EU Cohesion Policy Developments

Sophie Purdey

Presentation

 Context-setting the workshop  Summary of proposals  Update on the negotiations

Financial Perspectives

 Text of package of regulations being prepared under the UK Presidency  Aim to have regulations complete as far as possible to be used as soon as a budget is agreed  Next discussions at EU summit 15 16 December

Cohesion Policy Presentation

Features of Draft Regulations Proposed 2007-13 EU Structural Funds (Euro 336bn) ESF Cohesion Fund ERDF C1 - Convergence (78.54% = Euro 262bn) C2 - Competitiveness (17.22% = 57.9bn) Inter-regional Co-operation (ERDF) Budget unknown C1 + C2 regional programmes Structure/activities to be defined Inter-regional Co-operation (ESF) Budget unknown C1 regional, C2 national programme in UK Specific Priority. Activities to be defined C3 - Co-operation (3.94% = Euro 13.2 bn) MAINSTREAMED ACTIVITIES Cross-border (47.73% = Euro 6.3bn) Transnational (47.73% = Euro 6.3bn) Co-operation Zones based on IIIB Networks/Exchanges (4.54% = Euro 600m) "Son of IIIC" Structure/activities to be defined Land and Maritime Borders within EU25 (35.61%) European Neighbourhood Partnership Initiative (12.12%) COOPERATION ACTIVITIES

•based on the draft regulations published on 14 July

Factors influencing negotiations

The major factors are:  1. The lack of agreement on the Financial Perspectives 2007-2013    2. The commitment to the Lisbon agenda President Barrosso declares that “The Union’s core priority is growth and jobs” Cohesion policy renamed ‘Cohesion policy in support of growth and jobs’

The commitment to Lisbon

  March Council conclusion that, “the Union must mobilise all appropriate national and Community resources - including cohesion policy” in support of Lisbon President Barrosso’s 5 proposals to re-launch budget discussions include ‘Increasing resources for growth and jobs’  60% of total cohesion spending

The commitment to Lisbon

Focus cohesion funding on areas of high growth potential  Invest in drivers of growth and jobs  Stable 7-year programme of investment  Synergy with other policies e.g. research  Improving governance and ownership  Integrated approach to territorial cohesion

Cohesion policy into practice

Three steps:  Community Strategic Guidelines  National Strategic Guidelines  Operational Programmes  Member State and public consultation on Community Strategic Guidelines complete

Community Strategic Guidelines

Programmes co-financed through cohesion policy should target resources on:  Improving attractiveness (transport, energy and environmental investments)  Encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship and the growth of the knowledge economy  Creating more and better jobs  Guidelines are given for each topic

Community Strategic Guidelines

Guidelines given for :  Convergence  Regional competitiveness and employment  EU territorial co-operation

Community Strategic Guidelines

Consultation confirmed:  Support for Lisbon agenda  Allow Member States flexibility but  Concentrate on limited number of priorities  Territorial co-operation complementary to competitiveness  Recognise social agenda and involvement of regions, cities and NGOs in programmes

Regulations

  Developed in parallel with Community Strategic Guidance Loosely worded, “May be spent on…, primarily through…”  Allow subsidiarity through “menu” approach - regions can pick from the list of priorities in the regulations  Still require Political Agreement

Regulations - ERDF - Convergence

 R&TD, innovation and entrepreneurship  Information society  Local employment and development initiatives  Environment - waste, water, brownfield, Natura  Risk prevention  Tourism  Culture

Regulations - ERDF - Convergence

 Transport including TENS, clean urban transport, equal access for disabled persons  Energy including trans-European supply networks, energy efficiency and renewables  Education and vocational training  Health infrastructure and where justified social infrastructure



ERDF - Competitiveness

Innovation and the knowledge economy  Environment and risk prevention  Access to transport and telecommunications services in particular on transport:  links to TENs, regional railway hubs, airports and ports or to multimodal platforms, by providing radial links to main railway lines and by promoting waterways and short-sea shipping

ERDF - Co-operation

 Cross-border  Transnational  Inter-regional Cross-border likely to get the most budget

New proposals

JASPERS  Assistance to prepare Cohesion Fund projects JEREMIE  Helping SMEs and micro-enterprises to access finance

Summary Breakdown

Questions for Workshop

 What lessons have we learnt from the last programme?

 How can we maximise the likely funds to gain strategic value?  Given the current state of negotiations, what planning can we do now? What is the Slovenian position?

Thank you

Sophie Purdey [email protected]