Launch Event

The national launch event for the England and Gibraltar 2007-2013 ESF programme took place in London at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre on 29 October 2007. As well as launching the new programme, the event celebrated the 50th anniversary of ESF and the achievements of ESF in England.

The event included:

• keynote speeches by James Plaskitt, DWP Minister for ESF, and Vladimír Špidla, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities;
• contributions from individuals whose job and life prospects have been transformed by participation in ESF; and
• a discussion of the priorities for ESF in 2007-2013 with a panel of policy makers and programme managers.

During the event, a new ESF DVD was shown in three parts: introduction to ESF; case studies of ESF in action; and priorities for the 2007-2013 programme. There was also a small accompanying exhibition, including 50 years of ESF across Europe.

The event was attended by 200 people including: ESF Monitoring Committee members; representatives from the regions and Co-financing Organisations; project managers and participants; European Commission desk officers; and policy makers from Government departments.

The attached document contains answers to questions provided by delegates on their evaluation sheets.

James Plaskitt's speech.

Vladimír Špidla's speech.

James Plaskitt speaking at the ESF launch.

Vladimír Špidla speaking at the ESF launch.

James Plaskitt cuts the ESF 50th Anniversary Cake

with Vladimír Špidla and John Duval from the

Waltham Forest Mencap ESF project

which prepared the cake.

James Plaskitt and Vladimír Špidla with three of the

ESF participants featured in the new ESF DVD.

From left to right: Karen Barbour (Wheels in Motion

project); Vladimír Špidla; James Plaskitt;

David Lancaster (Blueprint project); Manjit Aulalk

(Fair Cities Birmingham).