open days brussels 10 october 2006 structural funds management: the western scotland partnership...
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Open DaysBrussels
10 October 2006
Structural Funds Management: the Western Scotland
Partnership Experience
Laurie Russell
Formerly Chief Executive
Strathclyde European Partnership
European Funds in Scotland 2000 -2006
Objective 1 transition308m euro
Objective 273m euroObjective 2 480m euro
Objective 2250m euro
Objective 3507m euro
Characteristics of the Scottish system
• Regional economic and social regeneration based on agreed 7 year Programmes
• Flexible co-finance for projects• Partnership - agencies have equal status
and decisions are made by consensus• Targeting resources on areas of economic
opportunity and of greatest need• Balance between top down and bottom up
approaches • Visibility of Europe on the ground• Sharing our knowledge and experience
Application processPROGRAMMEPROGRAMME
IMPLEMENTINGIMPLEMENTINGCOMMITTEECOMMITTEE
ECONOMIC & SOCIAL
COHESION
COMPETITIVELOCATION
LABOURMARKET
COMPETITIVESMEs
PARTNERSApply
Decide
Appraise
Assess
What does SEP Ltd do?
• Pre-application advice and assistance• Managing the project life cycle• Managing the decision making process and
committee system• Processing project applications, issuing
offers of grant, processing claims, carrying out monitoring visits
• Specialist support on horizontal themes• Disseminating good practice and learning• Publicising European Funds
The Wider Environment
• Partnership starts with the regional strategy and Programme developed in partnership by wide range of agencies
• Local economic development companies promote an integrated approach and work in partnership at a local level
• Scottish Executive social justice, employability, regeneration and community planning policies
• Intermediary bodies that can deliver projects on a partnership basis
Drivers of partnership
• Is it just the desire to distribute the money that gets people involved?
• The sense of being part of a strategic approach to regional regeneration - being part of a bigger picture
• The ability to learn from the experience of other partners, see other projects and compare with your own experience
• Positive political profile • Personal development from being able to do
new things and learn from others
Challenges and threats
• Partnership needs to happen at all stages in the Structural Funds cycle
• Decision making by consensus can be difficult
• Role of social partners and others• Dealing with vested interests and conflicts
of interest• Can the centre relinquish power?• The threats from political and institutional
changes in the external environment
Conclusion
• Partnership can be slower and therefore more expensive, but there are long-term benefits
• Able to survive institutional or political change
• Works with political priorities• Transparent and accountable• Equitable and inclusive - all partners have
an equal voice• Balances objective appraisal criteria with
expertise and experience of partners
Structural Funds Management: the Western Scotland Partnership
Approach
Laurie Russell
Formerly Chief Executive
Strathclyde European Partnership
Tel:+44 141.572.4400 Fax:+44. 141.572.4499
Email: [email protected]
Web Site: www.wsep.co.uk