The Government is
today launching an informal consultation to seek views from
businesses, local communities and other organisations on how EU
Structural Funds, Rural Development Funds and Fisheries Funds can
be used to support growth in England.
The aims of the individual EU funds are:
Structural Funds (European Regional Development Funds and
European Social Funds) - to reduce disparities that still exist
between regions and improve employment opportunities. Rural
Development Funds (European Agricultural Fund for Rural
Development) - to improve the competitiveness of agriculture, the
sustainable management of natural resources and climate action,
and a balanced territorial development of rural areas.Fisheries
Funds - to promote sustainable and competitive fisheries and
aquaculture industry.
The informal consultation is being launched today (28 th March
2012) and will close on 27 th April 2012.
Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk said:
“I want to ensure that we make the most of EU funds to support
creation of sustainable jobs and growth across the country.
“As well as providing direct economic investment, these funds
also provide valuable support to the management of the natural
environment in England in both rural and urban areas.
“This informal consultation will allow us to hear the views of
industry and stakeholders on what our approach should be to ensure
these funds drive growth across the country.”
Businesses, local authorities, voluntary groups, non-government
organisations, universities and local enterprise partnerships are
being asked for their views on how the Government can more
effectively exploit the funds to drive growth and create jobs.
The European Commission proposals for the next funding round
(2014-2020) are still subject to negotiation, but the key changes
proposed will allow much greater flexibility to tailor the funds
to the specific economic challenges faced in different areas. The
Government wants to ensure there is maximum potential value of the
EU money for taxpayers.
While the size of these funds is still being negotiated, in the
current EU budget (2007-13) England receives approximately £8
billion of funding.
Having taken into account the views of stakeholders from the
informal consultation, the Government will launch a formal public
consultation in 2013 on the proposed approach the UK will take in
delivery of the funds.
Notes to editors:
The informal consultation covers England only. The Scottish,
Welsh and Northern Irish Administrations are making their own
consultation arrangements. A copy of the informal consultation can
be found at:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/Consultations/delivery-of-structural-funds-rural-development-funds-european-maritime-fisheries-fund?cat=open
Responses to the informal consultation should be sent to:
structuralfundsnegotiations@bis.gsi.gov.uk
On the 6th October 2011 the European Commission published draft
regulations for Structural and Cohesion Funds. The regulations are
currently being negotiated. These can be found at:
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/what/future/proposals_2014_2020_en.cfm
On 14th March 2012 the European Commission published its Working
Paper on the Common Strategic Framework which set out how the
following EU funds should work together:
European Regional Development Funds European Social Funds
Cohesion Funds (which the UK does not receive)European
Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)European Maritime
and Fisheries Funds (EMFF).
This paper can be found at:
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/newsroom/detail.cfm?LAN=EN&id=180&lang=en
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