WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
Following the Cohesion Policy proposals of 6th October 2011, and to help Member States prepare for the next programming period, the Commission presented the "Common Strategic Framework" (CSF) on 14 March 2012. It is intended to help in setting strategic direction for the next financial planning period from 2014 to 2020 in Member States and their regions (see appended background).
HOW WILL ITS RESULTS BE USED?
Marek Woźniak, Rapporteur for the forthcoming CoR opinion on the New common strategic framework 2014 to 2020, invites you to provide your initial feedback on the European Commission
Staff Working Document "Elements for a Common Strategic Framework 2014 to 2020 1 ". The following questionnaire is intended to be complementary to Mr Woźniak's working document 2
and we would very much appreciate it if you could also send in your comments on the working paper to the
Rapporteur. Your contribution will feed into both Mr Woźniak's draft opinion (final adoption on 9-10
October 2012) and the 3rd CoR Monitoring Report on Europe 2020, due to be published in October
2012 3 .
1
Find more info at http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/what/future/index_en.cfm
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You can consult the document at https://bvstoad.cor.europa.eu/BrowseDocuments.aspx?type=1&folder=cdr\coterv\dossiers\coter-v-025
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This annual report gives an account of how Europe 2020 is implemented on the ground, and the extent to which it is implemented in partnership by all tiers of government, ahead of the next European Commission's Annual Growth Survey. The 2nd CoR
Monitoring Report was adopted in December 2011: http://portal.cor.europa.eu/europe2020/news/Pages/2ndCoRMonitoringReportonEurope2020.aspx
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P LEASE FILL IN THIS QUESTIONNAIRE IN ANY EU LANGUAGE USING THE SPACES PROVIDED AND SEND
YOUR COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRE IN ANY TEXT ( NOT PDF ) FORMAT TO :
BY 28 MAY 2012
For more information, including details of how to join the Europe 2020 Monitoring Platform:
The questionnaire will be available on this website in all languages from the first week of May .
PLEASE ALSO CONSULT THE WORKING DOCUMENT of the CoR Commission for Territorial
Cohesion Policy on the COMMON STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK Rapporteur: Marek Woźniak
(PL/EPP) Marshal of the Wielkopolska region
_____________ https://bvstoad.cor.europa.eu/BrowseDocuments.aspx?type=1&folder=cdr\coter-v\dossiers\coter-v-
025
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City/Town/Municipality Region
County/Province Association of local and/or regional authorities
Other (please specify)
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Privacy Statement The follow-up to your contribution requires that your personal data (name, contact details, etc.) be processed in a file. All the answers to the questions are voluntary. Your replies will be kept for a period of 5 years after the receipt of your questionnaire. Should you require any further information or wish to exercise your rights under Regulation (EC) No. 45/2001
(e.g. to access, rectify, or delete your data), please contact the data controller (Head of the Networks and Subsidiarity Unit) at europe2020@cor.europa.eu
. If necessary, you may also contact the CoR Data Protection Officer
( data.protection@cor.europa.eu
). You have the right of recourse to the European Data Protection Supervisor at any time
( www.edps.europa.eu
). Please note that the questionnaire with your contribution and your contact details will be published online. Your questionnaire may be transmitted to CoR Rapporteurs and other EU institutions for information. Should you not agree to this, please inform us accordingly.
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If you are interested in joining the Europe 2020 Monitoring Platform , please visit: http://portal.cor.europa.eu/europe2020/Knowledge/Pages/BecomeaMember.aspx
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1) How do you see the CSF Funds supporting the Europe 2020 Strategy and the measures outlined in the country-specific recommendations related to National Reform Programmes (NRPs) in your region/city in the context of the wider EU Treaty obligations?
The CSF Funds supporting the Europe 2020 Strategy and the measures outlined in the country-specific recommendations relating to National Reform Programmes (NRPs) play a decisive role in Fejér County.
Access to ERDF funding is important for Fejér County because the Central Transdanubia region lost nearly
10% of per capita GDP in the 2008-2009 period. The number of jobseekers grew significantly (especially in the south-east of the County). Several important high-tech companies, which attract suppliers and innovation to the County (e.g. Philips) have moved out. Development of the TEN-T (Trans-European Transport
Network) has slowed down (Székesfehérvár western bypass, Seregélyes-Szabadegyháza bypass, upgrading
Székesfehérvár railway station). Revitalisation of the Séd-Gaja-Nádor system has also ground to a halt.
Research infrastructure is not being developed as planned, at the same time the county council is being stretched to the limits in the fields of health care (Saint George Hospital, as former owner and operator), archiving and education. However, significant progress has been made in the field of environmental protection, waste management and sewage. Sewer systems in Székesfehérvár together with protection for
Lake Velencei and sensitive water resources are almost complete. Fejér County therefore expects ERDF funding to be used in support of further infrastructure projects, links between national logistical hubs, public transport and intermodality, dynamic improvements to environmental conditions, and effective involvement in the Danube strategy. We need to restore the county's capacity to attract capital and to obtain research and development funding, something that it has already proven its ability to do in the mid-90s.
In Fejér County, the ESF supports and helps to ensure growth in employment and employee mobility. Our aim is to get back to 2008 levels at least, by reducing the school dropout rate in vocational education to 10%, providing special support for young people beginning their careers and women, as well as the Roma and deprived households (particularly in the Sárbogárd and Enying districts).
The EAFRD is of great importance in Fejér County as the best arable land in the country is situated here.
Agriculture has remained competitive. We are also aware of our responsibilities in mitigating the effects of climate change. We feel it is possible to make greater use of irrigation, with intensive smallholdings and orchards, and harvesting of local products, more which should be brought to market. We are paying more attention to preventing soil erosion and set-aside of agricultural land. We support farmers and local authorities who feel it is important to improve quality and quantity objectives in livestock farming.
Fisheries and aquaculture are viable in Fejér County. We are making water management and existing aquaculture more competitive (Rétimajor, Lake Velencei, Danube, fishponds).
2) Does your regional or local authority have investment needs that differ from the Europe 2020-related 11 thematic objectives 6 defined in the Common Provisions Regulation or from the investment priorities defined in your country's National Reform Programme? Please give some examples.
Like most other Hungarian local and regional authorities, the responsibilities of Fejér County Council have changed. Its main tasks are to coordinate projects and ensure a consistent level of public services, to promote
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You can have a look at the 11 Thematic Objectives in Annex I of the EC working document, these are: Strengthening research, technological development and innovation; Enhancing access to and, use and quality of information and Communication technologies; Enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs, the agricultural sector (for the EAFRD) and the fisheries and aquaculture sector (for the EMFF); Supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all sectors; Promoting climate change adaptation and risk prevention and Management; Protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency; Promoting sustainable transport and removing bottlenecks in key Network infrastructures; Promoting employment and supporting labour mobility;
Promoting social inclusion and combating poverty; Investing in education, skills and lifelong learning; Enhancing institutional capacity and ensuring an efficient public Administration
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- 4 - innovation and employment at regional level, to support rural development, and to ensure that small and medium enterprises have access to information. Among the 11 thematic objectives, we would particularly like to emphasise the following:
Because of the central location of Fejér County and because of the radial road and rail network centred on
Budapest it is vital to develop public transport, particularly in the Sárbogárd and Enying districts, where there are many settlements on branch lines or on dead-end roads. With regard to thematic objectives we feel it is particularly important for Fejér County to become involved in the Danube strategy. We are making efforts to curb demographic decline, to promote the coexistence of older and younger generations, and to retain a young and skilled labour force. We recommend using the thematic objectives to support these efforts. We would like the thematic objectives to include tourism and nature conservation (for example by protecting beautiful landscapes in our county such as Lake Velencei, the areas along the River Danube,
Sárrét, the Váli Valley, the Bakony Hills and Vértes). We would like these landscapes to be supported in such a way as to enhance their social value without undermining their conservation value. In our opinion the
11 thematic objectives should include stronger support for small and medium enterprises in adapting to domestic and multinational companies, while overcoming the Hungarian dual economy. This is particularly important in the food processing, services and civil engineering sectors. With regard to integrated urban development strategies and public services in cities and their surroundings, greater support is needed for areas with joint taxation and public transport fare structures, and for the development of conurbations.
3) Each Member State is due to submit its partnership contract to the European Commission for adoption within 3 months of the adoption of the CSF. How do you expect your future partnership contract to be drawn up at national level?
The Economic Affairs Ministry and the Hungarian government have drawn up a National Implementation
Plan for the National Reform Programme. As far as we know the Medium-term Microeconomic Forecast was based on the Convergence Programme. The latest version of the Széll Kálmán Plan ensures that the provisions of the deficit objective will be met. The second round of public consultation has begun, and national commitments are now well known (raising the employment rate to 75%, increasing research and development expenditure to 1.8% and the share of renewable energy sources to 14.6%, 10% greater energy efficiency, capping greenhouse gas emissions to a maximum 10% increase compared to 2005, increasing the percentage in the 30-34 age group with tertiary education or equivalent to 30.3%, reducing the percentage of school dropouts in the 18-24 age group to 10%, cutting the number of persons living in poverty by 500 000).
We feel it is of great importance to support employment and labour market policies, to develop vocational education systems and healthcare, to reduce the number of persons living in poverty, and - especially in
Fejér County - raise the number of persons with IT qualifications.
4) How can a closer interaction between the Horizon 2020 and the CSF be achieved practically at the regional level?
Fejér County has well-established cooperation between chambers of commerce and industry, the Hungarian
Academy of Sciences, colleges and universities, multinational and domestic companies involved in the innovation and technology transfer, as well as small and medium enterprises. In Fejér County support is needed for the agricultural sector, rural development, spatial information, innovation in the field of public transport and municipal services, and intelligent local infrastructure. We also need to ensure integration of the development and management of cities and their surroundings into European systems, and pay more attention to adopting European TDM values.
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5) What role will and can the CSF funds play in enhancing access, use and quality of information and communication technology for meeting the Europe 2020 targets in this field. How do you see the relationship between public and private investments in this area?
In order to meet Europe 2020 targets, the CSF funds play a very important part in making information and communication technologies more accessible and enhancing their quality and use. We agree with the
Committee of the Regions' Commission for Territorial Cohesion that this objective should be enshrined in partnership agreements. When selecting thematic objectives in the summary analysis of the preliminary assessment of programmes, and also at national level, it is important to ensure the availability of electronic systems for the exchange of data. In addition, the full exchange of information should be possible between beneficiaries and organisations responsible for managing and monitoring programmes. If possible, such information should be exchanged exclusively through electronic channels. When establishing preliminary conditions, it is very important that local and regional authorities should be able to work together with the
Member States on evaluating programmes and objectives, and that they should be able to access information and communication technologies at the different levels of governance, together with contributing bodies in the case of shared tasks. We feel that Hungary lacks a joined-up approach to monitoring public and subsidised private-sector investments - we need even distribution throughout the regions, with account being taken of the interplay between different projects. The different levels of government, chambers of commerce and industry, local and regional governments, together with monitoring bodies, need to ensure that information and communication links between them, and organisations set up by the Ministry for
Development are accessible, public and transparent, at the same time as ensuring the requisite security.
There is adequate visual presentation (in the form of tables, banners, press conferences) of investments from the CSF funds, whereas management of their legacy is often neglected once the desired goal has been achieved or sometimes even in the event of failure.
6) Does the focus on the "Small Business Act" and the shift from providing grants towards new financial instruments sufficiently address the development needs of SMEs in your region?
In analysing the development needs of the region's small and medium enterprises we can draw the following conclusions: Fejér County has seen a reduction in suppliers to small and medium enterprises and sales opportunities; at the same time there is a lack of affordable and flexible credit with reliable conditions. There has been a dramatic decline in the construction and small retail sectors. Despite efforts by the government it is difficult for local products to access markets. We believe it a shift of focus in the new financial instruments is important; at the same time it is particularly vital to successfully conclude the 2012-2013+ 2 years before beginning the 2014-2020 period. We therefore need to ensure a flexible transition, with the support of financial institutions similar to cooperative and savings banks which have already proved their worth in Hungarian experience and which are close to small and medium enterprises. This is of vital importance not only in terms of supporting small and medium enterprises but also of employment. We need more targeted rural development and urban planning; at the same time we need to ensure that these activities are more conducive to enabling local products and services to reach local users and to be competitive.
Stronger support is needed for the development of clusters.
7) What role do you see for the CSF funds with regard to the Europe 2020 target on shifting towards a lowcarbon economy and do you consider the proposed measures to be sufficient for your region?
The Europe 2020 CSF funds support the transition to a low-carbon economy. However, even though we
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- 6 - agree with the "think global, act local" principle, this is not just a matter for the European level, nor does it just concern the regional level, here in Fejér County. Our county is lagging behind in developing an energy mix to reduce dependency on energy exports and curb carbon emissions. We see the main potential in the use of biomass originating from the agricultural sector and sewage, alongside solar energy in large cities.
We are in favour of solutions enabling associations of farmers, small and medium enterprises and residents to benefit from energy income with the support of the Hungarian State. Public transport, an intermodal approach and innovative fuels require a well thought-out change of course, and fares have to be charged on the basis of a country-wide system. Székesfehérvár, Dunaújváros, Mór and Bicské have begun to rethink public transport and ensure integration into suburban transport networks. We support safety inspections on the Paks nuclear power station, which could be necessary be stepped up; the same time we feel it makes sense to make transport, drinking water and food safety measures in the south of the county contingent on these inspections. The programme to insulate public and residential buildings must be continued, with particular efforts to reduce particulate matter and noise caused by traffic. In reviewing development costs it makes sense to consistently apply the "polluter pays" principle. In view of the central location of Fejér
County, we would like to see the development of transport corridors helping to lighten the burden of through traffic on local communities. We need to continue successful programmes to promote environmental habits.
8 ) Which key actions proposed in the CSF will constitute the best tools for environment protection , adapting to climate changes and resource efficiency in your region?
With regard to environmental protection and the CSF, we need to make sure that sewage is collected and treated by the deadlines set by the EU and ourselves. We have identified settlements with inadequate drinking water supplies, and we are supporting action by them. We strongly support a higher level of protection for the four bodies of water in the County. In the County's structural plan and regional legislation, we are pursuing an appropriate approach to protecting agricultural land, sources of drinking water and forests. In the previous sections we have already gone into the details of the relation between energy, public transport and the CSF. It is essential for us to be involved in the Danube strategy. We support agricultural research, with a greater role for drought-resistant crops.
9 ) In your view, how can the CSF funds contribute to the Europe 2020 target in your region with regard to sustainable transport policy?
Fejér County is adjacent to the Budapest conurbation, with major transport corridors passing through the
County. With regard to rail transport, we would like to boost capacities in relation to suburban travel, intermodality and park and ride. We are planning to accelerate development of the Budapest-Lake Velencei-
Székesfehérvár-Boba railway line, and of Székesfehérvár railway station and transport hub. There is an urgent need to integrate the southwest of Fejér County (Sárbogárd, Mezőszilas, Dég) into greater
Dunaújváros (before long-term development of the M8) through renewal of the existing temporary network elements. Transport policy is an important aspect of local economic policies given that we can support local products and employment rates, with less need for transport. Construction of the Székesfehérvár bypass and interchange, the Seregélyes and Szabadegyház bypass on Route 62, and the Route 81 interchange to relieve pressure on Mór must be continued. We are interested in bringing freight and passenger transport back to the
Danube. We are integrating the cycle path around Lake Velencei into the EuroVelo network along the
Danube. It is important that this network includes our national monuments and Gorsium.
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10) In your view, how can the CSF funds contribute to the Europe 2020 target with regard to the employability of job-seekers, re-skilling of workers and labour mobility ? Do the proposals presented in the Commission working document sufficiently cover the necessary actions?
Labour markets and employment policy objectives in Fejér County are consistent with national objectives.
As a first step, we need to achieve 65% employment. We need to curb the emigration of skilled and young workers, and we need to work harder to get women working or to preserve their jobs. An institutional system has been developed for training and retraining. A special programme must be developed for the employment of the Roma and disadvantaged groups, particularly those living on the county borders. We need to work on preventing the decline of provincial universities and colleges in the county.
11) Which active inclusion policies should be supported by the CSF funds in order to achieve the Europe
2020 targets regarding poverty reduction ?
The county's policies to reduce poverty and promote integration are based on a sound economic policy and a broad-ranging social policy encompassing all social groups. Our educational and employment organisations and training centres provide good coverage of the county. Initiatives to integrate the Roma focus on the areas of Ercsi, Sárkeresztúr, Enying, Székesfehérvár and Bicske. We would like the Fejér County development programme to focus more strongly on education and vocational education, public sector employment, churches and charities in order to achieve inclusion. With regard to the EU 2020 strategy and the CSF funds and objectives - particularly in view of the objectives on combating poverty - we are opposed to reducing cohesion funding in the case of non-compliant macro economic indicators at national level. We need new, county-level, more comparable poverty indicators, given that spectacular progress in large cities can distort averages, hiding difficult economic conditions in directly adjacent areas. This particularly applies to the south west part of the county, and it is also true for the "dormitory" towns surrounding major cities which are dependent on decisions by just a handful of multinational industrial companies. Our programmes therefore envisage a key role for self-sufficiency, with local products being distributed locally, and monitoring of the "local authority minimum" at county level. We would like towns and villages with fewer resources or revenue of their own to benefit from developments in public services (high-quality drinking water, pre-schools, schools, catering).
12) Are the institutional capacity measures provided for in the CSF sufficient to facilitate the up-take of CSF funds in your region?
CSF funds will be sufficient, provided that we are vigilant not only in preparing for the 2014-2020 period, but also in ensuring optimal completion of the 2012-2013+2 years period; if necessary this could involve facilitating access and simplifying administrative procedures for applicants. For each town and project in
Fejér County we need to take into account projects which have failed or not paid out and which are based on the programme set out in the Action Plan. We need to complete a review to identify the level we would like to reach during the 2013+ 2 years period, and we need to define responsibilities while ensuring transparency and monitoring. In developing the institutional system we need to look at different ways of coordinating county councils, regional organisations, different government levels, businesses and beneficiaries in general.
The best way to achieve results is through an institutional system which takes into account the regional impact of major national developments and which align regional and county operational programmes with national programmes in the fields of employment, climate protection, energy and combating poverty. Fejér
County institutions can be effective if they pursue a consistent development policy, aware of the position
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- 8 - and role of those institutions in developments in Hungary, the Carpathian Basin and Europe. Instead of a separate approach to infrastructure projects, regional operational programmes, rural development, tourism and LEADER, we need to pursue an integrated approach which takes into account the interactions between these different areas. If we can do this while taking local interests into account our institutions can contribute to national and European objectives.
13) Do you wish to add any further comments or suggestions ?
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Background information: the Commission Staff Working Document
Elements for a Common Strategic Framework 2014 to 2020
On March 14, the European Commission published elements for the Common Strategic
Framework 2014 to 2020 for the future use of the ERDF, ESF, EAFRD and the EMFF.
The purpose of the Staff Working Document is to set out the main elements of the CSF:
 for each of the thematic objectives set out in the proposal for the Common Provisions
Regulation,
 the main Europe 2020 targets and policy objectives that should be addressed by Member
States in their Partnership Contracts, closely linked to their National Reform Programmes,
 and key actions, corresponding to investment priorities and Union priorities, which are expected to generate the greatest impact on growth, jobs and sustainability during implementation of the programmes;
 the linkages with the governance process of the European Semester;
 the coordination and integration of the CSF Funds;
 horizontal principles and policy objectives for implementing the CSF Funds;
 the development of Partnership Contracts and programmes to address the territorial challenges of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth;
 priorities for cooperation activities.
The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) assigns clear objectives to these instruments for economic, social and territorial cohesion.
In this context, the CSF funds have a central role to play in supporting measures in the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy in the Member States, regions and local authorities, outlined inter alia in the National Reform Programmes and - where appropriate - the country specific recommendations.
Within this framework the funds can make an important contribution to bringing about necessary structural changes and help to close gaps in relation to the headline targets of the Europe 2020 strategy.
The CSF should increase coherence between policy commitments made in the context of Europe
2020 and investments on the ground.