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
EU-Regional Policyand Cohesion Agenda 2000 2
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
EU-Regional Policyand Cohesion Agenda 2000 3
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
EU-Regional Policyand Cohesion Agenda 2000 4
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
EU-Regional Policyand Cohesion Agenda 2000 5
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
EU-Regional Policyand Cohesion Agenda 2000 6
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
EU-Regional Policyand Cohesion Agenda 2000 7
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
EU-Regional Policyand Cohesion Agenda 2000 8
Structural
actions
Programming: who does what? (2)
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
EU-Regional Policyand Cohesion Agenda 2000 9
Structural
actions
Programming: who does what? (3)
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
EU-Regional Policyand Cohesion Agenda 2000 10
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
EU-Regional Policyand Cohesion Agenda 2000 11
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
EU-Regional Policyand Cohesion Agenda 2000 12
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
EU-Regional Policyand Cohesion Agenda 2000 13
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
EU-Regional Policyand Cohesion Agenda 2000 14
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
EU-Regional Policyand Cohesion Agenda 2000 15
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
EU-Regional Policyand Cohesion Agenda 2000 16
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
EU-Regional Policyand Cohesion Agenda 2000 17
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
EU-Regional Policyand Cohesion Agenda 2000 18
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