1. EU Cohesion Policy 2014-2020: legislative proposals
Vicente RODRIGUEZ SAEZ, DG Regional Policy,
Deputy Head of Unit for European Transnational and Interregional Cooperation
March 2012

2. LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE General Regulation
- Common provisions for cohesion policy, the rural development policy and the maritime and fisheries policies
- Common provisions for cohesion policy only (ERDF, ESF, CF)
Regulations for ERDF, ESF, CF
ETC Regulation
Modification of EGTC Regulation

3. General approach THE COMMON STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
Objectives and targets of EU 2020
Key territorial challenges
Key actions
THE PARTNERSHIP CONTRACT/AGREEMENT
National Reform Programme, national targets
Disparities and development needs
OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME – INTERVENTION LOGIC
CSF to be drafted by end of this year!
EU 2020 headline targets, GDP, employment rate
Result indicators
Output indicators
Thematic objectives
Specific objectives corresponding to investment priorities
Actions

4. Main features in Legislative Package
Goals for Cohesion Policy (main Objectives):
Investment for Growth and Jobs
European Territorial Cooperation
Overall reform Principles
Strategic approach: Europe 2020 alignment
Thematic concentration
Results orientation
Simplification and Proportionality (Management and control systems / Accreditation Process)
Cooperation activities of all Funds covered by Common Strategic Framework and Partnership contracts

5. ETC – Special reference to macro-regional and Sea-basin Strategies
- Baltic Sea and Danube strategies underway, interest for strategies in other parts of Europe.
- MRs Provide framework for aligning policies and funding with a view to increase impact, beyond ambit of cohesion policy.
- Permanent Review of existing strategies. Council Conclusions by Polish Presidency on progress of Baltic Strategy (new Council Conclusions expected under Danish Presidency).
- General support for Financial neutrality (no new EU legislation, institutions and funding).
- Geographical Synergies between transnational cooperation programmes and macro-regional or sea-basin strategies to be reinforced.

6. Draft legislative framework
Common Strategic Framework
CSF shall establish priority areas taking into account of macro-regional and sea-basin strategies
-> strategies are an important way to deliver territorial cohesion, to be reflected in the choice of thematic objectives

7. Draft legislative framework
Partnership Contract
Shall take account (where appropriate) of macro-
regional and sea-basin strategies
->PC should indicate how the MS intends to facilitate
and fund actions of the Strategy and contain
a section dedicated to any relevant macro-regional
or sea-basin Strategy indicating how the priorities
of the Strategy fit those of the programmes

8. Draft legislative framework
Operational Programmes
Shall set out (where appropriate), the contribution
of the planned interventions towards macro-
regional and sea-basin strategies ensuring that projects in line
with the Strategy can get funding to consider:
1) a process highlighting Strategy projects in the selection and
2) specific calls organised regularly for Strategy projects
- ETC goal: part of budget dedicated to the administrative
support for the implementation of the Action Plan

9. Draft legislative framework
ETC Regulation
The ERDF shall support under transnational
cooperation: development and implementation of
macro-regional and sea-basin strategies.
Development of a macro-regional or sea-basin strategy (e.g. preparatory studies, expert support for coordinating process and drafting of strategy document)
Implementation of an existing strategy e.g. through the financing of projects directly deriving from it
Implementation of an existing strategy e.g. through supporting coordination of strategy process

10. Financial Proposal Overall allocation for Cohesion Policy : 386 bn.
Financial Overall for ETC: 11.7 bn (increase from current budget)
3 categories
- 73 % for CBC (EUR 8.6 bn)
- 21 % for Transnational (EUR 2.4 bn)
- 6 % for Interregional (EUR 0,7 bn) *
Population will be the criteria for breakdown by Member State
75 % co-financing rate on PRIORITY AXIS level (50 % for outermost regions’ specific allocation)
* (EUR 50 mio. to be set aside from IR allocation for outermost regions cooperation)
Article 4
Reasoning for outermost specific allocation!
List setting out all cooperation programmes (quite late)

11. TIMELINE
March 2012: Communication from the Commission on draft Common Strategic Framework
June 2012: Proposal to the Council and European Parliament – Common Strategic Framework
: Adoption of new legislative package and agreement on new budget post 2013
2014: Entry into force and adoption of programmes

12. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION