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‘Regional Policy contributing to Sustainable Growth

in Europe 2020’COCOF technical seminar

Brussels23 March 2011

Mikel LANDABASOEuropean CommissionDirectorate-General for Regional Policy

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Why now?

• Integrate major EU policy initiatives (e.g. Climate & Energy package, Energy performance of Buildings Directive…)

• Contribute to ‘Europe 2020’ & its pillar on Sustainable Growth (SG)

• Build on conclusions of the ‘Strategic report 2010’ of Regional Policy (RP)

• Respond to the economic crisis by turning it into SG opportunities

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Objectives

• Align RP with ‘Europe 2020’, particularly the “Resource Efficiency flagship”

• Enhance impact of 2007-2013 RP on the SG of regions

• Help regions to prepare post-2013 policy priorities

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Enhancing RP delivery of SG in EU regions

Invest more Invest better

Low-Carbon Economy

Eco-innovation

Ecosystem services

Better Governance

Climate resilience

& resource efficiency

Mainstream SD

principles in project

cycle

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1. Invest More

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1.1 Low-carbon economy

• Further investments in energy efficiency (building sector) & renewables;

• Use new possibilities for innovative financial instruments (like JESSICA instrument)

• Decarbonisation of transport: invest in clean urban transportt

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1.1 Low-carbon economy

Synergy with ‘The Covenant of Mayors’: example of the Province of Barcelona

• Sustainable energy plan in 105 municipalities for 4.5 million people (energy efficiency in public building, solar roofs, heating and cooling)

• Assistance and coordination to prepare action plans, technical and financial support

• Synergy between EU initiatives (20/20/20 energy package, EUROPE 2020, good governance)

• http://www.eumayors.eu/home_en.htm

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1.2 Ecosystem services & biodiversity

• Invest in protection of ecosystems & biodiversity as source of economic development

• Use RP funding for investments in natural risk prevention

• Invest in “Green infrastructure”

Flood management along the Tisza river in Hungary

Creation of six flood reservoirs and relocation of dikes

Cross-sectoral approach, win-win investment on ecosystem services (storage for water irrigation, new wetlands, leisure areas)

ERDF € 290 million

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1.3 Eco-innovations

• Develop eco-innovations across sectors: supports resource efficiency, competitiveness and job creation

• Support clusters on eco-innovation, particularly through PPPs

• Invest in ICT for the green economy through RP funding

Eco-innovation support through clusters, Lower Austria

Foster eco-innovations in all clusters

Close cooperation between the Lower Austrian companies, R&D related institutions and public authoritiesCombination of ecological challenges and business opportunities

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2. Invest Better

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Proposals to reinforce SG in 2007-13

Enhancing RP delivery of SG in EU regions

Invest more Invest better

Low-Carbon Economy

Eco-innovation

Ecosystem services

Better Governance

Climate resilience

& resource efficiency

Mainstream SD

principles in project

cycle

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2.1 Mainstreaming SD principles in project cycle

• SD to be integral part of each step of project life cycle (design to delivery and monitoring)

• Making more use of green public procurement (GPP) at regional/local level

• Establishing proper indicators for monitoring and evaluation

Checklist for environmental impact assessment of project proposals, Finland

Cross-regional EIA panels to assess whether project proposals are environmentally neutral, beneficial or harmful with standardised checklists

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2.2 Climate resilience & resource efficiency

• Checking project investments against climate resilience and resource efficiency

• Developing regional strategies on adaptation to climate change

The “Enworks” programme, North-West England

Environmental advice, training and support to SMEs to improve resource efficiency and reduce waste

Good practice exchange and development of synergies

Over 3600 businesses benefited; 190.000 tonnes of CO2 saved; 3.000.000m2 of water saved; over 700 people developed specific skills

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2.3 Better governance• Improving governance with enhanced cross-

cutting/horizontal approaches to SG

• Broadening partnerships and reinforce strategic content of Monitoring Committee of programmes

• Encourage more PPPs and innovative approaches to financing

Networking of national/regional environmental authorities’

MS (IT, SP, DE, PL, GR…) have set up networks of national & regional authorities in charge of environment & Cohesion Policy (Managing Authorities) for improved governance

Civil society & socio-economic partners take part

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Conclusions

MEMBER STATES

• Align RP Programmes with ‘Europe 2020’

• Focus expenditure towards SG

• Address structural weaknesses by further mainstreaming SD principles in all operations and using technical assistance

COMMISSION

• Promote new financial instruments to leverage resources (EIB and other IFI)

• Deploy action through pilot projects, seminars and exchange of know-how

• Facilitate mobilisation of technical assistance

Actions

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Sustainable growth and Regional Policy: two sides of the same coin

• It’s time to engage in a new approach

to regional development…

• … to strengthen the EU response to

the sustainability challenges

• Regional Policy has a key role in

meeting EU 2020 targets…

• … and is mobilising funds today for a

sustainable tomorrow!

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Many thanks for your attention