Transcript Document
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]