1 Delegation of the Region of Valencia in Brussels THE FUTURE OF THE REGIONAL POLICY A STRATEGIC APPROACH FROM THE REGION OF VALENCIA Juan Manuel Revuelta General Director DELEGATION OF THE REGION OF VALENCIA IN BRUSSELS

2 FUNDACIÓN COMUNIDAD VALENCIANA – REGIÓN EUROPEA Comunidad Valenciana, East of Spain Population figures: Region: 4.2 milion Capital city, Valencia: 750, milion metropolitan population Mediterranean Sea

3 Delegation of The Region of Valencia in Brussels Multi-fund programme: ERDF, ESF, EAGGF-G Regional authority: Ministry of Economy and Finances total expenditure: 4.174,91 M€ Most relevant aims: Encouraging environmentally sustainable economic growth. Reduction of the imbalance in terms of average per capita within the EU. Job creation Info: DG Economy, Regional STRUCTURAL FUNDS IMPLEMENTATION IN

4 DELEGATION OF THE REGION OF VALENCIA IN BRUSSELS 4 Priority strategical targets: Improving ground conditions for raising regional competitiveness. Improving competitiveness and developing production to ensure job creation. Strategy for employability and equal opportunities. Encouraging social and territorial cohesion. Main expected impacts: average economic growth: 3-4 % job creation average: 2’5-4 % R+D+I spending by 2003 reaching: 1% STRUCTURAL FUNDS IMPLEMENTATION IN

5 DELEGATION OF THE REGION OF VALENCIA IN BRUSSELS Enlargement of the EU: from 15 to 25 to members. Contribution of Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund to the GDP increasing to 84%. Cease of Objective 1 because of their own economic development. May 2004: Declaration of the natural effect regions adopted by Border, Midland and Western (Ireland), Burgenland (Austria), Castilla y León (Spain), Central Hungary, Notio Aigaio and Sterea Ellada (Greece), Merseyside and South Yorkshire (United Kingdom) and the region of Valencia. Position of the “natural effect” regions before the EU´s proposals: inclusion within the Convergence priority. Treatment as “phasing out” regions. Gradual transition in abolition of regional state aids. Valencia and the future of the cohesion policy:

6 DELEGATION OF THE REGION OF VALENCIA IN BRUSSELS The Region of Valencia is beneficiary of Structural Funds and performance reserve: a case of best practice. example of innovation projects and services in favour of citizens, according to the EU strategical priorities. Adapting the Administration human ressources to a new era of projects and co-operation after the structural funds: Innovation, sustainable development, renewable energies A new platform of networking: In 2003 the Regional government of Valencia adapts its role in a EU enlarged to the new period and new times, opening its office in Brussels to the civil society: Foundation of the Region of Valencia-Region of Europe PILOT PROJECT OF A NEW STRATEGY IN VALENCIA

7 DELEGATION OF THE REGION OF VALENCIA IN BRUSSELS The Fundación Comunidad Valenciana – Región Europea (FCV- RE), created on November 2003, is a non-for-profit entity, based at the Valencia Regional Office in Brussels. Objective: to link public administrations and business associations and civil society -as well as research institutes- to the European Union, favouring their participation in European projects. FCV-RE aims to boost projects and contribute to their success through an efficient inter-regional cooperation. Since its creation, the Foundation has already applied for 40 EU projects, with a volume of 11 M€. such as INTERREG, LIFE and LEONARDO co- financed projects CREATION OF THE FOUNDATION

8 DELEGATION OF THE REGION OF VALENCIA IN BRUSSELS Commitment with cooperation: between industrial clusters, chambers of commerce, financial institutions, local development agencies, education and training institutions, research and development institutions and other relevant social players. Our technical staff: includes a projects and partners research department, and press department for the dissemination of projects results between the experts, officers and decision takers of European institutions and regions. 40% LIFE Environment funds at national level: 1/3 of all the LIFE funding allocated to Spain comes to the Valencian Region with its pilot projects to improve the quality of our environment. Second Spanish region in terms of LEONARDO cofinanced projects. BRIDGING EUROPE WITH THE VALENCIAN REGION

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11 DELEGATION OF THE REGION OF VALENCIA IN BRUSSELS WEBSITE The website provides free access to news on EU research policies and advice on managing 6th Framework Programme projects, as well as interesting new calls for proposals and tenders. An improved alert service is included in order to deliver relevant new research partner profiles, news on programmes and upcoming events, along with useful links for key players. Registered users can customize search profiles, getting instantly ed every new record added to the database. The website offers dissemination and communication of results, as well as best-practice experience database.

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13 DELEGATION OF THE REGION OF VALENCIA IN BRUSSELS Dissemination of results: the Foundation is eager to become an enthusiastic partner in European projects through its: service to deploy a digital service trough Europe for monitoring the industrial management Security by means of the ITC, that increases the collective protection of people. technological platform as support for the training of the European local police forces. ECO-RICE: creation of a transectoral center for waste reuse and recycling of rice straw and other organic waste. PERFECT PARTNER FOR EUROPEAN PROJECTS

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16 DELEGATION OF THE REGION OF VALENCIA IN BRUSSELS FOUNDATION BOARD: Valencian Regional Government Chambers of Commerce, Business Associations, Intercitrus Federation of Municipalities and Main Electrical Utility

17 DELEGATION OF THE REGION OF VALENCIA IN BRUSSELS We are looking forward to exchanging best practices with you and co-operating trough partnerships in EU funds. Contact us