MC Meeting on 23 September 2011 in Brussels NTCCP meeting on 26-27 September 2011 in Warsaw

MC Meeting on 23 September 2011 in BrusselsNTCCP meeting on 26-27 September 2011 in Warsaw ESPON post 2013: Dialogue on Further Progress

Structure of Agenda Point Setting the scene: Key objectives: Smooth Operation, Delegation, Professionalism and Responsiveness State of affairs and ambitions Open Dialogue and Debate: Framing the Content: Programme Strategy, Mission, Priorities and Actions, Questionnaire results Operation: Roles, Modalities, Flow of decisions and use of Service contracts Institutional setting: Higher status in Europe, EGTC, Liability share and correctness, Financial contributions from participating countries Steps towards the ministerial meeting in November 2011

Key Objectives Responsibility with the MC as the key deciding body combined with extensive delegation of tasks to the execution of programme activities Professionalism by stronger presence of senior scientific competence and communication capacity within the executive body Responsiveness to policy demand through extensive offer of analytical support to stakeholders at all levels through projects and analytical responses based on ESPON results Modalities adapted to ensuring a smooth operation of the programme by delegation, use of service contracts and enforcing the capacity for delivering support to policy development Maturing the ESPON as an institution and key reference point for evidence on territorial development in Europe

Issues for further clarifications at last MC/NTCCP 1. Which content, priorities and actions should be in the future ESPON post 2013 Programme?  Input Polish Presidency 2. The best way to strengthen the institutional setting of ESPON 2013 including an EGTC structure?  Investigation on the base of existing/future regulation  Identification of by the MC preferred modalities 3. How to share the liability of Member and Partner States when changing to service contract logic placing the liability at programme level?  Common understanding and equilibrium between transparency, control, liability 4. What key for sharing the financial contribution to ESPON post 2013 shall be used for the ESPON post 2013?  Components of a distribution key 5. How shall the Commission participate in a more consolidated European institutional construction?  First indications by the Commissions

State of affairs and ambitions High ambition to present of concrete documents – not possible without new EC Regulation Progress on the content side in co-operation with Polish EU Presidency Clarifications on the best EGTC solution has high level of complexity and is multi-faceted  Confirms that debate has to take place at an early stage in order to give enough time: To explore all aspects To have enough time for in depth exchange To set up the best solution, which needs to be operational the 1 January 2014.  Intention in Autumn 2011 to deepen the constructive dialogue with the ambition to define a Roadmap for the ESPON post 2013

Open Dialogue and Debate Sharpening the rich platform created Supporting common understanding and consensus Enrich clarity for drafting a proposal on ESPON post 2013

Framing the content Framing the roles and modalities Framing the institutional setting

Issue Papers of Polish Presidency Main ambitions directly relevant for the content orientation of ESPON post 2013: Support to the territorial dimension in EU 2020, future Cohesion Policy and Sector Policies EU in the World in territorial terms More focus on cities ESPON Analyses on FUA’s TIA component in EC Assessment system Territorial Monitoring Continuous observation of territorial dynamics from the European level Results from the Polish EU Presidency Questionnaire

Strategic Principles Policy Demand-drive Use of Results Easy Transfer of results Continuity Complementarity Flexibility to policy demand Timing Quality assurance In-house capacity Efficiency Visibility Recognition

Programme Mission “Support evidence-based policy development in relation to EU Cohesion Policy and a harmonious development of the European territory by (1) providing pan-European comparable, periodical indicators and data, facts, knowledge, analyses, foresights and scenarios on territorial dynamics in support of evidence-based and integrated policy development and implementation, (2) revealing territorial potentials for the development of regions and larger territories, as well as options for challenges to be turned into opportunities, in support of strategic programming and a result-oriented policy development, and hereby contributing to the aims of the Europe 2020 Strategy on smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, to EU Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 and to the Territorial Agenda 2020”.

Main areas of Activities Conduct research and analyses resulting in comparable information, evidence, foresights and scenarios on territorial dynamics affecting Europe Monitor and provide evidence on European territorial structures, trends perspectives and policy impacts, territorial capital, potential and challenges Cooperate with and support European Institutions, ERDF financed Programmes, and Authorities at national, regional and local scale with territorial facts, evidence and targeted analyses with a European dimension Stimulate scientific networking, and further development of a pan-European community in the field of European territorial science and research Promote awareness and inclusion of a territorial dimension and a European perspective policy development

Programme Priorities and Actions Priority 1: Territorial Observation, Research, Analyses, Knowledge Support and Capitalisation Applied Research defined by Policy Makers Targeted Analyses defined by Stakeholders Knowledge Support and Capitalisation Scientific Platform, Tools, Database and Indicator Development Monitoring and Periodic Reporting Analytical Responses and Evidence Support Media, Events, Publications and Transnational Capitalisation Priority 2: Technical Assistance

Objectives and Actions of Applied Research Continue building new pan-European evidence based on comparable information Address major territorial challenges facing Europe Provide evidence and suggest policy options for enhancing the territorial dimension in smart, sustainable and inclusive growth Improve the existing EU wide information, refining concepts, indicators, typologies, methodologies Provide evidence through assessment of territorial impacts of policies Improve the knowledge support and use of ESPON results by addressing both detailed geographical scales as well as the larger territorial context of Europe. Cross-thematic and thematic analysis (on territorial dynamics, potentials and challenges) Foresight Analyses and Scenarios (on prospective trends and options) Territorial impact of EU policies (ex ante and ex post)

Objectives and Actions of Targeted Analyses Provide analytical support and evidence to other ERDF financed Programmes based on ESPON results Provide evidence to individual regions, cities and/or larger territories seen from a European perspective, or in a global context Improve the usefulness of ESPON results by exploring new, experimental and innovative options such as (1) foresight analysis of themes of interest for groups of regions, partly based on case studies, (2) methodological frameworks for strategies translating territorial development goals and policy aims into concrete actions and (3) technical, methodological and analytical support to territorial processes Joint Analyses supporting other ERDF funded Programmes Integrated and thematic analysis supporting regions and cities Experimental and innovative actions, including foresights and scenarios

Activities of Knowledge Support and Capitalisation Branding the ESPON 2020 Programme as a European Territorial Observatory Network maximising the position of ESPON as a European reference point Analytical Responses offering evidence support on territorial dimension with short notice to policy processes at different levels Improving further the Scientific Platform by developing and consolidating tools for territorial analyses and the update and development of the ESPON Database and related indicators Regular Territorial Monitoring and Reporting of European territorial dynamics Capitalisation of the ESPON results via media, events and publications, all based on ESPON evidence and results Transnational capitalisation activities as part of the programme capitalisation strategy by the network of ESPON Contact Points

Aspects of Analytical Response Analytical delivery within a close timing to fit a policy development process Policy oriented analyses providing evidence on the territorial dimension based on ESPON results Performed by an analytical capacity of the ESPON EGTC Can be shorter and longer texts and reports Demanded by MC members and the Commission based on proposals voiced in MC meetings ? Delegation to the ESPON EGTC ? Of the total volume at least 50% shall support a territorial dimension in European policy processes ?

The Monitoring Committee Decide yearly Work Programme and Budget Decide on all project themes and activities Participate in Concertation Committee (rotating basis) Approve Terms of Reference Comment on mid-term deliveries Approve the draft Final delivery Participate in “new” Sounding Boards (voluntary basis) Participate in Evaluation of Tenders (obligatory) Support the capitalisation in their country Approve the Annual Implementation Report

The Concertation Committee Ensure policy coherence and perform scientific advice Prepare for MC decisions on project themes and related budget issues Advice on draft Terms of Reference Comment on mid-term deliveries Appreciate the draft Final delivery Set up Sounding Boards involving MC members (voluntary basis) Scientific expertise (external or ESPON staff) Stakeholders and practitioners (optional) Convey meetings with service providers Support Commission Services in including a territorial dimension

The ESPON Contact Point Network Support the capitalisation of ESPON post 2013 Be an integrated part of capitalisation at programme level Focus on transnational and national contexts Check mid-term and/or draft final deliveries for blunders Perform as service providers based on service contracts

Institutional setting Higher European status of ESPON 2013 Programme than today The option of including an EGTC in the institutional setting obtaining a legal status for the programme execution Shared liability at programme level Key for Member and Partner States financial contributions to ESPON post 2013

ESPON OP Possible arrangement of an EGTC solution MA(CA) ex ante control MC, CC First level control AA ESPON EGTC MC/MA as Consultative Committee Assembly of EGTC members ESPON Director and Staff (Service) contracted research/expert groups

ESPON MC-MA-EGTC Relations Fostering the role of EGTC as an executive body of the programme Optimising the level of decision and delegation between MC, MA and EGTC Keeping the balance between checks and liabilities Defining the solution of least administrative burden Ensuring participating countries on equal terms being direct member of EGTC or not Ensuring an institutionally matured appearance of the ESPON to the outside world

EGTC Options investigated MC, MA as before, and the EGTC would be the single beneficiary MC as before, MA would be single beneficiary and delegates the execution to the EGTC (similar to an intermediate body)  Intermediate conclusions of a first review: difference in the potential steering of the EGTC by the MC/MA the necessity in the separating of tasks the administrative efforts However, as details depend much on the formulation of the new SF regulation (to be publish beginning of October): Proceed the discussion on the base of the Commission’s proposal for the regulation 2014-20 Interpretation of the options together with the Commission is a necessity

Main Flows of Decisions in an EGTC solution Relations between MC, MA and EGTC The MC approves a yearly work programme and budget for the ESPON EGTC activities The ESPON EGTC prepares the necessary documents for decision by the MC according to its role The EGTC ensures The execution of the programme activities Involves the CC and ECP network according to their roles Organise meetings with programme bodies The statutory organ, the assembly of the EGTC, convey meetings back to back to MC meetings giving the MC the option to observe The Agreement with the MS defines the Statute and the organisational matters of the EGTC

Why sharing liability at Programme level? Service contract logic requires a different approach to liability as there would only one beneficiary for the whole programme who tenders the service contracts The contractors carrying through the projects in all countries are not beneficiaries The normal logic of sharing liability in a programme by the location of beneficiaries cannot be applied. The beneficiary will be either the MA (with or without executing EGTC body) or the EGTC itself. Therefore a common understanding and an equilibrium between transparency, control and liability is key for the continued ESPON co-operation

Creating the trust necessary for Shared Liability Possible measures ensuring correctness of expenditure in the case of an EGTC Employment of a legal expert in the EGTC (necessary anyway with regards to the public procurement) Four-eye-principle between a legal and budgetary staff adviser within EGTC Regular ex-ante control of expenditure by external body (MA, controller) Quality checks by the MA

Implementing shared liability at Programme level Modalities in the mutual Agreement between MA and participating countries which could read as follows: “Member/Partner States have established appropriate rules to ensure the correctness of expenditure ex-ante and ex-post as by implementing the following measures: [listing of measures inspired by previous slide] The Member/Partner States shall jointly bear liability and the financial consequences in connection with the use of the ERDF funding of the Programme in proportion to national co-financing of the ERDF contribution.”

Financial Contributions to ESPON post 2013 The exact distribution key should be decided after the ERDF allocation is fixed Relevant components to be considered in a calculation model aiming at a sound interpretation of proportionality: Share of the country’s contribution to the EU budget Share of the country regarding the EU GDP Share of country of the total EU population An equal basic contribution by each country

The Commission’s participation Support of countries for a stronger and in formal terms codified role of the Commissions Indications that the Commission might be restricted to observer status in the MC Ways for the Commission to play its role beyond the formal status in the MC Participating in active role in the CC Participating in groups following service providers (updated Sounding Boards) related to projects Supporting capitalisation of ESPON territorial evidence in relevant European policy development

Next steps New Regulations will become public early October 2011 Draft ESPON post 2013 Roadmap including political direction on key elements for elaborating a proposal DG Territorial Cohesion – Warsaw: 3-4 November 2011 Final ESPON post 2013 Roadmap with political direction for drafting a proposal and supporting documents Informal Ministerial – Poznan: 24-25 November 2011 ESPON MC – Krakow: 29-30 November 2011

Thank you for your attention

MC Meeting on 23 September 2011 in Brussels NTCCP meeting on 26-27 September 2011 in Warsaw