Katarina Ivanković Knežević, Assistant Minister Ministry of Labour and Pension System, Republic of Croatia European Parliament, Bruxelles, 7 April 2016
Total ESI Funds= 10,7 billion EUR GDP p.c. in 2012: Adriatic Croatia = 62,1% EU - 27 Continental Croatia = 64,1% EU-27
Croatia joined EU in July 2013 In order to use ESI funds 2007-2013 (allocation for 6 months) negotiations and adoption of OP s was undertaken in period 2012-2013 Accreditation for 2007-2013 acquired in 2014 New procedures and changes of institutional set-up (new MIS) Late start of tendering procedures led to a delay in implementation 2016 crucial year for absorption of ESI funds 2007-2013
Absorption rate until 29.2.2016. = 58%
Programme PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT between Croatia and the European Commission for the period 2014-2020 Date of approval 30.10.2014. Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Cohesion 13.12.2014. Operational Programme Efficient Human Resources 18.12.2014. Rural Development Programme 26.5.2015. Operational Programme for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries 6.11.2015. 5 cross-border cooperation programmes 4 transnational cooperation programmes 4 interregional cooperation programmes
2007-2013 (million ) 2014-2020 (million ) EFRR (2007-2013)/ ERDF (2014-2020) 424.7 4.321 ESF 152.4 1.516 Cohesion Fund 281 2.559 TOTAL Cohesion 858.3 8.397 EAFRD* - 2.026 EMFF 8.7 252.6 Number of OP s 5 4 Number of cohesion regions 2 2 * 2007-2013 IPARD allocation = 136,8 M EUR
General ex-ante conditionalities (6) Thematic ex-ante conditionalities (17) 6 unfulfilled 14 unfulfilled Antidiscrimination Gender equality Disabilities Public procurement State Aid Environmetal sub legislation Research and innovation Infrastructure for research and innovation Digital growth Infrastructure for next generation networks Small Business Act Water sector Waste sector Transport Railway Other modes of transport Health Lifelong learning National strategic policy framework for VET Public administration
Operational Programme 2017. 2018. Efficient Human Resources 158 million 222 million Competitiveness and Cohesion 378.3 million 851 million EAFRD+EMFF / 518 million
Operational Programme Efficient Human Resources Priority axes Contracted Payed (31 March 2016) 1. Employment 180.287.144,00 0 2. Social inclusion 12.000.000,00 0 3. Education 20.121.643,44 1.952.907,37 4. Good governance 0 0 5. Technical Assistance 41.009.636,21 0 TOTAL 253.418.423,65 1.952.907,37
REGULATION (EU) 2015/779 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 20 May 2015 amending Regulation (EU) No 1304/2013, as regards an additional initial pre-financing amount paid to operational programmes supported by the Youth Employment Initiative Additional pre-financing for Croatia - 19.191.371,76 Interim payment application - by 23 May 2016 Operations under YEI contracted - end 2015 Implementation and verifications ongoing target in May 2016-9.595.685,88 Accreditation as a precondition for submission of payment request!
Accreditation ongoing for all OP s Management information system in place (collection of micro-data required for ESF related to the eligibility of participants and eligibility of costs additional microdata IT system at the level of ESF MA) Simplification still a lot of misunderstanding at the level of MS s on Simplified cost options (especially on direct implementation of Regulation and the role and principles of delegated acts) Change of procedures in order to speed up all phases of the implementation of operations Administrative capacities (sufficient number, qualified, continued education and trainings)
ESI funds as a support to reform processes in EU MS s Close link to European semester and fulfillment of CSR s More efforts to themes of a common interest Transnational cooperation Integrated territorial investments Simplified cost options