European Structural Funds in Wales Post-2013

1
European Structural Funds in Wales Post-2013

• Paul Smith
• Welsh European Funding Office
• 8 March 2012

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What well cover

• How WEFO is planning for the new EU programmes
• Timetables to 2014
• European Context
• Highlights from the Regulations

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WEFO Team and Partners

• Dedicated post-2013 Policy Team
• Analysis of regulations
• Preparation of Operational Programmes
• Working with UK on EU level negotiations
• Partnership stakeholder engagement
• Partnership Engagement
• EPPF
• Specialist Workstreams
• Reflection Exercise (December 11 January 12)
• Draft OPs - full public consultation (Autumn
  2012)

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4
Whats happening now?

• Draft Regulations published 6 October 2011
  analysing and highlighting key issues for
  planning
• Feeding into Negotiations with EU via UK
  Government
• Lessons learned exercise
• Reflection exercise seeking views on high level
  strategy and vision

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Future European Programmes

• Closer working with agricultural / fisheries
  funds
• Structural Funds
• Assumption that Wales will qualify for future
  funds impact of recession on Wales GDP.
• West Wales and Valleys Less Developed region
  (lt75 EU27 Average GDP)
• East Wales More Developed region (gt90 EU27
  Average GDP)

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Europe 2020 Targets

• Smart
• 75 of EU population (20-64) in employment
• 3 of EU GDP invested in RD / innovation
• Sustainable
• 20/20/20 climate/energy targets to be met.
• Inclusive
• Young people exiting school early to be less than
  10 and 40 of 30-34 year olds to have a
  tertiary degree
• 20 million fewer people to be at risk of poverty

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Thematic Objectives

• SMART
• strengthening research, technological development
  and innovation
• enhancing access to, and use and quality of,
  information communication technologies
• enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs, the
  agricultural sector (EAFRD) and the fisheries /
  aquaculture sector (EMFF)
• SUSTAINABLE
• supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy
  in all sectors
• promoting climate change adaptation, risk
  prevention and management
• protecting the environment and promoting resource
  efficiency
• promoting sustainable transport and removing
  bottlenecks in key network infrastructures
• INCLUSIVE
• promoting employment and supporting labour
  mobility
• promoting social inclusion and combating poverty
• investing in education, skills and lifelong
  learning
• enhancing institutional capacity and an efficient
  public administration

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Commission Proposals (1)

• To achieve Europe 2020 goals Commission is
  proposing
• Closer integration of funds (ERDF, ESF, EAFRD,
  EMFF).
• New, more directive, architecture
• Common Strategic Framework
• Partnership Contract
• Operational Programmes.
• Stronger focus on performance/results Use of
  stronger contractual conditions / incentives.

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Commission Proposals (2)

• Commission also proposing
• Greater concentration - more money but on fewer
  priorities.
• Increased use of Financial Engineering
  Instruments.
• Simplifications e.g., simplified cost
  approaches, e- cohesion policy.

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Investment Focus ESF (1)

• ESF draft regulations focus on Europe 2020 goals
• Promoting employment and supporting labour
  mobility
• Investing in education, skills and life-long
  learning
• Promoting social inclusion and combating poverty
  min. 20 of ESF
• Enhancing institutional capacity and efficient
  public administration
• Greater emphasis on fighting youth unemployment
• Strengthened provision for transnational
  co-operation, social innovation, gender equality
  and equal opportunities.

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Investment Focus ESF (2)

• Minimum ESF budget in 2014 2020 84 billion
  (7.5 increase on 2007-13)
• Out of Structural Funds support (ERDF ESF) ESF
  minimum share will be
• 25 in less developed regions (West Wales
  Valleys)
• 40 in transition regions
• 52 in more developed regions (East Wales)

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Investment Focus ERDF (1)

• The Commissions draft regulations put a clear
  focus on
• Research and Innovation
• Low Carbon Economy (Energy Efficiency Renewable
  Energy)
• SME Competitiveness
• Concentration on the above themes will be
• 80 in More Developed / Transition regions (Low
  Carbon min. 20)
• 50 in Less Developed regions (Low Carbon min.
  6)

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Investment Focus ERDF (2)

• The draft regulations also focus on
• Sustainable Urban Development (at least 5 of the
  national ERDF allocation)
• Member States (UK Government) would be expected
  to draw up a list of cities where Sustainable
  Urban Development will be implemented, together
  with indicative annual allocations.

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What does it mean for West Wales the Valleys?

• At least 25 of SF funding will need to be used
  for ESF measures (but the Welsh programme already
  commits a 40 share).
• 50 of ERDF funding would need to be applied to
  Research Innovation Energy efficiency
  Renewable Energy SME Competitiveness.
• A minimum of 5 to be used for Sustainable Urban
  Development?
• Distribution of remaining funds across other
  priorities chosen from Commission menu

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What does it mean for East Wales?

• At least 52 of SF funding will need to be used
  for ESF measures.
• 80 of ERDF funding would need to be applied to
  Research Innovation Energy efficiency
  Renewable Energy SME Competitiveness.
• A minimum of 5 to be used for Sustainable Urban
  Development?
• Leaves limited scope for other interventions.

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Thematic Choices

• Seeking flexibility to fund things in future that
  we are currently funding
• Ministerial decision on priorities informed by
  engagement with Stakeholders (EPPF, Reflection
  Exercise)
• Alignment to WG policies and delivering Europe
  2020

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Timetable (EU level)
6 Oct 11 Publication of draft regulations
End 2011 early 2012 Draft Common Strategic Framework public consultation
End 2012 Agreement of MFF(2014-2020)?
Spring 2013 Agreement of Regulations?
Summer 2013 Agreement of Common Strategic Framework covering Structural Funds?
During 2013 Negotiate and agree UK Partnership Contract, and Wales programmes
1 January 2014 Earliest Wales programmes can be approved to start
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Timetable (Wales)
Early 2012 DM will set out the Governments planned vision and direction for future EU programmes in Wales
Early 2012 Autumn 2012 Detailed development of the programmes with partners (workstreams Operational Programmes, Delivery and Compliance, Evaluation Advisory Group and Territorial Co-operation Group)
Autumn 2012 early 2013 Public consultation on draft Operational Programmes
Spring 2013 Autumn 2013 Submission and negotiation of programming documents with EC
2014 Launch and delivery of EU programmes 20142020 in Wales
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Our priorities

• Aiming to hit the ground running in 2014, ideally
  with a number of high level strategic projects
  ready to go.
• Harnessing expertise and knowledge to build on
  what works in practice both from our external
  partners and from within WEFO.
• Options for programme integration
• Working with Whitehall colleagues on the EU level
  negotiations
• Ensuring we continue our focus on successfully
  delivering the 2007-2013 programmes.

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Finding out more

• WEFO Website http//wefo.wales.gov.uk/programmes
  /post2013/?langen
• Twitter www.twitter.com/wefowales or
  www.twitter.com/wefocymru
• Contact the Post-2013 team
• WEFO-Post2013Programmes_at_wales.gsi.gov.uk

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Thank you Any Questions?
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