Maximising Opportunities for Influence and Funding

At European Level

Thursday 13th March 2014

Thursday 13th March 2014

Welcome from Chair

Cllr Tom Beattie, Leader, Corby Borough Council

Maximising Opportunities for Influence and Funding

at European LevelRichard Woods

Presentation

•Positions•Process key developments•People

•Funding opportunities

NEP Brussels Office

Why Brussels & Why Europe?

Importance of EU Funding

Location in the heart of the EU quarter

2 Full Time Staff

NEP Brussels team acts as a direct link between partners, the European institutions, Brussels-based interest groups, European regions and networks.

NEP Brussels Office

Partnership Development - maximising European partnerships and project opportunities in the CountyInward Investment and Trade PromotionInfluencing future European funding important to the County of which Structural Funds will be worth around £47 mln from 2014-2020.

Role of the NEP EI Office

Winner of most Enterprising Place in Britain 2012

by the Department of Business Innovation and Skills

Trade analysts, Experian rated Northampton as the ‘best environment for business success’ in the UK in 2014

Over £2.2 million worth of European funding secured to date for the County.

Success stories

Why Brussels?

Heart of the EU, ‘representations’by regions, companies, networks and NGOs

Profile the County’s key sectors of excellence in Brussels to the key EU institutions

Building project partners for County projects.

Structural Funds worth some €55m to Northamptonshire until 2020

Horizon 2020 is the world’s single largest public research fund worth €80bn until 2020

EU funds often allow larger scale projects to occur than through national funds.

European funding often applies to areas where internationalisation is likely to occur.

Importance of EU Funding

Centrality of Location

Pro-Growth Economy

Highly Entrepreneurial

World-Class Businesses

New and Emerging Growth Sectors

Serious Investment Propositions

Delivery Capacity and Capability

Our key messages

ESIF for NorthamptonshireESIF Priority 1: Strengthening Innovation

Rationale

*Evidence; poor overall levels of innovation and ICT adoption, low levels of investment in R&D*Need to strengthen innovation system by increasing technology transfer, promoting networking and setting the framework

Focus *Priority Sectors

Activities *Smart specialisation collaborative research between enterprises, universities/research institutions, and public institutions *Commercialisation and enterprise of new products and business processes*Brokerage assistance to help businesses seeking innovation and ICT support to select appropriate providers

ESIF Priority 2: Driving SME Competitiveness & Entrepreneurship

Rationale *Northamptonshire is dominated by SMEs and the survival rates of those SMEs falls significantly after the third year

*The ability of SMEs to grow within the Northamptonshire economy is a critical issue

Focus *Growth Sectors

*Entrepreneurship – more high growth businesses

Activities *Northamptonshire Growth Hub

*Targeted: Entrepreneurship Programme

*Finance for Business Programme

Rationale •Reduce energy demand and increase resource efficiency

•Address economic disparities within Northamptonshire and open up

Focus •SMEs – high energy users

•Areas of deprivation

•Priority groups – lone parents, ex offenders, disabled etc.

Activities

•Energy Efficiency for SMEs

•Local Investment Fund

ESIF Priority 3: Creating the Conditions for Sustainable & Equitable Growth

ESIF Priority 4: Providing a Responsive & Adaptable Workforce for the Future

Rationale *Northamptonshire is losing competitive edge by lack of investment in skills at all levels *Employment levels high but need to focus on hardest to help client groups Focus *Key sectors *High level skills *Priority groups

Activities*Key sector skills *Youth support programme

751 Members of the European ParliamentPresident of the European Commission28 CommissionersPresident of the European Council (1

December 2014)President of the European Parliament Permanent President of EurozonePolitical Group leaders

Open positions in 2014

* 28 new Commissioners and their cabinets (advisory teams)

* President of the Commission will be nominated by the Council, then elected by the EP

* Re-structuring of General Directorates? * The current Commission will continue its work

until November, when the new Commissioners will take up their posts

* TCommissioners will appoint their new (Cabinets) by mid October.

European Commission

*Current EP: 766 MEPs (754 + 12 for Croatia which joined in 2013)

*After the 2014 elections: reduced to 751 MEPs

*First plenary will take place in the first week of July 2014

*High turn-over rate of MEPs expected: only 1/3 MEPS likely to stay.

*Five Members of the European Parliament representing the East

Midlands

New European Parliament 2014-2019

* 8th EP elections* Election Day: between 22 and 25 May 2014* The official election result: after poll closes in last MS

on Sunday 25 May 2014.

(Source : European Parliament)

* Rationale for mainstream structural funds diminishing

* Policy focus of all current and future EU priorities

will reflect the Europe 2020 agenda :

* Productivity, employment growth, economic recovery

* New programmes beginning that will impact local

economic development e.g CAP, and ERDF/ESF

Impact for the region

EUROPE 2020SMART, SUSTAINABLE and INCLUSIVE Growth

* Employment* 75% of 20-64 year olds to be employed* R&D* 3% of the EU’s GDP to be invested in R&D* Climate Change and energy sustainability* Greenhouse gas emissions 20-30% lower

than 1990

20% of energy from renewables

20% increase in energy efficiency

* Education* Reducing the rates of early school leaving* below 10%* At least 40% of 30-34 year olds* completing third level education* Fighting poverty and social exclusion

at least 20 million fewer people

in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion.

5 key targets...

Next generation of EU Programmes

2014-2020

Structural Funds providing support for geographical areas within EU in terms of economic development and social inclusion i.e. ESIF.

Trans-National Funds - encouraging organisations and individuals to work together from across Europe.

Latter funds directly managed by the European Commission and are competitive.

Overview of EU funding programmes 2014-2020

Types of EU Funding

Horizon 2020 will include all research and innovation funding presently included in the Seventh Framework Programme

Three three different priorities:

Excellence in the science base - high-level research in Europe

Industrial leadership and competitive framework - major investment in key technologies, greater access to capital and support for SMEs.

Societal challenges. demographic change and well-being; food security, sustainable agriculture, secure, clean and efficient energy; smart, green and integrated transport; resource efficiency

Horizon 2020

* Transport

* Rail: promotion of modal shift

* Road: increasing efficiency, clean engines, road safety

* Logistics: supply chain synergies, common platforms

* Intelligent Transport Systems: sharing information, traffic management solutions.

Regional Horizon 2020 opportunities

* Allowing companies to access funding for technological research and brining new applications to market

* Supporting capacity building at the local level and providing access to cross-border science networks

* Promoting existing clusters of excellence in the region.

Regional Opportunities

* Strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of European enterprises

* Encouraging entrepreneurship and promoting SMEs* Access to finance for SMEs through dedicated financial instruments* Main target audience: SMEs, Entrepreneurs, regional and national

Business Support administrations

* Budget: € 2.5 billion from 2014 to 2020

COSME

* Link regional clusters to pan-European Strategic Cluster Partnerships e.g. Northamptonshire’s High Performance Technology Cluster

* Reinforce business network cooperation and support new value chains

* Eligible applicants would be existing SMEs; future entrepreneurs as well as young people looking to establish a business

Regional Opportunities

Connecting Europe Facility3 strands:Transport - c.€31.7bnBroadband & digital - c.€9.2bnEnergy - c.€9.1bn*Targeting investments in key infrastructures to help create jobs and boost competitiveness*Provides finance for energy, transport and broadband & digital projects which link /complete networks, corridors and infrastructures*Leverage more funding from other private and public investors.

TEN-T funding is is largely driven by the Member States UK projects proposals are usually submitted

by the Department for Transport, Highways Agency or Network Rail

Projects must be mature, fully funded and provide European value

Address Key priorities: pinch points; utilizing capacity; improving traffic flows and bottlenecks.

TEN-T

Includes: A14Felixstowe –Harwich London Gateway /Tilbury A1(M), M25,

TEN-T network

Three core areas:

Nature and Biodiversity

Environment Policy and Governance

Information and Communication

Activities and outcomes: Improved knowledge base and application Mitigation strategies at local, regional and national levelDevelopment / demonstration of new technologies

LIFE+

Erasmus +* New programme for education, training, youth and sportSupports:* Learning opportunities for individuals including study and training,

traineeships, teaching and professional development, volunteering* Institutional cooperation between educational institutions, youth

organisations, businesses, local and regional authorities and NGOs to encourage good practice and promote employability, creativity and entrepreneurship

* Creation of 400 knowledge alliances and sector skills alliances between higher education institutions, training providers and businesses to promote creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship by offering new learning opportunities and qualifications.

Based on a sector specific approach: e.g. Transport, HPT, Energy and Food and Drink

Increasing competitiveness Investing in innovation & R&D Investing & supporting SMEs Collaboration across clusters/LEPs and networks Larger scale strategic high impact projects Cross-border projects involving European regions Build on existing organisational capacity Complementing existing ERDF & ESF allocations across

the region

Opportunities for collaborative activity in the region

Richard Woods

Head of European Investment

Richard.Woods@northamptonshireep.co.uk

Contact details

The Future of EU Structural Funds in the East Midlands

Andrew PritchardDirector of Policy & Infrastructure

Localisation of EU funding

Establishment of a national ‘EU Growth Programme’

LEPs to develop EU investment strategies (January 2014)

Each LEP to be given a ‘notional allocation’ of EU funding to prioritise

Payments to be made centrally Notional allocations will be reviewed against

performance from 2017 onwards

“Show me the money”

EU Growth Programme = €6.2 billion UK Local Growth Fund = £2 billion

In and around the EM

D2N2: €249.7

GLLEP: €133.5

LLEP: €126.3

NEP: €55.0

SEMLEP: €88.3

GC&GP: €75.5

Emerging UK Priorities

•Innovation•SME Competitiveness•ICT 60% + of ERDF

•Employment•Skills•Social Inclusion 80% + of ESF

•Climate Change•Environment•Sustainable Transport No Minimum spend

•Low Carbon Economy 20% + of ERDF

Also…

Minimum 20% of combined ESF/ERDF on ‘social inclusion’

Gender equality, equal opportunities & non-discrimination

Sustainable development

Key Outcomes

“It’s the economy, stupid”

More Jobs Less Worklessness

Current Experience

Spend under the current ERDF Programme has been slow

Too many small projects - difficult to see a strategic impact

Original operational programme did not fully meet local needs - e.g. Broadband

Future Challenges

1 region replaced by 7 LEPs – 4 overlapping

Pressure for early spend on projects that will deliver clear outcomes

LEP notional allocations to be reviewed in 2017- under-performance could be penalised

EMC Technical Assistance Project

Raise awareness and understanding of new processes

Highlight strategic opportunities for growth in the East Midlands based on evidence

Highlight opportunities for collaborative activity that will generate strategic scale projects

Meeting Need/Realising Opportunity

Economic Analysis Potential Interventions Delivery Challenges &

Opportunities Next Steps

National Economic Context

Local Economic Context

Trends in the Unemployment Rate (% 16+ resident population), 2008-2012

Opportunities for Collaboration:Key Sectors

Potential Interventions

SME Growth & Competitiveness

Low Carbon Economy

Skills & Employment Collaborative Activity

Delivery Challenges & Solutions

Securing Match Funding Reducing Risk &

Complexity Countering

Fragmentation Addressing Cross

Cutting Issues

Next Steps

‘Fast Track to Growth’: Rail event (26th February, Roundhouse, Derby)

Similar events planned for High Performance Engineering, Food & Energy

Working with OneEM to develop a comprehensive ‘lessons learned’ document

Any Questions?

Refreshment Break

»WORKING FOR YOU IN EUROPE

Presentation by

Charles Nolda

»WORKING FOR YOU IN EUROPE

INFLUENCE IN EUROPE

THROUGH CEEP UK

Melton Mowbray, 13 March 2014

»

INTRODUCTION

•Membership of CEEP UK

•The contribution of the East Midlands

•The benefits of membership:

direct participation in European meetings

right to be consulted on policy and regulation

lobbying opportunities

a stronger voice at home

a network of other public services to learn from

SOME KEY AREAS AND

LEAD UK REPRESENTATIVES

•SOCIAL AFFAIRS (Mick Brodie)

•PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (Mark Robinson)

•ECONOMIC POLICY (Andrew Leadbetter)

•PENSIONS (Jeff Houston)

•EDUCATION & TRAINING (Alan Dean)

•TRANSPORT (Steve Newsome)

•GOVERNANCE OF CEEP (Janet Beaumont)

»

THE SOCIAL PARTNERS

•ETUC

•BusinessEurope (private employers)

•CEEP (public employers)

•UEAPME (small and medium business)

•Also sectoral social partners. In LG, CEMR and EPSU; in Education EFEE and ETUCE; in Health, HOSPEEM and EPSU.

»

SOCIAL DIALOGUE AGENDA

•Much broader than in the UK

•Consultative and negotiating agendas

•“Autonomous” and Commission-led

•“Cross-sectoral” and “sectoral”

•Issues covered include regulation on employment contracts, health and safety and equalities; qualifications; education and training; mobility of workers; macro-economic policy and overall EU strategy.

»

SOCIAL DIALOGUE OUTPUTS

•DIRECTIVES. For example fixed-term workers and parental leave agreements became directives.

•FRAMEWORK AGREEMENTS. For example, Telework and Stress.

•FRAMEWORKS OF ACTION. For example gender equality and lifelong learning.

•JOINT GUIDELINES AND DECLARATIONS.

»

TREATY PROVISIONS

•Art. 138: representative social partners must be consulted on EU social legislation.

•Art. 139: social partners can reach agreements on employment-related matters, to be implemented by EU law or by the SP.

•Position of Social Partners further strengthened by LISBON TREATY.

»

HOW IT WORKS

»

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT

•New Procurement Directive

•Main changes

•CEEP UK’s role in shaping CEEP policy

•A good example of changing EU regulation

•Current situation

»

ECONOMIC POLICY

•Macro-economic social dialogue gives CEEP a chance to lobby on major issues like growth, austerity and the euro.

•UK chair of CEEP delegation.

»

PENSIONS

•Last year CEEP was part of a lobby including the unions and the private employers which stopped Commission proposals called SOLVENCY II.

•These would have more or less destroyed UK occupational pension schemes.

•We are still active in dealing with other Commission proposals relating to pensions.

»

SOME OTHER POLICY AREAS

•Health and Safety: regulatory review

•Education and Training: UK Chair of CEEP task group

•Equalities: UK representation on consultative committee

•Lifelong learning: UK representation on consultative committee

»

THE OPERATION OF CEEP UK

•Janet Beaumont our Director co-ordinates UK inputs and ensures we always respond to key consultations and participate in key negotiations

•Network of volunteers

•Website, weekly e-alerts and monthly Director’s snapshot

•4 Executive Committee meetings a year + AGM

•Low subscriptions = good VFM set against huge risks of expensive/impractical EU regulation

»

CEEP UK AT HOME

•Being a member of a recognised European social partner organisation strengthens our relationship with BIS, the CBI and the TUC.

•In January CEEP UK were consulted and responded to the government’s Balance of Competences Review in relation to social and employment policy.

•Working with other public services in the UK provides the potential (not yet fully realised) for better synergy.

»

EUROPE IN THE C19

»

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

I’m happy to take questions now if there is time or you can email me at charles.nolda@gmail.com

Our Director can be emailed at janet.beaumont@ceepuk.co.uk

»

»WORKING FOR YOU IN EUROPE

Presentation by

Charles Nolda

Cllr Tom Beattie, Leader,

Corby Borough Council

Sue Smith, Chief Executive

Cherwell and South Northamptonshire Councils

Maximising Opportunities for Influence and Funding at European Level

13 March 2014

Chris Hill, ERDF Project Manager

Reach & Impact Project

One East Midlands

About One East Midlands

One East Midlands is the regional body for the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in the East Midlands region.

Our role is to ensure that all elements of the VCS play a valued role in the development of policies and strategies that impact on the individuals and communities in our region

We have four core strategic functions that enable us to deliver our mission:

•Influencing•Enabling•Communicating•Strengthening

Building up the awareness, capabilities, and capacity of the VCS to engage with, and access

ERDF

More Information and resources are on the Reach & Impact web page:

http://www.oneeastmidlands.org.uk/reachandimpact

Event Round Up

&

Evaluation

Lunch and close

Please hand feedback forms to Lisa or Lisa.