Vicente RODRIGUEZ SAEZ, DG Regional Policy,
Deputy Head of Unit for European Transnational and Interregional Cooperation
Christian FAURE, DG Maritime Affaires and Fisheries,
Deputy Head of Unit MARE.C.3
22 February 2012

• 1. Macro-Regional and Sea Basin STRATEGIES
• 2. ATLANTIC STRATEGY
• 3. ETC LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK
• 4. BUDGET and TIMELINE

• DEFINITION (CRP Trilogue EP+Council)
• ‘macroregional strategy’ is an integrated framework endorsed by the European Council, which may be supported by the European
Structural and Investment Funds among others, to address common challenges faced by a defined geographical area relating to Member States and third countries located in the same geographical area which thereby benefit from strengthened cooperation contributing to achievement of economic, social and territorial cohesion

- Baltic Sea, Danube and Atlantic strategies are underway, interest for strategies in other parts of Europe (mandate received from European
Council for Adriatic-Ionian, Alpine Strategy, Artic and North).
•
• - MRs and SBs provide framework for aligning policies and funding, with a view to increase impact, beyond ambit of cohesion policy.
• - Permanent Review of existing strategies + action plans. Council
Conclusions by Danish Presidency on progress of Baltic Strategy. New reports and conclusions under preparation for Irish and Lithuanian
Presidencies (1st Semester 2013).
•
• - General support for financial neutrality (no new EU legislation, institutions and funding).

ATLANTIC STRATEGY - Why the Atlantic?
Communication November 2011
• 30.000 km coastline with changing economy and demography
• Potential for growth and jobs of the blue economy:
• Traditional activities: shipbuilding, fisheries and aquaculture, tourism
• Emerging activities: ocean energy, seabed resources, marine biotechnology
• Opportunities for sinergies from cooperation across
Member States and Regions

• 1. Reduction of carbon emissions
• 2. Ecosytem based management of living resources
• 3. Protection against risk and emergencies
• 4. Exploitation of seafloor resources
• 5. Socially inclusive growth
• ATLANTIC FORUM – ACTION PLAN
• - Atlantic Forum: Bottom-up approach by MS, regions and stakeholders (consultation).
• - Resulting in Action Plan by Spring 2013 (Irish
Presidency endorsement)

• EU Regional funds to support 'blue economy' objectives
• Horizon 2020
• CEF, LIFE+
• EIB
• Private sector

•
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)
• Regulations for ERDF, ESF, CF
• ETC Regulation
• Modification of EGTC Regulation

 Goals for Cohesion Policy (main Objectives):
Investment for Growth and Jobs
European Territorial Cooperation
 Overall reform Principles
• Strategic approach: Europe 2020 alignment (+ MRS and SBS)
• Thematic concentration
• Results orientation
 Specific ETC Regulation
 Cooperation activities in all Funds covered by
Common Strategic Framework and Partnership agreements.
 Member States should then align and coordinate their cooperation through Partnership agreements of neighbouring countries.

Macroregional and Sea-basin strategies in
Legislative Framework
• Partnership Agreement to set out main priority areas for cooperation, taking account where appropriate of macro-regional and sea-basin strategies. (art.14 CPR)
• Programmes (both under Investment for Growth and Jobs and
ETC) to set out the contribution of the planned interventions towards macro-regional strategies and sea-basin strategies, where appropriate (art.87 CPR)
• In transnational programmes (Art, 6-7 ETC Regulation)
• Development of a macro-regional or sea-basin strategy
• Implementation of an existing strategy e.g. through the financing of projects directly deriving from it
• Implementation of an existing strategy e.g. through supporting coordination of strategy process

Budget for Cohesion Policy 2014-2020
(*)
Cohesion Fund
Less developed regions
Transition regions
More developed regions
Cooperation billion EUR (2011 prices)
66.4
164.3
31.7
49.5
8.948
1.4
Extra allocation for outermost and northern regions
TOTAL 322.25
* Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) adopted by European Council 8/02/13, to be negotiated with EP.

Total EUR 8,948 billion proposed in MFF (*) adopted 08/02/2013
• 74% (a total of EUR 6,627 billion for cross-border cooperation)
• 20,4% (a total of EUR 1,822 billion for transnational cooperation)
• 5,6% (a total of EUR 0,5 billion for interregional cooperation)
(*) Multiannual Financial Framework still to be negotiated with EP.
│
12

06/2011
Commission proposal on the Multiannual Financial
Framework (MFF)
10/2011
2012/2013 Dialogue between Commission and MS on partnership agreements and operational programmes
2013
Commission proposals on cohesion policy for 2014-
2020
2013
2014
Adoption of new legislative package and agreement with EP on new MFF 1 st Semester 2013.
All Partnership Agreements to be adopted by
November 2013
All Operational Programmes to be adopted during 1 st
Semester 2014