Working Together on Macro-Re- gional Risk: Joint Approaches and Challenges

Transcription

1 Working Together on Macro-Re- gional Risk: Joint Approaches and Challenges Final conference of the project a flagship project under the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region 13 May 2013, Brussels Ann-Jasmin Krabatsch, DG REGIO

2 State of play: 3 existing macro-regions Baltic Sea Danube River Adriatic-Ionian Strategy Overview different, region-specific challenges; but organised in the same way: Strategy, Pillars, Priority Areas, Flagship projects Regional 2

3 Why macro-regions (1)? an area including territory from a number of different countries or regions associated with one or more common features or challenges several regions in several countries but the number of Member States should be significantly fewer than in the Union as a whole. An integrated framework that allows the European Union and Member States to identify needs and allocate available resources thus enabling the Baltic Sea Region to enjoy a sustainable environment and optimal economic and social development. ideas of integration and facilitation: that all relevant policy areas should be included, and that the strategy should facilitate Regional 3

4 Why macro-regions (2)? The objective is a coordinated response to issues better handled together than separately, within a structure recognised by the rest of the Union. The strategies overcome obstacles holding up development, and unlock the potential of a region. They seek to place issues in a multilateral setting, and to reach out beyond current EU borders to work as equals with neighbours with different accession perspectives. Regional 4

5 Commissioner Hahn at Press Conference, 9/4/13: We have made a very good start! The Danube Strategy is already showing that by working together, we can have a far greater impact than if we try to tackle problems in isolation. Now we need to step up a gear! I would like to see the priorities of the Danube Strategy in our next generation of Regional funds programming and firmly embedded in the national, regional and local priorities in every one of the countries involved. The Strategy should be informing every relevant policy area with politically stable, adequately financed structure to support it. 5

6 What is the added value for Member States tp engage themselves in Priority Areas? The approach encourages participants to overcome not only national frontiers, but also barriers to thinking more strategically and imaginatively about the opportunities available. MS cannot adress common challenges on their own: Macro-regional strategies aim to mobilise new projects and initiatives creating a sense of common responsibility Regional 6

7 Work macro-regional 5 principles integration objectives should be embedded in existing policy frameworks (EU, regional, national, local, preaccession), programmes (EU, country-specific, territorial cooperation, sectorial ), and financial instruments; coordination policies, strategies and funding resources should avoid compartmentalisation whether between sectorial policies, actors or different tiers of government; 7

8 Work macro-regional 5 principles cooperation countries should cooperate, and sectors also, across the region, changing the mind-set from inward to outward-looking regional development ideas; multi-level governance different levels of policy-makers should work better together without, creating new tiers of decision-making; partnership EU and non-eu countries can work together on the basis of mutual interest, and mutual respect 8

9 Achievements Danube Strategy started as ambitious idea and is taking concrete forms across 14 countries Promotion of concrete transnational projects & new impulse to action in the Region Development of a wide-ranging cooperation platform adressing the joint identified challenges Generation of clear political commitment Support of coordination of different national and EU policies and funds aims at more coherence and better results Regional 9

10 Recommandations To strengthen internal implementation structures To ensure sustainable leadership and strategic planning for the Strategy continuity & sustainability To monitor continously the implementation of all PAs with a view to concentrating on specific challenges/focus Report calls on EU Member States to incoporate EUSDR into the new generation of programmes Regional 10

11 Role of Flagship projects Flagship projects ensure the implementation of the macro-regional strategy: putting objectives into practice Core of each strategy: focus and prioritisation Central to success of strategy: resulting actions! Essential: role of lead partner Deliver results measurable 11

12 Flagship projects - Examples The status of the Baltic Sea is improving, nutrient loads are being addressed through projects like CleanShip (which reduces pollution from vessels), or those phasing out phosphates in detergents, while better collaboration on fisheries management is facilitated by project BALTFISH; Prevention of flooding in the Danube region is a major concern, addressed by projects like DANUBE FLOODRISK, providing shared databases and flood mapping; 12

13 Flagship projects - Examples Danube Region research capacity is being strengthened. E- infrastructure projects in the 7 th Framework Programme to improve availability of advanced computing services to researchers in the Region have been launched. As part of adaptation strategies for Danube and Baltic regions, actions re climate change are being planned together by Member State institutions, e.g. under BALTADAPT. 13

14 Conclusions No unique definition of a flagship project, but: they contribute to macro-regional work: added-value are best-practice examples for other projects Deliver results based on monitoring and indicators Make the most efficient use out of limited European funding Help to achieve EU2020 objetives and are implemented in the strategic framework within a macro-region 14

15 ANY QUESTIONS??? An overview

16 THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION! More info: An overview