1. What does the Community want?
Structural funds
What does the Community want?
European identity
Competitive industry
Supporting small firms & innovation
Skilled workforce
Reduction of regional differentials
Elimination of Social Exclusion
Protection of the environment

2. Regional development Needs central support Is locally directed
Is consistent across the Union
Should assist the implementation of all EU policies
Should involve local bodies in decisions and delivery

3. Guiding Principles intervention in economic development plurality
social solidarity
decentralisation of decision making

4. AGENDA 2000 EU Regional Policy
EU funding regimes implement the EU’s defined policy objectives agreed by the Member States.
These objectives are set out in policy documents, most recently:
AGENDA 2000

5. AGENDA 2000: Aims Internal policy
conditions for sustainable growth and employment
A knowledge based society
Modernising employment & improving living conditions
The Common Agricultural policy
Reform of the CAP

6. AGENDA 2000: Aims Economic and Social Cohesion
Reducing disparities in economic and social development
Concentration of funds on regions in greatest need of economic development or industrial restructuring
Structural support for new Member States
Enhancing cost effectiveness

7. Three Structural Funds
European Regional Development Fund
European Social Fund
European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund
and one financial instrument:
Financial Instrument for Fisheries

8. The ERDF
The European Regional Development Fund aims to reduce the gaps in development between the regions.
Primarily the fund provides support for the creation or modernisation of economic
infrastructure, which contributes to the development, or conversion of the regions
concerned.
Support is available for:
Capital projects such as investment in transport infrastructure, telecommunications, tourism projects, research and development facilities or training centres.
Business support projects such as technology transfer, supply chain management or new product development.

9. The ESF
The European Social Fund is the European union’s main tool for developing human resources and improving the workings of the labour market throughout the union.
The fund aims to improve employment opportunities by providing financial support for vocational training and job creation measures.

10. The EAGGF (Guidance section)
This fund assists in the adaptation of agricultural structures and in developing and
diversifying the Community’s rural areas. The fund divides into two sections: Guidance and Guarantee (CAP).
The Guidance section essentially covers grants, mostly contributing to the multi- annual operational programmes operating under the criteria of the Structural Fund Objectives 1, 2, 5a, 5b and 6.
It supports:
The improvement of marketing and processing conditions for agricultural products.
Improvements in the structure of agricultural holdings.
The protection of environmentally sensitive areas.

11. Objectives Future Objectives (2000-2006)
Objective promoting the development of the poorest regions.
Objective support for areas faced with structural problems associated with socio-economic regeneration.
Objective human resource development (ESF only)

12. Implementation A programme for each region covering a single objective
using one or more funds
meeting regional needs

13. EU Programmes Rationale Development Additionality Subsidiarity
Respond to regional priorities
Respond to EU priorities
Plurality & partnership
Development
Iterative process - national/commission & regional actors
Review & negotiation
Implementation to Plan
Management at Regional level

14. The steps to create an operational programme
Regional Development Plans
indicate regional priorities
Community Support Frameworks
a Commission response on context & strategy
Single Programming Document
specifies context, strategy, priorities & measures

15. Regional Development Plan
The RDP is developed locally and aims to provide a clear steer for those using it to focus on regional priorities and to understand the types of project that are likely to be supported.
The strategy will develop the national framework of
priorities, which will be set out in the National Devellopment Plan (prepared by central government) to provide:

16. Regional Development Plan
a) strategic objectives, that accurately reflect the needs of the region;
b) clear priorities for action based on an analysis of information about the region and consultations with a wide range of organisations
c) guidance on the type of projects and approaches that will be encouraged

17. Community Support Framework: Structure
1 Regional Development Context & Analysis
2 Regional Development Strategy & Forms of Assistance
3 Financial Tables & Additionality
4 Implementation of the Community Support Framework

18. Community Support Framework
Regional Development Context & Analysis
The plan’s goals
The key role of the Common Task
Measures for vocational training and employment promotion
The effort for agricultural and fishery reconstruction and rural development
Other sources of European financial support

19. Community Support Framework
Regional Development Context & Analysis
basic infrastructure
production and use of energy
the border areas
the productive sector
the services sector
research and development capability
human resources potential
agriculture and rural development
rural areas
fisheries

20. Community Support Framework
Development priorities
Support for productive investment and accompanying production related infrastructure
Measures to support small and medium-sized enterprises
Measures to promote research and technological development as well as innovation
Measures to protect and improve the environment
Measures to promote the development of human resources, vocational training and further training as well as employment
Measures to promote agriculture, the development of rural areas and fisheries
Technical assistance

21. Community Support Framework
The Environmental impact
Legal framework for the improvement of the protection of the environment in the new Federal Lander
the role of the environmental authorities in the implementation of the Community Support Framework
Financial Tables and Additionality
EIB lending
ECSC reconversion loans under Article 56 of the ECSC Treaty
Additionality

22. Typical regional targets
Industrial Restructuring
Improvement in employment in the area;
Improvement of the business structure in the area;
Improvement in the level of company services;
Improvement in product quality, company technical skills and levels of innovation
Improvement of productivity;
Increase in the rate of SME formation;
Increase in the survival rate of SMEs;
Improved networking between customers and suppliers to increase opportunities for local supply
Improvement of attractiveness of the area for investment (foreign or local);
Improvement in the areas image;
Improvement in the level and application of technology;
Increased provision of appropriate facilities for new technologically based companies;
Encouragement of new enterprises to utilise new technologies and production methods in growth sectors;
Increase in business expenditure on R & T D; and
Establishment of Centres of Excellence: (Key growth)

23. Single Programming Document
Results from negotiations
combines aspects of regional plan and community support framework
is the detailed basis for the operational programme
has targets to be met

24. Typical regional targets
Labour Market Issues
Creation of new employment opportunities;
Maintenance of employment at such a level that demand for and supply of labour is closer to balance;
Development of such training and educational structures to respond better to the needs of business, particularly in the area of specific high level skill needs in new and emergent technologies;
Co-operation between educational and research organisations and businesses;
Introduction of training plans and programmes into established enterprises (particularly medium-sized enterprises) and evidence that this will lead to investment in human resource development;
Graduate retention and regional opportunities for graduates;
Fostering innovation and the use of new technologies in SMEs; and
Increasing the number of people with technological qualifications in appropriate growth sector

25. Typical regional targets
Rural Development
Improvement of agricultural product quality or reorientation to meet demand;
Other developments in area of product processing, handling, storage and packaging;
Development of by-product recycling;
Reduction of adverse environmental impacts associated with production;
Scale of producer and marketing groups to reach minimum levels for appropriate agricultural sectors as defined by the relevant Ministry;
Collaborative marketing of tourism and recreation activities based on the rural environment;
Increased rural tourism per capita expenditure;
Increased regional income and employment from tourism;
Improvement in the number and quality of tourist facilities;
Improvement in quality and quantity of rural tourist accommodation and facilities;
Improved skills of those employed in tourist trade;
Ensuring the retention, in a good state, of the region’s most historic sites and buildings;
Demonstrate an integrated approach to village development;
The conversion of redundant farm buildings to non-agricultural economic activity;
Community enterprise development schemes (ie. Grass-roots local initiatives):
a) helping people to access appropriate education;
b) to provide them with the skills needed to enter training;
c) to facilitate easier access to training; and
d) to help them to get real jobs

27. Measures Must use one structural fund Must reflect a priority
Must reflect an element of need
May focus on a cross cutting theme
May reflect one element of the priority, by industry or type of activity

28. Participation Should include the major public bodies
Should include the representatives of the main economic actors, e.g trade unions
May include direct involvement of the private sector
Must have a formal structure
Is usually led by Central Government representatives

29. Criteria Must Should reflect the overall priorities of the programme
be applied to each measure
reflect the goals of the single programming document
be quantifiable
be objective
Should
reflect the overall priorities of the programme
reflect the impact of the project on the cross cutting themes

30. Selection process is vital to the programme
should be transparent, all aspects of the decision making clear
must be based on the criteria
should be prompt
should facilitate the execution of the programme
should be unbiased

31. Project Selection Criteria
Core
A demonstration of additional benefit to the region as a result of the programme
A demonstration of need for programme support

32. Project Selection Criteria
Job creation or attainment of other relevant specified outputs;
Leverage of extra investments, especially from the private sector;
Value for Money, including the cost per unit
Level of disadvantage in the geographic area of the project;

33. Project Selection Criteria
Collaborative or partnership venture, particularly those involving the private sector
The innovative character of the project
Synergy with other schemes and measures;
The extent of support from other partners;
The strategic nature of the project in the regional context
Positive environmental impact

34. Project Selection Criteria (Preferential)
Comprehensive area-based regeneration effects
Contribution to more than one of the three programme components:
industrial restructuring,
labour market issues,
rural development
Significant contribution to regional competitiveness

35. Optional group work session
In groups of six
responding to local priorities
develop an aspect of a programme

36. Construct an Operational Programme Base this on the given draft
Create
Measures
Criteria
Eligible bodies
Selection process