The Austrian TEPs are interested in exchanging their experiences with partnerships from other countries in order to learn from others and adopt good practices, methods as well as instruments.
Additionally to activities set by the TEPs (see below) and those initiated and organised by the nation-wide Co-ordination Unit (Kooo), support is given via the OECD LEED Forum on Partnerships and Local Governance prepared amonst others at the ZSI, which has been established in September 2004. The Forum is a network, which serves as platform for international knowledge exchange between partnerships (on behalf of OECD, LEED-Local Economic and Employment Development Programme). The Forum Committee of Experts published amongst others the Vienna Action Statement on Partnerships (pdf, 72KB), which aims to enhance governance by improving the dialogue and co-operation between policy makers, and between policy makers and other stakeholders, at the local, regional and national levels, in turn fostering economic development, social cohesion, environmental sustainability and quality of life. For further information please visit the OECD web page and the Forum Document Database Website.
Since 2009, the Community of Practice on Partnerships in the ESF (in short: COP) is implemented under the lead of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection (BMASK). The COP was set up as mutual learning network under the ESF 2007-2013. The transnational cooperation ensures knowledge exchange of ESF-Managing Authorities as well as other stakeholders, in particular, other programme managing authorities, such as those of the ERDF. The COP focuses on partnerships being adopted by national and regional Operational Programmes of Member states and aims at learning from experiences and sharing knowledge on partnerships. Partnerships are recognised as valuable and essential policy instrument and practice with which policy outcomes of OPs, policies and actions can be enhanced. Through learning from experiences of its members the COP aims for developing improved policy frameworks for the promotion of partnerships. By providing high quality support to partnerships in the structural fund context the COP aims to contribute to better performance of the EU with impact on employment and social inclusion as well as contributing to delivering reforms.
Examples of international Conferences and meetings
In February 2010, the nation-wide Co-ordination Unit of the TEPs in Austria, for instance, organised a transnational exchange session on "older workers" between the Austrian TEPs and the Perspektive 50+ partnerships in Germany. In February 2006, Kooo organised together with the OECD LEED Forum on Partnerships and Local Governance the International Partnership Fair. Please find additional information on activities of the OECD LEED Forum at ZSI at OECD. As for another example, the TEPs discussed their experiences with representatives from Ireland, Finland and Belgium (Flanders) at the seventh TEP Co-ordination Meeting in October 2002. As a follow-up, all Austrian TEPs concluded a Study visit in Flanders in October 2003 focussing on the difference of the partnership structures and the integration of enterprises. A summary of the results achieved during the visit can be found here (pdf 24 KB).
In addition to the international meetings organised by the OECD LEED Forum and the federal Co-ordination Unit, co-operations and meetings between provincial TEPs and interested partnerships from other countries (e.g. Styria-Slovenia, Burgenland-Hungary, Vienna-Slovakia) are organised on an individual basis. For further information please contact the respective provincial TEP co-ordination office.
More Additional information is available in German at TEPs & Internationaler Erfahrungsaustausch.
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Vienna Action Statement 2010 |
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International Partnership Fair |
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Partnership Folder |
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4th newsletter |
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Study visit Flandern |