The aim of the project, awarded to Applica and ICF (leader), is to provide a comprehensive assessment of the challenges in the effectiveness of the EU Member States’ minimum income schemes. The main tasks include the mapping of existing schemes; the identification of strengths and challenges in their effectiveness for alleviating poverty and facilitating labour market transition and social inclusion; and the impact assessment of various measures aiming at enhancing the effectiveness of these schemes.
Study on the feasibility of a child guarantee for vulnerable children: Phase II
The study aims to provide a thorough economic and financial analysis of the design, feasibility, governance and implementation options of a possible future Child Guarantee Scheme in all EU Member States. To achieve this, it will prepare a detailed comprehensive study exploring what would be the most cost-effective strategy for the competent authorities to realise a child guarantee for all children at risk of poverty in the EU. The study complements the Study on the feasibility of a child guarantee for vulnerable children: Phase I.
European Commission – Evaluation Helpdesk
The aim of the contract is to provide the European Commission (DG Regional Policy and DG Employment) with an “Evaluation Helpdesk” that identifies and reviews the evaluations completed in Member States over the 2014-2020 period, the ex-post evaluations of the 2007-2013 programmes and the ex-ante evaluations relating to the 2021-2027 period; and provides support to Managing Authorities in designing and managing evaluations of Operational Programmes co-financed by the ERDF, Cohesion Fund and ESF (including the YEI – Youth Employment Initiative). In addition, the Helpdesk provides structured information on the outcome of the reviews of evaluations to support the European Commission’s syntheses of evaluation findings.
Study on the feasibility of a child guarantee for vulnerable children
The study aims at providing an analysis of the design, feasibility, governance and implementation options of a possible future European Child Guarantee for vulnerable children. The results of the study, which will also gather the views of national authorities, international organisations as well as civil society, will be presented at a final conference in the first half of 2020.
European Social Policy Network and MISSOC
The European Social Policy Network (ESPN) brings together independent experts on social inclusion and social protection and government experts on social protection systems (the Mutual Information Systems on Social Protection – MISSOC).
The ESPN provides high quality and timely independent information, advice, analysis and expertise in monitoring progress towards the EU’s social (protection and inclusion) goals and will help the Commission to identify and stimulate debate and discussion on effective policy developments and innovative developments in Member States.
Applica is responsible for coordinating the work of the government experts on social protection systems (MISSOC) and for communication activities (seminars, publications and online resources).
Ex post evaluation of Cohesion Policy programmes 2007-2013, Work Package One
The objective of the contract is to synthesise the work packages of the ex post evaluation of the ERDF and CF in the 2007-2013 programming period, to support Commission services in the organisation, coordination and quality assurance of all the work packages of the ex post evaluation and to produce concise reports on the developments and achievements in each of the 28 Member States which were in receipt of financial support over the period.
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The EU Social Situation Monitor
The aim of the project is to analyse trends in income distribution, poverty, social exclusion and material deprivation as well as health across the European Union, the position of different groups in society in these regards and the social welfare systems in place in different Member States for tackling problems of inequality and deprivation.
DG Regio – Evaluation Helpdesk
The aim of the contract is to provide an “Evaluation Helpdesk” to the Commission that reviews the 2014-2020 evaluation plans, identifies evaluations undertaken by Managing Authorities in 2015-2019, reviews a sample of evaluations, and provides support to Member States in refining their evaluation plans and designing and managing evaluations. In addition, the Helpdesk provides structured information on the outcome of the reviews of evaluations to support the European Commission’s syntheses of evaluation findings.
European Social Policy Network and MISSOC 2014-2018
The European Social Policy Network (ESPN) brings together the work previously done by the independent experts on social inclusion for the assessment of national social inclusion policies, the independent experts for the analytical support on social protection reforms and by the government experts on social protection systems (the Mutual Information Systems on Social Protection – MISSOC).
The ESPN will provide high quality and timely independent information, advice, analysis and expertise in monitoring progress towards the EU’s social (protection and inclusion) goals and will help the Commission to identify and stimulate debate and discussion on effective policy developments and innovative developments in Member States.
Applica is responsible for coordinating the work of the government experts on social protection systems (the Mutual Information Systems on Social Protection – MISSOC) and for communication activities (seminars, publications and online resources).
Comparative analytical report on labour market transitions of young people
The objective of this study is to map the different types of temporary contracts in the Member States and Norway, to investigate the social security benefits of these contracts and to offer an overview of the policy measures available to regulate transitions from temporary to permanent contracts.
Policy lessons report of the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) series
The aim of the project is to provide a comprehensive report on the policy lessons of the 5th European Working Conditions Survey which analyses relationships between different working conditions, identifies groups at risk, monitors trends and contributes to European policy development. The report will draw policy conclusions from the EWCS and contribute to the preparation of the 6th wave of the survey, which is planned for 2015.
Expert Evaluation Network delivering Policy Analysis on the Performance of Cohesion Policy 2007-2013
The general purpose of the contract is to coordinate an expert evaluation network. The network has the objective to deliver policy analysis and evidence on the performance of Cohesion Policy, based on the monitoring and evaluation work underway in the Member States and the analysis of these results in the context of statistical and policy research available.
DG Regional Policy, 2010 and 2011-2013 (with Ismeri Europa, IT).
Policy lessons from the European Company Survey
The aim of the contract is to extract and present the main policy implications of the 2009 European Company Survey, to review the use made of the survey by outside bodies as well as to analyse the link between the 2009 survey and that of the next survey (2012).
Analysis of the Main Factors of Regional Growth: An in-depth study of the best and worst performing European regions
The primary aim of the study is to deepen understanding of economic development in the EU regions through identifying the regions that have performed well and those that have performed poorly over recent years, to analyse the factors underlying these differences in performance by econometric means as well as through case studies of selected regions and to draw our the policy implications.
The competitiveness of firms, regions and industries in the knowledge based economy: What room for job-rich growth in Europe? MICRO-DYN
The aim of this project was to tackle the issue of growth, employment and competitiveness in the knowledge-based European economy through a micro-founded firm-based approach.
Distribution of competences in relation to regional development policies in the Member States
The general purpose of this study is to obtain a thorough picture of the distribution of competences in relation to regional development between the different administrative levels in Member States, with a particular focus to the budgetary aspects.
DG Regional Policy, 2009 (Lead contractor: Ismeri Europa, IT).
Flexicurity: the need for indicators on coverage of certain social benefits for people in flexible employment in the European Union
The objective of the study is to develop indicators that enable the coverage of unemployment, maternity/paternity and sickness benefits in the EU to be monitored for people in flexible employment.
Briefing notes/reports and impact studies on forthcoming employment and social policy initiatives (not publicly available)
Production of briefing notes/reports and impact studies on forthcoming employment and social policy initiatives for the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs of the European Parliament.
Ex post evaluation of cohesion policy programmes 2000-2006 co-financed by the European Fund for Regional Development (Objective 1 and 2); Work Package 1: coordination, analysis and synthesis
The overall aim of the project is to coordinate the various studies being undertaken to assess the effects of cohesion policy over the period 2000-2006, to produce summary analyses of regional developments in all the Member States and to provide support to DG Regional Policy in carrying out the evaluation.
Needs of Objective 1 regions in the accession countries and in existing EU15 Member States in areas eligible for Structural Funds
Assessment of development needs of (present and future) Objective 1 regions in the various areas (or sectors) which were eligible for Structural Fund support with the aim of identifying a list of priority actions. The study was concerned with identifying the nature and scale of the regional problems both in the accession countries and in the existing EU15 Member States.