Symposium 'Networking as a basic tool for lobbying'

East Poland House

Brussels, 23 February 2011

Presentation of the

RUR@CT network

Structure of the presentation

1. What is RUR@CT ?

1.1 A network of regions interested in the capitalisation and transfer of Good Practices

1.2 A transfer methodology aiming at going beyond the exchange experience

2. Why RUR@CT?

2.1 Strategic foundations and context2.2 Objectives

Structure of the presentation

3. RUR@CT lobbying axes

3.1 A better visibility of rural areas at European level3.2 Development of the innovation potential of rural areas3.3 Fame and recognition of the RUR@CT transfer

methodology3.4 Maintaining and strengthening the possibility to introduce

a cooperation priority axis in ERDF Regional Operational Programmes

3.5 Reviewing EGTC Regulation

Structure of the presentation

4. RUR@CT main lobbying tools

4.1 Events organisation (conferences, debates, training sessions)

4.2 Public statements / answers to public consultations from the EU institutions

4.3 Meetings at the institutional level4.4 Communication materials

1. What is RUR@CT ?

1.1 A network of regions interested in the capitalisation and transfer of Good Practices

« SHARING FOR PROGRESSING »

CAPITALISATIONCAPITALISATION OF GOOD PRACTICES

2014-20202014-2020

LOBBYINGLOBBYINGEUROPEAN POLICY

TRANSFERTRANSFER TOOLS & METHOD

EUROPEAN REGIONSEUROPEAN REGIONS FOR RURAL

INNOVATION

CAPITALISATIONCAPITALISATION OF GOOD PRACTICES

EUROPEAN REGIONSEUROPEAN REGIONS FOR RURAL

INNOVATION

TRANSFERTRANSFER TOOLS & METHOD 2014-20202014-2020

LOBBYINGLOBBYINGEUROPEAN POLICY

« SHARING FOR PROGRESSING »

Tangible and concrete projects

Development of the network

30 Member30 Member Regions Regions (importating & exporting)→ signed the RUR@CT charta

32 Partner Regions(interested and/or exporting)→ less involvement

62 Regions from 19 Member States

Capitalisation / Database 80 Good practices in 2009

+ 45 good practices in 2010

www.ruract.euwww.ruract.eu

1. What is RUR@CT ?

1.2 A transfer methodology aiming at going beyond the exchange experience

Transfer methodology4 methodological steps:

1) Preparatory meeting to set up a transfer team composed of political representatives, technical experts, local and regional partners who will carry out the transfer process

2) Site visit in the exporting region to verify the transferability of the good practice and to determine the conditions for the transfer;

Transfer methodology

3) Action plan analysing the transfer feasibility and detailing the conditions for its implementation with required adaptations to the specificities of the importing region;

4) Synthesis meeting for the validation of the action plan by all local and regional stakeholders and to launch the operational implementation phase

Example of one ongoing transfer

E-TEAMS IN E-TEAMS IN SCHOOLSSCHOOLS

(Baden-Württemberg)

TRANSFERTRANSFER TOOLS & METHOD

Wallonie Limousin Andalucia

Training seminar Training seminar and on site visit in and on site visit in

Heidelberg Heidelberg (April 2010)(April 2010)

Currently setting up Currently setting up the Action Planthe Action Plan

Possible fundings

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TRANSFER

(Pilot project / Action plan)

Travelling costs

Feasibility study

Translation / interpreting

Working procedures

Investments

ERDF, ESFor EAFRD

programmes

ERDF programmeArticle 37-6b

regulation 1083/2006

PREPARATION OF THE TRANSFER

(Animation, engineering)

Thematic consistency and eligible project

NO YES

INTERREG IVCprojects

(RUR@CT methodology)

Strategic foundations Attractiveness and dynamism of rural areas

depend on their capacity of innovation

Rural territories have an innovation potential which is

not enough developped and should contribute towards

Lisbon european strategy

11stst pillar = INNOVATION pillar = INNOVATION

2. Why RUR@CT ?

This innovation potential is based on the development of

endogenous and exogenous resources

Cooperation is an exogenous resource reinforcing the

efficiency of regional policies thanks to the transfer of

good practices

2nd pillar = TRANSFER2nd pillar = TRANSFER

WHY RUR@CT ?Strategic foundations

There is no rural development without agriculture, but

rurality is not only agriculture (complementarity)…

Synergies are needed between the different programmes

and european funds for the development of rural areas

3rd pillar = RURAL3rd pillar = RURAL

WHY RUR@CT ?Strategic foundations

Rural issues should be taken into account within

regional policies

Regional level allows to guarantee a better territorial

cohesion thanks to an integrated governance

( rural / urban synergies…)

4th pillar = REGIONS4th pillar = REGIONS

WHY RUR@CT ?Strategic foundations

SHARING PROGRESSING

RUR@CT OBJECTIVES

OPERATIONALOBJECTIVES

STRATEGICOBJECTIVES

Territorial Cohesion

Capitalisation and Transfer

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

Conferences-debates, political statements

Ideas and forward inputs

How ?

What ?

Evolution of European policies after 2013

SHARING PROGRESSING

Why ?

ExampleContribution of RUR@CT network to the Green Paper

on Territorial Cohesion

OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Transfering experiences

Good practices from the Regions

How ?

What ?

Innovative and concrete projects

SHARING PROGRESSING

Why ?

ExamplesMethodological guide

Database, web siteEvaluation of transferability

Partnership forums

TRANSFERING

To promote rural innovations for…

Territorial Cohesion

To provide operationnal tools for…

Capitalization and Transfer of good practices

Objectives of RUR@CT network

INNOVATION RURALTRANSFERREGIONS

3. RUR@CT lobbying axes

3.1 A better visibility of rural areas at European level

- Better consideration of specificities and needs of rural

areas - « Rural mainstreaming » in other EU policies, such as

Cohesion Policy, Common Agricultural Policy and Environmental Policy

- Creation of a new category in EU Cohesion Policy: « Intermediary Regions » with a PNB between 75% and 90% of the average EU PNB, and which would also benefit from EU funds

3. RUR@CT lobbying axes

3.2 Development of the innovation potential of rural areas

- Better consideration of this innovation potential so that the attractivity of rural areas can be reinforced.

- Innovation should not be understood only as « technological » innovation, but also as societal and economical

3. RUR@CT lobbying axes

3.3 Fame and recognition of the RUR@CT transfer methodology

- Recognition by the EU institutions of the necessity to go beyond the mere capitalisation and exchange of experiences /recognition of the usefulness of the transfer of experiences

3. RUR@CT lobbying axes3.3 Fame and recognition of the RUR@CT transfer

methodology

- Integration of the RUR@CT methodology into other EU territorial cooperation projects (especially INTERREG IVC projects).

Examples: RURALAND project led by Andalusia (rural innovation)IMMODI project led by Auvergne → (e-health)ROBIN WOOD project led by Liguria → (forestry)ECOREGIONS project led by Picardie

3. RUR@CT lobbying axes

3.4 Maintaining and strengthening the possibility to introduce a cooperation priority axis in ERDF Regional Operational Programmes (Objective 2 of Cohesion Policy)

- Such a cooperation axis is made possible through Article 37-6b of Regulation 1083/2006, which allows Regional authorities to finance territorial cooperation under Objective 1 (convergence) or Objective 2 (competitiveness) of Cohesion Policy.

3. RUR@CT lobbying axes- Most RUR@CT capitalisation activities are funded

through Article 37 6.b, such as the gathering of 125 good practices in the database, Fact Sheets no. 1 & 2 (Description of the Good Practice + Transferability analysis), as well as some communications activities (editing the brochure, the website and the methodological guide).

- Article 37-6b is particularly useful for isolated Regions with few possibilities of cross-border cooperation since it gives another way to finance cooperation activities (outside INTERREG IVC).

4. RUR@CT main lobbying tools

2014-20202014-2020

LOBBYINGLOBBYINGEUROPEAN POLICY

Events organisation (conferences, debates)Events organisation (conferences, debates)

about strategic issues (cohesion policy, Europe

2020) in the context of the formulation of the new EU

budget and the future of cohesion policy after 2013.

Examples: - Conference / debate during RUR@CT launching seminar. Participation of DG Regio / video from Commissioner Danuta Hübner supporting RUR@CT- Conference / debate about « Services of General Interest and rural development » at the end of June 2011 in the context of Europe 2020 / EU budget

4. RUR@CT main lobbying tools

2014-20202014-2020

LOBBYINGLOBBYINGEUROPEAN POLICY

Answers to public consultations and public Answers to public consultations and public

statementsstatements

Examples: - RUR@CT contribution to the Green Paper (2009), followed by a public conference- Answer to public consultation by DG Regio about the 5th cohesion report (January 2011) - Answer to public consultation by DG Agri (January 2011)- In the future: public statements about environmental issues / EGTC / interregional cooperation

4. RUR@CT main lobbying tools

2014-20202014-2020

LOBBYINGLOBBYINGEUROPEAN POLICY

Meeting at institutionnal levelMeeting at institutionnal level

Examples:

- Meetings with DG Regio- Meetings with DG Agri- Pilot Network with INTERACT, DG Regio and other Regions (Thüringen, etc.) about integration of article 37-6b in regional operational programmes and its implementation. - RUR@CT representation during conferences and/or training seminars

4. RUR@CT main lobbying tools

2014-20202014-2020

LOBBYINGLOBBYINGEUROPEAN POLICY

Communication materialsCommunication materials

- Methodological guide- Brochure- Website- Video

All the communication materials are available both in English and in French, and will be updated by the end of 2011.

METHODOLOGICAL GUIDE

Future activities

of the network for 2009

WEBSITE www.ruract.eu

THANKS FOR YOUR THANKS FOR YOUR

PARTICIPATION !PARTICIPATION !

For further information, you can send an e-mail to:For further information, you can send an e-mail to:

p-recours-nguyen@cr-limousin.fr