1 Programming period Strategy and Operational programmes DG REGIO – Unit B.3

2 National Strategic Reference Frameworks (NSRFs) NSRFs describe how the Objectives - Convergence and Competitiveness & Employment - contribute to the Integrated Guidelines on Growth and Jobs, including –the setting of national and Operational Programme targets –by making an additional effort in terms of Lisbon-related expenditure in relation to the baselines NSRFs should include: –priority actions identified in National Reform Programmes –the 4 priority actions in the Annual Progress Report (Lisbon Strategy) –coordination mechanisms between Lisbon and cohesion processes at national and regional level

3 Architecture of the OPs MonoFund OPsMonoFund OPs - Monofund rule laid down in Art 34(1) - Exception for ERDF and Cohesion Fund : compulsory joint programming (Art 34 (3)) - Crossfinancing between ESF- and ERDF- type actions (Art 34 (2))

4 Mono objective OPs (Art 32 (1)) Reasons for the rule: - Intervention of the Funds differentiated by Objective - Financial perspectives defined by Objective Exception « when otherwise agreed between the Commission and the Member State »

5 Geographical coverage Convergence objective (Art 35 (1)) - ERDF OP : NUTS level 2 - CF (and ERDF) OP: National level Regional competitiveness and employment objective (Art 35 (2)): NUTS level 1 or 2 European territorial cooperation objective (Art 35 (3)): NUTS level 3 + derogations

6 Content of the OP 1Analysis of the area or sector and justification of the priorities chosen 2 Priority axes 3 Categorisation 4 Financing plans 5 Implementing provisions 6 Indicative list of major projects

7 1 Analysis of the area or sector and justification of the priorities chosen -Analysis of the situation of the area or sector -Strategy chosen to respond to the strengths and weaknesses of the area or sector - Approach towards the sustainable urban development, shall be encouraged + Justification of the concentration on the priorities for OPs under the Regional competitiveness and employment objective.

8 2 Priority axes The OP shall be detailed by priority axis not by measure. The priority axis shall define targets and indicators Elements helping to define the number of priority axes: - A priority axis = a priority of the strategy - Containing operations which are related and have specific measurable goals (Art 2(2)) - One priority axis – one fund – one objective - Financial management at the level of the priority axis

9 3 Categorisation - Ex ante categorisation : previsions on the programmed use of the funds - At the level of the Operationnal programme and not by priority axis - Three tables to fill in: Priority themes Forme of finance Territory For information purpose only

10 4 Financing plans Two tables: At the level of the OP the total financial appropriation envisaged for the contribution of the fund broken down by year (not by priority axis)At the level of the OP the total financial appropriation envisaged for the contribution of the fund broken down by year (not by priority axis) At the level of the priority axis the amount of the total financial appropriation of the community contribution, the national counterpart and the rate of contribution of the funds for the whole programming period (not by year)At the level of the priority axis the amount of the total financial appropriation of the community contribution, the national counterpart and the rate of contribution of the funds for the whole programming period (not by year) = Shall simplify the financial management

11 5 Implementing provisions - Designation of the authorities and bodies: MA, CA, AA, body responsible for making the payments to the beneficiaires and body responsible for receiving the payments from the Commission - Designation of the authorities and bodies: MA, CA, AA, body responsible for making the payments to the beneficiaires and body responsible for receiving the payments from the Commission - Description of the monitoring and evaluation system - Definition of the procedures for mobilisation and circulation of the financial flows - Elements concerning information and publicity - Description of the procedures agreed for the exchange of computerised data.

12 6 Indicative list of major projects - In the perspective of the programming and not of the financial management of major projects - Indicative: no need to amend the list whenever a new major project is added

13 Eligibility period (art 56) - Starting date: the earliest date between the date of submission of the OP and 1 January 2007; - Starting date for the eligibility of the expenditure for all operations; - Expenditure paid by the beneficiary in implementing the operation (art 78); - End date: 31 December 2015 laid down in the general Regulation.

14 Preparation of the OP - Partnership in the preparation of the OP: (Art 32 (2) and 11) - Deadline: Submission as soon as possible and no later than 5 months from the adoption of the CSG - Submission to the Commission of the OP containing all elements mentionned in Article 37.

15 Appraisal and adoption of the OP by the Commission Appraisal of the OPs: - Consistency with the CSG and NSRF -Quality check of the content Adoption of the OPs: - Deadline: 4 months following the formal submision of the OP by the MS and not before 1 January 2007 (art 32 (5)) - Adoption by habilitation except OPs under the European territorial cooperation objective

16 Modification of OPs Modifications shall be done at the request of the MS or at the initiative of the Commission Reasons for modifying the OP: -Significant socio-economic changes -To take greater account of major changes in Community, national or regional priorities -Drawing lessons from on going evaluations -Implementing difficulties Modifications of the OP without modification of the decision approving the NSRF