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EUROPEAN COMMISSION

EUROPEAN COMMISSION. Territorial Co-operation in 2007-2013 Territorial Co-operation Unit DG Regional Policy West Sussex, 17 October 2006. Main points. Legal Framework and Financing Programme areas and structure Content and topics Programme management Next Steps. Regulations 2007-2013.

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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  1. EUROPEAN COMMISSION Territorial Co-operationin 2007-2013Territorial Co-operation UnitDG Regional PolicyWest Sussex, 17 October 2006

  2. Main points • Legal Framework and Financing • Programme areas and structure • Content and topics • Programme management • Next Steps

  3. Regulations 2007-2013 • Council common position agreed on 12/6 and approved by Parliament on 4/7 • 3 Council Regulations approved on 5 July 2006 - ERDF – (EC) No 1080/2006 - ESF – (EC) No 1081/2006 - EGTC (EC) No 1082/2006 • and 2 on 11 July 2006 - General Regulation – (EC) No 1083/2006 - Cohesion Fund – (EC) No 1084/2006 • Entry into force on 1/8/2006

  4. Regulations 2007-2013 • Letter sent by EC on revised allocations per MS • COM will ask MS whether they want to make use of flexibility (up to 15%) and how much they will allocate to each programme • List of eligible cross-border areas to follow in the autumn [Community Strategic Guidelines adopted on 6 October by the Council]

  5. European Territorial Co-operation Financing • From a Community Initiative to an Objective in its own right • Somewhat higher financing € 5.8 billion → € 8.8 billion

  6. European Territorial Co-operation Financing • Cross-border co-operation 74%* • Transnational co-operation 21%* • Interregional co-operation 5% In addition, interregional co-operation with regions in other Member State will be encouraged in Convergence and Competitiveness programmes Co-financing rate: up to 75% (even 85% for certain programmes) 900 mio € to be transferred from Objective 3 ERDF-allocation from the Member States concerned to the external instruments (ENPI or IPA) *) Flexibility at Member State level: +/- 15%

  7. European Territorial Co-operation Financing

  8. Today 62 cross-border programmes

  9. Regions eligible for cross-border co-operation 2007-2013 More than 50 programmes on internal borders + 12 IPA programmes

  10. Co-operation programmes • Strand A Cross-border co-operation • for solving local problems • include strategic projects, especially along maritime borders • Strand B Transnational co-operation - no longer studies and plans but concrete, strategic projects important for the whole area • Strand C Interregional co-operation - exchange of experiences and best practices to improve regional policy design

  11. Cross-border co-operation: Programme structure • The addition of many maritime borders will change the eligible programme areas considerably • Larger co-operation areas may bring in new innovative projects • As some topics of cross-border and transnational programmes may overlap, especially after the inclusion of many maritime borders, coherence between cross-border and transnational programmes should be ensured already at the programming stage • General approach: reduce the number of programmes whenever possible, as a high number of small programmes and excessive administration costs would not seem sensible

  12. Cross-border programmes essentially local in nature, but include strategic projects at least along maritime borders • Entrepreneurship and SMEs, cross-border trade, tourism and culture • Protection and joint management of the environment • Better access to transport, information and communication networks • Water, waste management and energy management systems • Urban-Rural links • Joint use of health, culture and education infrastructure • Legal and administrative co-operation Important issues in the programming process: • individual programmes should become more focussed • more focussed calls and commissioned projects

  13. Transnational co-operation • 13 programme areas agreed • Allocation principle: national population • More strategic approach, well planned projects coordinated at national level Focus on • Innovation: scientific and technological networks, technology transfer, R&TD and SMEs • Environment: water and coastal management, Prevention of environmental and technological risks, maritime safety • Accessibility: improve access to and quality of transport and telecommunication services • Sustainable urban development

  14. Transnational co-operation • Higher profile programmes • Concrete projects with some investments • Networking, plans and studies only to prepare concrete projects • Some strategic projects developed by the programme, involving both regional and national authorities - some of these projects may be written into the Programming document • Not only open calls for proposal but also focussed calls • Can spend 20% outside the eligible area • Can spend 10% outside the EU, if for benefit of the EU regions

  15. Project ideas • Maritime safety initiative (already initiated by the North Sea programme and now joint for 5 transnational programmes) • Business co-operation and technology transfer between SMEs, research institutes, universities and regional development agencies to improve the competitiveness of the regions • Protection against flooding • Combating environmental threats • Co-operation between coastal ports and towns to improve accessibility and transport interoperability

  16. Two approaches to interregional co-operation • Interregional co-operation under Objective 3 (Territorial Co-operation) • Interregional co-operation encouraged also within Objective 1 (Convergence) and Objective 2 (Competitiveness) programmes

  17. Interregional co-operation programmes foreseen • Thematic interregional co-operation programme focusing on Lisbon and Gothenburg priorities (based on INTERREG IIIC) • Framework programme for the exchange of experiences on urban renewal (developed on the basis of URBACT) • Studies, data collection, observation and analysis of development trends in the Community (developed on the basis of ESPON) • Identification, transfer and dissemination of best practice in management of co-operation programmes (developed on the basis of INTERACT)

  18. Thematic interregional co-operation programme • Strong focus on European priorities: • Innovation and SMEs • Environment and risk prevention • Simple, transparent and consistent programme framework for project applicants • Thematically organised application and selection processes • Systematic analysis of project results and dissemination ensuring easy access to best practice examples for regional policy makers

  19. Interregional co-operation in Competitiveness (Objective 2) programmes • Inclusion of a specific priority for interregional co-operation in Objective 2 (and Objective 1) programmes (optional) • Will allow co-operation between programme regions • Interregional co-operation can cover common topics of the programmes • Each project partner funds own activities from respective programme

  20. Programme management structures: well working and cost-effective Managing Authority (MA) • Good management capacity Joint Technical Secretariat (JTS) • Support the MA (and PMC) effectively and therefore normally located nearby • Provide help and support to projects at all stages • Process applications and organise expert assessments Monitoring Committee • Normally also responsible for project selection

  21. Programme structures to support true co-operation projects of high quality Cross-border and transnational co-operation: • Partners from at least two countries • Fulfill at least 2 of the following 4 co-operation criteria: • joint project development • joint implementation • joint project staff • joint financing

  22. Programme structures to support true co-operation projects of high quality • No pre-allocations to different regions nor Member States participating in the programme • Projects should compete on the basis of quality and relevance • True Lead Partner (LP) projects, where the LP is responsible for implementing the whole project and concludes agreement with MA and with the beneficiaries participating in the operation (project partners) • Mirror projects only exceptionally

  23. Programme structures to support true co-operation projects of high quality • Avoid potential conflicts of interest and apply transparent procedures: • use external experts to make an initial assessments of projects, especially in those cases where the region managing the programme is also applying for a project • the Joint Technical Secretariat should never be involved in managing a project

  24. Lead Partner Principle • Article 20 of ERDF regulation No 1080/2006 • Responsibility for the implementation of the whole project • Signs the contract with the Managing authority • Organises relations among the project partners • Ensures clear lines of responsibility in the event of irregularities -------------------------------------- • For the Commission, this principle offers clear added value for cross-border co-operation • Ensures genuine joint implementation and co-operation • Sufficient financial safety elements are included within the regulations

  25. NEXT STEPS

  26. Next Steps • Discuss programme and management structures with your potential partners • Discuss programme and management structures with the Commission • Think about strategic projects that should be included in the programming document • Involve local, regional and national level as appropriate

  27. Next Steps • Programme preparation must start now – if not already started • Commission has already seen advanced drafts of several programmes • Intention should be to submit formally before the end of the year – ideally in the autumn • Approval and programme launch in early 2007

  28. Thank you for your attention

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