1. Biodiversity, Natura 2000 & Green Infrastructure in the 2014-2020 Regional Policy
Mathieu Fichter European Commission, DG Regio Team leader "sustainable growth" Unit G1 – Competence Centre "Smart & Sustainable Growth"

2. Thematic objectives Main indirect investments Europe 2020
Research and innovation
Information and Communication Technologies
Competitiveness of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME)
Shift to a low-carbon economy
Climate change adaptation and risk management and prevention
Environmental protection and resource efficiency
Sustainable transport and disposal of congestion on major network infrastructure
Employment and support for labour mobility
Social inclusion and poverty reduction
Education, skills and lifelong learning
Increased institutional capacity and effectiveness of public administration
smart
Main indirect investments
Europe 2020
sustainable
Main direct investments
inclusive

3. TO 4 ̶ Shift towards a low-carbon economy
Supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all sectors by:
promoting the production and distribution of energy derived from renewable sources;
promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy use in enterprises;
supporting energy efficiency, smart energy management and renewable energy use in public infrastructure, including in public buildings, and in the housing sector;
developing and implementing smart distribution systems that operate at low and medium voltage levels;
promoting low-carbon strategies for all types of territories, in particular for urban areas, including the promotion of sustainable multimodal urban mobility and mitigation-relevant adaptation measures;
promoting research and innovation in, and adoption of, low-carbon technologies;
promoting the use of high-efficiency co-generation of heat and power based on useful heat demand

4. TO 5 ̶ Promoting climate change adaption, risk prevention and management
Promoting climate change adaptation, risk prevention and management by:
supporting investment for adaptation to climate change, including ecosystem-based approaches;
promoting investment to address specific risks, ensuring disaster resilience and developing disaster management systems;

5. TO 6 ̶ Environment and Resource efficiency
Preserving and protecting the environment and promoting resource efficiency by:
investing in the waste sector to meet the requirements of the Union's environmental acquis and to address needs, identified by the Member States, for investment that goes beyond those requirements;
investing in the water sector to meet the requirements of the Union's environmental acquis and to address needs, identified by the Member States, for investment that goes beyond those requirements;
conserving, protecting, promoting and developing natural and cultural heritage;
protecting and restoring biodiversity and soil and promoting ecosystem services, including through Natura 2000, and green infrastructure;
taking action to improve the urban environment, to revitalise cities, regenerate and decontaminate brownfield sites (including conversion areas), reduce air pollution and promote noise-reduction measures;
promoting innovative technologies to improve environmental protection and resource efficiency in the waste sector, water sector and with regard to soil, or to reduce air pollution;
supporting industrial transition towards a resource- efficient economy, promoting green growth, eco-innovation and environmental performance management in the public and private sectors;

6. ERDF thematic concentration
Research and Innovation
Low-carbon economy (energy efficiency and renewable energy)
SMEs competitiveness
ICT
More developed regions
Transition regions
15%
20%
45 %
38%
12%
Less developed regions
60% 6

7. Horizontal integration (I)
Inclusion of environment/energy/climate into innovation (smart specialisation strategies - RIS3)
Sustainable Urban Development (mandatory 5% of ERDF = opportunity for Green Infrastructure)
Art. 8 of the common regulation
Promotion of environment, resource efficiency, biodiversity, climate adaptation and mitigation, disaster resilience in preparation & implementation of the programmes
Climate change tracking

8. Horizontal integration (II)
Annex I, Common Strategic Framework – 5.2 on sustainable development:
directing investments towards the most resource-efficient and sustainable options;
avoiding investments that may have a significant negative environmental or climate impact, and supporting actions to mitigate any remaining impacts;
taking a long-term perspective when 'life-cycle' costs of alternative options for investment are compared;
increasing the use of green public procurement.
investments shall be consistent with the water management hierarchy and with the waste hierarchy…

9. State-of-play on finalising Partnership Agreements and Operational Programmes
Regulations on European Structural and Investments Funds (ESIF = ERDF, Cohesion Fund, ESF, EAFRD and EMFF) published in OJ on 20/12/2013
PA's to be submitted by MS latest by 22/04/2014 and OP's by 22/07/2014. Currently about 14 PA's received and a few OP's
Many draft PA's and OP's discussed with MS and regions until last December in the Informal Dialogue process
Biodiversity/N2000/GI included in most of PA's from EU-13 and many for EU-15 for the ERDF and CF
More challenging situation in more developed MS and regions: not all of these regional OP's will include TO6 and direct support to biodiversity. Synergy with TO5 (adaptation) & EAFRD important
Invasive Alien Species aspects included in a good number of OP's
GI approach is spreading

10. Guides and tools

11. Guide to Multi-Benefit Cohesion Policy Investments in Nature and Green Infrastructure
Helping authorities and stakeholders in the Member States and regions with practical support to enable an efficient and successful implementation of measures on nature and green infrastructure through Cohesion Policy

12. Connecting Smart and Sustainable Growth through Smart Specialisation
How to integrate eco-innovations, RES, EE… in the Research & Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation (RIS3) ?
Why it makes sense?
What can authorities & stakeholders do?
Collection of good practices
/guides

13. Thank you!