1. Environment in Cohesion Policy framework for 2014-2020
4 September 2013 1 1

2. Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 Objectives of cohesion policy:
strengthen the EU’s economic, social and territorial cohesion
Alignment with ‘Europe 2020’ and its focus on smart, sustainable and inclusive growth
Increased thematic focus & performance orientation 2 2

3. A fair system for all EU regions (eligibility simulation)
GDP/capita*
< 75 % of EU average
75-90 %
> 90 %
*index EU27=100
3 categories
of regions
Less developed regions
Transition regions
More developed regions 3 3

4. Proposed legislative package 2014-2020
Common provisions regulation (CPR) on:
- the European Regional Development Fund,
- the European Social Fund,
- the Cohesion Fund,
- the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, and
- the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 4 4

5. The Common Strategic Framework (CSF)
Annex to CPR (Common provisions regulation) – therefore binding
Link to Europe 2020 and European semester
Integrated use of the ESI Funds (European Structural and Investment Funds)
Provides more detail on how to promote integration and coordination between the ESI Funds and with other Union instruments and policies
Horizontal principles and cross-cutting policy objectives
Key territorial challenges
Cooperation
To be considered during the programming process and reflected in the PA and programmes - provides more detail on many of the requirements set out in the CPR 5 5

6. A menu of 11 thematic objectives
Research & innovation
Information and communication technologies (ICT)
Competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
Shift towards a low-carbon economy
Climate change adaptation & risk prevention and management
Environmental protection & resource efficiency
Sustainable transport & removing bottlenecks in key network infrastructures
Employment & supporting labour mobility
Social inclusion & combating poverty
Education, skills & lifelong learning
Institutional capacity building & efficient public administrations
Translated into investment priorities set out in the Fund-specific rules
A menu of 11 thematic objectives
Among them, 3 focus on sustainable growth. 6 6

7. Partnership Agreement
An overarching strategy at national level which:
Covers the 5 European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds
In line with the CSF (Common Strategic Framework) sets out the planned use of the Funds
consistent with the Europe 2020 strategy
taking account of territorial challenges
coordinated to ensure an integrated approach
Core elements:
strategic choices: selected thematic objectives, allocations, main results
list of programmes
coordination between Funds and with other policies
commitments on administrative capacity and reduction of administrative burden 7 7

8. Operational programme
The main role of the operational programme is to set out a coherent intervention strategy for the territory/sectors
Core elements:
Selection of thematic objectives, investment priorities, allocations and justification – intervention logic
Financing plan and list of major projects
Integrated approach to territorial development; specific needs and demographic challenges
Ex ante conditionalities
Performance framework
Short, concise programmes with a clear focus on results.
Main platform for ex ante conditionalities. 8 8

9. Concentration of ERDF investments
Thematic concentration to maximise impact
Concentration of ERDF investments
TO1 Research & innovation
TO3 Competitiveness of SMEs
TO4 Shift towards a low-carbon economy
10-12%
20-22%
- The Commission proposal for thematic concentration for the ERDF focuses on the fields that will give Europe an economic and ecological future: Research, innovation, SME competitiveness and mastering the energy challenges without destroying our planet
- According to the negotiations in the trilogues, the EP and the Council agreed to open thematic concentration to a fourth thematic objective relating to ICT. There is now a need to find a solution to the share of ERDF resources that has to be dedicated to thematic objective 4 (support to the low-carbon economy).
NOTA BENE:
- in more developed regions, 80% of the ERDF resources need to be dedicated to thematic concentration (including the share of ERDF resources to devote to TO4: 20%-22%)
- in transition regions, 60 % of the ERDF resources need to be dedicated to thematic concentration (including the share of ERDF resources to devote to TO4: 15%- 20%)
- in less developed regions, 50 % of the ERDF resources need to be dedicated to thematic concentration (including the share of ERDF resources to devote to TO4: 10 %- 12%)
More developed & transitional regions
Less developed regions
Transition regions: 60 % concentration (incl. 15%- 20% for energy/renewables) 9
Flexibility – different regions have different needs Special arrangements for ex-convergence regions 9

10. Investment priorities relating to environment – water (Art
Investment priorities relating to environment – water (Art.5(6) ERDF and Art. 3(c) CF) 10 10

11. Investment priorities relating to environment (Art.5(6) ERDF)
ERDF only:
conserving, protecting, promoting and developing natural and cultural heritage
promoting innovative technologies to improve environmental protection and resource efficiency in the waste sector, water sector, soil protection or to reduce air pollution;"
supporting industrial transition towards a resource-efficient economy, […] promoting green growth, eco-innovation and environmental performance management in the public and private sectors
NOTA BENE:
The second investment priority (6f) should be understood as supporting applied research to develop technological innovations in the field of the environmental protection, which are not covered by thematic objectives 1 and 4 (Art. 5(1) and 5(4) of the ERDF Regulation). It might cover for example investments in the field of water and waste treatment.
The third one (6g) should be understood as supporting an efficient use of natural resources in the private and public sector. It might cover for example investments such as innovative systems of waste selecting and recycling, rainwater recovery ect. Advertising campaigns and environmental audits in this field could also fall under the scope of this investment priority. 11 11

12. Thank you for your attention!12