European Structural Funds in
Wales Post-2013
Paul Smith
Welsh European Funding Office
8 March 2012
What we’ll cover
• How WEFO is planning for the new EU programmes
• Timetables to 2014
• European Context
• Highlights from the Regulations
Ewrop & Chymru: Ewrop
Buddsoddi
yn Buddsoddi
eich Dyfodol
& Chymru:
yn eich dyfodol
& Wales:
Investing
in your future
Europe and Wales:Europe
Investing
in your
future
WEFO Team and Partners
• Dedicated post-2013 Policy Team
–
–
–
–
Analysis of regulations
Preparation of Operational Programmes
Working with UK on EU level negotiations
Partnership & stakeholder engagement
• Partnership Engagement:
–
–
–
–
EPPF
Specialist Workstreams
Reflection Exercise (December 11 – January 12)
Draft OP’s - full public consultation (Autumn 2012)
Ewrop & Chymru: Ewrop
Buddsoddi
yn Buddsoddi
eich Dyfodol
& Chymru:
yn eich dyfodol
& Wales:
Investing
in your future
Europe and Wales:Europe
Investing
in your
future
What’s happening now?
• Draft Regulations published 6 October 2011 – analysing
and highlighting key issues for planning
• Feeding into Negotiations with EU via UK Government
• Lessons learned exercise
• Reflection exercise – seeking views on high level
strategy and vision
Ewrop & Chymru: Ewrop
Buddsoddi
yn Buddsoddi
eich Dyfodol
& Chymru:
yn eich dyfodol
& Wales:
Investing
in your future
Europe and Wales:Europe
Investing
in your
future
Future European Programmes
• Closer working with agricultural / fisheries funds
• Structural Funds:
– Assumption that Wales will qualify for future funds – impact of
recession on Wales’ GDP.
– West Wales and Valleys – “Less Developed” region (<75% EU27
Average GDP)
– East Wales – “More Developed” region (>90% EU27 Average
GDP)
Ewrop & Chymru: Ewrop
Buddsoddi
yn Buddsoddi
eich Dyfodol
& Chymru:
yn eich dyfodol
& Wales:
Investing
in your future
Europe and Wales:Europe
Investing
in your
future
Europe 2020: Targets
Smart:
 75% of EU population (20-64) in employment
 3% of EU GDP invested in R&D / innovation
Sustainable:
 ‘20/20/20’ climate/energy targets to be met.
Inclusive:
 Young people exiting school early to be less than 10%;
and 40% of 30-34 year olds to have a tertiary degree
 20 million fewer people to be at risk of poverty
Ewrop & Chymru: Ewrop
Buddsoddi
yn Buddsoddi
eich Dyfodol
& Chymru:
yn eich dyfodol
& Wales:
Investing
in your future
Europe and Wales:Europe
Investing
in your
future
Thematic Objectives
SMART
• strengthening research, technological development and innovation;
• enhancing access to, and use and quality of, information & communication
technologies;
• enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs, the agricultural sector (EAFRD)
and the fisheries / aquaculture sector (EMFF);
SUSTAINABLE
• supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all sectors;
• promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management;
• protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency;
• promoting sustainable transport and removing bottlenecks in key network
infrastructures;
INCLUSIVE
• promoting employment and supporting labour mobility;
• promoting social inclusion and combating poverty;
• investing in education, skills and lifelong learning;
• enhancing institutional capacity and an efficient public administration
Ewrop & Chymru: Ewrop
Buddsoddi
yn Buddsoddi
eich Dyfodol
& Chymru:
yn eich dyfodol
& Wales:
Investing
in your future
Europe and Wales:Europe
Investing
in your
future
Commission Proposals (1)
To achieve Europe 2020 goals Commission is proposing :
• Closer integration of funds (ERDF, ESF, EAFRD,
EMFF).
• New, more directive, ‘architecture’:
– Common Strategic Framework;
– Partnership Contract;
– Operational Programmes.
• Stronger focus on performance/results : Use of stronger
contractual conditions / incentives.
Ewrop & Chymru: Ewrop
Buddsoddi
yn Buddsoddi
eich Dyfodol
& Chymru:
yn eich dyfodol
& Wales:
Investing
in your future
Europe and Wales:Europe
Investing
in your
future
Commission Proposals (2)
Commission also proposing:
• Greater concentration - more money but on fewer
priorities.
• Increased use of Financial Engineering Instruments.
• ‘Simplifications’ – e.g., simplified cost approaches, ‘ecohesion’ policy.
Ewrop & Chymru: Ewrop
Buddsoddi
yn Buddsoddi
eich Dyfodol
& Chymru:
yn eich dyfodol
& Wales:
Investing
in your future
Europe and Wales:Europe
Investing
in your
future
Investment Focus: ESF (1)
ESF draft regulations focus on Europe 2020 goals:
•
•
•
•
Promoting employment and supporting labour mobility
Investing in education, skills and life-long learning
Promoting social inclusion and combating poverty – min. 20% of ESF
Enhancing institutional capacity and efficient public administration
• Greater emphasis on fighting youth unemployment
• Strengthened provision for transnational co-operation, social
innovation, gender equality and equal opportunities.
Ewrop & Chymru: Ewrop
Buddsoddi
yn Buddsoddi
eich Dyfodol
& Chymru:
yn eich dyfodol
& Wales:
Investing
in your future
Europe and Wales:Europe
Investing
in your
future
Investment Focus: ESF (2)
• Minimum ESF budget in 2014 – 2020: €84 billion (7.5% increase on
2007-13)
• Out of Structural Funds support (ERDF + ESF) ESF minimum share
will be:
• 25% in less developed regions (West Wales & Valleys)
• 40% in transition regions
• 52% in more developed regions (East Wales)
Ewrop & Chymru: Ewrop
Buddsoddi
yn Buddsoddi
eich Dyfodol
& Chymru:
yn eich dyfodol
& Wales:
Investing
in your future
Europe and Wales:Europe
Investing
in your
future
Investment Focus: ERDF (1)
The Commission’s draft regulations put a clear focus on:
• Research and Innovation
• Low Carbon Economy (Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy)
• SME Competitiveness
Concentration on the above themes will be:
• 80% in More Developed / Transition regions (Low Carbon min. 20%)
• 50% in Less Developed regions (Low Carbon min. 6%)
Ewrop & Chymru: Ewrop
Buddsoddi
yn Buddsoddi
eich Dyfodol
& Chymru:
yn eich dyfodol
& Wales:
Investing
in your future
Europe and Wales:Europe
Investing
in your
future
Investment Focus: ERDF (2)
The draft regulations also focus on:
• Sustainable Urban Development (at least 5% of the national ERDF
allocation)
• Member States (UK Government) would be expected to draw up a
list of cities where Sustainable Urban Development will be
implemented, together with indicative annual allocations.
Ewrop & Chymru: Ewrop
Buddsoddi
yn Buddsoddi
eich Dyfodol
& Chymru:
yn eich dyfodol
& Wales:
Investing
in your future
Europe and Wales:Europe
Investing
in your
future
What does it mean for West
Wales & the Valleys?
•
At least 25% of SF funding will need to be used for ESF measures (but the
Welsh programme already commits a 40% share).
•
50% of ERDF funding would need to be applied to Research & Innovation;
Energy efficiency & Renewable Energy; SME Competitiveness.
•
A minimum of 5% to be used for Sustainable Urban Development?
•
Distribution of remaining funds across other priorities – chosen from
Commission ‘menu’
Ewrop & Chymru: Ewrop
Buddsoddi
yn Buddsoddi
eich Dyfodol
& Chymru:
yn eich dyfodol
& Wales:
Investing
in your future
Europe and Wales:Europe
Investing
in your
future
What does it mean for East
Wales?
•
At least 52% of SF funding will need to be used for ESF measures.
•
80% of ERDF funding would need to be applied to Research & Innovation;
Energy efficiency & Renewable Energy; SME Competitiveness.
•
A minimum of 5% to be used for Sustainable Urban Development?
•
Leaves limited scope for other interventions.
Ewrop & Chymru: Ewrop
Buddsoddi
yn Buddsoddi
eich Dyfodol
& Chymru:
yn eich dyfodol
& Wales:
Investing
in your future
Europe and Wales:Europe
Investing
in your
future
Thematic Choices
•
Seeking flexibility to fund things in future that we are currently
funding
•
Ministerial decision on priorities – informed by engagement with
Stakeholders (EPPF, Reflection Exercise)
•
Alignment to WG policies and delivering Europe 2020
Ewrop & Chymru: Ewrop
Buddsoddi
yn Buddsoddi
eich Dyfodol
& Chymru:
yn eich dyfodol
& Wales:
Investing
in your future
Europe and Wales:Europe
Investing
in your
future
Timetable (EU level)
6 Oct 11
Publication of draft regulations
End 2011 –
early 2012
Draft Common Strategic Framework & public consultation
End 2012
Agreement of MFF(2014-2020)?
Spring 2013
Agreement of Regulations?
Summer 2013
Agreement of Common Strategic Framework covering Structural
Funds?
During 2013
Negotiate and agree UK Partnership Contract, and Wales’
programmes
1 January 2014 Earliest Wales’ programmes can be approved to start
Ewrop & Chymru: Ewrop
Buddsoddi
yn Buddsoddi
eich Dyfodol
& Chymru:
yn eich dyfodol
& Wales:
Investing
in your future
Europe and Wales:Europe
Investing
in your
future
Timetable (Wales)
Early 2012
Early 2012 –
Autumn 2012:
DM will set out the Government’s planned vision and direction for
future EU programmes in Wales
Detailed development of the programmes with partners
(workstreams – Operational Programmes, Delivery and
Compliance, Evaluation Advisory Group and Territorial Cooperation Group)
Autumn 2012 – Public consultation on draft Operational Programmes
early 2013:
Spring 2013 –
Autumn 2013:
Submission and negotiation of programming documents with EC
2014:
Launch and delivery of EU programmes 2014–2020 in Wales
Ewrop & Chymru: Ewrop
Buddsoddi
yn Buddsoddi
eich Dyfodol
& Chymru:
yn eich dyfodol
& Wales:
Investing
in your future
Europe and Wales:Europe
Investing
in your
future
Our priorities
• Aiming to hit the ground running in 2014, ideally with
a number of high level strategic projects ready to go.
• Harnessing expertise and knowledge to build on
what works in practice – both from our external
partners and from within WEFO.
• Options for programme integration
• Working with Whitehall colleagues on the EU level
negotiations
• Ensuring we continue our focus on successfully
delivering the 2007-2013 programmes.
Ewrop & Chymru: Ewrop
Buddsoddi
yn Buddsoddi
eich Dyfodol
& Chymru:
yn eich dyfodol
& Wales:
Investing
in your future
Europe and Wales:Europe
Investing
in your
future
Finding out more
• WEFO Website:
http://wefo.wales.gov.uk/programmes/post2013/?lang=en
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/wefowales or www.twitter.com/wefocymru
• Contact the Post-2013 team:
WEFO-Post2013Programmes@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Ewrop & Chymru: Ewrop
Buddsoddi
yn Buddsoddi
eich Dyfodol
& Chymru:
yn eich dyfodol
& Wales:
Investing
in your future
Europe and Wales:Europe
Investing
in your
future
Thank you –
Any Questions?
Ewrop & Chymru: Ewrop
Buddsoddi
yn Buddsoddi
eich Dyfodol
& Chymru:
yn eich dyfodol
& Wales:
Investing
in your future
Europe and Wales:Europe
Investing
in your
future