The European Structural and Investment Funds & the defence sector

The European Structural and Investment Funds & the defence sectorPaul Anciaux,

Helsinki,25 March 2014

Structure of the presentation

1. Setting the scene 2. Cohesion policy 2014-2020 – key features3. Support to SMEs & (regional) clustering4. Next steps5. Links

Setting the sceneCommunication Defence & Security Sector, July 2013"The Commission will use tools designed to support SMEs for the

needs of defence-related SMES. To this end the use of European

Structural and Investment Funds may also be considered"

European Council Conclusions, December 2013"The European Council welcomes the Commission proposals to

promote greater access of SMEs to defence and security markets and

to encourage strong involvement of SMEs in future EU funding

programmes…Supporting regional networks of SMEs and strategic

clusters is critically important"

2014-2020: €500 billion to invest in growth & jobs

Investing in all regions

ESIF in support of EU industrial policy

• Innovation: ERDF can stimulate investments in new technologies and innovation, including in areas of KETs and Advanced Manufacturing

• Access to markets: ERDF will finance programmes to help SMEs increase their internationalisation

• Access to finance: EU financial instruments funded by the ERDF can facilitate access to finance for businesses, in particular for SMEs

• Human capital: ESF can finance training programmes (re-skilling)

Focus of investments - 11 thematic objectives

Thematic concentration

Pre-conditions for funding

ERDF - Dual use eligibility

• Where investments are "dual-use" in nature (so that the resulting infrastructure is available both for military and civilian operators), the Structural Funds can provide financial assistance.

• However, such assistance can be provided only with a view to assisting the attainment of the civilian objectives

European Social Fund (ESF)

Fully in line with the Europe 2020 strategy• Promoting employment & supporting labour

mobility• Investing in education, skills & life-long learning• Promoting social inclusion & combating poverty • Enhancing institutional capacity & efficient public

administration

European Territorial Cooperation

Financed by the ERDF

Budget 2014-2020: €10.2 billion• Cross-border cooperation: INTERREG A• Transnational cooperation: INTERREG B• Interregional cooperation: INTERREG C

Focus on results

Programming 2014-2020

Regulations

Partnership Agreements

Operational Programmes

Adopted December 2013 First half of 2014 Within mandate of current Commission (except ETC)

Promote more civ-mil cross-fertilisation through different EU instruments

European Strategic Cluster Partnerships

ESCPs can help to exploit dual-use synergies. Aim to develop common international strategy and tackle obstacles for SMEs.

First organised on voluntary basis, without any EC funding

COSME will finance establishment of some ESCPs, aiming at various sectors. Call for proposals in 1st half of 2014. Budget: €2.25 million

Promote more civ-mil cross-fertilisation through different EU instruments

Enterprise Europe Network (EEN)

>600 EEN Partners provide advice on R&D and innovation, partnership and brokerage services, access to finance, advice on public procurement and legal mattersEEN Sector Groups also offer considerable potential for supporting SMEs in dual use sectors

Promote more civ-mil cross-fertilisation through different EU instruments

Networking & guidance

Facilitate regional networking, in particular on smart specialisation strategies, through workshops and seminars => European Network of Defence-related Regions.

Prepare guidance to clarify eligibility rules for dual use projects under ESIF, and other programmes (COSME, H2020) by summer 2014.

Next steps

Prepare a Roadmap on the implementation of the Defence Communication by summer 2014

Report back to Council by June 2015

LinksRegional policyhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/what/future/index_en.cfm

COSMEhttp://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/initiatives/cosme/index_en.htm

Enterprise Europe Networkhttp://een.ec.europa.eu/

DG Enterprise & Industry – defence industrieshttp://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/sectors/defence/index_en.htm

Thank you for your attention!