The representatives of the Turkish Employment Organisation visited the Employment Service of Slovenia between 27 September and 1 October 2004. The aim of the study visit was to learn about the ESS' experiences and good practice regarding the Phare grant schemes in the area of human resources development. The grant schemes are an important step in the preparation to participate in the European Union's Structural funds, particularly in the European Social Fund.

At the same time, the first Turkish visit to the ESS was seen as an opportunity to establish contacts with the Turkish Employment Organisation since there had been no co-operation between the two employment services before. The Turkish delegation included Mr Ali Özkan, the Deputy Director General of the Turkish Employment Organisation, the members of the central office and individual regional offices, as well as the representative of the Turkish Central Financing and Contracting Unit.

During the visit the Turkish guests were informed about the activities of the Employment Service of Slovenia in the three Phare grant schemes in the area of human resources development:

• the grant scheme Phare 2000 "Activating Employment Potential at the Local Level", completed in Autumn 2003;

• the grant scheme Phare 2001 "Strengthening Slovenia at the Local Level", due to be completed in this period, and

• the grant scheme Phare CBC 2001 Slovenia - Hungary "Joint Economic Space", which also includes the cross-border co-operation with two Hungarian counties, and is about to be completed in this period as well.

The representatives of the Turkish Employment Organisation also had the opportunity to learn about the characteristics of the Slovene labour market, the organisation and activities of the entire Employment Service of Slovenia and its individual regional offices, active employment policy programmes which are being carried out in 2004, forms of work with the unemployed and the ESS' international activities and co-operation. They visited the ESS Centre for Information and Vocational Guidance in Ljubljana and made themselves familiar with the implementation of concrete projects in practice.

The Employment Service of Slovenia refers unemployed people to the education, training and employment programmes which are carried out within the projects of the Phare grant schemes. After the programme is completed the unemployed should find employment or at least find an easier way to employment. The Phare grant schemes in the area of human resources development are managed entirely by the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs and represent a preparation to participate in the European Social Fund which has started in Slovenia this year following its full membership in the European Union.

The Turkish study visit was carried out within the ISKUR project – Support to the Turkish Employment Organisation, which is co-financed by the EU external assistance. The project is being implemented by the Swedish company Hifab International in partnership with the Swedish Employment Service (AMS), the Swedish company Lernia and the company IMC Consulting from Great Britain.

• Discussion with ESS' Director General,

• Presentation of the Slovene labour market,

• Presentation of the ESS and its operation,

• Presentation of employment programmes,

• Presentation of various forms of work with the unemployed,

• Visit to the Local Office Ljubljana,

• Visit to the Centre for Information and Vocational Guidance in Ljubljana.