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

High level of payments despite economic slowdown Cohesion Policy payments in 2008 - a year of transition between programming periods High level of payments despite economic slowdown Pleasing performance by Member States as absorption rates for 2000-2006 period continue to improve Cohesion Policy makes a difference in Europe’s regions Recovery Plan Challenges for 2009 2

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 2000-06 2007-13 ERDF 21.4 15.1 6.3 CF/ISPA 5.8 3.0 2.8 ESF 8.8 6.4 2.4 EAGGF 2.0 2.0 FIFG 0.3 0.3 TOTALS 38.3 26.8 11.5 € billion 3

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 2000-2006 for Cohesion Policy This represents 87.5% of allocated funds The rate by Fund is: % ERDF 91 CF 65 ESF 91 EAGGF 92 FIFG 89 Total allocation for the 2000-2006 period is € 257 billion 4

Cohesion Policy € 225 billion paid out EN Payments for period 2000-2006 (in € billion) Situation as at 2 February 2009 Cohesion Policy (4 Structural Funds & Cohesion Fund) € 225 billion paid out 5

Payments in 2008 by Member State (in € billion) Situation as at 31 December 2008 Cohesion Policy (2000-06 period & 2007-13 period) € 38.3 billion paid out 6

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

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 2007-2013 (€ 347 billion) + 40 000 projects already approved & 60 Major Projects proposed 8

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

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