MEMO/08/650
Brussels, 22 October 2008
France – Multiregional Operational Programme 20072013: Rhône
1. Multiregional Operational Programme 2007-2013: Rhône –
programme co-financed by the European Regional Development
Fund (ERDF) under the Regional Competitiveness and Employment
objective
2. General information
On 20 December 2007 the European Commission approved a multiregional
Operational Programme for Rhône in France for 2007-2013.
This Operational Programme comes under the Regional Competitiveness and
Employment objective and has a total budget of about 68 million euros. The
financing provided by the European Union under the European Regional
Development Fund (ERDF) amounts to some 34 million euros, representing about
0.2% of Community aid to France as part of the cohesion policy for 2007-2013.
The total level of co-financing for the Competitiveness and Employment objectives of the
Lisbon Strategy amounts to 60% of the ERDF allocation.
3. Purpose and aim of the programme
The strategy of the multiregional Operational Programme is based primarily on:
 regional issues highlighted by identifying and analysing regional potential;
 the Community and national strategic framework establishing the principles for
the allocation of Community funds.
From its source in the Swiss Alps the river Rhône flows into Lake Geneva and then
into France where it passes through Lyon, Vienne, Valence, Avignon and then Arles.
The river has a length of 812 km, including 522 km in France, and flows into the
Mediterranean, for which it provides a quarter of the sea's riverwater input. The
water basin of the river covers 90 000 km² in France, spread over five regions and
21 départements. Often, the river forms the administrative boundary between
regions and départements.
Natural risks, especially flooding, are basic features of this area. The extent of the
water basin means that the hydrometeorological circumstances which cause the
Rhône and its tributaries to flood, and thus pose a significant risk, are complex and
varied. The human settlement which has spread throughout the areas subject to
flooding with resulting efforts to control the river is a major factor involving complex
problems when it comes to managing the risk of floods.
The economic vitality of the Rhône valley, which has been a source of steady
population growth and sometimes uncontrolled urban spread, has benefited the
towns along the river and also agriculture. This economic development followed
regulation work along the river and coincided with times when there was no major
flooding. This has meant that certain areas, although better protected than in the
past, were still subject to flooding when the river ran high.
Flooding is a major common denominator of the plan for the Rhône and the
diagnosis which has been carried out confirms that the problem affects the whole
basin and requires an interregional approach to flood prevention, based on a joint
effort both upriver and downriver and on both sides of the river.
In addition, taking action on flooding is an element which strengthens the sustainable
development of the area in question and which boosts its competitiveness. The idea
is to support regional development by taking a positive approach to providing better
management of the natural risks which are a feature of the region and to considering
such risks in connection with land use.
This strategy is devised on the basis of interregional partnership which goes beyond
administrative boundaries so that the various authorities involved in the regions in
question can work together to define the methods of risk reduction.
4. Expected impact of the investment
In particular, the Community funding should make it possible to:
 survey and map 33 000 hectares of floodplains by 2013;
 carry out 1 000 diagnostic investigations to identify the extent and causes of
vulnerability to flooding: 30% of the population in areas subject to flooding
should have taken or should be considering taking measures to protect against
flooding;
 adopt four overall management plans covering all the areas concerned by
2013.
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5. Priorities
The Operational Programme is centred on four priorities:
Priority 1: Boosting the competitiveness of areas along the Rhône by
reducing flooding [about 38.5% of total investment]
It is vital to preserve the floodplains, and indeed to recover and make full use of them
by reducing the time they are under water.
Moreover, in order to reduce the risk of flooding as much as possible, the aim is not
to heighten floodwater protection but to promote measures which will allow the river
to drain floodwater. Only an overall approach with regard to the catchment area is
relevant in technical terms, and this will require cooperation both upriver and
downriver and on both sides of the river. This area of action in the present
programme is based on two operational objectives:
 maintaining clearance capacity by means of balanced sediment management;
 managing floods better by making use of their dynamic retention.
Priority 2: Reducing the vulnerability of populations and activities in areas
subject to flooding [about 22% of total investment]
The aim is to use every means to preserve human lives and to reduce the
vulnerability to flooding of the population, goods and activities exposed to major
floods, primarily by not aggravating the current situation by controlling urban
development and by allowing the public or private authorities involved to reduce the
vulnerability of existing facilities.
The joint responsibility of the State and local authorities in reducing vulnerability to
flooding is an integral part of the following three operational objectives:
 making flood prevention part of the sustainable development of the region;
 reducing the vulnerability of flood area inhabitants, property and economic
activities;
 reducing the vulnerability of public services and networks to ensure continuity
of service and lessen damage.
Priority 3: Coping better with risk by involving inhabitants and developing
innovative tools [about 38% of total investment]
Even if significant progress is made in reducing risk or vulnerability, sooner or later
there will be another exceptional event to face. In order to cope with the risk better,
outside these times of crisis, it is better to be prepared through information and
preventive training by developing risk awareness, monitoring the effectiveness of
preventive measures and devising relief plans.
This priority requires the involvement of everyone who is affected by the risk:
 inhabitants of flood areas;
 economic operators;
 those responsible for river and network management;
 those responsible for managing tributaries;
 managing authorities, etc.
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Each of these categories must be the target of different awareness-raising
campaigns which need to be repeated and maintained.
Traditional methods of providing information and communication will be boosted by
information and communication (ICT) technologies which offer new and innovative
prospects. For this priority, as for the first two, innovation will be the key to success.
The aims of the priority will thus be to:
 maintain the involvement of operators;
 acquire new means for everyone to develop an awareness of risk;
 think proactively to provide a better response to crises.
Priority 4: Technical assistance [about 1.5% of total investment]
The aim of this priority is to ensure effective management of the Community funding
for the implementation and monitoring of the programme and its projects by
providing:
 support for the management, monitoring and control system and for the
assessment of the Operational Programme and its projects;
 support for the organisation, communication and publicity in connection with
the programme and its projects.
6. Managing authority: Préfecture de la Région Rhône-Alpes - Lyon,
France
Contact details:
Préfecture de la Région Rhône-Alpes
Secrétariat pour les affaires régionales
31 rue Mazenod
F - 69426 LYON CEDEX
France
Telephone: + 33 4 72 61 64 98
Fax: + 33 4 78 60 41 37
Internet: http://www.rhone-alpes.pref.gouv.fr/
E-mail: sgar@rhone-alpes.pref.gouv.fr
7. Title: Multiregional Operational Programme 2007-2013: Rhône
Type of intervention: Operational Programme
CCI No.: 2007FR162PO026
Decision No.: C/2007/6823
Date of approval: 20/12/2007
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8. Breakdown of funding by priority (EUR)
Priority
EU
contribution
National public
contribution
1. Boosting the competitiveness
of areas along the Rhône by
reducing flooding
13 000 000
13 000 000
26 000 000
2. Reducing the vulnerability of
populations and activities in
areas subject to flooding
7 500 000
7 500 000
15 000 000
12 809 546
12 809 546
25 619 092
500 000
500 000
1 000 000
33 809 546
33 809 546
67 619 092
3. Coping better with risk by
involving inhabitants and
developing innovative tools
4. Technical assistance
Total
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Total public
funding