Improving the Synergies between the Structural Funds and the Lisbon Strategy Dr. Jens Henrik Haahr Danish Technological Institute

Thematic Evaluation:  Analyse implementation of the Lisbon Strategy  Assess the contribution of SF programmes to Lisbon  Identify ways for better exploiting synergies and complementarities

Study Elements Processess and Contributions  Lisbon Strategy Implementation  Structural Fund Contributions Rationales, Potentials and Risks  Objectives and Governance Structures  Economic Rationales

”Lisbon is like a road that everyone wants to be on. You may want to be on the left or the right side of the road, but no one wants to leave it altogether. It defines good manners for European policy making”

High but Varied Congruence of SF Expenditure with Lisbon Objectives Country / region Programme Share of funding relevant for Lisbon Objectives (%) Portugal CSF21 Greece CSF39 Ireland CSF42 Germany – NBL CSF56 Greece – Attica Objective 118 Italy – Campania Objective 126 Portugal – North region Objective 128 Spain – Extremadura Objective 132 Germany – Sachsen Anhalt Objective 167 Sweden – Norra Norrland Objective 178 UK – Western Scotland Objective 268 Denmark – Bornholm Objective 280 Austria – Lower Austria Objective 2n/a Finland – Satakunta Objective 285 France – Aquitaine Objective 283

Lisbon is about stronger growth Two options: 1.Promote Lisbon via specific Structural Fund programme 2.Increase the Structural Funds’ focus on aggregate growth

1) Promoting Lisbon in a specific SF programme (Competitiveness and Employment Objective) Recommendations: If objective is increased competitiveness at regional level:  Concentration of finances on selected regions If objective is stronger strategic orientation in Member States:  Direct link to national policies and programmes  Thematic or geographical concentration of financial resources  Clear commitments to multiplication and mainstreaming

2) Increasing the Growth Contribution of SF Programmes  More emphasis on the growth objectives of Structural Fund programmes  Stronger emphasis on R&D and innovation  Stricter limits for support to individual enterprises  More solid assessments of social rate of return and cost/benefits  More focus on institution building (public administration, business services)  Find ways to facilitate risk taking and innovation in SF projects

Use Structural Funds as lever for reform