1 Proposed Regulations, Community Strategic Guidelines, Communication on Greening the Cohesion Policy and the application of the SEA Directive GRDP Seminar, Debrecen, Hungary, DG ENVIRONMENT European Commission

2 Presentation u I Brief re-cap on proposed Regulations (slides 3-6) u II Community Strategic Guidelines (slides 7 -10) u III Strategic Environmental Assessment and the future Cohesion Policy (slides 11-14) u IV Future timetable (slide 15)

3 I Regulatory Package: Council and EP u No decision at European Council on overall Financial Perspectives in June 2005 u Proposed General Provisions, ERDF, ESF, CF and EGCC Regulations being discussed in Council Working Group (SAWG). Main environmental discussion points – Article 10 on partnership, proposed Article 14bis on environment/SD as cross-cutting theme, Articles on evaluation u EP Plenary 6 July – many environmentally- relevant amendments including one on environment as cross-cutting theme

4 I The legislative proposals wThe legislative proposals are put in place through 5 regulations: A general provisions regulation (Council - Assent), which fixes the main objectives and eligibility rules, for interventions, for programming and for the management of the funds [& Commission Regulation on detailed rules] 3 regulations, ERDF (Council and EP – Co-Decision), ESF (Council & EP – Co-Decision) and the Cohesion Fund (Council - Consultation), which stipulate the arrangements specific to each fund A regulation on groupings for European transborder cooperation (Council & EP – Co-Decision), which creates a new cooperation tool available to regional and local organisations

5 I Future cohesion policy – how much is at stake? Total proposed budget - € billion Environment can be co-financed under all Objectives + €1 billion for Technical Assistance

6 I Regulations, Guidelines, Frameworks and OPs Commission Member State Member State/Regions National Strategic Reference Frameworks National & Regional Operational Programmes Negotiated with Commission Adopted by Commission Community Strategic Guidelines Regulations Adopted by Council, presented to EP Adopted by Council/EP

7 II Community Strategic Guidelines : “Cohesion Policy in Support of Growth and Jobs” u Adopted by College as a “draft” – COM(2005)0299 u Will be formally presented to Council and EP once Regulations adopted, for Council Decision (Assent, Art. 161) u Internet consultation until u Structure reflects renewed Lisbon Strategy – main focus on growth and jobs u Mention of Sustainable Development and Gothenburg u Covers three Objectives of Cohesion Policy: Convergence, Regional Competitiveness and Employment and Co-operation u Plus special mention on role of cities and economic diversification of rural areas

8 II CSG: Making Europe and its regions a more attractive place to invest and work u expand and improve transport infrastructure - sustainable urban and inter-urban transport u improving the environmental contribution to growth and jobs u infrastructures for air, water, waste nature and species protection in Convergence regions u promoting landuse planning to reduce urban sprawl, physical rehabilitation including natural and cultural assets u Investment to promote Kyoto commitments in addition to those to promote sustainable energy and transport u Risk prevention through improved management of natural resources, RTD, ICTs and public management policies uaddressing Europe’s intensive use of traditional energy sources – renewable energies and energy efficiency

9 II CSG: Improving knowledge and innovation for growth uincrease and improve investment in RTD ufacilitate innovation and promote entrepreneurship - eco-innovation uimproving access to finance

10 II CSG: More and Better Jobs uattract and retain more people in employment and modernise social protection systems uimprove adaptability of works and enterprises and the flexibility of the labour market uincrease investment in human capital through better education and skills uadministrative capacity - environmental capacity building

11 III The SEA Directive (2001/42/EC) and the future Cohesion Policy u Report due to Council and EP on relationship between SEA Directive and Community co- financing, December 2005 (Art. 12(4)) u Commission Methodological Working Paper on Ex-Ante Evaluation - discussed with MSs on Contains annex on SEA u GRDP SEA Handbook – discussed and at ENEA Plenary

12 III SEA and the new Regulations – does SEA apply in principle? u Current exclusion for Structural Funds and EAGGF (Art. 3(9)) not extended to the next programming period u Plans and programmes co-financed by the European Community are included in the scope of the SEA Directive (Art. 2) u SEA will be applicable to plans / programmes drawn up under the new Regulations as to any other plan or programme

13 III SEA and the new Regulations – to what will SEA apply? u Plans and programmes co-financed under new Regulations will have to be checked against the Directive’s « tests » (Art. 2, definition of plan/ programme and Art. 3, scope) u If they meet the criteria, they will have to be subject to SEA

14 III SEA - an important message u The SEA Directive permits duplication of assessment to be avoided, e.g. for plans which form part a hierarchy  When deciding on the « scope » of the assessment, consider at what stage and level of the decision- making process the assessment should be best carried out  Information obtained at other levels in the decision-making process / through other EC legislation may be used

15 V Future timetables Cohesion PolicyEnvironmental Policy Spring 2005 – bi-lateral meetings with Member States – draft CSG adopted by College ? End 2005 – Decision by EP and Council on Future SF Regulations ? CSG (sent to EP and Council (for adoption)) with annual dialogue on it thereafter with MSs ? 2005 – National Strategic Reference Frameworks 2005: Thematic Strategies delivered for urban; air; recycling; resources; marine; soil Dec. 2005: Communication on Greening the Cohesion Policy 2006: SFs programme preparation/negotiation with MSs2005/6: Thematic Strategies implementation 1 Jan : new SFs programmes in operation2012: 6 th EAP implemented? 2020: SDS implemented?