Redefining Turkey’s
Regional Policy towards
the EU Integration
Ministry of Development
Directorate General for Regional Development and Structural Adjustment
28 March 2013
www.kalkinma.gov.tr
Outline
 Background
 Regional Policy
 Effects of EU Integration
 Conclusion
Background
İstanbul
(18.689 US $)
4,3 times
*Source: TURKSTAT - Per Capita Gross Value Added (2008)
Van, Muş, Bitlis, Hakkari
(4.379 US $)
Regional Policy
 Decreasing the level of growth differentials
caters for:
– Sustaining growth performance
– Ensuring equitable and inclusive growth
 Different problems, calling for customized
solutions
 Complementary
Evolution of Regional Policy
 Internal Dynamics
– Ineffective conventional regional policy
– Vibrant economy and dynamic society
– Political priority

External Dynamics
– EU Accession process
– Interaction of regions with the Globe
Evolution of Regional Policy
From
 Comprehensive public
sector interventions
 Top-down
 Representation
 Self-sustaining
 Dependent
 Lagging behind regions
To
 Endogenous growth
with local strategic
choices
 Bottom-up
 Participation
 Global competition
 Independent
 All regions
Effects of EU Integration

Crucial role on evolution of regional policies
in the last decade
– Learning Effect
– Policy
• Statistical Regions – a new basis
• Multi-year Programming – a new approach
• Governance-a priority principle
– Implementation
• Regional Development Programmes-a new tool
• M&E
Statistical Regions
Statistical Regions
 Definition of NUTS regions
Regions classified into 12 NUTS I, 26 NUTS II and
81 NUTS III regions
– Enables a basis for regional development policies
– Collection of regional statistics in line with EU
statistics system
– Programming base for EU co-funded regional
interventions
–
Programming Documents
 Preliminary National Development Plan (2004-
2006)
First multi-annual programming document
providing the framework for EU funds on
economic and social cohesion
– Identified in its regional development axis for 12
priority regions
– Basis for EU co-funded integrated regional
development programmes implemented between
2004-2006
–
Programming Documents
 Strategic Coherence Framework (2007-2013)
–
–
–
Multi-annual programming document providing the
framework for EU funds on regional development and
human resources development
Thematic and geographical concentration for regional
development interventions
Basis for Operational Programmes;
Regional Competiveness
• Environment
• Transport
• Human Resources Development
•
Regional Development Programmes
RDPs – Achivements
 Budget
– EU Cont
– TR Cont
– Total
173 m €
39 m €
212 m €
TR
18%
EU
82%
 9 NUTS II Regions - 33 Provinces
 5,064 project application
 1,428 awarded
 Trainings provided to 9,300 people in regions
Outputs of EU Integration
 Tangible outputs of EU integration process on
regional policy
– Enhanced partnership on regional policy / programme
formulation
– Multiannual programming
– Capacity building at central and regional/local level
– Sound programme management
– Project generation
– Soft support mechanisms
New Regional Policy
 Main Goals
 Principles
 Components
– Strategy
– Governance
– Development Agencies
Main Goals
 Dualize
– Reduce regional and rural-urban disparities
– Increase productivity and competiveness of
regions
 Promote
– Local dynamics and internal potential
Principles
Strategy
Cooperation
Governance
New Regional
Development
Sustainability
Competitiveness
Components
National Strategy for
Regional
Development
Supreme Regional
Development Council
Regional
Development
Committee
Development
Agencies
Strategy
 National Strategy for Regional Development
– Setting spatial development perspectives
– Drawing a general framework for programming
and resource mobilization
– Helping improve coherence among national,
regional and local level plans
– Laying out alternative development scenarios for
regions
Governance
Supreme Regional Development Council
Political Decision-making
Prime Minister and Related Ministers
Regional Development Committee
Technical Consultation
Undersecretaries of Related Ministries
Governance
 Supreme Regional Development Council /
Regional Development Committee
– Strategic decision-making at national level
– Ensure coordination at the local and central levels
– Steer implementation of Regional Development
National Strategy and regional plans
– Harmonize sectoral, thematic and regional policies
Development Agencies
Development Agencies
 Support to articulate regional strategies
 Enhance cooperation among parties
 Support SMEs, new entrepreneurs, rural
development, project development; M&E
 Improve project preparation capacity
 Promote business and investment facilities for
the region
 One-window-shops
DAs - Achivements
Nearly 1.000 qualified staff
 26 regional plans
 Financial Support Programmes

– Over 20.000 applications to grant schemes
– Nearly 5.000 projects awarded
– Approximately 700 million € allocated for regional
development
– 100.000 man/days training
Many analytical work, reports and research
 81 Investment Support Offices

– Consultancy to approximately 55.000 investors
DAs - Achivements
 Bottom-up development in action: Feedback
to drafting 10th Development Plan
 IPA
– Regional Competitiveness OP – 12 project with a
total budget  127 m €
– HR Development OP – DAs are operation
beneficiaries
Future
 Current structures to serve as a basis for
management and implementation structures for
EU Cohesion Policy upon accession
 Multi-level governance
– National – Supreme Regional Development Council /
Regional Development Committee
– Regional - Development Councils
 DAs will also have critical roles in
– Programme implementation
– Capacity building in regions
Conclusion







New perspectives and perceptions
Improved governance and policy-making
Novel instruments and methods of financing-the value of soft
support
Strengthened institutional and project management capacity
at the local level
Effective usage of pre-accession funds on economic and social
cohesion
Preparation for Cohesion Policy Instruments upon accession
Paving the way to...
«New Regional Development»
Thank you
Nahit BİNGÖL
Director General
Ministry of Development
Directorate General for Regional Development and Structural Adjustment
Necatibey Cad. No:110-A 06100 Yücetepe – ANKARA
Tel: +90 (312) 294 50 00 • Faks: +90 (312) 294 69 77
E-posta: bilgi@dpt.gov.tr • Elektronik Ağ: www.dpt.gov.tr
www.kalkinma.gov.tr