CPMR at the heart of the Cohesion Policy 2014 2020 negotiations Political Bureau 8 June Nick Brookes, CPMR Director
Context Economic and financial crisis: more bad news EU economic governance being reinvented Pressures on EU budget for 2014 2020 Low absorption rate of Structural Funds in some Member States; High error rate New Member State (Croatia) from July 2013
What will Cohesion Policy look like? Redistribution policy? Investment policy? Policy to help complete the Single Market? Policy to underpin reinforced EU Economic Governance? More strings attached : from Lisbon earmarking to macroeconomic conditionality Doing more and better with less emphasis on performance and efficiency A more complex framework less simplification, less decentralisation?
Negotiation process Let s negotiate but we ll deal with the budget later! Council: two working groups Structural Action Working Group ex ante conditionalities, thematic concentration, technical aspects Friends of the Presidency Working Group budget issues, capping, macro economic conditionality European Parliament : REGI Committee Danish Presidency progress: Negotiating box as a tool to progress negotiations on budget 24 April - Partial General Approach on six negotiating blocks : programming, ex ante conditionality, management and control, monitoring and evaluation, eligibility, major projects Objective of additional Partial General Approach on three additional blocks: thematic concentration, financial instruments, ESF and ERDF minimum shares to be endorsed by 28-29 June GAC But Care has been taken to ensure that the partial general approach does not prejudge the outcome of negotiations [ ] on the EU's multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2014-2020 [ ]. The partial general approach may however be subject to change as a result of these other negotiations. Council Press Release, 24 April 2012
Lessons learnt Sticky points Additional capping mechanisms Risks for regions - A smaller overall budget - Against the redistribution objective of the policy Close link between European Semester and Cohesion Policy; macroeconomic conditionality provisions Significant reduction of budget Slow moving process - Annual review process vs multiannual investment strategies - Against multilevel governance and partnership - Climate of uncertainty for managing authorities - Double punishment - Scope of success is more limited - Real risk that programmes will not start on time European Parliament on equal footing as other institutions? - Very similar views to CPMR regions on key strategic issues (strong budget, partnership, against macroeconomic conditionality)
Next milestones June 12 June: EP Presidents of political groups adopt resolution on EP s position on MFF 26 June: General Affairs Council meeting Partial General Approach for thematic concentration, ESF/ERDF minimum shares, financial instruments 28 29 June: European Summit July 1 July: Cyprus takes over presidency of Council Votes in Committee for EP reports on Common Provisions Regulation, ERDF, ESF and others European Commission revised MFF proposal September October 1st week September publication of EP s Budget Committee draft interim report on the MFF Remaing negotiating blocks, including Community Local Development, Integrated Territorial Investments, to be discussed and agreed 18 October - EP Budgets Committee votes on MFF regulation By the end of the year Partial general approach on Cohesion Policy legislative package? First half of 2013 Agreement on EU budget
Cohesion Policy within CPMR Cross cutting issue within the CPMR CORE Group (Political Bureau officers group) Geographical Commissions Involvement of other CPMR Working Groups Employment and Training WG, Research and Innovation WG, Energy and Climate Change WG Four priorities: 1) Proposals on Cohesion Policy legislative package 2) Conditionalities and link to EU economic governance 3) Common Strategic Framework 4) Active monitoring of negociation process and intelligence sharing
CPMR at the heart of negociation process (I) Development of proposals for amendments - Key themes defended: ERDF for infrastructure for richer regions, simpler ex ante conditionality measures, thematic concentration, territorial dimension of Cohesion Policy, simplification measures - Political action: - 4 April political meeting with M. Jouanjean and M. Deffaa (DGs of DG Budget and DG Regional Policy) - 8 May extraordinary session in the European Parliament and debate with MEPs - Technical action: - 26 April: roundtable meeting gathering managing authorities from CPMR Member Regions and Cohesion Policy attachés from Member States Permanent Representations
CPMR at the heart of negociation process (II) Position paper on Common Strategic Framework - Initial views on the role of the Common Strategic Framework Participation in stakeholder events - CoR hearing on Common Strategic Framework (rapporteur: Marek Wozniak) - CoR Forum Regions and Cities for Integrated Development - European Economic and Social Committee hearing with rapporteur Ioannis Vardakastanis Role of CORE Group - Dissemination of information and intelligence on negociation process to inform Members - Technical analysis ex: projection of structural funds regional allocations for CPMR Member Regions
Future steps key actions June - July Technical paper: projections of regional SF allocations for 2014 2020 for CPMR Member Regions 19 June: Political meeting with Elisabeth Morin-Chartier MEP on ESF Early July: Core Group Meeting with Mr. Goran Färm MEP, Budget Committee Roundtable discussion on integrated operations and joint programming September - December Response to revised MFF proposal Linking Community Local Development with other bottom up initiatives from other EU Policies (Research, Fisheries, Rural) CPMR meeting with Council Structural Action Group on remaining negotiating blocks Ongoing monitoring of negotiations and impact on CPMR regions particularly with regards to negotiating box
Many thanks for your attention!