Welcome to the Committee of the Regions European Union DIRECTORATE E THOMAS WOBBEN The CoR views on the future development of territorial co- operation.

Welcome to the

Committee of the Regions

European Union

DIRECTORATE E

THOMAS WOBBEN

The CoR views on the future development of territorial co-operation in the European Union

Jurmala, 14.06.2012

The CoR – short overview

The case for territorial co-operation

The views of the CoR regarding territorial co-operation

Practical steps towards mainstreaming interregional co-operation

Europe 2020 and interregional co-operation

Scope of the presentation

The Committee of the Regions

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Advisory body (art. 305 et seq.TFEU), political assembly of the EU, representing local and regional authorities

Created by Maastricht Treaty in 1993

344 members (plus 344 alternates), proposed by Member States, formally appointed by the Council, five-year renewable term of office

Five plenary sessions per year

Six thematic commissions

The CoR – short overview (1)

PR

OP

OSA

L

CO

DE

CIS

ION

CONSULTATION => OPINION

CONSULTATION

The CoR – short overview (2)

European Commission European Parliament Council of the EU

DE

CIS

ION

European Economic &Social Committee

The Case for interregional co-operation

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Globalisation and European integration:

Global challenges: Economic globalisation, demographic change, migration flows, climate change, energy.

European integration: EU enlargement, Single Market EMU and EURO area, enlargement of the Schengen area, Lisbon Treaty.

Localisation: Single territories are directly faced with challenges and have access to opportunities of a larger magnitude and which requires pooling of resources.

The case for territorial co-operation

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Multi-level governance and subsidiarity:

National policies have less of an influence on economic and regional development.

More responsibilities for Regional and Local Authorities in the European Union policies.

Institutional changes in the Member States: devolution, decentralisation and reform of federalism.

The case for territorial co-operation

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The public expenditure goes sub-

national: The LRA are the source of 60%

of public investment in the EU Their responsibilities are

increasing for sustainable development and services to be provided to the citizens

The case for territorial co-operation

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In order to deliver effective policy, we need to:

Address optimal functional areas of intervention, which cross the traditional administrative boundaries and national frontiers;

Group authorities from different institutional level and nationality, responding to variable composition of needs and blend of competencies;

Therefore, to foster territorial cooperation across and beyond the European Union.

The case for territorial co-operation

The Commission Proposal on Territorial Co-operation and on mainstreaming

territorial co-operation

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68,7%

11,6%

15,8%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

119,2

72,4

307.1

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Budget allocation (in %)

Population covered(in millions)

Less developed regions/MS Transition regions More developed regions

Cohesion Fund¹ 68.7

Less developed regions 162.6

Transition regions 38.9

More developed regions

53.1

European Territorial Cooperation

11.7

Outermost regions and sparsely populated areas

0.9

Total 336.0

¹ €10 billion from the Cohesion Fund will be allocated to the Connecting Europe Facility

Proposed funding for Territorial Co-operation

• Crossborder

European Territorial CooperationEuropean Territorial Cooperation

• Transnational

European Territorial CooperationEuropean Territorial Cooperation

• Interregional

EurEuropean Territorial Cooperationopean Territorial Cooperation

Draft General Regulation (Art. 87)

2. An operational programme shall set out:

(c) the contribution to the integrated approach for territorial development set out in the Partnership Contract, including:– (v) the arrangements for interregional and

transnational actions with beneficiaries located in at least one other Member State;

Draft ERDF Regulation Art. 3

Scope of support from the ERDF

1. The ERDF shall support:• (d) development of endogenous potential by

supporting regional and local development and research and innovation. These measures shall include:– (iv) networking, cooperation and exchange of

experience between regions, towns, and relevant social, economic and environmental actors;

The CoR Position on Territorial Co-operation

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CoR Opinion on Territorial Co-operation

DRAFT OPINION of the Committee of the RegionsRapporteur: Mr Osvald (CZ/PES)

“PROPOSAL FOR A REGULATION ON EUROPEAN TERRITORIAL COOPERATION”

• “agrees that interregional cooperation should aim to reinforce the effectiveness of cohesion policy by encouraging exchange of experience between regions and by harnessing the results of this exchange under the Growth and Jobs objective. The Committee feels that this exchange of experience should be broad-based and that its role should not be limited to complementing FP7”

• welcomes the endeavour to improve coordination between European Territorial Cooperation programmes and other cohesion policy instruments

• Adoption planned at CoR Plenary at 18./19.07.2012

Schneider Opinion on the future of cohesion policy

• “suggests that European cohesion policy could be used as a key tool for involving local and regional authorities in implementing the Europe 2020 strategy as part of this territorial pact. Steps should be taken, in all areas supported by European cohesion policy, to enable "territorial pacts" to be used to mobilise key local stakeholders to achieve the priorities and headline targets of the Europe 2020 strategy;

• to this end, advocates developing additional rules, within the framework of the cohesion policy objectives, that will allow local and regional authorities to play an active role in achieving the Europe 2020 strategy's growth priorities and headline targets as part of their operational programmes;

• proposes organising networking and exchanges of information between local and regional authorities in the context of the "European territorial cooperation" objective, with a view to achieving the Europe 2020 strategy's priorities and headline targets, making use of the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation scheme if appropriate.”

• OPINION of the Committee of the RegionsRapporteur: Dr Michael Schneider, State Secretary for Federal and European

Affairs (DE/EPP)CONTRIBUTION OF COHESION POLICY TO THE EUROPE 2020 STRATEGY

The Europe 2020 challenge for Interregional Co-operation

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1. Employment – 75% of the 20-64 year-olds to be employed

2. R&D / innovation – 3% of the EU's GDP (public and private combined) to be

invested in R&D/innovation 3. Climate change / energy

– greenhouse gas emissions 20% (or even 30%, if a satisfactory international agreement can be achieved to follow Kyoto) lower than 1990 , 20% of energy from renewables and 20% increase in energy efficiency

4. Education – Reducing school drop-out rates below 10% – at least 40% of 30-34–year-olds completing third level

education (or equivalent) 5. Poverty / social exclusion

– at least 20 million fewer people in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion

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The Europe 2020 targets

Employment Rate 20 - 64

Early School leavers

Population aged 30-34 with a tertiary education

Total expenditure on R&D

The European Grouping of Territorial co-operation

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Engagement of the CoR regarding EGTC

Political impulse2 own-initiative opinions about EGTC, 2008 and 2011

Sharing experience Expert Group, then EGTC Platform

Information and debate Joint consultation in 2010

Workshops and stands during the Open Days3 studies and annual report since 2010

Public registry of EGTC Art. 5 of Regulation (EC) 1082/2006

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The EGTC a useful tool to face financial crisis?

Its it integrated by all the EGTCs existing, the EGTCs in constitution, experts and different organisations of support

Open to other cross-border structures. Launched the 28 January 2011 in Brussels Online forum www.cor.europa.eu/egtc Contact: [email protected]

The EGTC Platform

Thank you for your attention