Key features of the draft cohesion policy and ETC regulations 2014-2020

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Structure of my presentation

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Main objectives and principles for the future cohesion policy as a whole

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Key features of the draft ETC Regulation

•

Timeline, next steps

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Main cohesion policy objectives and principles for 2014-2020

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Objectives

Reduce disparities between Europe's regions strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion Deliver the Europe 2020 strategy objectives of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth

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Proposed EU budget 2014-2020

Other policies

(agriculture, research, external etc.) 63 % ( €649 billion)

Cohesion Policy

33 % ( €336 billion)

Connecting Europe Facility

4 % ( €40 billion) 5

Legislative package

• • • •

General regulation

Common provisions for cohesion policy, the rural development policy and the maritime and fisheries policies Common provisions for cohesion policy only (ERDF, ESF, CF)

Fund-specific regulations

for ERDF, ESF, CF

Specific ETC Regulation EGTC regulation

 

Delegated acts (Art. 290 TFEU) Implementing acts (Art. 291 TFEU)

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Principles: Reinforcing effectiveness and performance

Conditionalities:

– – –

Ex-ante (not applicable to ETC) Macro - economic (not applicable to ETC) Performance framework

• •

Clear and measurable milestones and targets Performance reserve (not applicable to ETC)

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Thematic concentration

• Research & innovation • Information and communication technologies (ICT) • Competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) • Shift towards a low-carbon economy • Climate change adaptation & risk prevention and management • Environmental protection & resource efficiency • Sustainable transport & removing bottlenecks in key network infrastructures • Employment & supporting labour mobility • Social inclusion & combating poverty • Education, skills & lifelong learning • Institutional capacity building & efficient public administrations 8

Succession of strategic documents: Common Strategic Framework (CSF) Common Strategic Framework (CSF) Partnership Contract Operational Programmes

• CSF – adopted on the EU level Content (selected features): – EU2020 objectives translated into key actions for each CSF fund –

Priority areas for cooperation activities

for each CSF fund, taking account of macroregional strategies – Coordination mechanisms for ensuring coherence among CSF funds 9

Succession of strategic documents: Partnership Contract

• • Agreed between COM and a Member State (MS) for the period 1.1.2014 – 31.12.2020

Content

(selected features): – Analysis of disparities and development needs – Milestones and targets (coherent with EU2020 objectives) –

Main priority areas for cooperation

(incl. macroregional strategies) – Integrated approach to territorial development and coordination among CSF funds 10

...and Investment priorities

• Each thematic objective is translated into “investment priorities” (in Fund-specific regulations) • For ETC: Art.5 of the draft ERDF Regulation + Art.6 of the draft ETC Regulation • Flexibility for a programme to choose an optimal mix of them 11

Streamlining delivery

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Aim

:

to make life simpler for beneficiaries

• Harmonisation and clarification of basic rules (for regional, agriculture and fisheries funds) • Accreditation instead of compliance assessment • Increased proportionality in controls • Wider application of simplified costs (flat rates, lump sums and unit costs) • E- cohesion policy 12

Key features of the draft ETC Regulation 2014 2020 (CBC elements)

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Financial resources proposal: 11,7 bn €

• Population = criterion for breakdown by Member State •75% co-financing rate

Interregional 0.7 bn € Transnational 2,4 bn €

Cross border 8,6 bn €

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Thematic concentration

• 4 thematic objectives for cbc and transnational • Interregional can cover all thematic objectives • Definitions of investment priorities in ERDF Regulation apply • Additional elements in ETC Regulation: - ESF-type actions - legal and administrative cooperation and - cooperation between citizens and institutions - macro-regional strategies (transnational) 15

Decision on eligible areas – cross border programmes

• COM to adopt the list of cross-border areas to receive support by programme (at NUTS 3 level) • Based on preliminary discussions with programmes • Continuity encouraged, adjustements possible • Addition of adjacent NUTS 3 regions may be proposed when submitting draft programmes to COM 16

Content of programme documents

• Strategy for a programme contribution to Europe 2020 • Justification for choice of thematic objectives and corresponding investment priorities, indicators • More detailed implementing provisions • Confirmation of agreement to programme content in writing and commitment to provide necessary co-financing • COM to adopt programme model 17

Selection of operations

• Concept of sole beneficiary • Beneficiaries to fulfil all four cooperation criteria : development, implementation, staffing and financing of operations • MA to provide lead beneficiary with document setting out conditions of support, including products and services to be delivered and time-limit for execution 18

Eligibility of expenditure

Common Provisions Regulation rules Specific ETC rules proposed by the COM (optional) Rules adopted by the Monitoring Committee for the programme as a whole National rules (as the last resort)

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New territorial options

• Community-led local development • Integrated territorial investment • Joint Action Plan • Adapted to multi-country context 20

Management and control – main changes

• N+3 rule • Authorities´ changes • Managing Authority (MA) to do also CA work, need for accreditation • Strenghtened joint management (if possible): - MA to do the first level control - AA to do the control work on all programme area • Annual clearance of accounts and closure of finalized projects • Proportionality for controls • Lighter annual reports 21

Timeline, next steps

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Timeline

2012-13(?) 2011

Regulations proposed CSF proposed (December ) Regulations + budget negotiated (Council+EP) and adopted Adoption 3 months later

2012:

CSF in public consultation - adopted List of eligible areas for cooperation (implementing act) Submission 3 months later Partnership contracts Submission 6 months later Cooperation programmes + Ex-ante evaluations

Monitoring Committee AT-CZ cross border cooperation programme, 30 November 1 December 2011, Jindřichův Hradec

│ 23 16 November 2011 23

Thank you for your attention!

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