Cohesion Policy focus on performanceexperiences of the Hungarian Presidency

Dr. Györgyi Nyikos Deputy State Secretary for Development Affairs

Ministry of National Development

Motto of the Hungarian Presidency: “Strong Europe”• Means sustainable growth, employment and competitiveness• All policies will have to do their own part• Cohesion Policy works, but there are hidden resources to make use of• Result orientation is decisive for the future of the Policy, therefore…

Result-orientation was part of our overall objectives…• Post-crisis EU, scarce resources• Maximum value for public efforts needed, cost-efficiently→ Emphasise importance, results and visibility of the Policy at political

level

…and our specific objectives• 5th Cohesion Report presents ideas to increase added value

that need further discussion→ Concentrate on key issues, enhance reaching a common interpretation,

try to move from concept to practice and…→ Help the timely publication of the legislative package

Result-orientation in HU PRES strategy

Exploring the topic of effectiveness in future Cohesion Policy…

Several aspects to be taken into account, e.g.• Effectiveness of Cohesion Policy largely depends on

the economic environment, which will be influenced by EU2020

→relation of Cohesion Policy to EU2020 will be crucial• Cohesion Policy reduces disparities through

financing investments→clear intervention logic (theory of change) will be

necessary• Cohesion Policy creates tailor-made solutions

via multi-level governance and cross-sectoral nature →place-based, integrated approach key to the very

operation of Cohesion Policy

Result-orientation: a multifaceted issue - 1

Several questions to be addressed, e.g.• What do we mean by result in Cohesion Policy?• How is this result defined in the context of EU2020, how

can CP and EU2020 be aligned to increase effectiveness?• How to gain better knowledge of the results of our

interventions? • How to make sure in advance that interventions will be

effective? • Several obligations now: what needs to be changed and

what needs to remain to make the overall system more effective?

• How can conditionalities and incentives best serve results in CP?

→HU PRES discussed these in the context of COM proposals in the 5th Cohesion Report

Result-orientation: a multifaceted issue - 2

General Affairs Council, 21 Feb: political level• Council Conclusions on the 5th CR; orientation debate – effectiveness

and performance orientation is a central topic to both• Two “effectiveness” topics set as key topics of further Council work

High Level Meeting, 31 March – 1 April: expert level• 2 discussion papers, the topics “Result-oriented approach” and

“Thematic concentration and flexibility” discussed• Conclusions of the Meeting on the two topics

SAWP key issue debates, March – May: expert level• A meeting devoted to result-orientation as part of the debate on key

issues• Presidency note and outcome document prepared

Informal Meeting of Ministers, 20 May: political level• 2 issue notes, the topics “How to be more effective in achieving

results” and ”How to contribute more effectively to EU2020” discussed

• Presidency Conclusions based on intervention of ministers and all previous documents

Result-orientation in HU PRES events

Result-orientation of Cohesion Policy• Strong political commitment to result-orientation – the

question is how?• Role of programming, evaluation/indicators, streamlined

delivery system emphasised • Conditionalities strongly linked with effectiveness of Cohesion

Policy widely supported• Success factors to be in place before expenditure is made • Reforms in CSR’s: important but not to be set as

conditionalities• Unified system with only most important success factors as

conditionalities• Build on principles such as focus, flexibility, ownership,

transparency, accountability, proportionality and simplification• Scope for optional use of incentives at national, regional, OP

level, but EU performance reserve mostly not favoured

Main findings in result-orientation - 1

Thematic concentration as means of effectiveness• For tangible results, focus on limited number of priority

objectives• Thematic concentration to be the tool of establishing the most

effective connection between Cohesion Policy and EU2020• Thematic concentration of resources is only effective if it takes

into account different contexts and…• …recognises that different policy-mixes may be needed to deliver

the same objectives…• … and maintains the integrated nature of the Policy

Main findings in result-orientation - 2

Territorial challenges

Europe 2020

Sectoral needs

Complex integrated development programs with multilevel and multisectoral

implementation!

Conclusions

To summarize…• Strong and unanimous political commitment to enhance

effectiveness and efficiency – example for other policy areas• All improvements of the Policy shall serve this goal• Efforts only successful if enhanced tools are aligned with the

added values and main characteristics of Cohesion Policy (integrated, multi-level)

Important tasks ahead…→ Experiences and results shall be continuously evaluated and

analyzed, decisions on the future shall be based on evidences→ This approach to be used during the debate on the legislative

package

Thank you for your attention!

Dr. Györgyi Nyikos, Deputy State Secretary for Development Affairs

Ministry of National Development