1. Commissioner for Regional Policy
Cohesion Policy
Budget payments in 2008
Danuta Hübner
Commissioner for Regional Policy
4 February 2009

2. High level of payments despite economic slowdown
Cohesion Policy payments in a year of transition between programming periods
High level of payments despite economic slowdown
Pleasing performance by Member States as absorption rates for period continue to improve
Cohesion Policy makes a difference in Europe’s regions
Recovery Plan
Challenges for 2009 2

3. 1. High level of payments in 2008 despite economic slowdown
€ 38.3 billion is total for Cohesion Policy
The breakdown by Fund & period is:
Total
ERDF
CF/ISPA
ESF
EAGGF
FIFG
TOTALS
€ billion 3

4. 2. Pleasing performance by Member States as absorption rates for period 2000-2006 improve
€ 225 billion
is the total paid to Member States over the period for Cohesion Policy
This represents 87.5% of allocated funds
The rate by Fund is: %
ERDF 91 CF
ESF 91
EAGGF 92
FIFG 89
Total allocation for the period is € 257 billion 4

5. Cohesion Policy € 225 billion paid outEN
Payments for period (in € billion)
Situation as at 2 February 2009
Cohesion Policy
(4 Structural Funds & Cohesion Fund)
€ 225 billion paid out 5

6. Payments in 2008 by Member State (in € billion)
Situation as at 31 December 2008
Cohesion Policy
( period
&
period)
€ 38.3 billion paid out 6

7. Absorption for period 2000-2006
Situation as at 2 February 2009
ERDF:
€ 117.4 billion or
91 % paid out 7

8. 3. Cohesion Policy makes a difference
The 2007 & 2008 budgets have advanced funds of more than € 18.1 billion to facilitate the rapid implementation of the new programming period by Member States
Beginning of 2009 a 3rd advance of € 5 billion
Spring 2009 an expected additional advance of € 6.2 billion
This means Member States will receive advances totalling € 29.3 billion which is 8.4% of the allocated funding
for the period (€ 347 billion) +
projects already approved &
60 Major Projects proposed 8

9. Immediate funding for major projects
4. Recovery Plan
Increase in advance payments to programmes in order to provide an immediate cash injection
Immediate funding for major projects
Simplification for the payment of advances paid via state-aid schemes
Simplification of eligibility rules to reduce red tape
Use of ERDF funds for energy-efficiency and renewables in housing
Giving more flexibility (from 2% to 10%)
Funding in place for accelerated implementation of big infrastructure projects 9

10. 5. Challenges for 2009
Member States to seize the opportunities provided by Cohesion policy and Commission fast response to economic situation
Commisison to report on the biggest evaluation exercise ever for cohesion policy. The results are expected for the end of this year, 2009, and will provide a substantial contribution to the debate on the future of cohesion policy after 2013 10