Hungarian Presidency programme and results in the field of Cohesion Policy

1. Hungarian Presidency programme and results in the field of Cohesion Policy Zsuzsanna Kondor, National Development Agency, Coordination MA 23 June 2011 Prague

2. Objectives and strategy of HU PRES in Cohesion Policy • Achievements • Council Conclusions and GAC orientation debate • High Level Meeting on the Future of Cohesion Policy • Informal Meeting of Ministers, Presidency Conclusions • Conclusion

3. Objectives and strategy of HU PRES in Cohesion Policy • Achievements • Council Conclusions and GAC orientation debate • High Level Meeting on the Future of Cohesion Policy • Informal Meeting of Ministers, Presidency Conclusions • Conclusion

4. Objectives and strategy • Cohesion Policy as a key priority of HU PRES („Stronger EU”) • Strategy responds to challenges in the macro environmentof the EU and the state of playof Cohesion Policy… • Overall objectives • Post-crisis EU, scarce resources  emphasise the results, the importance and the visibility of CP • Level of debate is crucial  strengthen the position of CP at a high political level • Operative goals • 5th Cohesion Report was published just before HU PRES  • Concentrate on key issues, facilitate common interpretation, identify potential consensus areas • Bridge the gap between the Report and the draft legislative package • Overall red line: not to prejudge discussions on MFF

5. Objectives and strategy of HU PRES in Cohesion Policy • Achievements • Council Conclusions and GAC orientation debate • High Level Meeting on the Future of Cohesion Policy • Informal Meeting of Ministers, Presidency Conclusions • Conclusion

6. Events in mainstream Cohesion Policy 18 – 20 May Informal Ministerial Meeting Gödöllő 23–24 May COCOF Stakeholder Dialogue Budapest 31 March – 1 April High Level Meeting on the future of Cohesion Policy Budapest 15 –17 June Informal SAWP (attaché trip) Bátonyterenye 2011 February March April May June January 4 SAWPs in January ( conclusions) 2 SAWPs in February ( conclusions) 2 SAWPs in March (key topics) 1 SAWP in April (key topics) 1SAWP in May (key topics) 1SAWP in June ( summary) 21 February GAC Council Conclusions on the 5th Cohesion Report Orientation debate 31 Jan – 1 Feb. Cohesion Forum Prime Minister’s speech COCOF 9 February, 23 March, 20 April, 29 June

7. Council Conclusions and orientation debate – 1 Council Conclusions - background • Prepared as a response to the 5th Cohesion Report • Approved by consensus at GAC on 21st February 2011 Council Conclusions - aims • To pinpoint and summarise those issues of the debate where there is a consensus between MSs • Also to identify those issues where further debate is needed • Provide a common basis for the Council work to follow during the semester

8. Council Conclusions and orientation debate – 2 Council Conclusions – consensual topics • Consensus on the importance of Cohesion Policy • Commitment to further improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Cohesion Policy through… • …focusing on a limited number of key priorities • respect the needs and potentials of MSs and regions • alignment with EU2020 to respect objectives of both frameworks • …an integrated approach • need for better coordination between EU Funds • potential added value of the CSF • …a clear and transparent delivery system • to be built on our achievements so far

9. Council Conclusions and orientation debate – 3 Council Conclusions - where further debate is needed • The role and nature of the Development and Investment Partnership Contract • Menu of thematic objectives to be used in thematic concentration • The system of conditionalities and incentives • Related themes in the focal point of Council work • Thematic concentration and result-orientation as topics of main events Orientation debate • On the agenda of the same meeting of the GAC • Reinforced the messages of the Council Conclusions • Commitment to a strong Cohesion Policy expressed at high political level by Ministers

10. Budapest High Level Meeting Background • Organised in Budapest on 31st March – 1st April • 150+ participants: MSs, COM, high-level experts Aims • To highlight the importance of Cohesion Policyas a tool for future developments… • …and discuss key issues, facilitate common interpretation • Topics selected from areas where further debate needed (GAC) • Thematic concentration and flexibility • Result-orientation of Cohesion Policy • Also: integrated approach and possible new methodologies (HU good practice for integrated local development; value analysis) • Discussion papers issued • Conclusions of the Meeting based on work of sections

11. Informal Meeting of Ministers • Background • Main HU PRES event in the field of Cohesion Policy • Information from all PRES work channelled into IMM • Organised on 19th – 20th May (1st day: territorial cohesion / 2nd: Cohesion Policy), Royal Palace of Gödöllő • 200+ participants:MSs, candidate countries, EEA/EFTA, COM, EP, CoR,EESC, OECD, EIB • Aims • To carry on with the debate at high political level and… • …draw conclusions based on the main messages of Ministers • Issue Notes prepared to stimulate discussion on… • How to be more effective in achieving results? • How to contribute more effectively to the EU2020 Strategy? • Based on the messages of the debate, Presidency Conclusions

12. Presidency Conclusions, main messages – 1 • Importance and nature of Cohesion Policy • Ministers reinforced the importance of a strong Cohesion Policy • Any improvements shall be aligned with characteristics and added values of the Policy (integrated, bottom-up) • Result-orientation of Cohesion Policy • Strong political commitment to enhancing result-orientation • Role of programming, evaluation/indicators, streamlined delivery system emphasised • Conditionalities strongly linked with effectiveness of Cohesion Policy widely supported • Conditions to be in place before expenditure is made (ex-ante) • Reforms in CSR’s are important but should not be set as conditionalities as they cannot be objectively assessed • Conditionalities should build on principles such as focus, flexibility, ownership, transparency, accountability, proportionality and simplification

13. Presidency Conclusions, main messages –2 • Cohesion Policy’s Contribution to EU2020 • For tangible results, policies should focus on limited number of priority objectives • Cohesion Policy contributes to a smart, sustainable and inclusive growth even in this period • It should continue to be a key tool in the implementation of EU2020 by translating strategic objectives into actions on the ground • Will be effective if takes into account different contexts and… • …recognises thatdifferent policy-mixes may be needed to deliver the same objectives • Timing • Called on COM to present legislative proposals in Summer 2011 to allow for a comprehensive preparation

14. Objectives and strategy of HU PRES in Cohesion Policy • Achievements • Council Conclusions and GAC orientation debate • High Level Meeting on the Future of Cohesion Policy • Informal Meeting of Ministers, Presidency Conclusions • Conclusion

15. To conclude… • HU PRES did everything at its disposal to… • …identify bottlenecks, • …discuss implementation aspects • …and progress towards common interpretation of key issues • Hopefully prepared the ground for discussions of draft regulations… • …contributed to the timely start of post 2013 programmes

16. Thank you for your attention! Zsuzsanna Kondor, Director General Coordination Managing Authority, National Development Agency