Structural Funds 2007-2013

The major focus for new European Programmes is innovation, competitiveness and the development of employment and skills for the European workforce. 

Under the terms of the new Structural Fund arrangements, all EU Member States had to produce a National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) to set the broad objectives for future programmes. The Government's response to the consultation, outlining broad priorities, management arrangements and funding allocations for ERDF and ESF programmes 2007-2013 can be found on the DTI website, via the link below.

There are four main Structural Funds, which will operate in the South West under the Convergence and Competitiveness Programmes, plus a Co-Operation objective, covering the whole of the South West:

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

The objective of the Convergence Programme is to continue the transformation of the economy to one where knowledge, environment and quality of life underpin sustainable economic growth. The underlying themes to achieve this goal are for the Programme to use knowledge and creativity as key assets and to be environmentally responsible.  
 
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will receive €654 million (approximately £439 million) to be divided 70:30 between ERDF Convergence and the Convergence priorities in the England ESF Programme.

The South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) will take the lead in the management of the Convergence Programme, although the details of the management and delivery arrangements are still to be determined. GOSW will take on a certifying role, supporting the RDA and acting as a partner in the delivery arrangements.

The remainder of the South West (excluding Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly) will benefit from a Competitiveness Programme worth €125 million (approximately £84 million). This sum will be complemented by some €144 million (around £97 million) from the national ESF Programme for England (see below) to address worklessness and skills development in the South West.

The drafts OPs for both the Convergence and Competitiveness Programmes - as submitted - are available on the South West RDA's website via the link below.

European Social Fund (ESF)

The National ESF Operational Programme 2007-2013 was adopted in August 2007.  The Programme aims to support sustainable economic growth and promote social inclusion throughout the UK by raising the skills levels of young people and adults and increasing employment rates in disadvantaged groups.

The Programme covers two geographical areas, Convergence in Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly and Competitiveness for the rest of England and Gibraltar. In the South West, Competitiveness has been awarded £98 million plus match funding and Convergence has been awarded £134 million plus match funding.

To support the delivery of ESF in the South West the Regional Skills Partnership (RSP), with partners, has developed the South West ESF Frameworks for both the Competitiveness and the Convergence Programmes. The Frameworks set out how ESF will be utilised in the South West, meeting both the requirements of the National Operational Programme and the needs of the South West region. These are available to download on the SWRSP website:
 www.swrsp.org.uk/library.

The Programme is being delivered through two Co-Financing Organisations - the Learning and Skills Council and DWP/Jobcentre Plus – which submitted Strategic Plans, in the Autumn of 2007, outlining the delivery of activities via a tendering process; the Co-Financing Plans can be viewed under ‘Related Documents’ at the bottom of this page.

Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE)

The new Rural Development Programme 2007 - 2013 provides a major opportunity to focus on protecting and enhancing the region's natural environment and ensuring the long-term sustainability of our rural communities and businesses. Since the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, the Programme has played an increasingly important role in supporting rural areas to meet the economic, social and environmental challenges of the 21st century.
 
Broadly, however, the Programme will seek to:

• Improve the competitiveness of the farming and forestry sectors
• Improve the environment and the countryside
• and address issues around rural quality of life and the diversification of the rural economy.

Further information on the Programme can be found on the DEFRA website by following the link below.

European Fisheries Fund (EFF)

The EFF is the replacement Programme for the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) grants which were available up to December 2006. The EFF will provide grants for the sustainable development of the fisheries sector. The draft EFF Regulation and amount of funding available are still under discussion between the European Commission and Member States.

Further information on the draft Plan and programme and a link to the Consultation document are available below. 
 
NOTE: Although the previous European Structural Funds Programming period ended on 31 December 2006, there are a number of projects which are still being supported and where payments are still being made. It is expected that the majority of these projects will have been fully completed by mid-2008. Subsequently, a final report on the various Programmes will be submitted to the European Commission by GOSW.

Co-operation Objective (ERDF)
 
The whole of the South West region will be eligible for the Territorial Co-operation Objective, which aims to support co-operation between European regions on issues of common interest (eg environment, transport, maritime, sustainable communities, tourism etc.). The programme is divided into three strands:

• cross-border
• trans-national
• inter-regional activities.

The whole of the region will be eligible for the Atlantic Area and the North West Europe Trans-national programmes, and the Interregional IVC programme. Parts of the region will also be eligible for the two Channel Cross-Border Programmes.