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Final Conference 15 September 2005

LiRa-2: From Vision to Action Charles White Principal Administrator Regional Policy Directorate-General European Commission. Final Conference 15 September 2005. Museum of Science and Industry Manchester, UK. European Cohesion Policy. Presentation to participants at

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Final Conference 15 September 2005

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  1. LiRa-2: From Vision to ActionCharles WhitePrincipal AdministratorRegional Policy Directorate-GeneralEuropean Commission Final Conference 15 September 2005 Museum of Science and Industry Manchester, UK

  2. European CohesionPolicy Presentation to participants at LIRA conference, Manchester 15 September 2005

  3. Four things to remember • This is the second biggest budget of the EU and is the effective arm of other policies (environment, transport, energy…) • This policy has successfully reduced the gaps between the regions in Europe. • It works by investing in people, business, the environment and transport: not through hand outs • It has improved management, governance growth and productivity in all the places it has been applied A European Cohesion Policy Simple message

  4. A short history • After a period of differing practices there were three reforms between 1988 and 2000 • The Commission proposes a fourth one to enable the structural funds to face up to the future: • Greater disparities with enlargement • Achieving growth and sustainable development • the Lisbon and Gothenburg agendas • Globalisation and restructuring • Dealing with ageing population, slower growth The early days

  5. Position now and to end 2006 • 3 Structural Funds: • ERDF: European Regional Development Fund • ESF: European Social Fund • EAGGF: …Agricultural Guidance and… • Financial Instrument for Fisheries (tiny) • Cohesion Fund (based on GNP/GNI) • Pre accession instruments (ISPA, PHARE etc.) • Budget of €37billion p.a. fixed till end of period Money

  6. Position now and to end 2006 • 3 Objectives • Obj 1, biggest budget (69%), widest range • Obj 2, (11.7%) concentrated on job creation • Obj 3, (12.6%) education and training systems • 4 Community Initiatives (4%) • INTERREG • URBAN2 • LEADER+ • EQUAL • Some Innovative Measures (0.7%) • Regional Information Society, Innovation Transfer Mechanisms

  7. Benefits of Community method • Multi annual programming brings objectivity, improved management (North Jutland, Ireland, Mezzogiorno, Basque country) • Partnership principle has improved governance, involvement of civil society (UK, Austria) • Decentralisation means greater responsibilities for the regions, greater confidence • Leverage effect makes EC Euro more effective, encourages greater national investment (Portugal, Sweden) context

  8. Priorities of the reformThree new objectives • Convergence and competitiveness (regions below 75% GDP, statistical effect regions and the Cohesion fund) 78% of budget • Regional competitiveness (former Obj 2&3 with accent on Lisbon/Gothenburg, mainstream URBAN) 18% of budget • Territorial co-operation (all former INTERREG elements with encouragement to mainstream them also in above objectives) 4% of budget Reform of the policy Conclusions

  9. Implementation system:evolution not revolution • We keep the principles which made this policy a success: multi-annual programming, partnership, evaluation, co-finance, shared responsibility We keep the n+2 rule and system of advances • Simplification: • Cut down number of financial instruments: 3 not 6 and single fund programmes only • Clearer division of responsibilities with the sustainable development policy • Reduce the stages of programming (policy document from each MS, operational programmes) • Simplify financial management (priority axes) and controls: introduce proportionality, contracts • More strategic approach: Political discussion in Council, EP opinion, Commission mandate, annual report presented to spring Council Reform of the policy Conclusions

  10. Financial perspectives 2007-2013 • The budget is now about 1.07% of GNI • The Commission proposed 1.21% • Six MS want 1% • Parliament has proposed 1.18% (with Cohesion getting 0.41% of GDP) • Proposed compromise for June Summit was 1.06%, with, for Cohesion Policy: • €307bn (not 336bn): 0.37% GDP (not 0.41%) • Convergence 82% (not 78%) • Competitiveness 15% (not 18%) • Territorial co-operation 2% (not 4%) Financial aspects

  11. Timetable June 2005: (No) Decision by Council on Financial Perspectives July 2005 Draft Community Strategic Guidelines adopted by Commission: public consultation Autumn 2005: - Decision by Council and European Parliament on cohesion policy regulations - Community Strategic Guidelines published - Preparation of National Strategic Reference Frameworks 2006 (?): Preparation of programmes for period 2007-2013 1 Jan 2007: Implementation begins: regime of 12ths if no budget Next stages

  12. The new Strategic guidelines: building in the Lisbon agenda (1) 4.1 Making Europe and its regions a more attractive place to invest and work • Expand and improve transport infrastructures • Improve the environmental contribution to growth and jobs • Address the intensive use of traditional energy sources 4.2 Knowledge and innovation for growth • Increase and improve investment in RTD • Facilitate innovation and promote entrepreneurship • Promote the information society for all • Improve access to finance Priorities

  13. The new Strategic guidelines: building in the Lisbon agenda (2) 4.3 More and better jobs • Attracting and retaining more people in employment and modernising social protection systems • Improving adaptability of workers and enterprises and the flexibility of the labour market • Increasing investment in human capital through better education and skills Priorities

  14. The new Strategic guidelines: building in the Lisbon agenda (3) 5 Taking account of the Territorial Dimension of Cohesion Policy • The contribution of cities to growth and jobs • Supporting the economic diversification of rural areas • Co-operation: cross-border/trans-national/interregional Priorities

  15. I) Expanding and improving transport Infrastructures • International and interregional connections offer higher returns in terms of competitiveness… than small scale regional transport infrastructure • Cohesion Fund focuses on TENs esp. environmentally sustainable transport and urban transport systems • ERDF focuses on growth (tourism, attractiveness etc) a more attractive place…

  16. I) Expanding and improving transport Infrastructures (cont.) • Priority to projects of European interest (in areas eligible under 'convergence') such as • Cross border links (cf trans-national strand of territorial co-operation objective) • Those overseen by a European co-ordinator (which can shorten lapse between planning & building) • Support greater access to rail infrastructure, interoperability, ERTMS systems on board/track • Support Motorways of the sea as alternative to long-distance rail and road • Improve connectivity of land locked territory (TEN-T) • Promote environmentally sustainable urban transport a more attractive place…

  17. IV) Increase and improve investment in RTD • Strengthen co-operation between businesses and between business and public research institutions by • Supporting regional and trans-regional clusters of excellence • Setting up trans-national European technology initiatives • Support RTD activities in SMEs, enable SMEs to access RTD services in publicly funded research institutions • Complement 7th Framework Programme for RTD Knowledge, innovation for growth

  18. IV) Increase and improve investment in RTD Design RTD actions bearing in mind indicators of • Patenting at regional level • Employment/mobility of RTD workers, post-grad students • Geographical location of private/public research institutions • Existence of clusters of innovative businesses Knowledge, innovation for growth

  19. V) Facilitate innovation and promote entrepreneurship (1) • Make regional RTD innovation and education supply more efficient and accessible to firms with poles of excellence, regional clusters. • Ensure business support services, technology transfer, science parks, ICT centres, incubators, clusters, plus more traditional services like management, marketing, technical support, recruitment, other professional and commercial services Knowledge, innovation for growth

  20. V) Facilitate innovation and promote entrepreneurship (2) • Fully exploit European strengths in eco-innovations, introduce environmental management systems (cf FP for Competitiveness and innovation) • Promote entrepreneurship, and the creation of new firms, spin out and spin off for example through • Awareness raising, prototyping • Tutoring, managerial and technological support to entrepreneurs-to-be Knowledge, innovation for growth

  21. (XII) The contribution of cities to growth and jobs • Improve competitiveness of neighbouring cities and balance between strongest regions and rest of urban structure • Rehabilitate physical environment, preserve/develop heritage • Promote entrepreneurship, local employment and community development • Strengthen security, economic social and cultural integration • Fight discrimination • Prepare medium to long term development plan for urban regeneration Territorial cohesion and co-operation

  22. (XIV) Cross border/trans-national/inter-regional co-operation • Closer co-operation should focus on Growth and Jobs Agenda • Actions that contribute to economic and social integration, esp. where there are wide cross-border disparities • Improve existing transport and communication infrastructure Territorial cohesion and co-operation

  23. Bigger challenges in future • Enlargement will widen development gap • Globalisation accelerates restructuring • Effects of technological revolution • Development of the knowledge economy • Achieving the Lisbon/Gothenburg agenda • Ageing population, growing immigration • Slowing economic growth and economic restructuring will increase unemployment • Europe needs a reinforced Cohesion Policy Why a European Cohesion policy? Challenges for The Future

  24. Metro Valencia Why a European Cohesion policy? Challenges for The Future

  25. Tramway Valencia Why a European Cohesion policy? Challenges for The Future

  26. Mobility scheme Limburg Why a European Cohesion policy? Challenges for The Future

  27. Metro Madrid Why a European Cohesion policy? Challenges for The Future

  28. Metro Bilbao Why a European Cohesion policy? Challenges for The Future

  29. Wolverhampton light rail Why a European Cohesion policy? Challenges for The Future

  30. Athens Metro Why a European Cohesion policy? Challenges for The Future

  31. Athens Tramway Why a European Cohesion policy? Challenges for The Future

  32. Athens Suburban Railway Why a European Cohesion policy? Challenges for The Future

  33. Police motorcycles, Spain Why a European Cohesion policy? Challenges for The Future

  34. LiRa-2: The International Network of Light Rail CitiesFrom Vision to Action LiRa-2 Final Conference 15 September 2005 Museum of Science and Industry Manchester, UK

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