Welcome to the Committee of the Regions

1. European Union The CoR views on the future development of territorial co-operation in the European Union Jurmala, 14.06.2012 Welcome to the Committee of the Regions DIRECTORATE E THOMAS WOBBEN

2. Scope of the presentation • The CoR – short overview • The case for territorial co-operation • The views of the CoR regarding territorial co-operation • Practical steps towards mainstreaming interregional co-operation • Europe 2020 and interregional co-operation

3. The Committee of the Regions 3

4. The CoR – short overview (1) • Advisory body (art. 305 et seq.TFEU), political assembly of the EU, representing local and regional authorities • Created by Maastricht Treaty in 1993 • 344 members (plus 344 alternates), proposed by Member States, formally appointed by the Council, five-year renewable term of office • Five plenary sessions per year • Six thematic commissions

5. The CoR – short overview (2) CONSULTATION => OPINION PROPOSAL CODECISION DECISION European Commission European Parliament Council of the EU CONSULTATION European Economic & Social Committee

6. The Case for interregional co-operation 6

7. The case for territorial co-operation Globalisation and European integration: • Global challenges: Economic globalisation, demographic change, migration flows, climate change, energy. • European integration: EU enlargement, Single Market EMU and EURO area, enlargement of the Schengen area, Lisbon Treaty. • Localisation: Single territories are directly faced with challenges and have access to opportunities of a larger magnitude and which requires pooling of resources. 7

8. The case for territorial co-operation Multi-level governance and subsidiarity: • National policies have less of an influence on economic and regional development. • More responsibilities for Regional and Local Authorities in the European Union policies. • Institutional changes in the Member States: devolution, decentralisation and reform of federalism. 8

9. The case for territorial co-operation The public expenditure goes sub- national: • The LRA are the source of 60% of public investment in the EU • Their responsibilities are increasing for sustainable development and services to be provided to the citizens 9

10. The case for territorial co-operation In order to deliver effective policy, we need to: • Address optimal functional areas of intervention, which cross the traditional administrative boundaries and national frontiers; • Group authorities from different institutional level and nationality, responding to variable composition of needs and blend of competencies; • Therefore, to foster territorial cooperation across and beyond the European Union. 10

11. The Commission Proposal on Territorial Co-operation and on mainstreaming territorial co-operation 11

12. Less developed regions/MS Transition regions More developed regions Proposed funding for Territorial Co-operation Budget allocation (in %) Population covered (in millions) ¹ €10 billion from the Cohesion Fund will be allocated to the Connecting Europe Facility

13. Crossborder European Territorial Cooperation

14. Transnational European Territorial Cooperation

15. Interregional European Territorial Cooperation

16. 2. An operational programme shall set out: (c) the contribution to the integrated approach for territorial development set out in the Partnership Contract, including: (v) the arrangements for interregional and transnational actions with beneficiaries located in at least one other Member State; Draft General Regulation (Art. 87)

17. Scope of support from the ERDF 1. The ERDF shall support: (d) development of endogenous potential by supporting regional and local development and research and innovation. These measures shall include: (iv) networking, cooperation and exchange of experience between regions, towns, and relevant social, economic and environmental actors; Draft ERDF Regulation Art. 3

18. The CoR Position on Territorial Co-operation 19

19. DRAFT OPINION of the Committee of the Regions Rapporteur: Mr Osvald (CZ/PES)“PROPOSAL FOR A REGULATION ON EUROPEAN TERRITORIAL COOPERATION” “agrees that interregional cooperation should aim to reinforce the effectiveness of cohesion policy by encouraging exchange of experience between regions and by harnessing the results of this exchange under the Growth and Jobs objective. The Committee feels that this exchange of experience should be broad-based and that its role should not be limited to complementing FP7” welcomes the endeavour to improve coordination between European Territorial Cooperation programmes and other cohesion policy instruments Adoption planned at CoR Plenary at 18./19.07.2012 CoR Opinion on Territorial Co-operation

20. “suggests that European cohesion policy could be used as a key tool for involving local and regional authorities in implementing the Europe 2020 strategy as part of this territorial pact. Steps should be taken, in all areas supported by European cohesion policy, to enable "territorial pacts" to be used to mobilise key local stakeholders to achieve the priorities and headline targets of the Europe 2020 strategy; to this end, advocates developing additional rules, within the framework of the cohesion policy objectives, that will allow local and regional authorities to play an active role in achieving the Europe 2020 strategy's growth priorities and headline targets as part of their operational programmes; proposes organising networking and exchanges of information between local and regional authorities in the context of the "European territorial cooperation" objective, with a view to achieving the Europe 2020 strategy's priorities and headline targets, making use of the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation scheme if appropriate.” OPINION of the Committee of the Regions Rapporteur: Dr Michael Schneider, State Secretary for Federal and European Affairs (DE/EPP) CONTRIBUTION OF COHESION POLICY TO THE EUROPE 2020 STRATEGY Schneider Opinion on the future of cohesion policy

21. The Europe 2020 challenge for Interregional Co-operation 22

22. 1. Employment 75% of the 20-64 year-olds to be employed 2. R&D / innovation 3% of the EU's GDP (public and private combined) to be invested in R&D/innovation 3. Climate change / energy greenhouse gas emissions 20% (or even 30%, if a satisfactory international agreement can be achieved to follow Kyoto) lower than 1990 , 20% of energy from renewables and 20% increase in energy efficiency 4. Education Reducing school drop-out rates below 10% at least 40% of 30-34–year-olds completing third level education (or equivalent) 5. Poverty / social exclusion at least 20 million fewer people in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion The Europe 2020 targets 23

23. Employment Rate 20 - 64

24. Early School leavers

25. Population aged 30-34 with a tertiary education

26. Total expenditure on R&D

27. The European Grouping of Territorial co-operation 28

28. Engagement of the CoR regarding EGTC 2009 • Political impulse • 2 own-initiative opinions about EGTC, 2008 and 2011 • Sharing experience Expert Group, then EGTC Platform • Information and debate Joint consultation in 2010 Workshops and stands during the Open Days 3 studies and annual report since 2010 • Public registry of EGTC Art. 5 of Regulation (EC) 1082/2006 2010 2011

29. The EGTC a useful tool to face financial crisis? 30

30. The EGTC Platform • Its it integrated by all the EGTCs existing, the EGTCs in constitution, experts and different organisations of support • Open to other cross-border structures. • Launched the 28 January 2011 in Brussels • Online forum www.cor.europa.eu/egtc • Contact: egtc@cor.europa.eu

31. Thank you for your attention