1. The future of cohesion policy and reporting requirements
Matthew Brooke
DG REGIONAL POLICY

2. Draft Regulations Adopted in July – what reports?
Currently before Council
 changes are possible!

3. The reform of the policy
Strategic approach
Ownership + Transparency
Higher profile on political agenda

4. Reports in draft Regulations
Strategic guidelines for cohesion policy
National strategic reference framework
Operational programmes
Annual follow-up reports / Cohesion report

5. Strategic guidelines for cohesion policy
Commission proposal – Council adopts
3 months after adoption of Regulations
Strategic outline of policy
Coherence with other community policies
Member State sections
Priority setting

6. National strategic reference framework
Based upon strategic guidelines
Member State presents – Commission "decides"
Strategy for Structural Funds
Framework for operational programmes
Priorities + objectives

7. Operational programmes
Member State submits proposal
Commission appraises
Formally part of national reference document

8. Annual follow-up – Member State
Start 2008 – annual report
Progress in implementation and goals
"…taking particular account of the indicators set"

9. Annual follow-up – Commission
Start 2009 – annual report
Addresses implementation and progress
Summarises Member State reports
Cohesion report remains every three years
 replaces annual report

10. Annual follow-up – Spring Council
Commission annual report sent to Spring Council
Part of package: BEPG, JER + Internal Market Strategy implementation report
Discussion in Spring Council  conclusions

11. The timing? Only strategic guidelines have fixed timetable
 within 3 months of regulations adopted
Others: as soon as possible after this