European Territorial Cooperation

SAWP meeting, 9 July 2012

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ETC in regulatory framework

Four relevant regulations:

- Common provisions for the ERDF, ESF, CF, EAFRD, EMFF

- Fund-specific regulations for ERDF and ETC

- EGTC regulation

ETC in context of proposals

• Overall reform aims apply (Europe 2020 alignment, thematic concentration, performance orientation)

• Cooperation activities of CSF Funds covered by Common Strategic Framework and Partnership contracts

• Performance framework applies, but not performance reserve • Ex-ante conditionalities do not apply

• Changes deriving from revisions of Financial Regulation apply (annual accounts, designation mechanism etc.)

Key features of ETC regulation

• Continuity (three strands, joint programme management and project selection, lead partner principle etc.)

• Clarifications (responsibilities of bodies involved in programme implementation, third country involvement, role of EGTCs, Concept of sole beneficiary, use of the Euro)

• Strengthening of joint approach at programme and project level (eligibility rules, organisation of financial control and audit, project selection criteria)

Subject matter and scopeArt. 1 ETC Regulation

• Scope of ERDF with regard to European territorial cooperation goal

• Relationship to other parts of regulatory package: CPR and chapter I of ERDF-regulation apply, except as specifically provided under the ETC-regulation or where provisions can only apply to Investment for Growth and Jobs goal

Applicability ETC vs IPA/ENI:

• If ERDF is transferred to IPA/ENI, those rules apply

• If ENI/IPA Funds are transferred to ETC programmes, Art. 28 applies

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Components of the European territorial cooperation goal, Art. 2 ETC-regulation

Cross-border, transnational and interregional are kept

New elements:

• Future "INTERREG VC": Link to Investment for Growth and Jobs programmes is made more explicit (Regions for Economic Change), can support all thematic objectives

• Future "URBACT": Explicit reference to rural development (for urban-rural linkages); complementary to urban development platform

• Future "INTERACT": Wording broadened to include support for macro-regional strategy processes, explicit reference to use of EGTC 6

Geographical coverage,Art. 3 ETC-Regulation

• Discussions on design of future programme areas are ongoing between Commission and Member States/regions

• No radical changes expected, rather adjustments for example to reflect geography of macro-regional strategies

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Geographical coverage - cross-border cooperation, Art. 3 ETC-Regulation

Cross-border cooperation

• COM to adopt list of cbc areas to receive support, broken down by cooperation programme (at NUTS 3 level) by implementing act

• List can include NUTS 3 regions on the border and adjacent areas (e.g. if included as flexibility area in 2007-2013), but no obligation

• List specifies NUTS level 3 regions taken into account for ERDF allocation on all internal and those external borders covered by IPA/ENI

• List includes regions in NO, CH etc. and countries neighbouring outermost regions for information purposes

• Addition of adjacent NUTS 3 regions may be proposed when submitting programmes ("safety net")

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Geographical coverage – transnational and interregional cooperation

Transnational cooperation

• COM to adopt list of transnational areas to receive support by programme (at NUTS 2 level), as in 2007-2013

• Third country regions covered by ENI (incl. Russia) and IPA can also be covered by programme, funding from external instruments to be made available

• Third country regions included in list for information purposes

• Addition of adjacent NUTS 2 regions may be proposed when submitting programmes ("safety net")

Interregional cooperation

• EU-28, whole or part of territory of third countries may be covered 9

Resources for European Territorial CooperationArt. 4 ETC-Regulation

• Allocation mechanism remains as in 2007-2013 (by MS for cbc and transnational, by programme for interregional)

New:

• Outermost regions: guaranteed increase of 150 % of ERDF support received in 2007-2013, additional EUR 50 mio.set aside from interregional envelope

• Amount to be transferred to ENI/IPA to be established by COM and MS

• If no programme submitted, funds to be allocated to internal cbc programmes of Member State concerned

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Selection of operations Art. 11 ETC-regulation

• Monitoring Committee selects operations

• No changes in requirements for number of beneficiaries in operation

• Beneficiaries to cooperate in development, implementation, staffing and financing of operations

• Operation may be implemented in a single country if for the benefit of the programme area (e.g. joint research center)

• Concept of sole beneficiary (if multi-national character)

• MA to provide lead beneficiary with document setting out conditions of support, including products and services to be delivered and time-limit for execution (like "grant offer letter", "subsidy contract" now) 11

Beneficiaries, Art. 12 ETC-RegulationResponsibility of lead partner remains as in 2007-2013

Changes reflect

• concept of sole beneficiary (para. 1)

• possibility to carry out management verifications by Managing authority (2d)

• and ensure coherence with CPR (para.3)

Art. 20(2) of current ERDF regulation is taken out, because covered in Art. 25 (3) (recoveries) and Art. 19 (2c) (eligibility of operations depending on location)

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Implementation reports and annual review, Art. 13, 14 ETC-regulation

• Need to be aligned with CPR

• Additional possibility to carry out annual review in writing (reflects current practice), but annual meeting remains possible

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Participation of third countriesArt. 28 ETC-Regulation

• IPA and/or ENI funds can be transferred to transnational/interregional programmes for participation of third countries (as now for South East Europe and MED programmes, but no explicit provision in regulation)

• Rules on financial management, programming, monitoring, evaluation and control for financial participation of third countries in transnational and interregional programmes to be established in cooperation programme or financing agreement

• Should facilitate use of the funding in accordance with ETC rules, but will depend on final versions of IPA, ENI, FR and MFF

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ETC

• Thank you for your attention!

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