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

LiRa-2: From Vision to Action

Charles White

Principal Administrator

Regional Policy Directorate-General

European Commission

Museum of Science and Industry

Manchester, UK

ENENRegional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

European CohesionEuropean CohesionPolicyPolicy

European CohesionEuropean CohesionPolicyPolicy

Presentation to participants at

LIRA conference, Manchester

15 September 2005

Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

33

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion Four things to rememberFour 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

Regional Policy

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A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion A short historyA 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

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55

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion Position now and to end 2006Position 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

MoneyMoney

Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

66

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion Position now and to end 2006Position 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

MechanismsMechanisms

Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

77

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion Benefits of Community methodBenefits 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)

contextcontext

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A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion Priorities of the reformPriorities of the reform

Three new objectivesThree 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

Regional Policy

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99

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion Implementation system:Implementation system:

evolution not revolution 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

Regional Policy

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1010

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion Financial perspectives 2007-2013Financial 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

Financial aspects

Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion TimetableTimetable

June 2005: (No) Decision by Council on Financial Perspectives

July 2005 Draft Community Strategic Guidelines adopted byCommission: 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

Regional Policy

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A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

The new Strategic guidelines: The new Strategic guidelines: building in the Lisbon agenda (1)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

PrioritiesPriorities

Regional Policy

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1313

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion


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


Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

1414

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion


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


Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

I) Expanding and improving transport I) Expanding and improving transport InfrastructuresInfrastructures

• 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…


Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

I) Expanding and improving transport I) Expanding and improving transport Infrastructures (cont.)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



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A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

IV) Increase and improve investment IV) Increase and improve investment in RTDin 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


growth

Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

1818

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

IV) Increase and improve investment IV) Increase and improve investment in RTDin 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


growth


growth

Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

1919

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

V) Facilitate innovation and promote V) Facilitate innovation and promote entrepreneurship (1)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


growth


growth

Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

2020

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

V) Facilitate innovation and promote V) Facilitate innovation and promote entrepreneurship (2)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


growth


growth

Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

2121

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion (XII) The contribution of cities to growth and (XII) The contribution of cities to growth and

jobsjobs

• 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

Territorialcohesion andco-operation


Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion (XIV) Cross border/trans-national/inter-(XIV) Cross border/trans-national/inter-

regional co-operationregional 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



Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion Bigger challenges in futureBigger 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 forThe Future

Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

2424

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion Metro ValenciaMetro Valencia


policy?


Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

2525

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion Tramway ValenciaTramway Valencia


policy?


Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

2626

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion Mobility scheme LimburgMobility scheme Limburg


policy?


Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

2727

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion Metro MadridMetro Madrid


policy?


Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

2828

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion Metro BilbaoMetro Bilbao


policy?


Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

2929

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion Wolverhampton light railWolverhampton light rail


policy?


Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

3030

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion Athens MetroAthens Metro


policy?


Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

3131

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion Athens TramwayAthens Tramway


policy?


Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

3232

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion Athens Suburban RailwayAthens Suburban Railway


policy?


Regional Policy

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

3333

A newpartnership

for Cohesion

A newpartnership

for Cohesion Police motorcycles, SpainPolice motorcycles, Spain


policy?


LiRa-2 Final Conference

15 September 2005

LiRa-2: The International Network

of Light Rail Cities

From Vision to Action

Museum of Science and Industry

Manchester, UK

Final Conference 15 September 2005 LiRa-2: From Vision to Action Charles White Principal Administrator Regional Policy Directorate-General European Commission.

Documents

policy conclusions

new partnership

european parliament

sustainable development

commission mandate

european social fund

fisheries tiny cohesion

regional information