Managing Authority for the Operational Program of Thessaly

Managing Authority for theManaging Authority for theOperational Program of ThessalyOperational Program of Thessaly

Presentation by:

TSOLAKIS NIKOSTSOLAKIS NIKOSRepresentative of the Managing Authority of Thessaly

The Operational Programs in Thessaly The Operational Programs in Thessaly

and their contribution to Regional Developmentand their contribution to Regional Development


Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

The Region of Thessaly

Regional Operational Program of Thessaly 2000 – 2006

National Strategic Reference Framework 2007-2013:

Operational Program Thesally - Mainland Greece – Epirus

Example of city - hinterland cooperation in Thessaly


Regions of GreeceRegions of Greece

Under the 1997 law on decentralized

government in Greece, the country is

divided into 13 regions forming

devolved units of state administration.

They have their own budget, civil

service and are run by a general

secretary (genikos grammateas),

appointed by the president on the prime

minister's recommendation and with the

consent of the government.


Thessaly: One of the 13 Regions of GreeceThessaly: One of the 13 Regions of Greece

Trikala

Karditsa

Volos

Larisa


The Region of ThessalyThe Region of Thessaly

Thessaly is one of the thirteen regions of the country.

Trikala

Karditsa

Volos

Larisa

The region of Thessaly occupies the

central-eastern part of continental Greece

and is comprised of the following four

prefectures: Karditsa (capital is Karditsa),

Larisa (capital is Larisa), Magnesia (capital

is Volos) and Trikala (capital is Trikala).

According to the census conducted by

ESYE in 2001, the population of the region

of Thessaly is 753,888 and represents 6.9%

of the total population of the country.


Community Support Framework 2000-2006Community Support Framework 2000-2006

The 2000-06 Community structural assistance

budget allocated to Greece amounts to a total of 25 billion

Euros approximately.

The total budget for Greece available to projects

under the four Community Structural Funds, namely the European

Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund (ESF), the

European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund - Guidance Section

(EAGGF Guidance Section), and the Financial Instrument for Fisheries

Guidance (FIFG), was 21.6 billion Euros.

In 2000-06 Greece also received 3.32 billion Euros from The

Cohesion Fund.


Community Support Framework 2000-2006Community Support Framework 2000-2006

The Community Support Framework for the 2000-2006 period

was implemented by 25 Operational Programs:

• 11 Sectoral Operational Programmes, concerning National

Sectoral policies.

• 13 Regional Operational Programmes (ROP), one for each of

the 13 Regions of Greece.

• 1 Operational Program “TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR

IMPLEMENTATION”, which aimed to strengthen, support and

improve the management, monitoring and control of the CSF

2000-2006 and its Operational programmes.


The strategic development of the region of Thessaly, expressed

through the execution of the Regional Operational Program of Thessaly for the

years 2000-2006, seeked to attain the following targets:

1. The development of the relative advantage of the centralized geographic

position of the region and its advancement to a "network hub."

2. The restructuring and modernization of the productive sectors with an

emphasis on quality and competitiveness.

3. The reinforcement of introverted and continuously productive growth and

social cohesion.

Third Regional Operational Program (ROP) for Thessaly 2000 - 2006Third Regional Operational Program (ROP) for Thessaly 2000 - 2006



The central growth target of the region of Thessaly was the

strengthening of the competitiveness of the productive sectors by emphasizing

quality, continuous productivity and interregional and social cohesion, as well

as, increasing employment by achieving a high level of training.

The growth strategy of Thessaly can be summed up within three

basic strategic solutions:

1. increasing viable growth,

2. searching for quality elements in both economic activities and

everyday living conditions and

3. strengthening employment.


According to the strategic targets mentioned before, the following

measures had to be taken to increase growth in Thessaly:

1. Development of Thessaly into a composite network hub

2. Position the production sectors towards the market

3. Sustaining the balance of the productive basis

4. Balanced interregional development

5. Support of the environmental dimension of development

6. Development of human resources



The targets of the Regional Operational Program of Thessaly were

achieved through the six (6) priority areas (that included 40 measures) and a total

budget of 928.8 million Euros:

Area 1: "Reinforcement of the Productive Environment“

Area 2: "Complete Development of the Outdoors“

Area 3: "Quality of Life"

Area 4: "Development of the Region into a Network Hub"

Area 5: "Development of Human Resources"

Area 6: "Application"



0 €

50.000.000 €

100.000.000 €

150.000.000 €

200.000.000 €

250.000.000 €

300.000.000 €

Budget of the Regional Operational Program of Thessaly

Budget 65.239.384 € 278.706.134 189.123.069 244.344.704 48.049.780 €10.388.496 €

Axis 1 Axis 2 Axis 3 Axis 4 Axis 5 Axis 6



Third ROP for Thessaly 2000 – 2006 & Local AuthoritiesThird ROP for Thessaly 2000 – 2006 & Local Authorities

“Information – Training – Local Development S.A. (PETA)” is a company providing

consultancy services to the local, regional and central government authorities.

The PETA study (2009)

In the Third ROP for Thessaly 2000 – 2006 there have been 1301 Projects

approved. According to the study carried out by PETA, Local Authorities were the

beneficiaries for 719 of the Projects (55.3%).

The budget for those Projects was 186.7 million Euros, which accounts for

the 20.1% of the Total Budget of the ROP of Thessaly.

ROP Thessaly

Total Local

Authorities%

Projects 1301 719 55,3%

Budget 928.800.000 € 186.788.139 € 20,1%


National Strategic Reference Framework (ESPA) 2007-2013National Strategic Reference Framework (ESPA) 2007-2013

The NSRF (National Strategic Reference Framework)

2007–2013 constitutes the reference document for the programming of

European Union Funds at national level for the 2007–2013 period.



The architecture of the NSRF 2007-2013 Operational

Programmes (OPs) is based on a new scheme that is characterised by a

smaller number of Operational Programmes in relation to the previous

2000–2006 period, leading to a more flexible management scheme.

The country’s strategic planning for the 2007 - 2013 period will

be implemented through:

• eight (8) Sectoral OPs,

• five (5) Regional OPs and

• twelve (12) European Territorial Cooperation OPs.



The following 8 programmes constitute the Sectoral

Operational Programmes for programming period 2007-2013:

• O.P. ENVIRONMENT - SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

• O.P. REINFORCING ACCESSIBILITY

• O.P. COMPETITIVENESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

• O.P. DIGITAL CONVERGENCE

• O.P. HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT

• O.P. EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING

• O.P. MANAGEMENT REFORM

• O.P. TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR IMPLEMENTATION



For the implementation of the country’s development planning

during programming period 2007-2013, Greece was divided into five

regions, which correspond to five Regional Operational Programmes

(ROP), as follows:

• O.P. Macedonia - Thrace

• O.P Western Greece – Peloponnesus – Ionian islands

• O.P. Crete and Aegean islands

• O.P. Thesally - Mainland Greece – Epirus

• O.P. Attica

ROPs will contribute towards meeting the national strategic

goals, in conjunction with the sectoral programmes, with an emphasis

placed on the distinct characteristics and needs of each Region.



ROPs for all the Regions will cover a common core of

interventions, as follows:

social infrastructure health and social solidarity (infrastructure for hospitals and

social welfare facilities, special units, healthcare and open-care

centres, specialised equipment, measures for the promotion

and protection of Public Health) culture (reinforcing basic cultural infrastructure, safeguarding

and enhancement of cultural heritage) accessibility and environmental projects on a local scale sustainable urban development policies policies in support of mountainous, underdeveloped and island

areas.



Who the beneficiaries areBeneficiaries are operators, bodies or firms, whether public or private, responsible for initiating or initiating and implementing operations.

Certification of Beneficiaries’ Project Management CapacityIn NSRF, a new Standard of the administration and management system of NSRF projects was introduced by Law. According to that Standard, the project management capacity of all beneficiaries must be certified.

Until now most of the major beneficiaries were certified, but only 15 from the 105 municipalities in Thessaly did.

Problem: the inefficient or even non-existing technical services in small municipalities.

The Kallikratis plan: The reform that will occur with the Kallikratis plan is expected to solve this problem, leading to more functional and stable, powerful and efficient municipalities armed with new powers and resources.


NSRF 2007-2013: O.P. Thesally - Mainland Greece – EpirusNSRF 2007-2013: O.P. Thesally - Mainland Greece – Epirus

The Budget for the O.P. Thesally - Mainland Greece – Epirus

The Total Co-funded Budget from the E.U. amounts to 1.473.995.714 €, of which:

• 1.105.000.000 € is from Community Resources and • 368.995.714 € is from National Resources.

In addition to this amount, it is estimated that National Resources amounting to 349.290.000 € will be earmarked to cover the cost of projects that are not co-funded by the E.U., such as expropriations, (larger than a certain percentage of the project’s cost) anticipated earnings, etc.

Private Funding reaching 210.500.000 € is also expected to be earmarked for the realisation of these projects.

The total sum is estimated to amount to 1.823.285.714 €.


NSRF 2007-2013: O.P. ThesallyNSRF 2007-2013: O.P. Thesally

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR THESSALY

The Strategic Goal for the Thessaly Region for 2007-2013 consists of

boosting competitiveness, appeal and the outward orientation of the economy by

improving regional and social cohesion and adopting sustainable models for

development of productive activities and sound management of the natural and

built environment.

This goal will be achieved by dynamically utilising the Region’s

comparative advantages in a new environment, in which investments in

knowledge, quality, innovation and networks will play an increasing role over the

years.

The urban centres will be the dynamic pillars supporting the entire

development effort.



The Development Objectives for Thessaly aim to:

1. Improve competitiveness, outward orientation, quality and the

innovation strength of enterprises.

2. Improve accessibility through the creation and upgrading of

infrastructure, as well as intraregional and interregional transportation

networks.

3. Develop human resources.

4. Sustainably manage of the natural and built environment, as well as

natural resources.

5. Strengthen intraregional economy and social cohesion.

6. Increase interregional cooperation.

7. Benefit from tourism and cultural heritage for sustainable development.

8. Promote digital convergence.



PRIORITY AXES OF THE OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME OF THESSALY

The OP comprises 4 Priority Axes concerning interventions in:

infrastructure and accessibility services, sustainable development and quality of life, digital convergence and technical support for its implementation.

The Total Co-funded Budget from the E.U. for Thessaly amounts to 528.995.714 € and

is distributed to the four axes as follows:

Thessaly Co-funded Budget

1. Accessibility Infrastructure and Services

124.004.029 €

2. Sustainable Development and Quality of Life

286.243.726 €

3. Digital Convergence and Entrepreneurship

107.112.245 €

4. Technical Support for Implementation 11.635.714 €

TOTAL 528.995.714 €



The Total Co-funded Budget from the E.U. for Thessaly specifically,

amounts to 528.995.714 €:

Co-funded Budget for OP of Thessaly

23%

55%

20%

2%

AccessibilityInfrastructure andServices

Sustainable Developmentand Quality of Life

Digital Convergence andEntrepreneurship

Technical Support forImplementation



1st Axis: Accessibility Infrastructure and Services

The general goal is to improve accessibility in order to promote regional cohesion, create a competitive economy, improve quality of life and support sustainable development.

Specifically, the creation of modern transportation infrastructure at all levels, as well as power grids and telecommunications networks, is deemed necessary for further improving the accessibility and appeal of that region as a key investment hub and quality of life area.

Furthermore, bipolarity is expected to be reversed, through the equitable distribution of economic resources, namely the phasing out of internal intraregional growth inequalities, mainly those marking the divergences between the most developed regions compared to the inner mountainous and underdeveloped areas.



2nd Axis: Sustainable Development and Quality of Life

This section seeks to safeguard the natural and built environment as well as the quality of life of those living in that region, for the benefit of sustainable growth.

In that framework, it also serves innate growth goals, which have not yet been achieved.

Moreover, this section contributes towards the achievement of the goals included under the Lisbon Agenda, but primarily of the more relevant Gothenburg Strategy. It aims at developing an environmental and social capital that will guarantee conditions for sustainable development.



3rd Axis: Digital Convergence and Entrepreneurship

This section aims at promoting innovation, research and technology, in order to achieve their integration into in the productive fabric as permanent growth – renewal – competitiveness engines. Moreover, it aims at achieving the ability to integrate the most suitable technologies for the establishment of a culture of innovation, capable of adapting the innovations generated to local needs and producing adequate research and development (R&D), thus covering the R&D shortage in relation to the country's average output.

Furthermore, it seeks to achieve high competitiveness through restructuring of the productive fabric and the upgrade of sectors and industries towards higher added value – quality – environmental awareness, multiply outward orientation and successfully rise to the challenges posed by the expansion of the European Economic Area and ongoing liberalisation of the economy.

Finally, it aims at fostering the equitable contribution of all sectors and industries to development, leveraging private resources, productively mobilising local funds and attracting direct foreign investments, as well as establishing all the right conditions for liberalisation – technical infrastructure – support structures – development tools to local business communities, in conjunction with safeguarding consumer rights.



4th Axis: Technical Support for Implementation

The “Technical Support for Implementation” aims at covering the financing of preparatory, management, monitoring, evaluation, informative, publicity and control activities of the OP, as well as activities reinforcing management competence for the implementation of the actions of the Funds.

The strategic planning of “Technical Support for Implementation” focuses on the need to exercise policies at a national and regional level, in such a manner so that the Region, as well as its cities in general, attract and retain new enterprises, simultaneously improving the living standard of its citizens and alleviating interregional and intraregional inequalities.

The empowerment of the management competence of public services, especially those entrusted with responsibility (as final beneficiaries or implementation bodies) in the framework of planning, managing and monitoring CSF projects, will contribute to increasing productivity and improving the quality of work.


Example of city - hinterland cooperation in ThessalyExample of city - hinterland cooperation in Thessaly

Environmental Development Agency of Western Thessaly

S.A. (Waste Sanitary Landfilling, Recycling).

- Independent Organization under Private Law, founded by 11

municipalities from the Prefectures of Trikala and Karditsa.

- Responsible for the collection, transport, processing, recycling or

disposal, and monitoring of waste materials in Western Thessaly.


Example of city - hinterland cooperation in ThessalyExample of city - hinterland cooperation in Thessaly

- Good cooperation between the involved municipalities, leading to

an efficient waste management model which operates already

(collection – recycling – disposal of waste in a landfill in the greater

area of Trikala).

- Total harmonization of National Legislation to the European Legislation.

- Motivation to local politicians and experts to continue the recycling program and improve the local waste management, as well as expand the project to all the other municipalities.

Benefits from the Project


Contribution of URBACT in urban development and regional policiesContribution of URBACT in urban development and regional policies

Urban development is a significant part of regional policy.

Cooperation among cities and exchanging good practices is important.

Problems

Lack of urban development expertise.

Cooperation methodology still needs to be improved.

How URBACT can help

Sharing good practices among Managing Authorities is a key issue for the Region of Thessaly.

Cooperation with other Managing Authorities linked to URBACT will help us in order to improve urban development policies on a regional level.


THANK YOU!THANK YOU!

Managing Authority for the Operational Program of Thessaly

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