The European Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI)
The aim of the European Programme for Employment and Social Innovation is to support social and employment policies in the European Union. It supports the efforts of member states in creation and implementation of social and employment reforms at European, national, regional and local levels through identification, coordination, analysis and exchange of best practice examples. In pursuing these objectives, EaSI pays particular attention to vulnerable groups, promotes equality between genders, guarantees adequate and decent social protection, combats discrimination and long-term unemployment, and fights against poverty and social exclusion.
The Programme for Employment and Social Innovation is a financing instrument at the level of the European Union, managed directly by the European Commission. This means that it opens calls for proposals and tenders, receives and evaluates project proposals, makes payments and controls expenses, and assesses the effects of the project and overall programme. Together with the funds of the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF), this programme forms a coherent set of programmes for employment promotion, social protection and social inclusion, and improvement of working conditions for 2014-2020. The budget for EaSI is EUR 919.47 million. The Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs provided the funds for the annual entry ticket in the amount of EUR 200,000.00, in order for the Republic of Serbia to gain access to this programme as a EU candidate country.
This programme includes three EU programmes which were managed separately between 2007 and 2013:
- Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity (PROGRESS),
- European jobs network (EURES), and
- European Progress Microfinance Facility.
Since 2014 these programmes form the three axes of the Programme for Employment and Social Innovation:
1. PROGRESS axis – the modernisation of employment and social policies (61% of EaSI budget)
2. EURES axis – job mobility (18% of EaSI budget)
3. Access to micro-finance and social entrepreneurship axis (21% of EaSI budget)
The calls for grant application are published on the European Commission website
http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1081.
The current projects within the European Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI):
1. Posting of Workers: enhancing administrative cooperation and access to information
The objective of the project is to proactively address the issue of posting of workers at its pre-accession stage by assisting Eastern European countries, especially the four candidate countries Albania, FYROM, Montenegro, and Serbia, in implementing the Posting of Workers Directive.
The duration of the project is 24 months (1.1.2018 – 31.12.2019).
The value of the project is EUR 439,031.53, out of which the Ministry contributed EUR 33,818.95. The planned contribution for this project is EUR 6,786.79.
2. Fast track integration into the labour market for third country nationals targeting exclusively asylum seekers, refugees and their family members
The objective of the project is to create an intervention model which would allow asylum seekers, refugees and their family members, Geneva Convention refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection to become an active part of the economic and social life of the host country.
The project realisation period is 36 months (1.2.2018 – 31.1.2021).
The total funds for this project are EUR 2,739,441.05, out of which EUR 127,402.58 is allocated for the activities of the Ministry. EUR 26,000.00 is the contribution of the Ministry.
3. Upskilling Pathways: New Opportunities for Adults in the Republic of Serbia
The objective of the project is to create a firm foundation in the Republic of Serbia for implementation of the Council Recommendation on Upskilling Pathways, while bearing in mind the existing provisions based on which it is possible to build incentives and identify gaps in cooperation with relevant interested parties, as well as the support for national authorities in guiding adult learning.
The planned duration of the project is 24 months (1.10.2018. – 1.9.2020).
Planned Cooperation for 2019
1. Access to Social Protection and National Reform Support
The Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs submitted a project proposal for this topic. The goal of the project is to create one of the phases in the building of social cards system, namely the third phase, or the creation of a “wizard”. This is an information portal which would allow citizens to determine whether they are entitled to a certain social welfare benefit. The information portal would serve for the initiation of a certain procedure. Simultaneously, there is a plan to establish a call centre for giving guidance to beneficiaries on how to use this portal. These activities would be accompanied by a promotion and media campaign.
The planned duration of the project is 30 months.
The planned project budget is EUR 1 282 555, 50.