Brussels, 02/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - 5 March 2007 marked the deadline for all EU member states to introduce their National Strategic Reference Frameworks (NSRFs) to the Commission. The latter is currently examining them. Their message is clear: cohesion policy has become a vector for investment in pursuit of the Lisbon objectives on growth and jobs. Two of their frameworks, one by Malta and the other by Greece (EUROPE 9398), have already by adopted by the Commission. The Austrian NSRF should become the third on the list, followed in the next few days by those from Denmark and Germany. The process will continue, however, in May, June and July for the other NSRFs. The Commission has already received 311 Operational Programmes (OP) from the 441 expected for 2 April. 206 of them involve European Regional Development Funds (ERDF) and 105 European Social Funds (ESF). Programmes worth 90% of the total budget of the cohesion policy are now being negotiated between the Commission, member states and regions. The Austrian OP will probably be the first to be adopted by the Commission. All Operational Programmes are expected to be adopted by the end of 2007. The situation as described by the Commissioner for Regional Policy, Danuta Hübner, during a press conference in Brussels, under the title "Making it happen, delivering Cohesion Policy 2007-2013”, is as follows: "We are at a turning point for cohesion policy 2007-2013, it is also a turning point for the drive to modernise our regions, to modernise our Union. Today, more than €311.5 billion worth of programmes are being negotiated by my services and the services of Commissioner Špidla with a view to start investments on the ground as soon as possible." The commissioner added: “Programmes in the new period will deliver EU priorities of growth, jobs and sustainable development on the ground. There will be also major investments in renewable energies and energy efficiency, as well as infrastructures of European importance". The Commission affirmed that initial estimates suggest that around €200bn will be spent directly on investments to deliver the Lisbon agenda. €70bn will go to human capital (the commissioner for social affairs, Vladimir Špidla is responsible for this area) and €50bn on R&D and innovation, especially for SMEs.
In the context of the financial instrument Jeremie (helping SMEs and micro-companies access funding more easily - risk capital, loans, micro loans, guarantees etc) Hübner indicated that three member states, Slovakia, Greece and Romania, had signed the protocol for an agreement with the Commission to access risk capital financing, and 4 other regions - Guadeloupe, Auvergne for France, Galicia for Spain and Lombardy for Italy, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the European Investment Fund (EIF) which is expected to manage a minimum amount of €2bn. The commissioner explained that 21 out of 27 member states have expressed an interest in applying to the EIF, whilst 6 decided not to use it. The Commission and heads of European and international financial institutions officially launched three joint initiatives on 30 May 2006 in favour of cohesion policy and promoting investment, growth and jobs in the regions: Jeremie, Jaspers and Jessica (for details EUROPE 9201).
Hübner also announced the creation of a programming scoreboard at the regional policy website, which will indicate developments affecting the finalisation work for the NSRFs and the process for adopting the OPs. Commissioner Hübner concluded that they had to take action fast and investment could not wait - it was essential for the modernisation of Europe's economy.
The cohesion policy has a budget of €347.4bn for the period 2007-2013. This represents 35% of the Community budget and is the biggest investment of its kind in the history of the Union. The Commission has been cooperating closely with the national authorities in view of the finalisations of the national strategic reference frameworks, which link with the more general national reform programme where member states describe specific measures to modernise their economy in the context of what is known as the Lisbon strategy for jobs and growth.
Further information about European Regional Policy available at: http: //ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.htm. (gb)