Seminar : «Promotion of Regional Collaboration between Greece and the Czech Republic for the efficient use of European Structural Funds»

Structural Funds - The Greek Experience “Administrative Skills at a Regional Level”

Introducer:

Georgios D. Tsiotras

Secretary General Region of Central Macedonia

Regional Policy in the EU.

The region constitutes:

- Driving force of development - An agent strengthening the cohesion within EU The Role & Importance of the Regions in Democratic programming in the implementation of the Principle of Subsidiarity & Decentralization in the Balanced National Development In view of a New Institutional Framework for the Reorganization of the Regions and for the Administrative Structure of the Country Reinforced Role for the Regions : though the enlargement of the E.U

through the introduction of the 4 th Programming Period [2007-2013] (direct negotiation with the EU)

Regional Policy in the EU.

Central Goal Socioeconomic convergence

Combination of Centralized European Policies on the basis of: the particularities of each member state the needs of each local society Rational exploitation of available resources, mainly aiming at:  improving the conditions of life in every region of the country  eliminating the isolation, exclusion and inequality phenomena in order to improve the everyday life of citizens

Anthropocentric character of actions & policies

Regional Structure

Greece consists of 13 Regions :

Central Macedonia West Macedonia East Macedonia & Thrace North Epirus Thessaly Aegean Ionian Islands West Greece Sterea Ellada Attica Peloponnese South Aegean Crete

Regional Structure

Existing Operation (L 2503/1997):

Region = a decentralized administration unit Transfer of authorities & resources from the Central Administration Independence of internal organization, staffing & financial management

The Secretary General of each Region is a representative of the Government, responsible for the execution of governmental policy in his or her Region.

The Region: • Disposes of its own personnel.

•Disposes of its own budget. • Disposes of mechanisms to manage regional project credits • Assists the Government in the configuration & implementation of a regional policy.

• Brings the Administration closer to the citizen and his problems

Regional Structure

Secretary General of Region

Secretary General’s Office Legal / Judicial Office Department of Emergency Political Planning (DEPP) Directorate of Political Protection General Directorate of the Region 1. Planning and Development Directorates: 7. Forests 2. Public Health & Welfare 8. Agricultural Development 3. Public Works 9. Local Authorities & Decentralization 4. Control of Construction Works 10. Administration 5. Control of Maintenance Works 6. Environment & Town-planning 11.Urban Condition - Aliens & Emigration

Democratic Programming

Basic levels of operation for the Regions (L. 2503/97): 1.

2.

democratic programming & coordination of the policies announced by the State and the Local Authorities control of the legitimacy & effectiveness of the Local Authorities Organizations policy Regional Council = Collective Instrument :  Regional Administration meets Local Authorities  Programmatic composition of views & proposals made by the Local Authorities Organizations & social entities

3

rd

Community Support Framework – ROP

ROP Guidelines :

 Align with the general developmental EU guidelines & with national choices  Adapt to the needs of each Region & to the local society needs  Are always aiming at improving the everyday life of the civilian

Central Macedonia ROP Actions :

Highlighting the metropolitan role of Thessaloniki and encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship.

Protecting the environment.

Promoting Agricultural development.

Reducing unemployment and promoting equal opportunities in knowledge and skills.

Reducing inequalities within the same region.

Developing mountainous areas, disadvantageous regions & internal zones.

Special Management Service of R.O.P.

Secretary General of Region Head of Management Service Technical Secretariat INTERREG UNIT A: Programming and Evaluation UNIT B: Management and Monitoring UNIT C: Control UNIT D: Organization and Support

Competencies of the Special Management Service :

Management of R.O.P.

Intermediate Evaluation Implementation of procedures for the integration of Actions Preparation of the Annual & Final Program Execution Report Project monitoring Control of Actions & Final Beneficiaries Publicity of the Program

Monitoring Committee of R.O.P.

For the monitoring of the 3 rd CSF implementation and the rational execution of the Regional Operational Program, Monitoring Committees were created = Collective Instrument Competencies: Regional Operational Program Monitoring.

Complement to Programming Criteria for the integration of Actions Approval of the Annual and Final Report regarding the execution of the Operational Program Progress evaluation/ adjustment proposal

Procedures and Criteria for the Integration of Actions in R.O.P.

1st Step: Invitation to the Final Beneficiaries for the submittal of proposals 2nd Step: Submittal of Proposals & Technical Newsletters of the Project 3rd Step: Proposal Evaluation 4th Step: Coordination procedure 5th Step: Integration / Rejection

4

th

Programming Period 2007 - 2013 (4

th

CSF)

Within the 4 th CSF it is necessary to review the regulative and managing regulations aiming to:  The increase of the effectiveness  the reduction of its complexity.

New Structural Regional Policy:  Specification of the structural inabilities  Preparation of a long-term developmental strategy (SWOT analysis)  Avoidance of excessive concentration for a balanced long-term development  Reinforcement of the administrative ability to plan and implement

4

th

Programming Period 2007 - 2013 (4

th

CSF)

General principles for the organization of the Strategic Development Plan

: 1. Instruments for the preparation Direct to decentralized regional structures    of the Development Plan

Coordination and Policy Definition Committee Preparation team Planning per Region

2. Preparation Contents and Phases :

A.

B.

Development Prospect Localization Program Planning

E.U. Financing Dialogue of Regions with local developmental bodies for planning actions and directions

4

th

Programming Period 2007 - 2013 (4

th

CSF)

The main development priorities for Greek Regions are reflected in the following points: 1. Εnhancement of Competitiveness 2. Improvement of accessibility and services of general financial interest 3. Environmental Upgrading and Protection and Prevention of Danger 4. Human resource development and promotion of employment 5.

Improvement of the administrative capacity in public admin istration 6. Reinforcement of cross border, cross country and cross regional collaboration 7. Tourism 8. Agricultural Development

European Enlargement & the Role of Regions

New member states in E.U. = reinforcement of collaboration = two way benefits.

Presence of Greek businesses i.e. in Rumania & Bulgaria = advanced party of European know-how & attitude

INTERREG

= pre-existing experience of cross countries – cross regional agreements for actions and investments (long lasting inactivity of economic and financial bodies & state) Role of Regional Administration =Essential and critic for the approximation of the countries & local societies, under the umbrella of E.U.

Equal partners of E.U.: development of collaboration methods for common projects and actions for the parallel development of areas Exploitation of natural & human resources Adoption of the best practices