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Sustainable Development Strategy and the Cohesion Policy

Panel discussion 3: GROWs contribution to the Gothenburg Agenda through influencing environmental behaviour and

policiesBrussels, 18.10.07

Jonathan Parker Unit for “Cohesion Policy and Environmental Impact

Assessments”European Commission – DG ENV

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New contextSustainable Development Strategy (SDS) and Lisbon

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Renewed Lisbon Strategy

• First agreed at European Council in Lisbon in June 2000• Relaunched at Spring 2005 European Council• Three components – economic, social & environmental• Focus on growth and jobs• Guideline 11 of the Lisbon Integrated Guidelines relates

to environment – envt. picked up in 18 of 25 National Reform Programmes

• Cohesion Policy is “mobilised” to achieve goals of Lisbon Strategy

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SDS June 2006

Key challenges (overall objectives, targets & actions) – 7 of them

– Climate change and clean energy– Sustainable transport– Sustainable production and consumption (added 2006)– Conservation and management of natural resources – Public health – Social inclusion, demography and migration – Global poverty and sustainable development

challenges

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• Strategies complement each other in aiming for structural change to adapt to new reality– SDS concerned with quality of life, intra- and intergenerational

equity, policy coherence, external aspects– Lisbon essential contribution to SD as motor of a more dynamic

economy– Move together so that economic, social and environment can

reinforce each other– Timing: Lisbon more short-term; SDS longer term– Common elements – climate change and energy

But SDS avoids mentioning trade-offs

Lisbon versus SDS

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Environmental financing

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Environmental financing 2007-13 Through EU financial mechanisms– Structural Funds (European Regional Dev. Fund, European Social Fund)– Cohesion Fund– European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)– European Fisheries Fund (EFF)– Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA)– European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI)– Framework RTD programme– Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP)– Life+ instrument (only “pure environmental financing”)– Trans-European Networks (Energy, Transport)– Solidarity Fund– European Investment Bank, European Investment Fund

Through non-EU financial mechanisms – Norwegian/EEA/future Swiss financing mechanisms– European Bank for Reconstruction & Development– Other banks (World Bank, Council of Europe Development Bank)

Red = decentralised approach; Green = calls for proposals; Black = Commission control; Purple = loans

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Co-ordinating environmental financing Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) point 25

• “In order to ensure that EU funding is channelled and used in an optimum way to promote sustainable development, Member States and the Commission should co-ordinate to enhance complementarities and synergies between various strands of Community and other co-financing mechanisms, such as cohesion policy, rural development, LIFE+, research and development (RTD), the Competitiveness and Innovation Program (CIP), and the European Fisheries Fund (EFF)”

– Adopted by the European Council, 15-16.06.06

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Networking Existing environmental networks relevant for Cohesion Policy

• European Network of Environmental Authorities (ENEA)

• European Platform of Regional Offices (EPRO)

• Environment Conference of the Regions of Europe (ENCORE)

• Interreg IIIC Greening of Regional Development Programmes (GRDP)

• Implementation of Environmental Legislation (IMPEL)

• European Sustainable Development Network (ESDN)

• European Sustainable Cities and Towns Campaign

• Lisbon Regions Network

• National Cohesion/Environment networks

• Future networks under Regions for Economic Change

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Links between SDS and Cohesion Policy

Climate change and clean energy •Achieving the Kyoto commitment on reducing GHG•Renewable sources•Improving energy efficiency

Sustainable transport •Decoupling of transport growth and GDP growth •Promoting sustainable transport infrastructure (TENs)•Tackling traffic volumes, congestion, noise and pollution•Encouraging integrated urban development strategies

Sustainable production and consumption •Co-financing the improvement of products and processes•Green Public Procurement (GPP) •Increasing global market share of env. Technologies

Conservation and management of natural resources

•Sustainable use of resources; Integrated Product Policy•Halting biodiversity decline by 2010•Preserve soil functions and prevent soil threats

Public health •Economic and Social Cohesion

Social inclusion, demography and migration •Economic and Social Cohesion

Global poverty and sustainable development •Globalisation of Cohesion Policy – China, Russia and Brazil

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On-going Commission activities

• First Annual Stocktaking on updated SDS – policy coherence, unsustainable trends, governance

• 4th Cohesion Report – web consultation until 31.01.08

• 4th European Cohesion Forum, 27-28.09.07 – low carbon one of three top global challenges regularly mentioned in speeches (along with migration and energy)

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European Territorial Cooperation – Interregional Cooperation

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• A programme focusing on Lisbon & SDS priorities (INTERREG IV C)

• A network programme for the exchange of experiences on urban development (URBACT II)

• A programme for identification, transfer & dissemination of best practice in management of co-operation programmes (INTERACT II)

• A programme for studies & data collection, observation & analysis of development trends (ESPON II)

European Territorial co-operationInterregional

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European Territorial Cooperation Regions for Economic Change –Fast-track Initiative

Communication adopted by Commission 8.11.06

• Using Inter-regional Co-operation and Urban development to: i) finance networks on around 30 Lisbon themes; ii) fast-track to test innovative ideas

• INTERREG IVC and URBACT II

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European Territorial CooperationRegions for Economic Change –Fast-track Initiative

• Environmental themes = air; low carbon; water supply and treatment; coastal zones; sustainable urban development; reusing brownfields and landfills; recycling society; preventing floods; global monitoring of environment and security (GMES)

• Environmental relevant themes = urban transport; energy-efficient housing; sea

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Conclusions

• Under Cohesion Policy, most environmental priorities can be co-financed. European Territorial Cooperation is a particular useful vehicle.

• Choice lies with the MSs in light of Lisbon and the SDS

• Good and timely preparation needed

• Capacity-building at central and regional/local levels to maximise ensure environmental integration

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Relevant websites:

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.htmhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/interreg3/index.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/conferences/4thcohesionforum/consultation_en.cfm?nmenu=4http://ec.europa.eu/environment/funding/intro_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/cohesion_policy_en.htm

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Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attentionjonathan.parker@ec.europa.eujonathan.parker@ec.europa.eu