National Council for Voluntary Organisations

Sustainable Funding Project

Bitesize

Thinking about EU Funding?Sandra Turner, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Common Strategic Framework Funds 2014-2020

CHANGING TIMES

Economic landscape

Concentration of EU investment on top drivers of EU growth & delivering UK National Reform Plan

Focus on results

More flexibility to align EU funds to increase impact (regional, social, rural and fisheries)

Simplification

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Thematic ObjectivesCommon Strategic Framework Funds1. Innovation and R&D

2. ICT: improving access, quality and usage

3. SME’s: improving competitiveness, including in the agricultural and aquaculture sectors

4. Shift to a low carbon economy

5. Climate change adaptation and risk management

6. Environmental Protection and resource efficiency

7. Sustainable transport and unblocking key networks

8. Employment and labour mobility

9. Social Inclusion and fighting poverty

10. Education, skills and lifelong learning

11. Improving Institutional Capacity (Technical Assistance and capacity building)

Specific Provision for ESF_ SCOPE

18 investment priorities in 4 Thematic Objectives1.Employment and Labour Mobility

2.Social Inclusion and Combatting Poverty (min. 20% at UK level)

3.Education, Skills and Lifelong learning

4.Institutional and Administrative Capacity

ESF contribution to the other thematic objectives1.Low Carbon

2.Enhancing accessibility, use and quality of ICT

3.Research and Innovation

4.SME Competitiveness

EUROPEAN COMMISSION’s UK PRIORITIES

– STRUCTURAL FUNDS - Increasing R&D spend & ‘localising’ impact of national investment

Improving access to finance for SMEs More renewable energy NEETS / youth unemployment;

marginalised groups into employment Higher level skills Official Launch 6 December

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UK Partnership Agreement• A business plan for the CSF Funds in 2014-20 providing

clear line of site between Europe 2020 and Programmes.

• Sets out:– the rationale for the activities we will focus on in the UK;

– the targets for measuring our success; and

– the Programmes and their allocations including how the Funds can best be integrated

• Separate chapters covering the Devolved Administrations.

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UK Partnership Agreement:Content Subject To European Commission Approval

Arrangements to ensure alignment with Europe 2020:

analysis of disparities, development needs and growth potential (TOs, territorial disparities, NRPs, CSR); ex-ante evaluations key findings (with justification of selection of TOs and allocations; list of selected TOs and expected results; indicative allocations by TOs at national level for each of the CSF funds; number of OPs for ESF and ERDF & EARFRD and EMFF.

Arrangements to ensure effective implementation:Compliance with the rules on additionality; timetable for fulfilment of ex-ante conditionalities; performance framework

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UK Partnership Agreement: Content Not Subject To European Commission Approval

An integrated approach (es) to territorial development supported by CSF funds:National/regional coordination between the CSF funds, Financial Instruments, other Union and national funding instruments; implementation arrangements for CLLD and Local Development Strategies; Integrated Territorial Investment; priority areas for cooperation; integrated approach to address needs of areas affected by poverty OR target groups at high risk of exclusion; summary of actions to involve partners.

Arrangements to ensure efficient implementation of the CSF Funds at OP level:Needs assessment for reinforcement of capacity (authorities and beneficiaries)

Action to reduce administrative burden for beneficiaries

Assessment of existing Electronic Data Exchange

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Partnership Agreement:Next Steps

•Developed at national level with close involvement of partners– Informal consultation for England just closed, Government

response published end June• Around 187 responses received• Respondents were local authorities, universities, civil society,

Local Enterprise Partnerships, business representatives– Partnership Team working with stakeholders to understand

further what is required.– Formal consultation first half 2013

Key messages from informal consultation:•Integrated and aligned programmes•Reduced administrative burden•Flexible programme boundaries•Place-based programmes•Fresh thinking on match funding

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Purpose: •present ‘direction of travel’ in terms of delivery models•Stakeholders’ views important•Opportunity to discuss what should be delivered with the CSF funds

Next steps:

2013: Formal consultation on UKPA (Spring); Ops developed; Regulations (late 13); negotiations of PA and Ops with Commission.

Mid 2014 (?): Programme start

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Road shows Nov-Dec 2012