Joint Memorandum on Social Inclusion of the Republic of Croatia - JIM

1. Joint Memorandum on Social Inclusion of the Republic of Croatia - JIM Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Vesna Mastela Bužan

2. Beginning the preparation • April 6, 2005 – Preparations begin to start activities within the EU Pre-Accession Strategy for the Republic of Croatia in areas of employment and social inclusion • As a result, the creation of Joint Memorandum on Social Inclusion begins • Coordinator appointed for pre-accession cooperation activities with the EU in area of social inclusion, as well as contact person for the European Commission on operative level Ministarstvo zdravstva i socijalne skrbi

3. Foundation: The Nice Treaty, 2000 Goal: Preparing the country to participate fully in the open coordination method in area of social inclusion, from day one of EU membership Purpose: • Creating strategic priorities and tackling challenges in combating poverty and social inclusion • Using the European Social Fund Ministarstvo zdravstva i socijalne skrbi

4. JIM Content • Shows key challenges in combating poverty and social exclusion • Represents key policy measures • Identifies key policy issues for future policy monitoring and review Ministarstvo zdravstva i socijalne skrbi

5. JIM Content 2 Consists of 8 chapters • Chapter 1 – Description of macroeconomic indicators and economic conditions in the country • Chapter 2 – Description of the social situation, using EU indicators • Chapter 3 contains description of key challenges • Chapter 4 looks at the structure of goals from Nice, describing future policy, and defining monitoring • Chapter 5 deals with gender equality • Chapter 6 provides statistical data • Chapter 7 identifies need for pre-accession aid programs • Chapter 8 provides conclusions Ministarstvo zdravstva i socijalne skrbi

6. Establishing the organizational framework • Expert 6-member working group appointed for developing JIM: • 3 from MHSW • 3 external collaborators • Interdepartmental working group included the appointed representatives of Government bodies, local self-administration, social partners, civil society, social and scientific institutions Ministarstvo zdravstva i socijalne skrbi

7. Method of work: • Meetings of all members of interdepartmental working group, as well as meetings with representatives of those institutions and organizations that played a significant role in developing individual expert segments • In particular the representatives of social partners and civil society • 4 conferences organized on developing JIM, and 2 conferences on the continuation of activities • Meetings and correspondence with European Commission representatives Ministarstvo zdravstva i socijalne skrbi

8. Method of work:Conferences: • Conference on the occasion of starting the development process – September 2005 • Conference on developing chapters 1 and 2 – March 2006 • Conference on developing chapters 3 and 4 – June 2006 • Conference upon completion of development - October 2006 • 1st conference on continuing JIM activities – July 2007 • 2nd conference on continuing JIM activities – March 2008 Organizing and financial assistance - TAIEX Ministarstvo zdravstva i socijalne skrbi

9. Method of work: • Opinions of interdepartmental working group members on individual parts of JIM, and on the document as a whole • Opinion of European Commission representative • Adopting objections and proposals • Final harmonization; forwarded to the Government of the Republic of Croatia, along with required opinions • Conclusion of the RoC Government, dated March 2 2007, accepting the text of the memorandum, which is signed March 5, 2007 in Zagreb by the RoC Government and the European Commission Ministarstvo zdravstva i socijalne skrbi

10. JIM Implementation Plan • In accordance with the Conclusion of RoC Government, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is the entity in charge of: • Developing the plan on implementing measures • Delivering reports on implementation to the Government of the RoC • Coordinating the implementation of JIM • In order to implement JIM measures, collaboration between different partners, established in the process of Memorandum’s creation, needs to be further developed Ministarstvo zdravstva i socijalne skrbi

11. Implementation of JIM measures: • Commission for implementation of JIM consists of representatives of state bodies, local and regional self-administration, academia, social partners, civil society, social care institutions • Tasks of the Commission: • Monitoring the implementation of goals • Determining problems that may arise in implementation • Proposing measures to resolve problems Ministarstvo zdravstva i socijalne skrbi

12. Implementation of JIM measures: • Working group established to develop Implementation Plan for measures, and to coordinate JIM activities • 5 members appointed: • 2 from MHSW • 3 external members • Ms. Dorica Nikolić, MHSW State Secretary, is the coordinator of the overall implementation process for outlined activities, as well as of the work of the Commission and the working group Ministarstvo zdravstva i socijalne skrbi

13. Implementation of JIM measures: • Meetings of the Commission in order to agree on opinions regarding the definition of measures, indicators for their monitoring, as well as financing methods • Delivery of written material for review • If needed, inviting other experts to Commission’s meetings Ministarstvo zdravstva i socijalne skrbi

14. National Action Plan on Social Inclusion 2007 – 2008 • Upon signing of JIM, key challenges and priorities outlined in Chapter 8 served as foundation for the development of the following items: • Specific measures for each outlined priority • Specific measures for each target group • Implementation activities for each measure • Indicators of success, responsible institutions, and methods to monitor the implementation of measures • Accepted by the RoC Govt., April 24, 2008 Ministarstvo zdravstva i socijalne skrbi

15. Total funds earmarked in 2008 State Budget for implementing the measures: 1,529,494,414 kuna • Institutions in charge of measures are mostly: • State administration bodies • and users of the State Budget Ministarstvo zdravstva i socijalne skrbi

16. Report on the implementation of Joint Memorandum on Social Inclusion • Croatia submits the report based on the EU framework for MSs, therefore the European Commission delivered: • Guide on creating reports • All inst. in charge of measures submit report to MHSW • Report covers priorities and measures from Chapters 4 and 8, as well as future strategic measures in area of social inclusion • Implementation is monitored on the basis of indicators expressed in NAP (e.g. Number of persons included in measure, number of reviews, created regulations and plans, earmarked funds) Ministarstvo zdravstva i socijalne skrbi

17. Report on JIM implementation RoC Govt. – EC for period March 2007 – June 2008 • Report accepted by the RoC Govt. and delivered to EC in July 2008, in accordance with the agreed deadline • Report delivered to 23 addresses as well – to participants in JIM creation process: 11 representatives of social partners and 12 representatives of civil society • 7 representatives provided comments: 2 social partners, 2 social care institutions, and 3 civil society representatives • All comments included in the Annex to the Report, which was subsequently delivered to EC Ministarstvo zdravstva i socijalne skrbi

18. Continuing monitoring and implementation process • Continuation of activities in the area of social inclusion assumes: • Implementation of planned measures • Developing new action plan for 2009 • Monitoring implementation of measures per outlined indicators • Joint cooperation of all institutions in charge of measures, civil sector, social partners, JLS, social institutions • Proceeding according to EC recommendations • Obligation to hold conferences once per year and meetings with EC representatives based on need • Submitting periodical reports to EC on activities, and • Submitting annual report to EC on implementing measures Ministarstvo zdravstva i socijalne skrbi

19. Improving the efficiency of implementation of JIM measures • Including representatives – experts for financial monitoring in the work of the Commission • Establishing better horizontal cooperation • Strengthening vertical cooperation • Responsibility of all stakeholders for: • Implementation of measures, • Monitoring the implementation of measures • and timely delivery of reports Ministarstvo zdravstva i socijalne skrbi

20. Thank you for your attention Ministarstvo zdravstva i socijalne skrbi