1. Categorisation of EU interventions Cohesion policy 2014-20
John Walsh, DG REGIO, Unit Evaluation and European Semester

2. The SF categorisation system …
An information system (not priority or eligibility list)… to increase quality of information, transparency and policy accountability on the use of cohesion policy resources across Europe.
It tracks the financial inputs and monitors programming and progress in the implementation of the cohesion programmes
across themes
across Objectives
across Member States

3. Structure of categorisation system 2007-13 - 5 dimensions
Ex-ante + ex-post
+ “Priority Themes” - 86 codes
Form of Finance - 4 codes
Territorial dimension - 11 codes
Ex-post only – reported according to the combination of codes
+ Above three dimensions and
+ Economic Dimension Codes
Location Dimension – N° of Nuts II/III codes varies by MS
(ESF also has beneficiary data ... not ERDF/CF)

4. Measuring Progress … in a simplified project pipeline 2007-13
Programmes => EU Financial allocations (Ex-ante)
Project preparation, calls ….
Project selection (at OP level – Ex-Post) => data by theme (including earmarking)
+ 4 other dimensions
Contracting, procurement by project promoter
Spending => expenditure declarations (at OP/ priority axis level – not associated to priority themes)
Indicators / Completion => outputs / results (at OP level – not associated to priority themes)

5. Categorisation : 2007-13 vs 2014-2020 2007-2013 2014-2020
N° Dimensions 5
5 + 1 (ESF)
Frequency of data
Once per year - 30/06
Once per year 31/1
Coverage
Decided – selection
+ spending
Level of reporting OP
Priority axis
Concentration on EU priorities
Through Lisbon Earmarking
Through thematic objectives
Climate and biodiversity tracking
Informal
Formalised with defined weightings

6. Dimensions : vs
Ex-ante and ex-post
1."Priority theme" => "Intervention Field" 86
100
2. Form of Finance
4 codes
4 codes (with amendment)
3. Territorial dimension
11 codes
<10 codes (with amendments)
Ex post selection / spending only
4. Economic Dimension
23 codes
Small changes
5. Location
National NUTS codes
No change

7. Thematic concentration - 11 thematic objectives
Research & innovation
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
Competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
Shift towards a low-carbon economy
Climate change adaptation & risk prevention and management
Environmental protection & resource efficiency
Sustainable transport & removing bottlenecks in key network infrastructures
Employment & supporting labour mobility
Social inclusion & combating poverty
Education, skills & lifelong learning
Institutional capacity building & efficient public administrations

8. Programme structure / reporting level
Thematic Objectives = Priority Axis => Policy purpose
Investment Priorities => Policy priorities / specific objectives (with results expected)
+/-100 Intervention Fields => investments
System offers flexibility in use of “Intervention fields” against the different “Thematic Objectives”

9. Improved ventilation of "intervention fields" Key Changes I
Innovation & R&D and SME distinguish …
Support to public vs private R&D efforts
Clarify SME supports – Service to SMEs vs investments by SMEs
Ventilation of e-services
E-Gov
E health
E-Inclusion, etc
E-commerce
Social entrepreneurship

10. Improved ventilation of "intervention fields" Key Changes II
Improved ventilation of certain categories
a. Energy efficiency - buildings vs homes vs SMEs
TEN-T priorities – core vs comprehensive
Distinguish risk prevention – Climate /Env vs human activities
[Distinguish public vs private culture and tourism]
[Water supply vs conservation]

11. Improved ventilation of inteventions
Energy efficiency, cogeneration, energy management
… to become …
Energy efficiency renovation of public infrastructure
Energy efficiency renovation of existing housing stock and demonstration projects
Energy efficiency in SMEs
Intelligent Energy Distribution Systems at low voltage levels (smart grids)
Co-generation and district heating

12. Changes to other dimensions
Principal reasons for changes is that these dimension should have added value.
Form of finance: clarify and Introduce "repayable grants"; eliminate "other forms"
Territorial dimension: clarify "Rural codes" [introduce "Macro regional dimension" delete different forms of ETC]
Economic dimension: Essentially keep list with small adjustments. Very important for RTDI / Business support, labour market (green jobs)
Location: No change

13. ESF – Secondary Theme dimension (ex-ante & ex-post reporting)
To be reported ex-ante and ex-post:
Integrated schemes for urban and rural development
Supporting the shift to a low-carbon, resource efficient economy (100% weighting)
Enhancing the accessibility, use and quality of information and communication technologies
Enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs
Strengthening research, technological development and innovation
Social innovation
Not Applicable

14. Main characteristics … in a nutshell
Ex-ante negotiation and annual ex-post monitoring
No double counting
Better more timely information on stages of project pipeline – decided, selected, [contracted], expenditure declared
More refined “intervention fields” learning from experience
Use of Rio markers / bio diversity tracking across ERDF, ESF and Cohesion Fund to track climate contribution: integrated no additional burden.

15. Timetable
Informal discussion with MS early 2013 in implementing and delegated acts => to reach broad agreement;
Categorisation codes and templates to be finalised in implementing act after adoption of legislation;
After adoption of implementing act MS to put in place amended data systems to
allow encoding of selected projects
Production of annual reporting tempaltes

16. Questions?
…. And thank you for your attention