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EU STRUCTURAL FUNDS

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This page is about the EU Structural Funds – there are other webpages for the following:

FUNDS / PROGRAMMES: TRANS-NATIONAL / INTERREG IV / THIRD COUNTRIES

OTHER INFO: EUROPE / EU / UK OFFICES IN BRUSSELS

The Structural Funds are allocated to disadvantaged parts of the EU and aim to help them with economic and social regeneration in order to secure greater economic sustainability. A new round of Structural Funds began in January 2007 which will last until the end of 2013. For a project to be funded by the EU Structural Funds, it will need to demonstrate a contribution to economic and social regeneration in some way (e.g. it has resulted in new visitors to the region who contribute to the local economy, or it has provided new skills and training to participants which has helped them become more employable).

For the Structural Funds, the procedures for setting the criteria and for handling applications are undertaken by the Member States (or regions within the larger member states) rather than by the European Commission (though the EC does have final approval of all funding allocations via the Structural Funds).

You should also be aware that there are two aspects to the Structural Funds:

The funds themselves – which are established by the EC, and which are very similar in this new round as they were in the past – i.e. European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Social Fund (ESF), European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and European Fisheries Fund (EFF) – the names of the last two have been slightly re-worded but the principles are similar to the previous funds
The mechanisms for spending the funds – which have changed for this new round

There are three new mechanisms for the allocation of the funds:

1. Convergence Objective – for the most deprived regions of Europe – in the UK, this only applies to two regions: Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly, and West Wales and the Valleys

2. Regional Competitiveness & Employment Objective – for the rest of the EU – though each country or region can set its own geographical priorities which may mean this only applies to certain parts of the country or region. Note that some parts of the UK that were previously Objective 1 regions (Merseyside, S Yorkshire, Scotland, NI) are also receiving some additional transitional funding in this period.

3. European Territorial Co-operation Objective (also known as Interreg IV) – this is in fact about trans-national projects based on a number of different sub-programmes that link different parts of the EU in different groupings – this is a follow-on from the previous Interreg III programme and is explained in more detail below

In the UK, the responsibility for the development of the criteria for these funds (which are contained in a document called the “Operational Programme”) and for managing the calls for applications has been passed on as follows:

In England, to the Government Office in each region and then on to the relevant regional development agency (RDA)
In Scotland, to the Scottish Executive, and then on to two specific agencies, one for the highlands and islands and one for the lowlands
In Wales, to the Welsh Assembly, and then on to another agency
In Northern Ireland, to the NI government, and then on to other agencies

The following listing is therefore in two sections:

links to the EC webpages for the new first and second objectives
for the new first and second objectives and the EAFRD, listings by UK country and English regions, with details of where you can get the latest information

In addition, there is a separate page for the Interreg IV programme, which contains a set of links to the trans-national secretariat for each sub-programme, plus links to any UK contact points if they exist.

If you are in the UK, EUCLID runs regular CulturEuro seminars across the UK which explain these funding programmes, and which also cover the trans-national funds and third country programmes.

EUCLID has also published Culture Delivers…, a directory of over 1200 cultural projects funded by the EU Structural Funds in the 2000-2006 period. This directory is presented within 10 priorities for funding which link to the priorities for the new Structural Funds 2007-2013. It is available for £30 – 50% discount for those attending a CulturEuro seminar.

Deadlines for EC funding programmes are constantly changing and you can keep updated in a number of ways:

You can subscribe to EUCLID’s free ALERT e-newsletter – visit the EUCLID website to register your name and email address
You can check on the Culture.Info deadlines webpage
For the Structural Funds, you can contact the relevant RDA or Government Office for the latest information – many of them have free e-mail newsletters.

EC WEBPAGES

Regional Policy
Regional Policy: ERDF
Regional Policy: ESF
Employment & Social Policy (ESF)
Summary of 2007 Funds
Regulations for all new programmes
Community Strategic Guidelines on Cohesion
Maps

IQ-Net is a network which brings together regional and national partners from Structural Funds programmes across the European Union. Its aim is to improve the quality of Structural Funds programming through exchange of experience. The network involves a structured programme of applied research and debate, centred on bi-annual conferences.

UK WEBPAGES (1^st & 2^nd OBJECTIVES and EAFRD)

General

UK National Strategic Reference Framework
UK Overall Responsibility
ESF
Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy

England

ERDF
Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE)

BY REGION:

The Government Office website will have general information about the EU and the Structural Funds. The RDA website will have (or should have) more specific practical information about calls for applications, criteria, deadlines, technical support, etc.

Note there is a separate webpage for the Interreg IV programme.

EAST OF ENGLAND
Government Office EU Webpage
RDA Webpage for ERDF

RDA Webpage for ESF
RDA Webpage for RDPE