Meeting of the Directors General

1. Meeting of the Directors General • responsible for EU Cohesion Policy (regional policy), territorial and urban development • 3-4 November, Warsaw

2. Meeting of Directors General responsible for EU Cohesion Policy (regional policy), territorial and urban development • Main objectives of the meeting: • Prepare the informal meeting of Ministers (24-25 November 2011) • Discuss draft of the Conclusions on the future Cohesion Policy - Towards an integrated, territorially differentiated and institutionally smart response to EU challenges

3. Draft Conclusions on the future Cohesion Policy – the objective of the document • Based on discussions at the meeting, and the degree to which there is an agreement, there are two possibilities: • Present the whole text or some agreed parts to the ministers for approval • Treat the proposed Conclusions only as Presidency document and as the basis for the discussion among Directors General • Conclusions neither prejudge the positions of the Member States on the legislative package for Cohesion Policy and other EU policies, nor are they legally binding

4. Draft Conclusions on the future Cohesion Policy – the method of work Delegations are asked to: • Decide about the type of the Conclusions • Share their position on issues presented in the Conclusions, which can be accepted and forwarded to the informal ministerial meeting for the approval of the Ministers, in particular regarding: 1) Main political messages on the future of Cohesion Policy (Chapter I) 2) Strengthening an integrated territorial approach to development policies (Chapter II) Part II.1 Results-oriented approach Part II.2 Territorial dimension of EU policies (+ Roadmap towards promoting and enhancing integrated, territorial approach) Part II.3 The need to enhance institutional capacity in order to deliver genuine strategic and an integrated approach • Comments received so far: EC, DK, PT,

5. Draft Conclusions on the future Cohesion Policy - context of the document The context of the Conclusions: • the so far long debate on the future of Cohesion Policy and other EU policies • the debate organized under the successive Presidencies • the discussion on High-Level Group on the Future of CP and the Conditionality Task Force • the Fifth Cohesion Report • consultations with regional and local actors, civic society and other stakeholders organized by the EC • extensive evaluation research and the contributions of independent experts and policy-makers

6. Draft Conclusions on the future Cohesion Policy - structure of the document The structure of the document: • Chapter I - addressing the future reform of CP in the framework of just published legislative package for this policy • Chapter II - based on the intergovernmental debate about the role of an integrated and territorial approach to development, where special attention is paid to cities and to the follow-up to the TA 2020 • MAIN POLITICAL MESSAGES ON THE FUTURE OF COHESION POLICY • STRENGTHENING AN INTEGRATEDTERRITORIAL APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT POLICIES II.1 Results-oriented approach II.2 Territorial dimension of EU policies II.3 The need to enhance institutional capacity in order to deliver genuine strategic and an integrated approach ATTACHMENTS • Roadmap towards promoting and enhancing integrated, territorial approach based on the Territorial Agenda of the European Union 2020 • The Reference Framework for Sustainable Cities (RFSC) – Outline of the dissemination phase

7. I.MAIN POLITICAL MESSAGES ON THEFUTURE OF COHESION POLICY – main messages Support for the proposals which strengthen an integrated approach to development, notably: • better coordination between the EU Funds (ERDF, ESF, CF, EAFRD, EMFF) through a common regulatory framework • enhanced strategic programming through a CSF, PC and OPs • a greater emphasis on performance and a more results-oriented approach • instruments for territorial development such as Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI), Community-led local development • reinforcement of the urban dimension • a commitment to partnership and multi-level governance

8. I.MAIN POLITICAL MESSAGES ON THE FUTURE OF COHESION POLICY – main messages However, various issues require further clarification and discussion, notably: • ensuring that the design and implementation of CP recognises the diversity and different starting points of EU regions providing adequate flexibility for programme strategies • strengthening urban-rural linkages, polycentric development, cross-border agglomerations, functional urban areas (city-regions, metropolitan areas), etc. • maximising the possibility for the funds to be jointly used to finance programmes • ensuring that the new proposals (for improving performance, and for financial management and control) do not create additional administrative burdens • ensuring that MS and regions should remain the main programming and management actors of CP

9. Draft Conclusions on the future Cohesion Policy II.STRENGTHENING AN INTEGRATED TERRITORIAL APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT POLICIES The debate on territorial issues has been pursued through two inter-related and mutually reinforcing processes: • first, within formal decision-making processes (involving EC, MS, EP, CoR, EESC), and • second, through intergovernmental fora and activities (i.e. organized meetings, seminars, conferences debates between Ministers during successive Presidencies) The following conclusions summarise the results of the debates in the second strand

10. II.1 Results-oriented approach – main messages • There is no single, uniform path of growth (universal approach to policy design) applicable to different types of territories. • In order to achieve better results resources must be concentrated • Particular attention should be paid to the relationship between territories with specific features (e.g. functional, urban, urban-rural, macro-regional or cross border areas) • Conditionalities must be directly associated with the goals of a policy and its performance

11. II.1 Results-oriented approach – main messages • A results-oriented approach requires the evidence base to be strengthened and the results of evaluation to be used as an integral part of programming and implementation • A need for: 1) a comprehensive system of relevant indicators sensitive to the different types of territories, potentials and growth pathsand 2)more selectivity in the design and selection of indicators to ensure the effective monitoring and evaluation of policy interventions and adequate political ownership and accountability of results

12. The territorial approach to development could be an effective way to achieve European goals A systematic discussion on the issues related to the territorial approach is required at the highest political level (both within the Council and the informal meetings) CSF should provide strategic guidance for the joint planning of all relevant EU policies, instruments and actions The Territorial Agenda 2020 should be used to ensure better coordination of EU policies, in particular under the CSF A need to incorporate territorial diagnosis into the process of formulation and review of partnership contracts, programmes, local plans and key projects II.2 Territorial dimension of EU policies – main messages 12

13. The publication by the EC of a White Paper on the territorial dimension of EU policies Future territorial instruments should remain simple and flexible Local development should be considered as a process that seeks to balance strategic, top-down objectives and bottom-up ones within an international context Cities should be seen as service providers, transport hubs and the place of concentration of critical mass for scarce public resources. A need for tailored policy interventions at European, national, regional and local levels which take into account the specific characteristics of places (both the types of cities and their growth potentials and needs) II.2 Territorial dimension of EU policies – main messages 13

14. Goal: to facilitate introduction of the territorial approach to EU policies, to ensure better coordination of EU policies, inparticular under the CSF Content & structure: actions to be implemented in the first table – resulting from TA2020 in the second table – related to Cohesion Policy Issues to be discussed: The status of the Roadmap Commitment of MS and redistribution of diffrent actions The role of the Commission Roadmap towards promoting and enhancingan integrated, territorial approachbased on the TA2020 14

15. First tableActions related to TA2020 implementation 15

16. Second table Actions related to Cohesion Policy in reference to TA2020 and CP package 16

17. It is necessary to build institutional capacity at all levels of managementin the formulation and delivery of policy on the basis of their ability to face global challenges The establishment and expansion of various forms of partnership (exchange of knowledge and good practices, empowering actors and increasing the ownership of policy choices) Enhancement of the possibilities for networking and mutual learning between partners II.3 The need to enhance institutional capacity in order to deliver a genuine strategic and an integrated approach 17

18. ESPON should ensure widespread use of territorial evidence-based responses and comparable data on regions and cities, also in the form of short term analytical deliveries to key policy processes URBACT should be further developed and better coordinated with other EC initiatives such as the urban development platform or the innovative actions The future URBACT programme should be open to all cities interested in networking II.3 The need to enhance institutional capacity in order to deliver a genuine strategic and an integrated approach 18

19. NTCCP & UDG - possibility of elaborating a common agenda of work to be implemented by both networks, within the terms of their respective mandates and arrangements Stronger linkages should be introduced between NTCCP/UDG and TCUM through joint and systematic meetings on areas of common interest, especially related to the implementation of issues relevant for Europe 2020, the Territorial Agenda of Europe 2020 and CP II.3 The need to enhance institutional capacity in order to deliver a genuine strategic and an integrated approach 19

20. Testing phase showed that RFSC can be a useful instrument stimulating the dialogue on sustainable urban development among cities and can help to apply an integrated approach March/April 2012  the finalisation of RFSC Need for clarification about the futureDissemination phase Member States and stakeholders invited to express the level of commitmentas proposed in the Attachment The Reference Framework for Sustainable Cities (RFSC) – Outline of the dissemination phase 20