Regional Policy Cohesion Policy Legal Package State of play Porto, 29th April 2013 Vicente RODRIGUEZ SAEZ Deputy Head of Unit DG REGIO.D.1 Transnational and Interregional Cooperation, Macro-Regional Strategies.

Regional Policy What's going on? October 2011 – Commission adopts the new legislative framework for On-going – negotiations (Trilogues) at the Council and the European Parliament. End foreseen mid-May Summer 2013: Adoption of regulations (foreseen) Multiannual Financing Framework (Budget) adopted by the Council on 8 February – Decision of the European Parliament ?

Regional Policy EU COHESION POLICY: LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE General Regulation (CPR) Common provisions for cohesion policy, the rural development policy and the maritime and fisheries policies; Common provisions for cohesion policy only (ERDF, ESF, CF) Specific regulations for ERDF, ESF, CF and ETC Modification of EGTC Regulation

Regional Policy Common Provisions Regulation (CPR) Financial Management block Strategic Programming block (Partnership Agreement; Operational Programmes; Code of Conduct; Thematic concentration) Main missing elements (MFF) STATE OF PLAY - Trilogues

Regional Policy State of play of negotiations ETC Regulation

Regional Policy - ETC regulation Art.1 Subject-matter and scope – no changes Art. 2 ETC Components (few clarifications) Art. 3 Geographical coverage (few clarifications) Art. 4 Resources (pending MFF final adoption) New - Art. 4bis 15% flexibility between CBC & TNC Art. 5 Thematic concentration (agreed for Council option of 80% instead of 5 TO?) Art. 6 Investment priorities for ETC in addition (pending which?)

Regional Policy ETC regulation Art. 7 Contents of OP (more in line to Art.87 CPR) Art. 8 JAP– Art 9 CLLD– Art 10 ITI: Agreement without major changes Art. 11 Selection of operations (Steering Committee optional; less "joint" criteria to be applied Art. 12 Beneficiaries (LB in 3rd countries) Art 13 Implementation reports – (June) Art. 14 Annual review (+ in writing) Art. 15 Indicators (Alignment with ERDF; ETC Annex?)

Regional Policy ETC regulation Art. 16 TA (Min 1.5M;TN 7%; below 50M +7%, but min 1.5M and max 3.5M) Art. 17 General rules eligibility (Hierarchy of rules) Art. 18 Staff costs (20% agreed) Art. 19 Eligibility location: Agreed Art. 20 Designation of authorities: Certifying Authority optional Art. 21 EGTC (no changes) Art. 22 Functions MA (few changes) Art. 23 Functions AA (each MS responsible in its territory )

Regional Policy ETC regulation Art. 24 Designation of MA + CA (MS location) New Art, 24 bis (IPA +ENI) Art. 25 Commitments, payments and recovery (no changes) Art. 26 Use of the Euro (more options) Art. 27 Decommitment (no changes, n+3!) Art. 29 to Art 33 ( Delegation powers / Committee COCOF / Transitional provisions / Entry into force) pending end of negotiations

Regional Policy Expected timetable 7-8 February 2013 : European Council – adoption Multiannual Financial Framework (ETC 11,7bn to 8,9bn) - European Parliament? June - September 2013: formal adoption of legislative package, start adoption of implementing/delegated acts. 2nd Semester 2013: negotiation / adoption Partnership Agreements – Objective Nov st Semester 2014: negotiation/adoption Operational Programmes Objective: by June 2014

Regional Policy 11 Max 4 months Max 1 month Observations by EC Partnership AgreementCountry specific programmes ETC programmes Max 3 months General regulation adopted Partnership Agreement submitted (MS) All OPs submitted (MS) Partnership Agreement approval OP approval ETC OPs (MS) ETC OP approval Observations by EC Max 3 months Max 9 months Max 3 months Regulatory timeline Objective: to be faster than the deadlines. Important to reach agreement in informal dialogues to complete the formal procedure as rapidly as possible.

Regional Policy Thank you for your attention!