European Funding in the North West 200713

1
European Funding in the North West 2007-13

• Background and Context

2
The Objectives

• Objective 1 Convergence (NW not Eligible)
• Objective 2 Competitiveness (NW allocation 620
  million Euros
• Objective 3 Cooperation
• Cross Border (not NW)
• Transnational
• Inter-regional

3
Governance and Management

• Not yet announced
• Present programme GONW for both ERDF and ESF
• New programme likely to be NWDA
• Chinese walls
• Partners roles

4
Orientation of the Programmes

• The Regional Skills Partnership RSP
• Regional Strategies
• Regional Economic Strategy
• Regional Transport Strategy
• North West Regional Economic Partnership
• North West Competitiveness Operational Programme
• Regional Spatial Strategy
• Plus others (sustainability, innovation, waste,
  cultural etc.)
• Expected that both ESF and ERDF will fit within
  this framework

5
Regional Economic Strategy

• Identifies Drivers
• D1 -Improving Productivity and Growing the
  Market
• D2 -Creating the conditions for sustainable
  Growth
• D3 -Growing and Accessing Employment
• Each has sub categories current position is No
  Sustainable Communities Priority

6
Merseyside and the Rest of the North West

• As an ex-Objective 1 area benefits from some
  protection/ advantage.
• Ring fenced allocation
• Separate arrangements for local management likely
  against objectives of the Greater Merseyside
  Action Plan
• Can spend up to 10 on Convergence Objectives

7
ESF within the Regional Programme

• Recognition that ESF and ERDF did not work well
  together in current programme
• Involvement of Co-Financers in RSP
• Some tendency to see ESF as supporting ERDF
• Desire to see some integrated activities with a
  greater degree of coordination (Does this mean
  top down determination?)

8
Consultation

• Two consultations
• NORTH WEST COMPETITIVENESS OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME
  2007-2013
• National ESF Consultation