Workshop Regional Policy and GMES Granada 16 April 2010 Birgit Urban Policy Officer for Regional Policy and Economic Affairs Representation of the Land Brandenburg to the EU, Brussels 1

AGENDA 1.Reminder – What is NEREUS about? 2.Key question for the discussion 3.Themes covered by NEREUS 4.Awareness of the GMES potential in the regions 5.How can the EU Regional Policy/the Regional Funds can support the dissemination of GMES applications in the regions? 6.What are the Regional Funds? 7.What are the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy? 8.Discussion: how can NEREUS feed in arguments into the discussion of the future of the Regional Policy and Europe 2020 strategy? 2

REMINDER: The context of NEREUS activities Space technologies play a key role in supporting the economic growth, industrial competitiveness, scientific research and innovation and a sustainable development of the European Regions. The NEREUS-network was created with the explicite aim to close the existing gap between the space technologies end-users and institutional actors of European Space policies on regional level. WHY? Because regions need modern technologies and services to cope with their tasks deriving from EU-legislation and regional development. 3

The key question for our discussion is: Which role does Regional Policy play in the NEREUS regions to develop a for the applications of space technologies and the development of downstream services? 4

The application of space technologies and the development of down stream services are relevant – among others – for the following themes: Environment Civil protection/Security Energy Training/Education Entrepreneurship Transport Health ICT. They are reflected in the following EU policies: Cohesion Policy Innovation Policy Europe 2020 Strategy Research and Development Climate/Energy Transport Mare/Agriculture Education/Employment 5

Current situation in the regions concerning the awareness of the GMES potential: They are not fully aware of the potentials the space technologies may have for the regional development. They utilize only a part of the services available for their proper tasks (e. g. risk prevention, urban development). They do not stimulate the development of the market by investing into core projects therefore innovation might be hampered. Enterprises: They may not develop the necessary/future oriented services as they will not find a market. Their international activities are difficult, because they are too small to do the job on their own (with respect to finances, staff, time, experience and risk). They are not investing and do not/cannot hire qualified staff. Universities: Missing funds for further investments and participation at international projects. Missing cooperation with enterprises. 6

- State of the art of the discussion on the future of Regional Policy post 2013 Currently the budget for the Cohesion Fund is about 350 Billion Euro for the period (277 Billion Euro for European Regional Development (ERDF) and European Social Fund (ESF) and 70 Billion for the Cohesion fund = besides the Fund for Agriculture this is the biggest “pot” within the EU budget. ERDF and ESF are focused on the following objectives: Development of human and physical capital, Innovation, Knowledge society, Environment Reinforcing competitiveness, Promotion of entrepreneurship. Result: There is a strong overlap with the themes relevant for the application of Space Technologies and development of down stream services. Regional Policy: state of the art and outlook 7

The Future of the Regional Policy The discussion on the future of the Regional Policy (ERDF and ESF) has started: In the context of the Economic and Financial Crisis it is doubtful, whether the EU budget will be enlarged; this means: the volume of the EU budget will remain nearly the same. With the Lisbon Treaty the EU has overtaken new tasks, which have to be financed from the EU budget; this means: the existing budget lines have to be re-organised. Cohesion Policy is facing serious financial cuts. Within the new European Commission discussions have started either to develop new thematic framework programmes (= sectoral approach), e. g. a framework programme for innovation, or to increase the budget of existing framework programmes, like the 7 th FP (from currently about 50 bn Euro to 100 bn Euro); this means: a more centralized approach for EU projects – decided in Brussels - compared with a regional approach offered by the Regional policy, where decisions are taken by regional and local stakeholders. 8

The Europe 2020 Strategy: The Europe 2020 Strategy = successor of the so called “Lisbon Strategy” ; Offers a strategy to go out of the crisis and prepare the EU economy for the next decade; The European Commission has identified THREE key drivers for growth:. Smart Growth – fostering knowledge, innovation, education and digital society;. Sustainable Growth – making our production more resource efficient while boosting the competitiveness;. Inclusive Growth – raising participation in the labour market and the acquisition of skills. Progress towards these objectives will be measured against five representative EU-level targets, which the Member States will be asked to translate into national targets, such as:. 75 % of the population between 20 – 64 years should be employed. 3 % of the EU’s GDP should be invested in R&D. The “20/20/20” climate/energy targets should be met. 9

The Europe 2020 Strategy: To meet these targets, the European Commission proposes a series of “flagship” initiatives, such as: Innovation Union = re-focusing R&D and innovation policy on major challenges, while closing the gap between sciences and market to turn inventions into products. This is a NEREUS subject! Youth in move = enhancing the quality and international attractiveness of Europe’s higher education system by promoting student and young professionals mobility. This is a NEREUS subject! A digital agenda for Europe – delivering sustainable economic and social benefit form a Digital Single Market based on ultra fast internet. All Europeans have access to high speed internet by This is relevant for NEREUS, too! Resource-efficient Europe –supporting the shift towards a resource-efficient and low carbon economy. Europe should stick to its 2020 targets in terms of energy production, efficiency and consumption. This effects NEREUS activities, too! An industrial policy for green growth – helping the EU’s industrial base to be competitive in the post-crisis world, promoting entrepreneurship and developing of new skills. This concerns the application of space technologies and GMES services, too. 10

Regional Policy in the context of Europe 2020 An agenda for new skills and jobs - creating the conditions for modernising labour markets, with view to raising employment levels. This a NEREUS subject, too! Summary a) Link between the future of the Regional Policy and Europe 2020 Strategy: Argument for the current discussion: Only if the content and the funds of the Regional Policy are strictly targeted to support the Europe 2020 Strategy there might be chance that the financial cut of the budget might be more moderate than foreseen. b) Consequences for NEREUS activities: NEREUS themes are reflected in both policies – Cohesion policy and Europe 2020 Strategy. Within the future discussion it has to be assured that the Regional Funds remain a major tool for enhancing activities related to the application of the space technologies and the development of down stream services in the regions. 11

Thank your for your attention ! Birgit Urban Representation of the Land Brandenburg to the EU Rue Joseph II 108 B-1000 Brussels Tel.: Mail: 12