European Parliament votes for stronger rules governing post-2020 EU funds

As the EU’s multi-annual budget is being currently negotiated, the European Parliament’s Committee on Regional Development delivers a landmark vote on Common Provisions Regulation (CPR), key rules governing seven shared management funds such as the European Social Fund+, the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the Asylum and Migration Fund. In the 2021-2027 EU budget, they will serve as the main vehicle that helps to promote social rights, social inclusion and investing in children. Giving a green light to the updated regulations governing these funds means that they will have better synergies and better serve the needs of people at risk of poverty and social exclusion.
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Home stretch for deinstitutionalisation reform in Bulgaria

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In September 2018, Bulgaria began implementation of a two-year project “Continuing support for deinstitutionalisation of children and young people”. This EU-funded intervention under operational programme “Human Resource Development” will be realised by the Agency for Social Assistance in partnership with the State Agency for Child Protection, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the Ministry of Education and Science. It is expected that upon completion, all old-type institutions for children will be closed.
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Influencing the use of EU funds in the best interest of children through reviewed EU cooperation framework

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In 2017 and 2018, the Thematic Network of European Social Fund on Partnership has been working on the review of the European Code of Conduct on Partnership which sets out a cooperation framework between the European Commission, public authorities, social partners and civil society. The scope of the Thematic Network on Partnership is to provide an effective space for the users of European Social Fund (ESF) in order to assist ESF managing authorities, intermediate bodies and wider stakeholders from across the ESF to improve partnership practice.  
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Family-based care is now prevailing over institutions for children in Latvia

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The number of children without parental care who grow up in foster families for the first time exceeded the number of children living in institutions in Latvia, according to the data released by the State Inspectorate for the Protection of the Children’s Rights (VBTAI). At the same time, the share of children under the age of three who grow up in the state-run institutions dropped below 10 percent.

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