ERDF in Andalusia
Monica Burch, Grupo
Alba
Monica Burch & Paul Soto, Grupo Alba
Why Andalusia?
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Objective 1, largest Spanish region and one of the
most rural
Largest recipient of Stuctural funds in Spain (€12 bn 30% of Obj 1 budget)
Impressive natural and cultural resources
1995 – 2003 increase from 69.6% to 74.1% of
average EU GDP per capita
Population of over 8 M – and growing…
Rural Andalusia

Strategic choices - Global competition Vs
territorial cohesion…
–
–
€7.8bn was assigned to Andalusia´s Integrated
Operational Programme (IOP)
3 core objectives, 1 of which: “increase the efficiency
of the territorial model of Andalusia to promote
economic development and improve the quality of
life”
Reaching
rural areas?
Córdoba
Huelva
Jaén
Seville
Cádiz
Granada
Málaga
Absence of
systematic
data
No specific
“rural
objectives” in
ERDF (or ESF)
Almería
How to measure?
• WP9: 6 provinces: “strong autonomous intermediate”
(€1,012 per head)
• Córdoba: “strong rural” (1,104 per head)
• Jaén: “weak rural” (€895 per head)
Table 4. Estimates of the proportion of ERDF support during 2007-13
Type of area
Urban
Mountainous
Areas with a low density
Other rural areas
All rural (non urban)
TOTAL
Total Public Expenditure
4.975.772.119
1.083.831.551
1.675.012.396
2.118.398.031
4.877.241.978
9.853.014.097
ERDF contribution
3.456.184.317
752.832.228
1.163.467.988
1.1471.444.808
3.387.745.024
6.843.929.341
Source: ERDF Operational Programme for Andalusia 2007-13. Page 241.
And yet… clear importance of ERDF
for rural areas
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ERDF: €6bn – approx half spent on rural areas
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–
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EAGGF: €316M
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48% transport infrastructure
28% environmental measures
8% business units
6% social infrastructure
 ALL highly relevant for rural areas
2/3 on agriculture & food
1/3 diversification, start-ups, Leader type projects
ESF: €932M
=> human capital, employment, micro-businesses, selfemployment
250
ERDF support for
businesses with
growth potential
200
150
100
50
0
Strong Intermediate
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Strong Rural
Weak Rural
ERDF 82.9% of EU funding (€500M) on business
units.
Jaén (weak rural): €246.9 per head. Average:
€156.3
Main source of funding for the Global Grant
Certain criteria benefit rural areas.
Two most rural provinces: 33% of GG, 18% of
population.
22% of companies receiving support were in rural
areas (<10,000 inhabitants)
Average
350
300
ERDF contribution
to accessibility of
rural areas
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250
200
150
100
50
0
Strong Intermediate
Strong Rural
Weak Rural
Average
Transport infrastructure
48% of ERDF expenditure (€3bn): transport
infrastructure
High speed rail Madrid-Seville, Madrid-Malaga
90% of the population within 25mins from a motorway
or dual carriageway

6.6% spend on minor and rural roads.

Telecommunications: 1% of budget (€92M)
 Broadband to all towns of <10,000
ERDF: support to
R&D and
innovation in
rural areas
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Strong Intermediate
Strong Rural
Weak Rural

Relatively low spending on R&D, but increasing…
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At NUTS 3 level, similar spending in the strong
intermediate and strong rural provinces. Weak
rural province lagging.
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Interviews insist on positive role of ERDF on R&D
spending in rural areas
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Research centres located in rural areas
Research centres of relevance to rural concerns
Average
ERDF: supporting the environmental
and social conditions for development
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28% of ERDF investment related to the environment
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Environmental compartments and water treatment
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Social infrastructure: 6% of ERDF investment, spent
particularly in rural areas.
60
50
40
30
20
10
Social & health infrastructure
0
Strong Intermediate
Strong Rural
Weak Rural
Average
CONCLUSIONS
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The ERDF has played a fundamental role in the
development of rural areas in Andalusia
To support and measure rural policy, the following are necessary:
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A finer classification of rurality
Geographically referenced projects
Needs of different types of areas integrated into planning
objectives and project selection criteria
Better coordination between different funds to achieve
specified territorial objectives.
With these conditions the ERDF has enormous potential
to do even more in rural areas…
Thank you!
Monicaburch@grupoalba.es