xviii]. Consequently, it should also be part of the complementarity assessment made in the context of country strategies. The substance of thematic programmes should be integrated into the policy dialogue with partner governments[xix].

The EC’s priorities for action on HIV, malaria and tuberculosis take into account those which apply internationally. More specifically, the new European policy framework to confront the three diseases was based on two progress reports on the previous Programme for Action, finalised in 2003 and 2004 respectively. The 2004 progress report and the evidence gathered from stakeholders to prepare it illustrate that EC action led to a reduction of up to 98% in the price of some key pharmaceutical products in developing countries and that policy coherence has been increased through common action on research and development[xx] and trade regulations which contributed to making medicines available and affordable[xxi]. Synergy and policy coherence at EC level have been enhanced, in particular, by agreed, concrete and concerted action on capacity building and clinical research capacity and by access to medical care coverage for populations during clinical trials and the financial support currently provided to EDCTP clinical trial sites and the populations concerned by these trials from the research budget and the poverty diseases budget line (21.020702). The active role played by the EC in terms of providing leadership, coordinating positions and mobilising resources among the EU Member States and other donors is a key achievement, including a strong European voice in the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria and in international forums on key issues such as trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights. The report has shown that the main outstanding challenges include how to increase the prioritisation of, and resources to, health and social services in non-EU countries; how to boost ailing health infrastructure and overburdened human capacities (especially in the context of the current brain drain); how to support regulatory capacity in developing countries; how to make key pharmaceutical products more affordable and improve access to pharmaceutical products in general; how to develop new tools to confront the three diseases; and how to continue coordination with partners in developing countries, civil society and the private sector. New challenges include how to maintain coherence and harmony in an increasingly complex and divergent global institutional set-up[xxii] and how to respond to the evolving epidemiology, geography and demography of the diseases in the context of an enlarged EU.

An independent external evaluation of all the EC’s external cooperation in population- and development-oriented programmes was recently completed[xxiii]. It concluded that the EC’s overall approach to population is consistent with the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD, Cairo, 1994) and the activities of other donors and that EC support has made a substantial contribution to achievement of the ICPD goals relating to reproductive health and family planning[xxiv], with “a strong emphasis on providing tangible benefits to the poor”. The recommendations called for broadening the population beyond sexual and reproductive health and for steps to be taken to ensure that gains made from budget-line projects are not lost in sector-wide approaches.

On education , annual and mid-term reviews of the 9th EDF have repeatedly indicated problems with data integrity and the statistical and monitoring capacities of partner countries. Availability, timeliness and reliability of data vary considerably due to weak retrieval methods and poor understanding of the basic concepts of indicators, target-setting and performance monitoring. Furthermore, indicators to measure quality of education and learning achievement remain particularly scanty. The two major evaluation studies in which the EC has been involved[xxv] both underline the difficulty of achieving gender parity in school education, on the one hand, and of reaching out-of-school children, i.e. vulnerable and marginalised groups, on the other. These tend to receive less attention in programme planning and implementation. The studies recommend specific measures combined with the development of comprehensive and practical strategies to target the special groups and girls, pointing out that specific indicators to monitor the impact on such groups need to be included in education programmes. The two studies also refer to the bottlenecks in providing primary school leavers with study opportunities in post-primary (secondary and technical) education. Primary school achievement is seen as failing to equip children for the world of work. As regards tertiary education, the EC has almost twenty years of experience in promoting cooperation between higher education institutions in the EU in order to contribute to improving the quality of education and bringing a European dimension to education. This model - inter-university cooperation through curriculum projects, joint courses, networking and, particularly, student and staff mobility - has proved very successful even beyond the EU[xxvi]. It has contributed to enriching individual students' learning, exchanging experience, creating new academic approaches, sharing European values, etc. ‘Bottom up’ activities are complementary and useful if coupled with in depth Higher Education sector system upgrading and equity as addressed by several EC bilateral programmes (the latter being essential to avoid ‘brain drain’). The capitalisation and dissemination of good practices coupling both bottom up and systemic upgrading points to a way forward in improving Higher Education systems.

One of the lessons learnt in the education Fast Track Initiative is that mobilisation of funding at country level, which is the main vehicle for the FTI, can take a long time due to few donors being present at country level or to slow donor procedures and financing cycles. One answer to make aid more effective and speed up disbursement was the establishment of a global level fund (the FTI Catalytic Fund) which can disburse quickly in response to partner countries' sector plans.

Culture has featured very little in development work until now, but there is growing recognition that cultural and inter-cultural factors influence development considerably and need to be addressed. While putting emphasis on the need to foster dialogue between cultures and peoples, recent international debates led to the recognition of the need to address the issue of cultural diversity throughout the world but in particular in developing countries, notably through international cooperation, both as a political imperative - as cultural diversity is a common good of the humankind - and a factor of development, growth and stability. This consensus was concretised in particular through the recent adoption of the Convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions in UNESCO last October.

Furthermore, the cultural sector, and notably cultural industries, can play an important part in the development of countries, in terms of employment and growth, as it is largely based on intangible assets (i.e. intellectual property rights), whose value and tradability spread over a large period of time. As the UNDP Human Development Report 2004 highlights it, there is a “ vast potential of building a more peaceful, prosperous world by bringing issues of culture to the mainstream of development thinking and practice ”.

Gender equality and women's empowerment is key for the achievement of development and peace. Both the 2005 UN Summit and the 49th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) reconfirmed the complementarity and inter-dependence between the full and effective implementation of the BPfA and the achievement of all internationally agreed development goals. The lessons learnt, experience and stakeholder contributions reconfirm the importance and the effectiveness of implementing a dual approach of gender mainstreaming and specific measures to promote equality between women and men. Gender mainstreaming should be reinforced in all actions and policies. However, gender mainstreaming alone is not enough and has to be complemented with specific actions.

Lessons learnt concerning children also point to the need to devise strategic action which goes beyond mainstreaming. Some stakeholders underline the need for a strategic focus on children. Up until now the EC’s thematic action for children (besides basic education and support to immunisation) has focused on child labour (ILO partnership) and trafficking, taking into account available resources. However, the specific approach concerning children must also be seen in the broader context of the inter-generational and life-cycle approach. Child poverty and lack of opportunities for youth are also related to poverty and lack of opportunities for the family, the group and the community at large. Child labour should also be seen in the wider context of application of the core labour standards and the lack of decent work opportunities for youth and parents. Over 80% of the population in developing countries have no social protection cover and over 90% of the job entrants in, for instance, sub-Saharan Africa are employed in the informal sector.

Employment and social cohesion issues are getting increasing attention in the international debate. The 2005 UN Summit has highlighted that full and productive employment and decent work for all is a central objective for efforts to achieve the MDG. The EU is playing a key role on strengthening the social dimension of globalisation including global trade effects, in the follow up to the Copenhagen Summit on Social Development and on the promotion of decent work. Recent experience also shows growing interest outside the EU in the EU’s economic and social approach. The ILO global employment agenda, for instance, is influenced by the approaches and working methods used in the European Employment Strategy. The EU approach on social cohesion has been catching the attention of several regions and at global level, including in the follow-up to the World Summit for Social Development (Copenhagen +10) and the UN ECOSOC. The relevance of the EU’s experience to promoting social development across the world is acknowledged both inside and outside the EU[xxvii]. The EC is also taking part in the ongoing UN debate on a Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities, taking into account the EC Directives on the prohibition of discrimination in employment[xxviii].

The EC has made a significant contribution to the work of the World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation in different ways, such as by organising and funding a high-level event bringing together the European Commission, EU stakeholders and the World Commission and by contributing to the follow-up to the 2004 report by the World Commission[xxix]. Promotion of decent work is part of the overall cooperation agreement signed between the European Commission and the ILO on 14 May 2001[xxx]. In this context various global and multi-country initiatives on promoting decent work have been supported and co-funded by the Commission, such as measures on socially responsible restructuring, CSR, indigenous people, dissemination of information on freedom of association and collective bargaining and on health and safety at work, pilot projects on decent work indicators and the impact of trade liberalisation and the preparation and finalisation of the consolidated maritime labour convention. In July 2004 the Commission and the ILO also formed a partnership in the field of development that is implemented under the overall cooperation agreement of 2001. The Commission and the ILO are cooperating on application of core labour standards in relation to the EU Generalised System of Preferences, taking into account the specific mandate of the ILO.

ANNEX 3

Guiding principles for thematic action

Thematic action within this programme is based on the following guiding principles for implementation in order to ensure consistency with the policy framework for external action and development. These principles will be further developed in a thematic strategy paper:

5. Action will support joint work with Member States and other financing mechanisms, including global and trust funds or facilities aimed at fostering and monitoring performance related to MDG and other relevant international commitments, targeted measures or specific calls for proposals and other means in compliance with the Financial Regulation.

6. Action should aim at knowledge generation, innovation, transnational learning and capacity building through pilot projects, studies, conferences, networks, exchanges of experience and good practice to the extent that such measures cannot be implemented through country programmes.

7. Cross-cutting issues, in particular concerning gender equality, children and youth, will be addressed in all action and also be addressed specifically as themes in their own right.

8. Action should, as far as possible, take account of imbalances and needs of disadvantaged groups, including ethnic minorities and indigenous people and people with disabilities, in accordance with the differing needs between more dynamic and evolving countries, regions within countries (e.g. in middle income countries) and least developed countries.

9. Performance criteria and benchmarks will be developed for grant recipients. All data and information used for or gathered through this programme should be broken down, whenever possible, by gender, age and income.

10. Cross-regional dialogue with stakeholders should be strengthened and effective partnerships should be maintained and developed with civil society, social partners, key organisations and global initiatives and funding mechanisms.

11. ANNEX 4

Matrix of possible forms of action

The table below summarises the themes and linkages addressed by the thematic programme on Investing in people by juxtaposing the priority themes with the key dimensions of added value (international commitments, global voice, subsidiary country action) and selected cross-cutting dimensions.It is meant to show some key linkages as examples. Abbreviations are explained in annex 5.

International obligations | Global voice | Subsidiary action | Gender equality | Children/youth | Culture |

Health and well-being | ICPD, MDGs 4, 5 and 6 UNGASS 2001 on HIV/AIDS EU policy framework for confronting HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB through external action | SRHR, poverty diseases, human resources | Human resources, health information and monitoring, health financing, RH commodities supply | SRHR, poverty diseases, data broken down by gender | SRHR, vaccination, disease prevention, education, data broken down by age | Stigma, discrimination |

Knowledge and skills | MDGs 2 and 3 EFA FTI | EFA framework | FTI, best practice and local success stories, transnational learning, marginalised children, post-primary bottleneck, tertiary education, statistics | Equal opportunities, data broken down by gender, safe schools | Basic education | Tolerance, values, rights Child labour rescue strategies |

Employment and social cohesion | ILO Conventions and action plans adopted by the International Labour Conference World Summit for Social Development September 2005 UN Summit MDG 8 on employment and decent work for youth, MDGs 1 and 6 | Social dimension of globalisation, decent work agenda | Innovative initiatives, exchange and dissemination of good practices, identification of success stories, workshops, analysis and indicators, assessment of global trade impact on social and labour conditions, cooperation with ILO | Equal economic opportunities, social protection | Social protection, vocational training, youth employment network | Education, rights, values, children’s rights |

Gender equality | MDGs 3 and 5 Beijing PFA ILO Conventions | Beijing PFA | Data broken down by gender, women’s networks, participation | Equal access to health, education, social protection, etc. FGM, trafficking, violence | Education, values, rights, governance structures, FGM |

Children | MDGs 2 and 4, UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, ILO conventions on child labour | Children’s rights and participation, SRHR | Data broken down by age, participation, mapping, trafficking, child labour, sexual violence, SRHR | Data broken down by gender, equal access, FGM, forced marriage | Place of children in society |

Culture | UNESCO Conventions on cultural heritage/diversity | Inter-cultural dialogue | Research, workshops, twinning, voluntary youth service | Status of women | Status of children, youth volunteers |

ANNEX 5

List of abbreviations

AIDS: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

AMANET: African Malaria Network Trust

CRC: Convention on the Rights of the Child

CSP: Country Strategy Paper

CSR: Corporate Social Responsibility

EFA: Education For All

EFA-FTI: Education For All Fast Track Initiative

GAVI: Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation

HDIC: Health and Development Innovative Consortium

HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus

IAVI: International Aids Vaccine Initiative

ICPD: International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo, 1994)

ICT: Information and Communication Technology

ILO: International Labour Organisation

IPPF: International Planned Parenthood Federation

MDG: Millennium Development Goals

PRSP: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper

SRHR: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

TB: Tuberculosis

UN: United Nations

UNFPA: United Nations Population Fund

VET: Vocational Education and Training

WB: World Bank

WHO: World Health Organisation

WTO: World Trade Organisation

[i] For the precise wording applicable to this and other thematic programmes see the Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament “External Actions through Thematic Programmes under the Future Financial Perspectives 2007–2013” [COM(2005) 324 final of 3 August 2005].

[ii] In its broad sense, human and social development is a generic concept relevant to all countries and groups. See also the World Summit for Social Development and the UN ECOSOC:

http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/wssd/agreements/index.html,

http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/csd/index.html.

[iii] Joint Statement by the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission on European Union Development Policy: “The European Consensus”, 22 November 2005.

[iv] See Annex 2 for further details on the lessons learnt. Cf. also: Thematic Evaluation of Population- and Development-oriented Programmes in EC External Cooperation - 03/2004; Joint Evaluation of External Support to Basic Education in Developing Countries - 09/2003; Evaluation of the integration of gender in EC development cooperation with third countries - 03/2003; Evaluation of the EC cooperation with ACP/ALA/MED countries in the health sector - 07/2002; Evaluation of EC Support to the Education Sector in ACP countries - 05/2002.

[v] Besides regular consultations in the various policy areas, a meeting with stakeholders and a written consultation were held in July and August 2005, including NGOs, EU Member States, the UN and other international organisations.

[vi] Regulation (EC) 1568/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on aid to fight poverty diseases (HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria) in developing countries (351 MEUR were spent on this budget line between 2003-2006). Regulation (EC) N 1567/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on aid for policies and actions on reproductive and sexual health and rights in developing countries (73.95 MEUR were spent on this budget line between 2003-2006). Regulation (EC) No 806/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on promoting gender equality in development cooperation. (9 MEUR were spent on this budget line between 2003 and 2006).

[vii] See Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament “External Actions through Thematic Programmes under the Future Financial Perspectives 2007–2013” [COM(2005) 324 final of 3 August 2005].

[viii] Mainly the EC Communication “Education and training in the context of poverty reduction in developing countries”; the Communication on "Health and Poverty"; the Programme for action to confront HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis through external action; the Communication on the social dimension of globalisation – the EU’s policy contribution on extending benefits to all; and the European social agenda. See Annex 1 for the full list.

[ix] European social agenda 2005-2010, COM(2005) 33 final; Communication of 18 July 2001 on promoting core labour standards and improving social governance in the context of globalisation, COM(2001) 416 final; Communication of 18 May 2004 on the social dimension of globalisation, COM(2004) 383 final; Communication of 15 June 2005 on the EU contribution for the September 2005 UN Summit; renewed overall cooperation agreement between the European Commission and the ILO of 14 May 2001; cooperation between the EU and Latin America on social cohesion and agreements with an increasing number of countries, including cooperation on employment and social policy.

[x] European Consensus, chapter 4.4, op.cit. Gender equality from a human rights angle will be a focus of the thematic programme on human rights proposed by the Commission.

[xi] Cf. programming principles in annex 3.

[xii] The full text of the CRC and its Optional Protocols is available at: http://www.unicef.org/crc/crc.htm.

[xiii] Available at: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/standards/norm/whatare/fundam/childpri.htm.

[xiv] Available at: http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/trafficking_protocol.html.

[xv] Available at: http://www.unicef.org/specialsession/wffc/index.html.

[xvi] Example: “About fifty budget lines, of which around thirty that function and are regulated differently, were mobilised to finance almost 400 identified projects”. Evaluation of the EC Country Strategy for Honduras, February 2004.

[xvii] Breakdown of the legal bases: excluding the European initiative for democracy and human rights, these various thematic regulations concern crisis situations (refugees and humanitarian aid) or post-crisis situations (rehabilitation) in which action in favour of human rights makes up one component of the aid. However, although this falls exactly within the objective of mainstreaming, it is particularly difficult under these circumstances precisely to identify which projects – and which budgets – are implemented in favour of human rights.

[xviii] Example: “Secure further coherence between all the EC instruments and budget lines deployed in Bangladesh. …develop procedures to ensure that…deployment of the budget lines concerned is coherent with the Country Strategy, and pursues country specific objectives.” Recommendation 5 of the Evaluation of the EC Country Strategy for Bangladesh, November 2003.

[xix] Cf. Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament “External Actions through Thematic Programmes under the Future Financial Perspectives 2007–2013” [COM(2005) 324 final of 3 August 2005].

[xx] E.g. establishment of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, which focuses on clinical trials for the development of new action against the three diseases.

[xxi] Council Regulation 953/2003 to avoid trade diversion into the European Union of certain key medicines.

[xxii] Cf. Key evidence from major studies of selected Global Health Partnerships - A background paper for a meeting of the High-Level Forum on the Health MDGs’ Working Group on Global Health Initiatives and Partnerships, 25-26 April 2005. Author: Karen Caines ; Best Practice Principles for Global Health Partnership Activities at Country Level. Report of the Working Group on Global Health Partnerships, High-Level Forum on the Health MDGs, 25-26 April 2005; L. Delcour and C. Vellutini: Study on the Added Value of Global Partnerships and Global Funds to Development Cooperation , April 2005. Cf. also the GFATM evaluation library: http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/links_resources/library/position_papers/.

[xxiii] Thematic evaluation of population- and development-oriented programmes in EC external cooperation. PARTICIP, CIDEAL, ECDPM, IDC, SEPIA. March 2004.

[xxiv] ICPD Programme of Action, chapter 7.

[xxv] Evaluation of EC support to the education sector in ACP countries (2002).

Joint evaluation of external support to basic education in developing countries (2003).

[xxvi] Examples include the Asia-link programme, TEMPUS programme, ERASMUS mundus windows for several developing countries and experience from specific bilateral higher education projects in different countries.

[xxvii] http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/international_cooperation/seminar13jan05_en.htm.

[xxviii] http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/international_cooperation/un_disability_en.htm.

[xxix] http://www.ilo.org/public/english/wcsdg/consulta/brussels/index.htm.

[xxx] http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/international_cooperation/ilo_front_en.htm.