Tim za socijalno uključivanje i smanjenje siromaštva

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is in the final stage of creating the Employment and Social Reform Programme (ESRP). The Draft has been prepared, and a public discussion is in progress. A consultative event was organised on this occasion on 21 February in Skopje. The event was attended by numerous representatives from relevant institutions, social partners, civil society organisations, international organisations, and other stakeholders.

The Conference was opened by the representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Darko Dočinski and Aleksandar Georgijevski from the Department for European Integration, the representative of the European Union in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Nicola Bertolini, and Nand Shani the team leader on the “Employment and Social Affairs Platform” project implemented by the Regional Cooperation Council and the International Labour Organisation, under which this event was organised. The speakers highlighted the importance of the ESRP as a programme document for IPA funds, as well as the need for larger investments in areas crucial for the social development.

The representatives of line ministries of the Government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia presented ESRP objectives and measures from the following areas: employment and labour market, human capital and skills, as well as social inclusion and social protection. Ljiljana Simović, Director General of the Directorate for EU Integration, Programming and Implementation of EU funds of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare of the Government of Montenegro, and Ivan Sekulović, Head of the Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Unit of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, shared their experiences with the participants regarding the adoption and implementation of the ESRP. It was proposed that the governments which have already adopted the ESRP should act proactively towards the European Union in order to access the funds of the European Social Fund for the Wester Balkans.

Within each topic of this event, there was a discussion; this provided the opportunity to hear comments and suggestions concerning the issue of housing, social entrepreneurship, employment of persons with disabilities and other important topics.