regional policy esi funds' policy in 2014-2020 european trade unions confederation brussels –...

Regional PolicyRegional Policy

ESI Funds' Policy in 2014-2020

European Trade Unions ConfederationBrussels – 13 March 2014

Diego Villalba de Miguel – DG Regional and Urban Policy


Objectives / principles of ESIF Policy

• Objectives: strengthen the EU’s economic, social and territorial cohesion

• Alignment with ‘Europe 2020’ and its focus on smart, sustainable and inclusive growth

• Increased thematic focus & performance orientation

• Primary role of the partnership principle

• Shared responsibility through (public / private) co-financing

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- 1 Common Provisions Regulation for 5 Funds (CPR)

- 5 Fund specific Regulations:

•European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

•Cohesion Fund (CF)

•European Social Fund (ESF)

•European Agricultural Rural Development Fund (EARDF)

•European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)

+ European Territorial Cooperation+ European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation

•

The legal framework: the ESI Funds Regulations

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The policy framework: Common Strategic Framework

1) Integrated use of the ESI Funds2) Provides more detail on how to promote integration and

coordination between the ESI Funds and with other Union instruments and policies

3) Horizontal principles and cross-cutting policy objectives4) Key territorial challenges5) Cooperation

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Translation of EU 2020 priorities into ESI Funds language

Developed into partnership agreements and programmes


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A menu of 11 thematic objectives

1. Research & innovation2. Information and communication technologies (ICT)3. Competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)

4. Shift towards a low-carbon economy5. Climate change adaptation & risk prevention and management6. Environmental protection & resource efficiency7. Sustainable transport & removing bottlenecks in key network

infrastructures

8. Employment & supporting labour mobility

9. Social inclusion & combating poverty

10. Education, skills & lifelong learning

11. Institutional capacity building & efficient public administrations

Smart Growth

Sustainable Growth

Inclusive Growth

Translated into Fund-specific investment priorities


Scope of the ERDF – what is possible

a. Productive investment: SMEs all thematic objectives; larger entreprises R&I / low

carbon and ICT for cooperation between large enterprises and SMEs

b. Infrastructure: energy, environment, transport, ICT (all regions), business, social,

health, R&I, education

c. Endogenous potential: small-scale infrastructure, services to entreprises, support to

R&I bodies…

d. Networking, cooperation, capacity building, studies

Main issues:

• productive investment in large companies (agreement on R&I/low carbon, ICT if

cooperation with SMEs)

• investment in tourism and culture: agreement on small scale infrastructure under

endogenous potential – support to multi-objective territorial strategies

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Scope of the ERDF – what is not possible

a. De-commissioning or construction of nuclear power stations

b. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from activities falling

under Emissions Trade Scheme

c. Manufacturing, processing and marketing tobacco

d. Undertakings in difficulties (EU's State Aid rules)

e. Airport infrastructure unless related to environmental protection

or accompanied by mitigating measures

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ERDF thematic concentration

• At least 80% (more developed regions), 60 % (transition regions) or 50% (less developed regions) to innovation, ICT, SMEs and low carbon economy.

• At least 20% (more developed), 15% (transition regions) or 12% (less developed regions) to low carbon economy.

o The Cohesion Fund can contribute to ERDF thematic concentration requirements for the low carbon economy. In case of less developed regions, this will increase the requirement from 12 % to 15%.

o For the purposes of thematic concentration NUTS 2 regions consisting solely of island MS or of islands in MS which receive support from the CF, or which are outermost regions, shall be considered less developed regions.


Less developed regionsMore developed regions

60% 20%

6%

44%

ERDF thematic concentration

Research and Innovation

Low-carbon economy (energy efficiency and renewable energy)

SMEs competitivenessICT

60%

Transition regions

15%

20% 45 %

38%

12%


• Community-led local Development (CLLD)

• Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI)

• Sustainable urban development

New territorial tools (I)


New territorial tools (II): sustainable urban development

Integrated approach to tackle the economic, environmental, climate, (demographic) and social challenges

Minimum 5% of each MS ERDF allocation – selection of operations delegated to urban authorities

Through three possible mechanisms: ITI, dedicated OP, dedicated priority axis

Integrated urban strategies required

regional policy esi funds' policy in 2014-2020 european trade unions confederation brussels –...

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