Process of strategic planning in the context of regional development EU legislation and best practises from the Member States

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1 Process of strategic planning in the context of regional development EU legislation and best practises from the Member States Prof. Dr. Ralf von Ameln

2 STRUCTURE

3 EU Legislation

4 Elements of Regional Policy

5 Regional Disparities across EU27 GDP/head (PPS), 2005

6 EU Legislation Articles of the TEU lay down that the Union should promote an overall harmonious development and strengthen economic and social cohesion by reducing development disparities between the regions Council Regulations on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund Council Regulation establishing an Instrument for Pre- Accession Assistance (IPA)

7 Aims of EU regional policy help each region achieve its full potential improve competitiveness and employment at regional level by investing in areas of high growth potential bring living standards in the countries that have joined the EU since 2004 up to the EU average as quickly as possible

8 Regional policy and EU s agenda to promote growth and jobs making countries and regions more attractive for investments by improving accessibility, providing quality services (such as high-speed internet) and preserving environmental potential encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship and the knowledge economy through the development of information and communications technologies creating more and better jobs by attracting more people into employment, improving workers adaptability and increasing investment in human capital.

9 Available funding Regional spending for accounts for over one third of the EU budget ~ 350 billion. Depending on the what is being funded, and in which country or region, the money comes from three difference sources: ERDF - European Regional Development Fund general infrastructure, innovation, and investments. ESF - European Social Fund vocational training projects, other kinds of employment assistance, and job-creation programmes. Cohesion Fund environmental and transport infrastructure projects and the development of renewable energy. This funding is for 15 countries whose living standards are less than 90% of the EU average (12 newest EU members plus Portugal, Greece and Spain). Regional policy is investing in all EU regions, in line with the Europe 2020 goals. Particular efforts are being made in central and east European EU countries and regions with special needs in the other EU countries. Strong focus on support for innovation and research, sustainable development, and job training in less advanced regions. Some funding is also provided for cross-border and inter-regional cooperation projects.

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11 Objectives, Structural Funds and instruments

12 Four key principles underpin cohesion policy

13 Concentration Concentration of resources: the greater part of structural fund resources (81.9% for ) are concentrated on the poorest regions and countries. Concentration of effort: investment effort is focused on specific aspects. For , it targets the knowledge economy: RTD, innovation, technology transfer, information and communication technologies, human resources development and business development. Concentration of spending: at the beginning of each programming period, annual funding is allocated to each programme. These funds must be spent by the end of the second year after their allocation (known as the N+2 rule)

14 Programming Cohesion policy does not fund individual projects. Instead, it funds multi-annual national programmes aligned on EU objectives and priorities.

15 Partnership Each programme is developed through a collective process involving authorities at European, regional and local level, social partners and organisations from civil society. This partnership applies to all stages of the programming process, from design, through management and implementation to monitoring and evaluation. This approach help ensure that action is adapted to local and regional needs and priorities.

16 Additionality Financing from the European structural funds may not replace national spending by a member country. The Commission agrees with each country upon the level of eligible public (or equivalent) spending to be maintained throughout the programming period, and checks on compliance in the middle of the programming period (2011), and at the end (2016). The objective is to set realistic but ambitious targets for structural public spending to ensure that contribution of the structural funds really does add value. As a rule, average annual spending in real terms should not be less than in the previous programming period.

17 Policy stages: step-by-step The policy takes shape in the following stages: The budget of the structural funds and the rules for its use are jointly decided by the Council and the European Parliament on the basis of a proposal from the Commission. The principles and priorities of cohesion policy are distilled through a process of consultation between the Commission and the EU countries. The Community strategic guidelines on cohesion are used by the national and regional authorities to align their own programming on the agreed EU-wide priorities. Each country produces a national strategic reference frame-work (NSRF), which it must send to the Commission within five months of the strategic guidelines being adopted. This document outlines the country's strategy and proposes a list of operational programmes. The Commission then has three months to comment on the framework and request additional information.

18 Policy stages: step-by-step The Commission validates the NSRF, as well as each operational programme (OP). The OPs present the priorities of the country and/or regions. Workers, employers and civil society bodies can all participate in the programming and management of the OPs. For , 455 operational programmes have been adopted. The operational programmes are implemented by the member countries and their regions. This means selecting, monitoring and evaluating thousands of projects. This work is organised by 'management authorities' in each country and/or region. The Commission commits the funds (to allow the countries to start spending on their programmes) The Commission pays the certified expenditure to each country. The Commission monitors each operational programme, alongside the country concerned. Both the Commission and the member countries submit strategic reports throughout the programming period.

19 Eligible areas in the EU under the Convergence Objective and the European Competitiveness and Employment Objective Convergence Regions Phasing-out Regions Phasing-in Regions Competitiveness and Employment Regions

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22 Draft legislative package on EU cohesion policy for the period Important changes: concentrating on the Europe 2020 Strategy s priorities of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth; rewarding performance; supporting integrated programming; focusing on results monitoring progress towards agreed objectives; reinforcing territorial cohesion; and simplifying delivery The total proposed budget for the period will be 376 billion, including funding for the new Connecting Europe Facility, which is designed to enhance cross-border projects in energy, transport and information technology. The legislative architecture for cohesion policy comprises: an overarching regulation setting out common rules for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF), the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), and further general rules for the ERDF, ESF and Cohesion Fund; three specific regulations for the ERDF, the ESF and the Cohesion Fund; and two regulations on the European territorial cooperation goal and the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC).

23 Strategy

24 Strategic planning in the context of regional development Regional development is first and foremost a national responsibility. EU only supports activities that have been prioritised by the applicant or member countries. Strategy has to cover European, national, regional and local level.

25 Elements of the strategy

26 Elements of the strategy

27 Elements of the strategy

28 Elements of the strategy

29 Elements of the strategy

30 Risk assessment and risk management SCENE Risk assessment Process that has to take place before the project starts. It It identifies possible risks and estimates the probability that a risk materialises. Risk assessment Risk management Risk management Permanent process during the whole process. Whenever a risk materialises, risk management strategies have to take place.

31 Interplay of the project

32 Developing the project step-by-step Finalisation Start Preparation and Analysis realistic and reliable data strategy on the basis of of longterm planning Authorization All levels included partner, budget, permissions contracting Construction phase Permanent interaction between all key players information feed-back and controlling trouble-shooting Reporting final report marketing

33 Best practise

34 Improving road transport around Hamburg Initial situation One of Germany s most densely populated regions needs a new motorway. Running almost parallel with the River Elbe to the southwest of Hamburg, the A26 links with other major roads in the area. Proposal Co-funded EU project, two new stretches are being added to the A26 motorway ( autobahn ), in north-western Germany. Completed in 2015, reduction of transport costs and travel time for thousands of local inhabitants. Section I runs from south-east Stade to the Horneburg exit, and section II from Horneburg to the Jork exit. Both will feature a four-lane motorway and be 50 m wide. Together the two stretches will be around 16.1 km in length.

35 Improving road transport around Hamburg Solution Construction of some 20 engineering structures, including bridges, with a total length of around 790 m and five new junctions. Improvement of the accessibility of the main centres of Bremen/Bremerhaven, Cuxhaven and Hamburg. Reduction of transport costs and travel time for local commuters and people travelling to the area from further afield. The faster, higher quality roads will also facilitate the transport of products and materials. Improvement in road safety by shifting traffic to a four-lane motorway. Environmental benefits, through an expected decrease in energy consumption and annual CO2 emissions.

36 Technical information Program ERDF for the 2007 to 2013 programming period Approved by the European Commission in May Total Cost 85,712,100 EU Contribution 52,200,000

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38 More information?