Introduction
 Context
- Policy Context
- Budgetary Context
 Nature of EU Programmes and how they operate
 Selection of Programmes that provide best opportunities
 Targets and some Next Steps
Policy Context
Policy Context – some key messages:
 EU Programmes do not operate in isolation
 Funding follows Policy - programmes exist to achieve EU priorities
 Need a knowledge of the policy to use the Programmes
 Don’t chase the money – need to align your objectives with policy
Europe 2020 Strategy
 EU Strategy for Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth
 Key Policy Framework for the 2014-2020 programme period:
 What you need to know – what it is
Europe 2020 Strategy
Targets to be achieved by the EU by 2020:
Employment
Increase employment to 75% of 20-64 year-olds
Innovation
Increase investment in R&D to 3% EU GDP
Climate/Energy
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%
- Increase energy from renewables by 20%
- Increase in energy efficiency by 20%
Education
Poverty
- Reduce rates of early school leaving below 10%
- Increase to 40% those completing 3rd level education
Lift at least 20 million people out of poverty
Flagship Initiatives (E2020)
Budgetary Context
EU Budget
Total EU Budget is €960 billion (2014-2020)
 Most is pre-allocated to traditional budget lines – CAP, ESIFs
 Budget ‘in play’ about €100 billion (to compete for)
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National Objective
National target is ‘juste retour’ (at least €12.5 billion)
 What is the strategy? Have we got the capacity?
Where do local authorities and regional assemblies fit in this?
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Additional EU Resources
European Investment Bank – Financial Instruments
 European Commission – new Investment Package (€300 billion)
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Direct Management
Programmes
Direct Management
Shared Management
Managed by the European Commission
(usually)
Devolved management to state, region or
other entity
No national allocations
Allocations per Member State/region
Calls for Proposals - annual call (usually)
Competitive Bidding Process
Multiannual Programme process, with a
limited competitive element
Strong Transnational requirement
Programmes are national or regional
National Contact Points to assist/advise
Managing Authority manages and runs
the programme
Funds are largely independent – different
criteria
What will be a runner?
Applications will need to demonstrate:
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Excellence – bid (quality and innovative), likely benefits
Wider Applicability – can’t have just local relevance
EU Added-Value – progress policy or improve policy implementation
Potential to Deliver Results – long-term impact and viability
Realistic and Measurable Approach – results-based approach
Commitment to Disseminate Results and potential Transferability of
Outcomes
Programmes - overview
European Territorial Cooperation
(ETC)
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INTERREG Cross-border/Transnational
INTERREG Europe
URBACT
PEACE
Innovative Urban Actions
Horizon 2020 (Research and Innovation)
• focus on Societal Challenges
LIFE + (Environment)
CoSME (Enterprise)
Erasmus + (Education, Training, Sport)
Creative Europe (Culture and Creativity)
Europe for Citizens
EaSI (Employment and Social)
Connecting Europe Facility
Civil Protection
Asylum and Migration Fund
Rights and Citizenship
Consumer Programme
Health for Growth
ETC - INTERREG Europe
INTERREG Europe - Pan-European
programme – policy learning for
local/regional authorities
Replaces INTERREG IVC (2007-2013)
INTERREG IVC – 26 projects with an
Irish partner
Budget 2014-2020: €359m
First Call: April 2015
National Contact Point: S&E and BMW
Regional Assemblies
ETC - INTERREG Europe
INTERREG Europe – 4 thematic objectives:
• Strengthening research and innovation
• Enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs
• Supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all sectors
• Protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency
INTERREG Europe - 2 types of action:
• Classic ‘interregional cooperation projects’ partnership approach;
• New ‘policy learning platforms’ offering tailored advice and solution services
to local or regional development organisations
New Aspects – Closer link with ERDF and involvement of Managing Authorities,
implementation of projects over 2 phases.
ETC - URBACT III
URBACT III - Pan-European exchange
and learning programme to promote
integrated sustainable urban
development
Replaces URBACT II (2007-2013)
URBACT II – 8 projects with an Irish
partner
Budget 2014-2020: €79m
First Call: Feb 2015
National Contact Point: tbc
ETC - URBACT III
URBACT III – 4 main objectives:
• Capacity for Policy Delivery – Smart Sustainable and Inclusive Growth
• Policy Design
• Policy Implementation
• Building and Sharing Knowledge
URBACT III – 3 types of intervention
• Transnational Exchange
• Capacity Building and Capitalisation
• Dissemination
Local and Regional authorities – key target audience
*Please note – includes Urban-Rural linkages
URBAN – Innovative Actions
NOT an ETC Programme - Innovative Urban Actions - new competitive fund for
urban authorities to be managed by the European Commission
Budget of €330m (from 2015)
Objective will be to promote innovative and experimental demonstration projects,
studies, pilot projects of EU interest in this field.
 Possible for all Thematic Priorities of Cohesion policy
 Possible establishment of an Urban Development Network
 Actions of up to €5 million (co-financing up to 80%).
 Projects should be no more than 3 year duration.
Details of how this programme will operate and who will be eligible (urban areas –
50,000+) have yet to be agreed.
Horizon 2020
Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Budget: €70.2 billion)
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Horizon 2020 - 3 pillars:
(1) Excellence in Science;
(2) Creating industrial leadership and competitiveness
(3) Tackling major Societal Challenges
Horizon 2020 – key features:
(a) SME-oriented approach
(b) Broad definition of ‘Innovation’ - not just technology & research in isolation.
This means:
new uses for and combinations of existing technology.
non-commercial applications (e.g. for better public services)
new interaction with end users (incl general public)
non-technological innovation
Opportunities for local/regional authorities?
Horizon 2020 - Societal
Challenges
Societal Challenges – Budget €29.7billion
1. Health, demographic change and well-being (€7.5bn)
2. Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and
inland water research and the bio-economy (€3.9bn)
3. Secure, clean and efficient energy (€6bn)
4. Smart, green and integrated transport (€6.3bn)
5. Climate action, environment, resource efficiency, raw materials (€3bn)
6. Inclusive, innovative and reflective societies (€1.3bn)
7. Secure societies, protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens
(€1.7bn)
Horizon 2020...local
opportunities?
‘Societal Challenges’ present some opportunities:
• Emphasis on multi-disciplinary collaboration... bring together resources and
knowledge from across different fields, technologies & disciplines;
• Innovation by and for the public sector has been identified as a requirement
in order to drive up the performance of public services;
• Fast-tracking deployment of new high-impact approaches to deal with
challenges.
Local Authorities some scope to:
partner with innovative enterprises to help to bridge the gap between research
and market uptake?
provide real world setting for innovation-related activities such as prototyping,
testing, piloting, demonstration or market replication
develop ‘’innovation ecosystems’’... bringing key actors together ...create
synergies, increase capacities and build critical mass.
LIFE+ Programme
EU Programme for Environment and Climate Change:
Key objectives: Enhance implementation of policy, improve Member State
practice, act as platform for accelerating change (e.g. via exchange)
2 Sub-programmes:
(1) Environment – Resource Efficiency; Nature and Biodiversity; Compliance
(2) Climate Action – Mitigation; Adaptation and Resilience; Governance
2 Types of Project:
Traditional – stand alone project
Integrated Project – large scale, implementation strategies/action plans
Local/Regional Dimension - emphasis on better governance
Budget: €3.46 billion – Environment (€2.6b); Climate Action (€864m)
LIFE+ Programme
Indicative National Allocations – 2014-2017 (Environment sub-programme)
after that ‘merit based’. At least 3 Integrated Projects per Member State.
Co-financing Rate – 60% (2014-2017); 75% (priorities under Birds and
Habitats Directive)
In Ireland:
Irish allocations 2014-2017 - €11.5m (environment projects)
National Contact Point – DECLG - more proactive approach
 DECLG prepared an Information Note on the Programme
 More active during bid preparation – information day, concept
notes, application writing workshop.
 Annual Call - May
Deadline - October
COSME Programme
Programme for Competitiveness of Enterprises and SMEs
Focus: promoting more dynamic and internationally competitive SMEs
Proposed budget: €2.3 billion (2014-2020)
4 themes (% of budget):
 Facilitate access to finance for SMEs and entrepreneurs (60%)
 Improving framework conditions – reducing burdens (11.5%)
 SME internationalisation and market access (21.5%)
 Promoting entreprenship – skills, culture for dynamic business creation &
growth (exchanges with a focus on women and young businesses) (3%)
Open to all types of SME
COSME Programme
Actions to improve SME access to finance (€1.4 billion)
 Equity Facility for SMEs in expansion phase (+/- €500 million): Venture Capital
(VC) with focus on firms with greatest potential
 Loan Guarantee Facility for SME growth & RDI (+/- €600 million): Guarantees
for loans to SMEs up to €150,000.
These funds were seen as successful in 2007-13 - €1.1 billion levered €23 billion in
loans and €2.3 billion in VC for SMEs. Operate through banks and other
intermediaries.
Promotion of Entrepreneurship (€88.6M)
• Developing entrepreneurial skills and culture - especially among new
entrepreneurs, young people /women – targeted sector-specific initiatives.
• ‘Erasmus for Entrepreneurs’ - transnational exchange scheme.
• Awareness of opportunities for LEOs?
Erasmus +
ERASMUS+ Programme – Budget: €14.7 billion
Integrating EU support actions for:
Education & Training
Youth issues
Sport
• Key Action 1: Learning Mobility of individuals (66% budget)
(Mobility of: Higher education students; Staff and Youth, including
volunteering and youth exchanges)
• Key Action 2: Innovation & exchange of good practices (26% budget)
• Key Action 3: Support for policy reform (5% budget)
What scope for integration of ET&Y issues into local & regional
development???
Erasmus+ (Sport)
New dedicated budget line for the European dimension of sport. (€264.6M)
Sport measure will focus on:
 strengthening good governance and the EU knowledge base for sport;
 promoting health-enhancing physical activity; (*)
 exploiting the potential of sport to foster social inclusion; (*)
 promoting dual careers through education and training of athletes; and
 tackling threats such as doping, match fixing, violence, and racism.
Activities include:
 transnational collaborative projects; (*)
 strengthening of the evidence base for policy making;
 capacity building;
 dialogue with relevant European stakeholders.
(*) potential for local authorities?
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Creative Europe
Programme for the Audiovisual, Cultural and Creative Sectors – €1.46 billion
2 Sub-programmes:
MEDIA programme (audio-visual sector) - €800m
CULTURE programme (including heritage) - €450m
Guarantee Fund (for cultural operators) - €121m (to realise bank loans totaling €750m)
Key Priorities (emphasis on growth/employment):
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Training and development support (film, TV, video games, etc)
Distribution of work and reaching new markets
Innovative audience-building, cultural/media literacy, film festivals
Transnational cooperation, work across borders, gain skills and knowledge
New business models…artistic and cultural networks
Contacts
CULTURE Programme - The Arts Council (Dublin)
MEDIA Programme – MEDIA office (Dublin) and MEDIA Office (Galway)
Europe for Citizens
Europe for Citizens Programme 2014-2020 – Budget €186m
Objectives to:
 contribute to citizens' understanding of the EU, its history and diversity;
 foster European citizenship and civic and democratic participation at EU level;
 raise awareness of remembrance, common history and values;
 encourage democratic participation of citizens, develop citizens' understanding of the
EU policy making-process and promote opportunities for societal and intercultural
engagement and volunteering at EU level
Support for:
• European remembrance – debates and cooperation events
• Democratic engagement/civic participation - Town Twinning, Networks of towns, Civil
society projects
• Operating grants – EU-wide organisations promoting shared objectives
Contact Point: Ireland – Institute of Public Administration
Employment and Social
Innovation (EaSI)
EaSI – innovative in…promoting employment, social inclusion and labour mobility.
Budget €919m
3 Axes:
Microfinance & Social Entrepreneurship (MF/SE): (€193M)
◦ EIB financial support and risk-sharing loan guarantees (<€25,000) for setup/growth of micro-and social enterprises by target groups with difficulties
accessing credit (e.g. unemployed, ethnic minorities, disabled...).
[also PROGRESS Microfinance until 2016]
◦ Small-scale ‘social innovation & experimentation’ test projects (ESF up-scaling?).
PROGRESS: modernising employment & social solidarity policy through analysis,
learning and developmental actions (e.g. improving working conditions…equality in
workplace…).
EURES Employment Services: (transnational matching job-seekers with offers)
Taking Opportunities
Are these Programmes seen as Opportunities or as ‘too much
trouble’?
 We have a poor track record = legacy of low awareness and
preparedness – need to be realistic as to what can be achieved with
resources available
 How will National objective be realised?
Government Departments can’t/won’t do the applications!!
 If Local Government wants to compete what is required?
 Address low awareness and reduce the ‘risk’ of involvement;
 Adopt a Strategic Approach – Identify Priorities
 Work towards Targets and Goals?
Regional Targets?
Eastern and Northern and Southern
Midlands
Western
POPULATION
CAP (Pillar I)
CAP (Pillar II)
LEADER
2,200,000
€55m
800,000
€43m
IRELAND
1,500,000
4,500,000
€55m
€8,505m
€2,037m
€153m
EMFF
€148m
ERDF
ESF (+EYI)
€208m
€275m
€121m
€101m
€128m
€186m
€457m
€562m
ETC
€67.7m
€86m
€38.3m
€192m
Other EU
€201m
€74m
€135m
€410m
Predominantly based on population (except LEADER) projection
ETC – this includes all relevant INTERREG A, B and C programmes, with regional differentiation factored in. This also includes URBACT and Innovative Urban Actions.
Other EU – only includes those budget lines that have a direct relevance of LRAs. Only includes ‘Societal Challenges’ of Horizion 2020, does not include the Education measures in
ERASMUS +, for example. (H2020, Erasmus+, LIFE+, COSME, Creative Europe, Europe for Citizens, EASI)
Basic Requirements
Need a more Strategic Approach
• identify local/regional prioritise, match these with EU objectives;
• need to evaluate if an opportunity is worth pursuing
Develop Capacity (and culture) and establish systems to compete
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understanding policy context and programme requirements;
monitoring funding calls - preparation and coordination of bids;
financial management and compliance with programme requirements;
resource availability – match funding (but not necessarily hard cash);
culture of working in (international) partnerships, reporting and dissemination.
Learn from others - existing good practice and experience (LAs and Reg. Authorities)
Use Resources available to help
• National Contact Points for EU Programmes
• Irish Regions Brussels Office
Thank you for your attention
Robert Collins
Head of Office – Irish Regions Brussels Office
Tel: +32-2-233 1122
GSM: +32-498-120821
Email: robert.collins@iro.ie