CHAPTER IIU.K.MAIN PRINCIPLES CONCERNING TRANSPARENT PROCEDURES FOR IDENTIFICATION OF RELEVANT PARTNERS

Article 4U.K.Identification of relevant partners for programmes

1.For each programme, [F1Member States] [F1the relevant authority] shall identify the relevant partners among at least the following:

(a)competent regional, local, urban and other public authorities, including:

(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 [F2the ESI Funds contributing to the programme] [F2support for rural development and support under Regulation 508/2014] and support under Regulation 508/2014;

(ii)

national or regional representatives of higher educational institutions, education, training and advisory services providers and research centres, in view of the planned use of [F2the ESI Funds contributing to the programme] [F2support for rural development and support under Regulation 508/2014];

(iii)

other 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 [F2the ESI Funds contributing to the programme] [F2support for rural development and support under Regulation 508/2014], and in particular the bodies for the promotion of equal treatment established in accordance with Directive 2000/43/EC, Directive 2004/113/EC and Directive 2006/54/EC;

(iv)

other bodies organised at national, regional or local level and authorities representing the areas where integrated territorial investments and local development strategies funded by the programme are carried out;

(b)economic and social partners, including:

(i)

nationally or regionally recognised social partners’ organisations, in particular general cross-industry organisations and sectoral organisations whose sectors are related to the planned use of [F2the ESI Funds contributing to the programme] [F2support for rural development and support under Regulation 508/2014];

(ii)

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

(iii)

other similar bodies organised at national or regional level;

(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:

(i)

bodies working in the areas related to the planned use of [F2the ESI Funds contributing to the programme] [F2support for rural development and support under Regulation 508/2014] 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;

(ii)

bodies representing the local action groups referred to in Article 34(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013;

(iii)

other organisations or groups which are significantly affected or likely to be significantly affected by the implementation of [F3the ESI Funds] [F3support for rural development]; in particular, groups considered to be at risk of discrimination and social exclusion.

[F42.As regards European territorial cooperation programmes, Member States may involve in the partnership:

(i)

European groupings of territorial cooperation operating in the respective cross-border or transnational programme area;

(ii)

authorities or bodies that are involved in the development or implementation of a macro-regional or sea-basin strategy in the programme area, including priority area coordinators for macro-regional strategies.]

3.Where public authorities, economic and social partners, and bodies representing civil society have established an umbrella organisation, they may nominate a single representative to present the views of the umbrella organisation in the partnership.

Textual Amendments