EU Cohesion Policy DevelopmentsSophie 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 Stru ctu ra l F und s (Eu ro 33 6b n)

C ohes ion F und ESF ER DF

C 1 - Co n verg ence (78 .54% = E uro 262b n) C 2 - C om p etitiven ess (17 .22% = 57 .9b n)

In ter-re gio na l C o-op era tio n (ER DF)Budget unknown

C1 + C2 regional programmesStructure/activities to be defined

In ter-re gio na l C o-o pe ra tio n (ESF)Budget unknown

C1 regional, C2 national programme in UKSpecific Priority. Activities to be defined

MAINSTREAMED ACTIVITIES

COOPERATION ACTIVITIES

•based on the draft regulations published on 14 July

C3 - Co -o p eratio n (3.94% = Eu ro 13.2 b n)

Cross-border (47.73% = Euro 6.3bn ) Transnational (47.73% = Euro 6.3bn)Co-operation Zones based on IIIB

Netw orks/Exchanges (4.54% = Euro 600m )"Son of IIIC"

Structure/activities to be defined

Land and Maritime Borderswithin EU25 (35.61%)

European NeighbourhoodPartnership Initiative (12.12%)

Factors influencing negotiationsThe 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 LisbonFocus 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 GuidelinesProgrammes 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 GuidelinesConsultation 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 youSophie Purdey

sophie.purdey@environment-agency.gov.uk