EU Cohesion
Policy
2014 – 2020
Proposals from the
European Commission
Regional
Policy
Why is the Commission
proposing changes for 2014-2020?
Deliver the Europe 2020 strategy objectives
of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth
Focus on results
Maximise the impact of EU funding
Regional
Policy
What are the main changes?
Focus on results
• Common & programme-specific indicators, reporting, monitoring &
evaluation
Performance framework for all programmes
• Clear and measurable milestones and targets
Performance reserve
• 5 % of national allocations (by Member State, fund and category of
region)
Ex-ante conditionality
• Ensuring conditions for effective investment are in place
Macro-economic conditionality
• Alignment with new economic governance
Regional
Policy
EU level
National
level
•
THE COMMON STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
ERDF, ESF, CF, EAFRD, EMFF
THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
ERDF, ESF, CF, EAFRD, EMFF
Operational
Programmes for ERDF
National or
regional level
Rural development
programmes
(EAFRD)
Operational
Programmes for ESF
Operational
Programmes for CF
Multifund Operational
Programmes for ERDF,
ESF, CF
Regional
Policy
Operational
Programmes for
(EMFF)
Thematic Objectives to Deliver Europe 2020
1.
Strengthening research, technological development and innovation
2.
Enhancing access to, and use and quality of, information and communication
technologies
3.
Enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises, the
agricultural sector (for the EAFRD) and the fisheries and aquaculture sector
(for the EMFF)
4.
Supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all sectors
5.
Promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management
6.
Protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency
7.
Promoting sustainable transport and removing bottlenecks in key network
infrastructures
8.
Promoting employment and supporting labour mobility
9.
Promoting social inclusion and combating poverty
10.
Investing in education, skills and lifelong learning
11.
Enhancing institutional capacity and an efficient public administration
Regional
Policy
Concentration of ERDF investments
Energy efficiency & renewable energy
Research & innovation
Competitiveness of SMEs
6%
•
60%
20%
44%
More developed &
transitional regions
Less developed regions
Flexibility – different regions have different needs
Special arrangements for ex-convergence regions
Regional
Policy
Thematic Objectives
• Thematic objectives constitute the basis for the Common
Strategic Framework, which shall outline key actions for
each thematic objective
• In the case of Cohesion Policy every action financed
must be linked to a particular thematic objective
• Reporting (on financial progress, indicators etc.) can also
be linked back to particular thematic objectives
• Technical assistance is the exception – TA is not linked
to any of the thematic objectives
Regional
Policy
Common Strategic Framework
The added value of the CSF:
• Coordination starts from the top – common framework
replaces sectoral Community Strategic Guidelines
• Facilitates coordination with other EU funding instruments e.g.
Horizon 2020, Life+ etc.
• Provides an understanding of the key actions required to
achieve EU2020 objectives and maps the contribution of each
of the CSF Funds in this regard: strategic guidance for
planning at national and regional level
• Establishes priority areas for cooperation activities (for all
CSF Funds, not only ETC)
• Ensures better coherence and consistency with the National
Reform Programmes
Regional
Policy
Partnership Agreement
• Prepared at national level with close involvement of partners
• Agreed between the Commission and Member State, includes:
• The contribution of the CSF Funds towards the achievement
of thematic objectives, translating Europe 2020 priorities in
a national and/or regional context
• Summary of the main results expected
• The main priority areas for cooperation
• An integrated approach for territorial development
supported by the CSF Funds
• Arrangements for effective implementation: involvement of
partners, ex-ante conditionalities, performance framework,
additionality
• Arrangements for efficient implementation: administrative
capacity, administrative burden
reduction
Regional
Policy
Current situation
• Council:
• First significant milestone reached: six blocks of the
legislative package have been basically agreed (strategic
programming, ex-ante conditionalities, management and
control systems, monitoring and evaluation, proportionate
control and major projects)
• "nothing is decided until everything is decided"!
• Remaining blocks are opened to discussion -> target for
partial general approach is June meeting of General Affairs
Council
• European Parliament:
• Vote on draft report in June (REGI committee) and final
vote is expected on first reading in plenary in September
2012
Regional
Policy
Commission position paper and
negotiation mandate for the
Partnership Agreement
• Set an agenda for negotiations in order to
proactively ensure consistency with European
priorities
• Ensure coherent approach across member States
• Identify scope for coordination and integration
between the funds
• Ensure coherent approach on thematic issues
Regional
Policy
Timeline
• June 2012: Commission proposal for Common Strategic
Framework
• During 2012-2013: Dialogue between COM and MS on
Partnership Agreements and Operational Programmes
• Adoption of legislative package, immediate entry into force
+ 3 months: COM adopts CSF by delegated act
+ 6 months: MS to transmit Partnership Agreements and
programmes (incl. ex-ante evaluations); COM to make
observations within 3 months, adoption within 6 months; PA
to be adopted before OPs
+ 9 months: ETC programmes to be submitted to COM
• PAs can already be adopted before 2014
Regional
Policy
For more information
InfoRegio:
ec.europa.eu/inforegio
RegioNetwork:
www.regionetwork2020.eu
Regional
Policy