The future of EU funding proposals from the Commission
Guy Flament
European Commission,
DG REGIO
Cardiff, 19 April 2013
Regional
Policy
Structure of the presentation
• Main principles of the regulatory
framework
• Position Paper for the UK
• Timetable
Regional
Policy
Evolution of Cohesion policy
• 2000-2006: Conditions limited to compliance
with EU legislation
• 2007-2013: Earmarking of Lisbon Strategy
expenditure (Innovation,Research, ICT,
Knowledge society)
• 2014-2020: Investment policy; alignment with
EU 2020 objectives. Key words:
results/concentration/incentives and
conditionalities
Regional
Policy
Main principles underpinning
Regulatory Framework
• Strategic, integrated, coordinated and coherent
approach
• Alignment with the EU 2020 objectives: more
jobs and better lives through smart, sustainable
and inclusive economic growth
• Thematic concentration
• Stronger focus on results
• Simplification
Regional
Policy
Coherence of EU action: integrated
approach
• Common provisions including CSF, Partnership
Contract, Programming
• Possibility for multi fund programmes,for
integrated territorial investments
• Local governance and management models
• Comprehensive territorial coverage: less
developed, transition and more developed
regions
Regional
Policy
Concentration on EU2020 Strategy
• Menu of Thematic objectives in line with EU 2020
strategy
• Concentration of ERDF investments on energy
efficiency&renewable energy,
research&innovation, competitiveness&SMEs
• ERDF resources:80% in more developed and
50% in less developed on these three themes
Regional
Policy
Stronger focus on results
• Focus on results: indicators, reporting, evaluation
• Preconditions for success : conditions for
effective investments in place (ex-ante
conditionalities)
• Performance framework for all programmes:
milestones and targets (ex-post conditionalities)
• Macro-economic conditionalities
Regional
Policy
Simplification
• Common rules for all funds
• Streamlined delivery system: harmonised rules
on eligibility, greater use of simplified costs, one
stop shop
• Accreditation, annual clearance of accounts
• E-Cohesion
Regional
Policy
EU level
National level
THE COMMON STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
ERDF, ESF, EAFRD, EMFF
THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
ERDF, ESF, EAFRD, EMFF
Operational Programmes for
ERDF (incl. ETC)
ESF
EMFF
EAFRD
Regional
Policy
Programming: Reinforcing
effectiveness and performance
• Concrete investment priorities:limited
number,greater concentration of resources
• Stricter monitoring framework linked to
performance framework
• Familiar system of strategic, progress and
annual reporting
• Increased scope for financial instruments
Regional
Policy
State of play of the negotiations on
the legislative package
• Partial General Agreement
• Strategic programming - provisions on content and scope of
the adoption of Partnership Agreements and programmes
• Provisions on content and adoption related to the Code of
Conduct on partnership
• Clear timelines for strategic programming
• More flexibility in the set-up of the structure of priority
axes – concern to the Commission
Regional
Policy
Why a Position Paper?
• Context: closer alignment - Europe 2020
strategy and Country Specific Recommendations
• Pro-active approach: early stage information
on Commission services' position on Member
States' priorities for 2014-2020
• Commission's view on development needs,
challenges and priorities
• Framework for dialogue between Commission
services and Member States
Regional
Policy
What does Position Paper advocate for the UK?
• Challenges
• Decreasing labour market opportunities and increasing risk of
social exclusion
• Stagnated investment in R&D&I and low availability of finance to
the private sector (especially SMEs)
• Inefficient use of resources
• Funding priorities
• Increase labour market participation through improved labour
market policies and reducing the risk of social exclusion
• Promote R&D investment and the competitiveness of the business
sector
• Promote an environmentally friendly and resource efficient
economy.
Regional
Policy
Timetable
• Informal dialogue with UK launched on 30 January 2013
• Draft Partnership Agreement by UK – within 4 months of the
entry into force of CPR
• Observations on Partnership Agreement sent to UK by
Commission – within 3 months of its submission
• Adoption Partnership Agreement – no later than 4 months after
its submission
• Submission of draft OPs– within 3 months from submission of
PA
• Observations on OP by Commission– within 3 months
• Final deadline for adoption of Programmes – within 6 months
Regional
Policy
Multiannual Financial Framework
• Agreement by the European Parliament
• Certainty for the preparation of Partnership
Agreements and programmes
• Accepts the new category of regions
• Recognises the need for investment in growth
and jobs for all EU regions
Regional
Policy
For more information
InfoRegio:
ec.europa.eu/inforegio
RegioNetwork:
www.regionetwork2020.eu
Regional
Policy