2000-2006 eu-regional policy and cohesion structural actions agenda 2000 1 planning and use of...

2000-2006

EU-Regional Policyand Cohesion Agenda 2000 1

Structural

actions

Planning and use of funding instruments

Objective 1

• 1 CSF, with 1 OP per region (or SPD if < 1 billion EURO)

• funded by the ERDF, ESF, EAGGF-Guidance, FIFG

Objective 2

• 1 SPD per region (NUTS II level)

• funded by the ERDF, ESF (EAGGF-Guarantee)

Objective 3

• 1 SPD per country

• funded by the ESF

Community Initiatives: one Fund per Initiative

2000-2006


Structural

actions

Partnership arrangementsA more decentralised cohesion policy

• Within the Member States:

- a wider definition of the partnerships:

* regional and local authorities and other competent authorities

* economic and social partners

* other competent bodies including NGOs, environmental sector etc.

- active involvement of partners in all stages of programming

2000-2006


Structural

actions

Partnership arrangementsA more decentralised cohesion policy

• Between the Commission and the Member States

- a clear definition of responsibilities with 3 key players

* the Commission

* the programme Management Authority

* the Monitoring Committee

2000-2006


Structural

actions

Programming: 4 main steps

1. Programme guidance issued by the Commission

2. Development plans submitted by Member States after consultation with partners

3. Adoption of strategy by the Commission:

- quantified strategic targets

- priorities

- funding allocations

4. Detailed programming of measures by Management Authority and Monitoring Committees

2000-2006


Structural

actions

Planning and programming timetable

• Plans and programmes to cover 7 years (except transition areas)

• Plans submitted by Member States within 4 months of list of eligible regions concluded

• Commission decision within 5 months of receiving plans: CSF or SPD

• Commission decision within 5 months of receiving proposed OPs

• Member States to submit Programme Complement within 3 months of approval of SPD or OP

2000-2006


Structural

actions

Requirements of plans and programmes

• Regional Developments Plans:

- reinforced ex- ante evaluation

• Community Support Framework, SPDs:

- strategic priorities, financial allocations and methods of implementation…..

• SPDs and OPs will no longer contain measures, as they did before

• Programme Complement: measures, finance by measure, beneficiaries, publicity actions

2000-2006


Structural

actions

Programming: who does what? (1)

Commission:

• determines eligible regions and indicative financial allocations

• establishes programme guidance

• adopts (modifies) programmes only at the level of strategic priorities

• monitoring at strategic level

• approves large-scale projects (>EURO 50 million)

2000-2006


Structural

actions


Member State - Management Authority:

• prepares plans

• prepares and adopts the programming complement

• sub-delegates responsibilities as necessary - global grants

• selects projects

• prepares annual report

• implements the mid-term evaluation

• ensures that information and publicity rules are adhered to

2000-2006


Structural

actions


Member State - Monitoring Committee

• agrees on programming complement

• lays down project selection criteria

• monitors programme implementation:

- proposes programme changes to Management Authority

- agrees on proposals to change programming complement

• approves mid-term evaluation

• agrees annual report

2000-2006


Structural

actions

Additionality

“The Funds may not replace public or other equivalent structural expenditure by the Member State”

• 3 verifications: ex-ante, mid-term, ex-post

• measured against structural expenditures in all Obj. 1 regions (for Obj. 1)...

• ...or expenditures on active labour market policies outside Obj. 1 regions (for Objs. 2 and 3)

2000-2006


Structural

actions

Ceilings on co-financing ratesMaximising the leverage

• calculated at measure level

• general conditions unchanged

• new ceilings where substantial revenue generated from infrastructure:

- Obj. 1: 40% + 10% for Cohesion Fund states

- Obj. 2: 25%

- can be 10% higher if not direct grants

• and where investment in firms:

- Obj. 1: 35%

- Obj. 2: 15%

- can be 10% higher for SMEs if not direct grants

2000-2006


Structural

actions

Monitoring arrangementsA more transparent implementation

• Key annual encounters:

- Commission and Management Authority for management questions

- Commission and control authorities for control questions

• Monitoring of targets for quantified indicators

• Mid-term review of implementation

• Improved information and publicity system

2000-2006


Structural

actions

Evaluation: a tool for better programming

• ex-ante evaluation submitted by Member State with plans; new emphasis on

- employment situation

- environmental impact

- equality between men and women

• mid-term evaluation implemented by Managing authority using an independent expert: consequences for reprogramming

• ex-post evaluation implemented by European Commission by 2009

2000-2006


Structural

actions

Financial ManagementCombining simplification and efficiency

• automatic annual commitments

• automatic de-commitment of unused resources

• payment on account of 7% on the adoption of the programme

• new system of reimbursements against expenditure incurred

• final payment of 5% at closure of programme

• flat-rate indexation of 2% built into budget with review for 2004-2006

2000-2006


Structural

actions

Financial ControlA clearer division of responsibilities

• Member States responsible for:

- efficient systems for financial control

- prevention of irregularities

- correction of irregularities

- ensuring compliance with Community law

• Commission responsible for:

- checks on efficiency of financial control systems

- consequences: possible suspension or cancellation of payments

- organisation of annual meetings

2000-2006


Structural

actions

The performance reserveA new tool to encourage improved performance

• 4% of national resources allocated before 31.3.2004

• assessment of programme performance based on:

- realisation of aims decided ex-ante

- the quality of the programme management

- the absorption of EU resources and their leverage effect

• choice of indicators by Member State, based on proposals by Commission

• Member State proposes successful programmes

• allocation of Funds by the Commission

2000-2006


Structural

actions

Closing ongoing programmes

• Programmes before 1994

- requests for payments until 31.3.2001

- automatic decommitments until 30.9.2001

• Programmes from period 1994-1999:

- requests for payments until 31.3.2003

- automatic decommitments until 30.9.2003

2000-2006


Structural

actions

Commission implementing decisions

• Eligibility of expenditure (article 30)

• Use of the EURO (article 33)

• Financial control (article 38)

• Financial corrections (article 39)

• Information and Publicity (article 46)

….others if necessary

2000-2006 eu-regional policy and cohesion structural actions agenda 2000 1 planning and use of...

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