EU Cohesion
Policy
2014 – 2020
Proposals from the
European Commission
Cohesion
Policy
Structure of the presentation
1. What is the impact of EU cohesion policy?
2. Why is the Commission proposing changes for 2014-2020?
3. What are the main changes?
4. How will the funding be allocated?
5. When will the changes come into effect?
6. Where can I find further information?
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1. What is the impact of
EU Cohesion Policy?
Cohesion
Policy
EU Cohesion Policy invests in …
Training
Support
for SMEs
Energy
efficiency
Renewable
energy
Transport
Research
and innovation
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Cooperation
between regions
Results of EU Cohesion Policy
(figures from 2000-2006 period)
8400 km of rail built or improved
5100 km of road built or improved
Access to clean drinking water for 20 million more people
Training for 10 million people each year
Over 1 million jobs created
GDP/capita up 5 % in newer Member States
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Yet gaps between regions remain
GDP/capita*
*index EU27=100
< 50
75-90
50-75
100-125
90-100
Average
2006 ‒ 2007 ‒ 2008
► Closing these gaps
remains a key objective
Regional GDP figures: 2006-07-08
© EuroGeographics Association for the administrative boundaries
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Canarias
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Madeira
Guyane
Réunion
Guadeloupe/
Martinique
Açores
Malta
2. Why is the Commission
proposing changes for 2014-2020?
Cohesion
Policy
Objectives
Deliver the Europe 2020 strategy objectives
of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth
Focus on results
Maximise the impact of EU funding
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Proposed EU budget 2014-2020
“Ambitious but realistic” proposals issued by the Commission
in June 2011 for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014-2020
Cohesion Policy
Other policies
33 % (€336 billion)
(agriculture, research,
external etc.)
63 % (€649 billion)
Connecting
Europe Facility
4 % (€40 billion)
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3. What are the main changes?
Cohesion
Policy
Reinforcing effectiveness and performance
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
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More coherent use of available EU funds
Common Strategic
Framework
Partnership
Contract
Operational
Programmes
• Comprehensive investment strategy: aligned with Europe 2020
objectives
• Coherence with National Reform Programmes
• Coordination: cohesion policy, rural development, maritime &
fisheries funds
• Objectives and indicators to measure progress towards Europe
2020 targets
• Effectiveness: introduction of a performance framework
• Efficiency: reinforcement of administrative capacity, cutting red tape
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A menu of thematic objectives
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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
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Concentrating resources to maximise impact
Concentration of ERDF investments
Energy efficiency & renewable energy
Research & innovation
Competitiveness of SMEs
6%
60%
20%
More developed &
transitional regions
44%
Less developed regions
Flexibility – different regions have different needs
Special arrangements for ex-convergence regions
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European Social Fund (ESF)
2007-2013
2014-2020
Share of ESF within Cohesion Policy budget
25%
22%
Of total Structural Fund support (ERDF & ESF), ESF will represent:
• 25 % in less developed regions
• 40 % in transition regions
• 52 % in more developed regions
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European Social Fund (ESF)
Fully in line with the Europe 2020 strategy
• Promoting employment & supporting labour mobility
• Investing in education, skills & life-long learning
• Promoting social inclusion & combating poverty
• Enhancing institutional capacity & efficient public administration
Reinforced social dimension
• 20 % of ESF allocations for social inclusion
• Greater emphasis on fighting youth unemployment
• Mainstreaming & specific support for gender equality &
non-discrimination
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Cohesion Fund
Supports Member States with GNI/capita < 90 % of EU27 average
Investing in environment
• Climate change adaptation and risk prevention
• Water and waste sectors
• Biodiversity including through green infrastructures
• Urban environment
• Low carbon economy
Investing in transport
• Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T)
• Low-carbon transport systems and urban transport
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Simplification
Common rules - funds covered by Common Strategic Framework
• Cohesion Policy, rural development and maritime & fisheries policy
Option of multi-fund programmes
• ERDF, ESF and Cohesion Fund
Streamlined delivery system
• Harmonised rules on eligibility and durability
• Greater use of simplified costs
• Linking payments with results
• e-Cohesion: “one stop shop” for beneficiaries
• Proportional approach to control
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Reinforcing Territorial Cohesion
Focus on sustainable urban development
• At least 5 % of ERDF resources
Creation of urban development platform
• Networking between cities and exchanges on urban policy
Innovative actions for sustainable urban development
• Subject to a ceiling of 0.2 % of the annual funding
Areas with specific natural or demographic features
• Additional allocation for outermost & sparsely populated regions
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An investment-oriented policy
Promoting the use of innovative financing instruments
• Extending scope to all areas of investment
• Clearer regulatory framework
• 10 % bonus for innovative financing instruments & community-led
development
• A range of options offering flexibility to programme managers
Maximum co-financing rates
• 75-85 % in less developed and outermost regions
• 60 % in transition regions
• 50 % in more developed regions
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Management and control
Financial management
• New system of annual accounts
• Annual management declaration
• Annual clearance of accounts by the Commission
Management and control systems
• National accreditation (greater responsibility for Member States)
• Managing Authorities may act as Certifying Authorities
• Commission can review accreditation
(taking into account risks & track record)
Greater proportionality
• Exemptions for low volume programmes
• Exemptions for systems that have delivered consistently good results
• Limitations on frequency of Commission audits on individual operations
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4. How will the funds be allocated?
Cohesion
Policy
A fair system for all EU regions
(eligibility simulation)
GDP/capita*
< 75 % of EU average
75-90 %
> 90 %
*index EU27=100
3 categories
of regions
Less developed regions
Transition regions
More developed regions
Regional GDP figures: 2006-07-08
© EuroGeographics Association for the administrative boundaries
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Canarias
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Madeira
Guyane
Réunion
Guadeloupe/
Martinique
Açores
Malta
How will funding be allocated?
Less developed regions/MS
Cohesion Fund¹
Less developed regions
Transition regions
68.7
Transition regions
38.9 80
More developed regions
53.1 70
11.7
60
European Territorial
Cooperation
Outermost regions and
sparsely populated areas
Total
336.0
40
11,6
%
¹ €10 billion from the Cohesion Fund will be
allocated to the Connecting Europe Facility
450
400
350
307.1
300
250
68,7
%
200
150
20
100
10
50
0
25
15,8
%
0.9 50
30
│
500
100
162.6 90
More developed regions
Budget allocation
(in %)
0
72,4
119,2
Population covered
(in millions)
5. When will these changes
come into effect?
Cohesion
Policy
Timeline
5th Report
on Economic,
Social and
Territorial
Cohesion &
public
consultation
March
2010
Adoption of
Europe 2020
Strategy
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Nov.
2010
Agreement
on MFF and
adoption of
new legislative
package
Proposals
for Cohesion
Policy
2014-2020
June
2011
Proposal by the
Commission for
a Multiannual
Financial
Framework
(MFF)
Oct.
2011
March
2012
Common
Strategic
Framework
2012 – 2013
2014
Entry into
force and
adoption of
programmes
Where can I find further information?
www.inforegio.europa.eu
Follow@EU_Regional on Twitter
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