Welcome to the Committee of the Regions European Union DIRECTORATE E THOMAS WOBBEN The CoR views on the future development of territorial co- operation in the European Union Jurmala,

 The CoR – short overview  The case for territorial co-operation  The views of the CoR regarding territorial co- operation  Practical steps towards mainstreaming interregional co-operation  Europe 2020 and interregional co-operation Scope of the presentation

The Committee of the Regions 3

 Advisory body (art. 305 et seq.TFEU), political assembly of the EU, representing local and regional authorities  Created by Maastricht Treaty in 1993  344 members (plus 344 alternates), proposed by Member States, formally appointed by the Council, five-year renewable term of office  Five plenary sessions per year  Six thematic commissions The CoR – short overview (1)

PROPOSAL CODECISION CONSULTATION => OPINION CONSULTATION The CoR – short overview (2) European CommissionEuropean ParliamentCouncil of the EU DECISION European Economic & Social Committee

The Case for interregional co-operation 6

7 Globalisation and European integration:  Global challenges: Economic globalisation, demographic change, migration flows, climate change, energy.  European integration: EU enlargement, Single Market EMU and EURO area, enlargement of the Schengen area, Lisbon Treaty.  Localisation: Single territories are directly faced with challenges and have access to opportunities of a larger magnitude and which requires pooling of resources. The case for territorial co-operation

8 Multi-level governance and subsidiarity:  National policies have less of an influence on economic and regional development.  More responsibilities for Regional and Local Authorities in the European Union policies.  Institutional changes in the Member States: devolution, decentralisation and reform of federalism. The case for territorial co-operation

9 The public expenditure goes sub- national:  The LRA are the source of 60% of public investment in the EU  Their responsibilities are increasing for sustainable development and services to be provided to the citizens The case for territorial co-operation

10 In order to deliver effective policy, we need to:  Address optimal functional areas of intervention, which cross the traditional administrative boundaries and national frontiers;  Group authorities from different institutional level and nationality, responding to variable composition of needs and blend of competencies;  Therefore, to foster territorial cooperation across and beyond the European Union. The case for territorial co-operation

The Commission Proposal on Territorial Co-operation and on mainstreaming territorial co-operation 11

Separate regulation Increase of financial resources (+30 %) Concentration of programmes on up to 4 thematic objectives Simplified programme management (merger of managing and certifying authorities) Easier creation of European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) Territorial Cooperation beyond 2014

Budget allocation (in %) Population covered (in millions) Less developed regions/MSTransition regionsMore developed regions Cohesion Fund¹68.7 Less developed regions162.6 Transition regions38.9 More developed regions53.1 European Territorial Cooperation 11.7 Outermost regions and sparsely populated areas 0.9 Total336.0 ¹ €10 billion from the Cohesion Fund will be allocated to the Connecting Europe Facility Proposed funding for Territorial Co-operation

Crossborder European Territorial Cooperation

Transnational European Territorial Cooperation

Interregional Eur opean Territorial Cooperation

Draft General Regulation (Art. 87) 2. An operational programme shall set out: (c) the contribution to the integrated approach for territorial development set out in the Partnership Contract, including: –(v) the arrangements for interregional and transnational actions with beneficiaries located in at least one other Member State;

Draft ERDF Regulation Art. 3 Scope of support from the ERDF 1. The ERDF shall support: (d) development of endogenous potential by supporting regional and local development and research and innovation. These measures shall include: –(iv) networking, cooperation and exchange of experience between regions, towns, and relevant social, economic and environmental actors;

The CoR Position on Territorial Co- operation 19

CoR Opinion on Territorial Co-operation DRAFT OPINION of the Committee of the Regions Rapporteur: Mr Osvald (CZ/PES) “PROPOSAL FOR A REGULATION ON EUROPEAN TERRITORIAL COOPERATION” “agrees that interregional cooperation should aim to reinforce the effectiveness of cohesion policy by encouraging exchange of experience between regions and by harnessing the results of this exchange under the Growth and Jobs objective. The Committee feels that this exchange of experience should be broad-based and that its role should not be limited to complementing FP7” welcomes the endeavour to improve coordination between European Territorial Cooperation programmes and other cohesion policy instruments Adoption planned at CoR Plenary at 18./

Schneider Opinion on the future of cohesion policy “suggests that European cohesion policy could be used as a key tool for involving local and regional authorities in implementing the Europe 2020 strategy as part of this territorial pact. Steps should be taken, in all areas supported by European cohesion policy, to enable "territorial pacts" to be used to mobilise key local stakeholders to achieve the priorities and headline targets of the Europe 2020 strategy; to this end, advocates developing additional rules, within the framework of the cohesion policy objectives, that will allow local and regional authorities to play an active role in achieving the Europe 2020 strategy's growth priorities and headline targets as part of their operational programmes; proposes organising networking and exchanges of information between local and regional authorities in the context of the "European territorial cooperation" objective, with a view to achieving the Europe 2020 strategy's priorities and headline targets, making use of the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation scheme if appropriate.” OPINION of the Committee of the Regions Rapporteur: Dr Michael Schneider, State Secretary for Federal and European Affairs (DE/EPP) CONTRIBUTION OF COHESION POLICY TO THE EUROPE 2020 STRATEGY

The Europe 2020 challenge for Interregional Co-operation 22

1. Employment –75% of the year-olds to be employed 2. R&D / innovation –3% of the EU's GDP (public and private combined) to be invested in R&D/innovation 3. Climate change / energy –greenhouse gas emissions 20% (or even 30%, if a satisfactory international agreement can be achieved to follow Kyoto) lower than 1990, 20% of energy from renewables and 20% increase in energy efficiency 4. Education –Reducing school drop-out rates below 10% –at least 40% of 30-34–year-olds completing third level education (or equivalent) 5. Poverty / social exclusion –at least 20 million fewer people in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion 23 The Europe 2020 targets

Employment Rate

Early School leavers

Population aged with a tertiary education

Total expenditure on R&D

The European Grouping of Territorial co- operation 28

Engagement of the CoR regarding EGTC  Political impulse 2 own-initiative opinions about EGTC, 2008 and 2011  Sharing experience Expert Group, then EGTC Platform  Information and debate Joint consultation in 2010 Workshops and stands during the Open Days 3 studies and annual report since 2010  Public registry of EGTC Art. 5 of Regulation (EC) 1082/2006

30 The EGTC a useful tool to face financial crisis?

Its it integrated by all the EGTCs existing, the EGTCs in constitution, experts and different organisations of support Open to other cross-border structures. Launched the 28 January 2011 in Brussels Online forum Contact: The EGTC Platform

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