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Training and Development Programme for future Structural Funds Trainers February 2006

This programme aims to provide training and development opportunities for future structural funds trainers. It focuses on the legislative proposals, political priorities, general principles of the reform, and interventions supported by the Structural Funds.

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Training and Development Programme for future Structural Funds Trainers February 2006

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  1. Training and Development Programme for future Structural Funds Trainers February 2006

  2. Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 …. According to the Commission

  3. The legislative proposals • The legislative proposals are put in place through 5 regulations: • A general regulation, which fixes the main objectives and eligibility rules, for interventions, for programming and for the management of the funds • 3 regulations, ERDF, ESF and the Cohesion Fund, which spitulate the arrangements specific to each fund • A regulation on groupings for European transborder cooperation, which creates a new cooperation tool available to regional and local organisations

  4. The 3 political priorities • The increase in disparities in the context of enlargement leads to concentration of cohesion policy on 3 priorities: • The convergence of countries (GNI < 90% of the average) and regions (regional GDP < 75% of the average) and the regions concerned by the statistical effect, that is 33% of the population of the Union • Regional competitiveness and employment: reinforce attractiveness and ensure that socio-economic changes are anticipated in other regions, without Community zoning • European territorial cooperation: Cross-border, trans-national and inter-regional

  5. Re-orientation of Cohesion Policy based on the priorities of the Union (Lisbon and Göteborg) • Articulation around the 3 pillars of sustainable development: • Competitiveness: innovation, research, educationand Accessibility • Employment and social inclusion • Environment and risk prevention

  6. The general principles of the reform • A more strategic approach based on Union priorities • Budgetary and thematic Concentration • Decentralised andTerritorial approach through greater responsibility for countries, regions and towns • Simplification of management methods • Proportionality and efficiency of control and monitoring

  7. 1. A more strategic approach • Definition of Union priorities in the strategic guidelines established by the Council • Translation by the Member States of these Community prioritiesin a national strategic reference frameworkdecided by the Commission • Operational implementation by means of regional and thematic programmes

  8. 4. Significant simplification • 3 funds in place of 6: ERDF, Cohesion Fund, ESF • A single fund by programme • Integration of projects of the Cohesion Fund in multi-annual programming • Identical management rules for the Cohesion Fund and the Structural Funds • Programming and financial management by priority and no longer by measure • National eligibility rules for expenditures and no longer Community rules

  9. 5. More efficient financial management and control, in the interests of the Community • Clearer share of responsibilities between theCommission and the Member States (clearer articulation of different control levels) • Generalisation of the rule N+2: efficiency and discipline • Intervention of the Commission in control and monitoring in proportion with the degree of assurance given by the Member State and the financial stakes involved • Payments conditioned by the commitment of the Member States on the reliability of the country’s management and control systems • Clarification of the mechanisms for financial correction in cases of irregularity • Conditionality of the Cohesion Fund linked to the respectof convergence programmes (temporary suspension of commitments, but restitution possible)

  10. What interventions do SF supportin old and new member states • Old member states • Traditional (existing) interventions • National programs • Projects often implemented by state agencies • State budget co-financed and pre-financed (cash-flow) • Demand based • New member states • New types of interventions intorduced • Out of existing national support systems • Projects often implemented by the non-state actors (private, NGOs, LGOs) • Partly state budget co-financed, high involvment of end users for co-financing • Supply based interventions

  11. Pre-accession funds vs. Structural Funds differences • STRUCTURAL FUNDS • Support to national policies • Decentralised, member state responsibility • Spending based on programming • ESC oriented => Economic development objectives • Larger financial resources • Absorption capacity threat • Small projects are usual • SF usually co-finances regular national programs • „First come first serve“ project selection possible • PRE-ACCESSION FUNDS • International aid - • Centralised, EC responsibility • Spending technically based • Accession oriented =>IB projects important • Limited financial resources • Many projects not supported • Larger projects prefered • Support „out-of-system“ • Selection of projects similar to public procurements

  12. Hierarchy of programming documents EU Priorities & Pillars National Strategic Reference Framework National Development Plan Operational Programmes National development programmes Regional or national operations – strategic plans or limited programmes, large projects, schemes

  13. Program Project Three Cycles

  14. Policy • Policy :“ A course of action adopted and pursued by a government, party, ruler, statesman” (Oxford English Dictionary) • “…The concept of policy denotes …deliberate choice of action or inaction, rather than the effects of interrelating forces” (Smith, 1976, p.13)

  15. Policy and Legal Basis Article 158 of the Treaty: in order to strengthen its economic and social cohesion, the Community shall aim at reducing disparities between the levels of development of the various regions and the backwardness of the least favoured regions, including rural areas.

  16. Policy, Policy Instruments

  17. Possible Actors who Use Structural Funds Public Bodies (State Agencies of Development, Czech Invest, Labour Offices, Business Development Agencies, Regions, Municipalities etc) Private Organisations ( groups of companies, networks of suppliers and producers, individual companies, private bodies offering business/ development services) Voluntary Bodies ( citizens groups, environmental groups, “Third Sector” partnerships)

  18. Internal Coherence of a Programme

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