INTERREG MANAGEMENT CASES present and future

Transcription

1 INTERREG MANAGEMENT CASES present and future The Perspective of the Romanian ETC Management Authorities AEBR seminar Bruxelles, 20 April 2012

2 The present ERDF, IPA and ENPI 2

3 Objective 3 of EU Cohesion Policy: European Territorial Cooperation Cross-border cooperation in the EU: 52 programmes- 5,6 bln. ERDF contribution Transnational cooperation in the EU: 13 programmes- 1,8 bln ERDF contribution ETC in the EU 7,8 bln. ERDF Interregional cooperation in the EU: 4 programmes- 0,445 bln. ERDF contribution

4 IPA: Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance - 11,5 bln. Component 2 cross-border cooperation: 10 programmes- 0,624 bln. ( )

5 ENPI: European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument 11,18 bln. Cross-border cooperation: 13 programmes- 0,950 bln.

6 Map of the Territorial Cooperation Programmes in Romania ENPI +19 mil +15 mil ERDF ENPI IPA ENPI ERDF

7 Arbeitsgemeinschaft Donauländer (AT/BG/DE/HR/HU/MD/RO/SK/ SRB/UA) Carpathian Euroregion (HU/PL/RO/SK/UA) Euroregions as eligible partners in CBC projects +19 mil +15 mil Hajdú-Bihar - Bihor Euroregion (HU/RO) Lower Danube Euroregion (RO/MD/UA) Upper Prut Euroregion (RO/MD/UA) Siret-Prut-Nistru Euroregion (RO/MD) Euroregion DKMT (HU/RO/SRB) Euroregion Middle Danube - Iron Gates + Euroregion Danube 21 (BG/RO/SRB) Euroregion Danube - South (BG/RO)/Euroregion Rousse- Giurgiu(BG/RO)/Euroregion Danubius(BG/RO)/Inferior Danube Euroregion(BG/RO) Euroregion Black Sea (AM/AZ/BG/GE/GR/MD/RO /RU/TR/UA)

8 European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation - EGTC Now 9 EGTCs having Romania as a partner or with their seat in Romania, in various stages as to the approval process; 3 EGTCs have already received the approval for their operation; Romania supports the following approach: involvement of the third countries into the establishment of an EGTC (a simplified legal procedure); establishment of an EGTC between an EU Member State and a non EU country; a clearer procedure regarding staff recruitment within EGTC; the existence of coherent EC financial initiatives aimed at capacity building in the field of EGTC, both for the establishment and for the proper operation. 8

9 Challenges in the implementation of CBC programmes at the internal borders of the EU Lack of harmonization between the national sectoral policies in place in the different states that are partners in a CBC programme: E.g.: RO-BG Programme HU-RO Programme Hungarian state border law forbids any intervention closer than 1 meter away from the state border, unless an international agreement is signed in this respect Under Bulgarian legislation, road rehabilitation implies the rehabilitation of all infrastructure present under the road. Romanian legislation does not include such provisions.

10 Even more complex issues to tackle in the CBC programmes at the external borders of the EU Complex EU/partner states international relations + Sometimes complicated and unclear rules in the implementation of IPA/ENPI CBC programmes e.g. selection of projects use of PRAG rules rule of origin and nationality

11 Planning / Programming problems The programming of the existing programmes was made without any strategic guidance from EC The objectives of existing programmes are not sufficiently substantiated by the needs assessment performed, e.g. because of the lack of similar statistical data on all sides of the borders The indicators set in existing programmes are inconsistent and not targeted on impact assessment Need for more guidance, better needs assessment and greater focus in the future

12 What we expect from the future How will TC programmes be integrated in the Partnership agreements (PA)? RO: PA should cover all support from the CSF funds in the Member State concerned [Art.13.3 (Common Provisions Regulation)]. Since ETC programmes are an important part of the CSF funds, representing one of the two goals of the Cohesion Policy, they should be listed in the PA. Will IPA/ENPI CBC programmes be correlated with the provisions included in the Partnership agreements (PA)? RO: The provisions referring to the European Union strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and to other European policies, from the PAs, should be included in the Financing Agreements signed by the partner countries and by the Managing Authority. CSF funds are: ERDF, ESF, CF, EAFRD, EMFF

13 Required presets for the next programming period increased responsibility and involvement of NAs; maintaining the n+3 rule for the entire future programming period; alternative: introducing the n+4 rule; stronger involvement of the EC; derogation for ETC programmes as regards the state aid rules; common set of eligible expenditures; e-cohesion until 31 December 2016; increasing the tolerable rate of error from 2% to 5%; specific set of indicators for ETC programmes; a co-financing rate of 85% for ETC programmes.

14 Strong points of ERDF that can be harmonized into ENPI rules eligibility of expenditures before the contract is signed; preparatory expenses eligible; clear responsibilities set for NA; Memorandum of Understanding between partner states; Steering Committee equivalent in project selection system; similar first level control system as in MSs set in partner states; first level controllers covered from TA budget; COCOF (Committee of the Coordination of the Funds) system.

15 Strong points of ENPI that can be integrated into ERDF rules n+3 rule applied at the time of requesting funds from EC, a deadline being set at programme level for implementing activities; pre-payments granted to beneficiaries out of the external funding (requiring a clear procedure setting NA responsibilities and how unduly paid funds can be repaid); unitary procedures to be applied at programme level; e.g. - common procurement rules, but adapted to ERDF specificities.

16 Thank you for your attention! Iuliu Bara, General Director General Directorate for European Territorial Cooperation