Brussels

11th October 2006

Paul Owens

Delivery of Structural Funds at Sub-Regional Level

Project part-financedby the European Union

80% population England NUTS 1 regions, England

80% population England NUTS 2 regions, England

• Share best practice in the management and delivery of structural funds and regeneration programmes in sub-regional areas, meeting the needs of local populations and regional strategies.

• Endeavour to improve performance of new EU Structural Funds and national regeneration programmes.

The purpose of the SRN Europe Network is to:

• Ability to address European, regional, and local strategic priorities;

• Local partnership working, with extensive local knowledge, leads to better informed decision making and investment;

• Local stakeholders and citizens able to take part in processes – leading to greater local ownership + visibility and transparency of EU support;

The benefits of sub-regional (<NUTS 2) delivery include:

The benefits of sub-regional (<NUTS 2) delivery include:

• Ability to address European, regional, and local strategic priorities;

• Local partnership working, with extensive local knowledge, leads to better informed decision making and investment;

• Local stakeholders and citizens able to take part in processes – local ownership and control + visibility and transparency of EU support;

• Capacity building and project development support for local project delivery agents

• Simple two-stage application processes • Synergy and ‘joining up’ with local ‘domestic’

regeneration programmes• Local decision making – decision makers

know local circumstances (geographic proximity helpful);

Good Practice Points for the Sub-Regional Delivery of Structural Funds include:

1. That sub-regional authorities should be able to play an active role in programming and managing Structural Funds over the new programme period within the objectives of Convergence, Competitiveness and Employment and European Territorial Cooperation.

2. That the new Operational Programmes should identify and designate a significant percentage of funds to urban priorities.

3. That the capacity of sub-regional authorities to help programme and manage Structural Funds should be recognised and fostered.

4. That the European Commission and the Committee of the Regions should draw up reports at regional level on the appropriate participation that sub-regional authorities play in planning and managing Structural Funds.

The SRN Europe Network makes the following proposals for the

2007-2013 programming period:

• Bristol UK• Cumbria UK• Diputacio De Barcelona ES• Sociedad de Desarrollo de

Santa Cruz de Tenerife ES• Lille Metropole FR• Hranice CZ• Langhe Monferrato IT• Sviluppo marche Spa IT• Provinicia di Modena IT• Klaipeda RDA LT• Tampere FI• Turku FI

Paul Owens

paul_owens@bristol-city.gov.uk

www.bristolregeneration.org.uk

 www.SRNeurope.net

Project part-financedby the European Union