1. EU Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 Proposals from the European Commission

2. Legislative package The General Regulation Fund specific regulations
Common provisions for cohesion policy, the rural development policy and the maritime and fisheries policy
Common provisions for cohesion policy only (ERDF, CF, ESF)
Fund specific regulations
ERDF regulation
CF regulation
ESF regulation
ETC regulation
EGTC regulation

3. Mission and Goals Mission of EU cohesion policy: Two goals:
to reduce disparities between Europe's regions strengthening economic, social and terrritorial cohesion in line with article 174 of the Treaty
to contribute to the Union Strategy of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth
Two goals:
Investment for growth and jobs
European Territorial cooperation

4. Budget for Cohesion Policy post 2013
billion EUR (2011 prices)
Cohesion Fund*
68.7
Less developed regions
162.6
Transition regions
39.0
More developed regions
53.1
Territorial Cooperation
11.7
Extra allocation for outermost and northern regions
0.9
TOTAL**
336.0
Connecting Europe facility for transport, energy and ICT
40.0
TOTAL
376.0
*Cohesion Fund will ringfence 10 billion EUR for the new Connecting Europe Facility
**Includes 2,5 billion EUR allocation for food for deprived persons

5. Geographical coverage and level of support
Three categories of regions:
Less developed regions (GDP per capita < 75% of EU average)
Transition regions (GDP per capita between 75% and 90%)
More developed regions (GDP per capita > 90%)
Co-financing rates range from:
50 % for the more developed regions to
85 % for the Cohesion Fund and less developed regions of Member States whose average GDP per capita for the period to 2009 was below 85 % of the EU-27 average

7. Cohesion Fund for Member States with GNI per capita <90%
Investments in the fields of environment and trans-European transport Networks
On the basis of latest GNI figures, Greece and Cyprus will benefit from phasing-out of Cohesion Fund

8. Common Principles for all Funds
Five funds: ERDF, ESF, CF + rural development and fisheries
Strengthening partnership and multi-level governance
- Introduction of a binding European Code of conduct
Compliance with Union and national law
Reinforcement of gender equality and non-discrimination:
Promoting sustainable development

9. Thematic Objectives to Deliver Europe 2020
Strengthening research, technological development and innovation
Enhancing access to, and use and quality of, information and communication technologies
Enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises, the agricultural sector (for the EAFRD) and the fisheries and aquaculture sector (for the EMFF)
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
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

10. Strengthening the Strategic Approach
Operational Programmes
Partnership contract
Common Strategic Framework

11. Programming Integrated programme approach
One Common Strategic Framework at EU level and one Partnership Contract at national level
Possibility for multi-fund programmes
Possibility for "multi-category" operational programmes which cover less developed, transition, and more developed regions or any combination of these
Integrated approaches for territorial development supported by the CSF Funds
Macro-regional strategies to be reflected in all layers of programming

12. Performance framework
Focuses on the achievement of programme objectives
Sets out milestones and targets for performance of programme priorities for 2016, 2018 and 2022
Performance review - in 2017 and 2019
Performance reserve – disbursed after the review in 2019
A performance reserve of 5% is set aside at the beginning of the programming period (exception for ETC)
The performance reserve is established per CSF Fund, per Member State and per category of region

13. A Focus on Results Fund specific common output and result indicators
Programme specific indicators
Thorough information and analysis of all the elements of the OP required only in 2017, 2019 and for the final report
No annual report in 2015, lighter annual reports on implementation
Ex-ante evaluation
Evaluation during the programming period
Ex-post evaluation by the Commission

14. Conditions of assistance
Some changes in eligibility rules, incl:
Operations supported by the CSF Funds shall be located in the area covered by the programme under which they are supported
Exemptions subject to conditions:
benefit to the programme area
ceiling of 10% at the level of a priority axis
Monitoring Committee approval
fulfilment of management, control and audit obligations
Simplified costs used more widely

15. Ex-ante and macroeconomic conditionalities
Ex-ante conditionality
Directly related to the thematic objectives or horizontal conditions of effectiveness
Conditionalities must be fulfilled within two years of the approval of the Partnership Contract or by end of 2016
Macroeconomic conditionality - closer link between cohesion policy and the economic governance of the Union in two areas:
Council recommendations
Union financial assistance to a Member State
May lead to:
Amendment of programmes
Suspension of payments

16. Responsibilities of Member States and of the Commission
Broad continuity of general responsibilities and obligations
eCohesion Policy
Broad continuity in the structure of the management and control system and in the division of tasks and the responsibilities of the managing authority, the certifying authority and the audit authority
Member State should designate an accrediting body at ministerial level: responsibility for accreditation of the managing and certifying authorities, continuous oversight, for fixing a probation period, and withdrawal of accreditation

17. Other aspects Technical assistance Major projects Joint Action plans
Financial instruments
Pre-financing, interim payments and decommitment deadlines
Proportionate audit arrangements
Accounting year and clearance of accounts
Financial corretions, interruptions and suspensions

18. Scope of ERDF
Investments in infrastructure providing basic services to citizens in the areas of environment, transport, and ICT are limited to the less developed and transition regions
More targeted support to large enterprises, focused on technology and applied research, including the first production of Key Enabling Technologies
Restrictions for support to the ETS sector, the tobacco industry, decommissioning of nuclear power stations and undertakings in difficulties

19. Scope of the Cohesion Fund
Investments in the environment, including areas related to sustainable development and energy which present environmental benefits
trans-European networks in the area of transport infrastructure, in compliance with the guidelines adopted by Decision No 661/2010/EU
technical assistance
Appropriate balance of investments required
Restrictions – decommissioning of nuclear power stations, ETS sector, housing

20. Human capital as driver for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth
Scope of ESF
Human capital as driver for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth
18 Investment priorities in 4 thematic objectives:
Promoting employment and supporting labour mobility
Promoting social inclusion and combating poverty
Investing in education, skills and lifelong learning
Enhancing institutional and administrative capacities
ESF contribution to the other thematic objectives notably:
Supporting an environmentally sustainable economy (low carbon…)
Enhancing the accessibility, use and quality of ICT
Strengthening research and innovation
Enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs

21. European Territorial Cooperation

22. Architecture Cross-border cooperation
COM to adopt list of cross-border areas to receive support by programme (at NUTS 3 level)
List specifies border areas covered by IPA/ENI
List includes regions in NO, CH etc. and countries neighbouring outermost regions for information purposes
Addition of adjacent NUTS 3 regions may be proposed when submitting programmes

23. Architecture Transnational cooperation
COM to adopt list of transnational areas to receive support by programme (at NUTS 2 level)
Third country regions covered by ENI (incl. Russia) and IPA can also be covered by programme, funding to be made available.
Third country regions included in list for information purposes
Addition of adjacent NUTS 2 regions may be proposed when submitting programmes
Interregional cooperation – EU-27, whole or part of territory of third countries may be covered

24. Financial Resources 3 categories
73% for cross-border cooperation (EUR 8.6 bn)
21% for transnational (EUR 2.4 bn)
6% for interregional (EUR 0,7 bn)
75% co-financing rate (50% for outermost regions’ allocation)

25. EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region in 2014-2020 Cohesion Policy
Political commitment to be reflected in cohesion policy programmes
Territorial co-operation programmes will support as well
EUSBSR to be reflected in all programming documents
Review of the Strategy and its Action Plan
Roles and responsibilities

26. InfoRegio: ec.europa.eu/inforegio
For more information
InfoRegio: ec.europa.eu/inforegio
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