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CROSS BORDER COOPERATION Bulgaria-Greece 2007-13. Experiences, Framework and New Operational Programme. March 2007, Smolyan Angelos SANOPOULOS, Euroconsultants SA. Contents. Contents Cohesion policy 2007-2013 Regional Policy Objectives 1, 2 and 3 Structural Funds in Greece 2000-2013
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CROSS BORDER COOPERATION Bulgaria-Greece 2007-13 Experiences, Framework and New Operational Programme March 2007, Smolyan Angelos SANOPOULOS, Euroconsultants SA
Contents • Contents • Cohesion policy 2007-2013 • Regional Policy Objectives 1, 2 and 3 • Structural Funds in Greece 2000-2013 • Interreg IIIA BG/GR 2000-2006 • The new ERDF regulation • OP CBC BG/GR 2007-13 • The EXINT Database
The framework for cohesion policy 2007-2013 • Cohesion Policy • thematic and geographical concentration, • basic infrastructures, • human capital, and • research and innovation, including access to and strategic use of information and communication technologies. • Up to the Member States to decide on the policy mix, • However the contribution to the growth and jobs agenda is essential.
3 new objectives • 3 Objectives for the Structural Funds • Convergence (new Objective One) • Regional Competitiveness and Employment (new Objective 2) • European Territorial Cooperation (new Community Initiatives)
Objective 1 Convergence • Objective 1 (78% of the budget) • key objective is to stimulate growth potential to maintain and achieve high growth rates • basic infrastructure, • Provision of services to enterprises, particularly SMEs; • Improve access to finance; • Promote RTD and innovation; • Developing human resources; promoting the penetration, dissemination and take-up of ICTs.
Objective 2 Regional competitiveness and employment • Objective 2 (18% of the budget) • Objective is to anticipate and promote economic change by improving the competitiveness and attractiveness of EU regions through investments in • knowledge economy, entrepreneurship, and research, • university-enterprise cooperation and innovation; • access to transport and ICT, energy, and health; • environment and risk prevention; • reinforcing participation in the labour market; and • promoting social inclusion and sustainable communities.
Objective 3 territorial cooperation • Objective 3 (4% of the budget) • Objective is to promote stronger integration of the territory of the Union, in all its dimensions; • reduces the “barrier effects” through cross-border cooperation; • exchange of best practices; • shared development strategies of the territories; • networking of the key stakeholders; • European added value.
The Governance Issue • The issue of governance has different dimensions: • Quality, performance of the public sector and the success of public policies; • Capacity of Member States in managing and implementing the cohesion policy; • Capacities of project holders to develop and implement high-quality projects; • Quality of the partnership between all stakeholders
Interreg IIIA BG/GR 2000-2006 • A short outline: • approved by the European Commission in 2001; • Total Budget of 250 MEURO ERDF, 150 MEURO PHARE • Coordination of PHARE-CBC and ERDF; • large number and diversity of the potential final beneficiaries
Interreg IIIA BG/GR 2000-2006 • Performance until the 31/12/2005: • 1. Cross-border infrastructure: 105 MEURO (68,15%); • 2. Economic development and promotion of employment 0 EUR (0%) • 3. Quality of life /environment / culture 5 MEURO (10,65%)
The New ERDF Regulation • Thematic priorities for Objective 3, CBC: • entrepreneurship, in particular the development of SMEs, tourism, culture, and cross-border trade; • joint protection and management of natural and cultural resources as well as the prevention of natural and technological risks; • links between urban and rural areas; • reducing isolation through improved access to transport, information and communication networks and services, and cross-border water, waste and energy systems and facilities; • collaboration, capacity and joint use of infrastructures in particular in sectors such as health, culture, tourism and education. • legal and administrative cooperation, the integration of cross-border labour markets, local employment initiatives, gender equality and equal opportunities, training and social inclusion, and sharing of human resources and facilities for R&TD.
The New ERDF Regulation • Joint Programmes: • single managing authority; • single certification authority (receiving and making payments to the Lead Beneficiary); • single audit authority; • joint technical secretariat; • representatives from both states in the monitoring committee.
The New ERDF Regulation • Joint Projects: • include beneficiaries from at least two countries, which shall cooperate in at least two of the following ways for each operation: • Joint development, • joint implementation, • joint staffing, and • joint financing.
The New ERDF Regulation • Responsibility of the lead partner: • For each operation, a lead beneficiary; • lay down the arrangements for its relations with the beneficiaries participating; • responsible for implementing the entire operation; • ensure proper expenditure; • check validation by the auditors; • responsible for transferring the ERDF contribution to the beneficiaries participating in the operation.
The New ERDF Regulation • Reporting and Reimbursement: • Pre-financing principle; • Validation by auditor; • ERDF co-financing; • National Financing; • Reimbursement; • Reimbursement cycles and cash flow.
OP CBC BG/GR 2007-13 • Process: • Joint Task Force (MRDPW and MoF) • Drafting Team; • Ex-ante evaluation and Environmental Assessment; • Public presentation (12.02.07); • Submission to the Commission; • Consultation and decision.
OP CBC BG/GR 2007-13 • Objectives: • To Promote the Cross-Border Area by Ensuring Regional Cohesion and Enhancing Competitiveness; • A. Strengthening the Attractiveness of the Area by Upgrading the Quality of Life & Improving Accessibility Structures • B. Enhancing Competitiveness by promoting entrepreneurship, establishing networks of cooperation and investing on human resources.
OP CBC BG/GR 2007-13 • Priority Axis 1: Quality of Life – Upgrading and Management of Environmental & Cultural Assets, Health & Social Issues for the improvement of Quality of Life in the cross-border area and the welfare of its residents. • Priority Axis 2: Accessibility – Improving the transport and communication networks and ensuring an easy and safe circulation of goods, services and people in the cross-border area. • Priority Axis 3: Competitiveness & Human Resources - Stimulating entrepreneurship, investing in human capital and promoting research and innovation so as to increase competitiveness and boost the economic and social development of the cross-border area. • Priority Axis 4: Technical Assistance – Aiming at supporting the overall management and smooth implementation of the Programme.
OP CBC BG/GR 2007-13 • Priority 1, objectives: • protect and promote the rich and diverse natural resources of the area as a vehicle for balanced and economic development • promote cooperation in the cross-border area as regards common water management, waste management and risk management against natural and anthropogenic disasters • promote and protect cultural assets and create cultural links in the cross-border area • establish cooperation on health and social protection issues
OP CBC BG/GR 2007-13 • Priority 1, AoI: • Area of Intervention 1.1: Protection, Management & Promotion of the Environmental Resources; • Area of Intervention 1.2: Protection, Management & Promotion of the Cultural Resources; • Area of Intervention 1.3: Cooperation and Networking on Health and Social Welfare Issues.
OP CBC BG/GR 2007-13 • Priority 2, objectives: • improve the road and railway networks as a means of social and economic development of the cross-border area • ease the safe and undisturbed mobility of goods, services and people in the cross-border area • coordinate infrastructure initiatives at the cross-border area so as to boost its economic activity and ensure balanced spatial development.
OP CBC BG/GR 2007-13 • Priority 2, AoI: • Area of Intervention 2.1: Development of the road & railway network; • Area of Intervention 2.2: Improvement of Cross Border Mobility.
OP CBC BG/GR 2007-13 • Priority 3, objectives: • use the restructuring of the economy as an opportunity for economic and spatial sustainable development • invest on human capital as one of the most valuable resources of the cross-border area for promoting its economic activities • stimulate entrepreneurship and integrate ICT and new technologies to all economic sectors as a vehicle for economic and social cohesion • network research and economic activities so as to integrate innovation in the productive sectors of the economy • foresee proactive initiatives as regards the open labor market to be faced by the cross-border area in a two-years time period
OP CBC BG/GR 2007-13 • Priority 3, AoI: • Area of Intervention 3.1: Support and Valorization of Human Resources – Support of Preparatory Actions in view of the Open Labor Market; • Area of Intervention 3.2: Encouragement of Entrepreneurship & Actions that Cope with the Restructuring of the Economy; • Area of Intervention 3.3: Promotion of Cooperation between research, technological and academic institutions and business organizations.
OP CBC BG/GR 2007-13 • Budget: • Total ERDF: 120 MEURO • Priority Axis 1: 46% • Priority Axis 2: 24% • Priority Axis 3: 24% • Priority Axis 4: 6%