CHAPTER IIMAIN PRINCIPLES CONCERNING TRANSPARENT PROCEDURES FOR IDENTIFICATION OF RELEVANT PARTNERS

F1Article 3Identification of relevant partners for the Partnership Agreement

1.

For the Partnership Agreement, Member States shall identify the relevant partners among at least the following:

(a)

competent regional, local, urban and other public authorities, including:

  1. (i)

    regional authorities, national representatives of local authorities and local authorities representing the largest cities and urban areas, whose competences are related to the planned use of the ESI Funds;

  2. (ii)

    national representatives of higher educational institutions, educational and training providers and research centres in view of the planned use of the ESI Funds;

  3. (iii)
    other national public authorities responsible for the application of horizontal principles referred to in Articles 4 to 8 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013, in view of the planned use of the ESI Funds; and in particular the bodies for the promotion of equal treatment established in accordance with Council Directive 2000/43/EC2, Council Directive 2004/113/EC3 and Directive 2006/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council4;

(b)

economic and social partners, including:

  1. (i)

    nationally recognised social partners’ organisations, in particular general cross-industry organisations and sectoral organisations, whose sectors are related to the planned use of the ESI Funds;

  2. (ii)

    national chambers of commerce and business associations representing the general interest of industries and branches, in view of the planned use of the ESI Funds and with a view to ensuring balanced representation of large, medium-sized, small and microenterprises, together with representatives of the social economy;

(c)

bodies representing civil society, such as environmental partners, non-governmental organisations, and bodies responsible for promoting social inclusion, gender equality and non-discrimination, including:

  1. (i)

    bodies working in the areas related to the planned use of the ESI Funds and to the application of horizontal principles referred to in Articles 4 to 8 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 based on their representativeness, and taking into account geographic and thematic coverage, management capacity, expertise and innovative approaches;

  2. (ii)

    other organisations or groups which are significantly affected or likely to be significantly affected by the implementation of the ESI Funds, in particular groups considered to be at risk of discrimination and social exclusion.

2.

Where public authorities, economic and social partners, and bodies representing civil society have established an organisation regrouping their interests to facilitate their involvement in the partnership (umbrella organisation), they may nominate a single representative to present the views of the umbrella organisation in the partnership.