Key features of the draft
cohesion policy and ETC
regulations 2014-2020
1
Structure of my presentation
• Main objectives and principles for the future
cohesion policy as a whole
• Key features of the draft ETC Regulation
• Timeline, next steps
2
Main cohesion policy
objectives and
principles
for 2014-2020
3
Objectives
Reduce disparities between Europe's
regions strengthening economic, social
and territorial cohesion
Deliver the Europe 2020 strategy objectives
of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth
4
Proposed EU budget 2014-2020
Cohesion Policy
Other policies
33 % (€336 billion)
(agriculture, research,
external etc.)
63 % (€649 billion)
Connecting
Europe Facility
4 % (€40 billion)
5
Legislative package
• General regulation
Common provisions for cohesion policy, the rural
development policy and the maritime and fisheries policies
Common provisions for cohesion policy only
(ERDF, ESF, CF)
• Fund-specific regulations for ERDF, ESF, CF
• Specific ETC Regulation
• EGTC regulation
 Delegated acts (Art. 290 TFEU)
 Implementing acts (Art. 291 TFEU)
6
Principles: Reinforcing
effectiveness and performance
Conditionalities:
– Ex-ante (not applicable to ETC)
– Macro - economic (not applicable to ETC)
– Performance framework
• Clear and measurable milestones and targets
• Performance reserve (not applicable to ETC)
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Thematic concentration
• Research & innovation
• Information and communication technologies (ICT)
• Competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
(SMEs)
• Shift towards a low-carbon economy
• Climate change adaptation & risk prevention and management
• Environmental protection & resource efficiency
• Sustainable transport & removing bottlenecks in key network
infrastructures
• Employment & supporting labour mobility
• Social inclusion & combating poverty
• Education, skills & lifelong learning
• Institutional capacity building & efficient public administrations
8
Succession of strategic documents:
Common Strategic Framework (CSF)
Common
Strategic
Framework (CSF)
Partnership
Contract
Operational
Programmes
• CSF – adopted on the EU level
Content (selected features):
– EU2020 objectives translated into key actions for each
CSF fund
– Priority areas for cooperation activities for each CSF
fund, taking account of macroregional strategies
– Coordination mechanisms for ensuring coherence among
CSF funds
9
Succession of strategic documents:
Partnership Contract
• Agreed between COM and a Member State (MS) for the
period 1.1.2014 – 31.12.2020
• Content (selected features):
– Analysis of disparities and development needs
– Milestones and targets (coherent with EU2020 objectives)
– Main priority areas for cooperation (incl. macroregional
strategies)
– Integrated approach to territorial development and
coordination among CSF funds
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...and Investment priorities
• Each thematic objective is translated into “investment
priorities” (in Fund-specific regulations)
• For ETC: Art.5 of the draft ERDF Regulation + Art.6 of the
draft ETC Regulation
• Flexibility for a programme to choose an optimal mix of
them
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Streamlining delivery
• Aim: to make life simpler for beneficiaries
• Harmonisation and clarification of basic rules
(for regional, agriculture and fisheries funds)
• Accreditation instead of compliance assessment
• Increased proportionality in controls
• Wider application of simplified costs (flat rates,
lump sums and unit costs)
• E- cohesion policy
12
Key features of the draft
ETC Regulation 20142020 (CBC elements)
13
Financial resources proposal: 11,7 bn €
• Population =
criterion for
breakdown by
Member State
•75% co-financing
rate
Interregional
0.7 bn €
Transnational
2,4 bn €
Cross border
8,6 bn €
14
Thematic concentration
• 4 thematic objectives for cbc and transnational
• Interregional can cover all thematic objectives
• Definitions of investment priorities in ERDF Regulation
apply
• Additional elements in ETC Regulation:
-
ESF-type actions
legal and administrative cooperation and
cooperation between citizens and institutions
macro-regional strategies (transnational)
15
Decision on eligible areas –
cross border programmes
• COM to adopt the list of cross-border areas to receive
support by programme (at NUTS 3 level)
• Based on preliminary discussions with programmes
• Continuity encouraged, adjustements possible
• Addition of adjacent NUTS 3 regions may be proposed
when submitting draft programmes to COM
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Content of programme documents
• Strategy for a programme contribution to Europe 2020
• Justification for choice of thematic objectives and
corresponding investment priorities, indicators
• More detailed implementing provisions
• Confirmation of agreement to programme content in
writing and commitment to provide necessary co-financing
• COM to adopt programme model
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Selection of operations
• Concept of sole beneficiary
• Beneficiaries to fulfil all four cooperation criteria:
development, implementation, staffing and financing of
operations
• MA to provide lead beneficiary with document setting out
conditions of support, including products and services to
be delivered and time-limit for execution
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Eligibility of expenditure
Common Provisions Regulation rules
Specific ETC rules proposed by the COM (optional)
Rules adopted by the Monitoring Committee
for the programme as a whole
National rules (as the last resort)
19
New territorial options
• Community-led local development
• Integrated territorial investment
• Joint Action Plan
• Adapted to multi-country context
20
Management and control – main changes
• N+3 rule
• Authorities´ changes
• Managing Authority (MA) to do also CA work, need for
accreditation
• Strenghtened joint management (if possible):
- MA to do the first level control
- AA to do the control work on all programme area
• Annual clearance of accounts and closure of finalized
projects
• Proportionality for controls
• Lighter annual reports
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Timeline, next steps
22
2011
Timeline
2012-13(?)
Regulations + budget negotiated
Regulations proposed
(Council+EP) and adopted
Adoption 3 months later
CSF proposed (December)
2012: CSF in public consultation - adopted
List of eligible areas for cooperation (implementing act)
Submission 3
months later
Partnership contracts
Submission 6 months later
Cooperation programmes + Ex-ante evaluations
Monitoring Committee AT-CZ cross border cooperation programme,
30 November-1 December 2011, Jindřichův Hradec
│ 23
16 November 2011
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Thank you for your
attention!
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