François GallagaDG Regional and Urban Policy

Cohesion policy 2021-2027What is new in Commission’s proposals on urban

and territorial matters?

2021-2027: A modern, dynamic policy

Modern investment

▪ Focus on transition to smart, low-carbon economy

▪ Stronger conditions & link to European Semester

▪ Comprehensive performance data in near real time

Simple, flexible, dynamic

▪ 7 funds, 1 regulation (50% shorter)

▪ key administrative simplifications

▪ Faster implementation (return to n+2)

▪ Responsive to emerging needs (migration, economy)

For all regions

▪ Balanced and fair method

▪ 75% to poorest regions, where most needed

▪ Tackling emerging needs and economic transition across the EU

Policy objectives11 objectives simplified and consolidated to 5:

1. A smarter Europe (innovative & smart economic transformation)

2. A greener, low-carbon Europe (including energy transition, the circular economy, climate adaptation and risk management)

3. A more connected Europe (mobility and ICT connectivity)

4. A more social Europe (the European Pillar of Social Rights)

5. A Europe closer to citizens (sustainable development of urban, rural and coastal areas and local initiatives)

New cross-cutting Policy objective that can use all investment categories and indicators from PO1-4!

5 POs all

valid for integrated

urban and territorial

approaches

Reinforcing integratedurban and territorial development

An objective ?

A method?

Territorial tools?

The Objective

Foster economic, social, and environmental sustainability and resilience in all places.

Urban context:

▪ to benefit from agglomeration economies and positive spill-overs towards the wider functional urban areas and rural areas close to cities

▪ to address negative effects of concentration (traffic congestion, pollution, urban sprawl, affordable housing, poverty etc).

Other territories:

▪ to build on the potentials and specific assets of remote rural areas and local communities (beyond compensatory measures)

The Objective

What is Sustainable Urban Development? (new ERDF/CF Art. 9)

Integrated territorial development targeting urban areas.

• All investments under PO5 specific objective 1 (per definition for urban areas)

• All investments under PO1-4 and territorial instruments (ITI, CLLD) targeting urban areas

Minimum 6% ERDFIB designation is not obligatory, but the minimum requirements for integrated territorial development must apply!

The Method

Minimum requirements to operationalise the support to integrated territorial development (New CPR Art 23 and Art 25-28 for CLLD)

• Interventions linked to territorial or local strategies (definition of the targetedgeographical area according to needs and potential, locally coordinated interventionsthrough an integrated approach)

• Relevant local or territorial body shall select or shall be involved in the selection ofoperations (multi-level, optionally community-led) and partnership with relevantactors to be ensured at local level).

The Method

Source: ‘The Future of Cities’ Report - EC Joint Research Centre (JRC) 2019

https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/publication/eur-scientific-and-technical-research-reports/future-cities

Integrated

approach in

cities?

The territorial tools

Support from the Funds to be provided for integrated territorial and local development in forms of:

• ITI: when territorial strategy receives funding from multiple priorities, or even programmes, funds or POs (CPR Art 24)

• CLLD: Specific delivery method to enhance the participatory approach (CPR Art 25-28)

• Other territorial tool: when territorial strategy receives funding through PO5 priority or programme (CPR Art 22 (c))

Support only PO 5

• Provides continuation for the multi-thematic urban and CLLD priority axis and other national tools

• Suitable for experimentation and integrated local projects

• All intervention fields and indicators are available to monitor thematic inputs, outputs and results

• Coordination and governance arrangements need to ensure consistency with sectoral policies.

ERDF/CF Programme

Territorial strategy

PO

1

PO

1

PO

2

PO

2

PO

5

• A very comprehensive way to provide support to a territorial strategy

• Can be suitable for a territorial strategy with a substantial support from Cohesion Policy

• Suitable to ensure the link with other policies (enabling conditions, TC)

• Can include multiple tools and strategies (e.g. CLLD strategies within ITI strategy)

• Importance of appropriate coordination, governance and monitoring across the different strands

ERDF/CF Programme ERDF/CF Programme

ESF Prog.

Territorial Strategy

PO

1

PO

1

PO

2

PO

2

PO

4

PO

3

PO

4

PO

5

PO

4

PO

4

PO

4

Support through PO5 and other POs

▪ Concentrate the ERDF support to a limited number of locally relevant themes

▪ Suitable for a country/region with high thematic concentration and/or small allocation

▪ At least two priority, and the local strategy must be integrated also in this case

▪ The integrated approach and the role of local level (minimum requirements) need to be described in the programme

Support outside PO5

PO

2

ERDF/CF Programme

Territorial Strategy

PO

1

PO

1

PO

2

PO

2

Summary of main changes

2014-2020

• Focus on 11 thematic objectives, integrated territorial approach treated horizontally (specific chapter in programming documents)

• ITI and multi-thematic priority axis to break thematic silos

• Different set of rules for ITI under sustainable urban development (ERDF Art. 7) and ITIs for other territorial strategies

• Designation of Intermediate bodies is obligatory for urban development

• No specific monitoring arrangements, based on thematic operations, outputs and results

2021-2027

• 5 policy objective breaking policy silos, integrated territorial approach got its own cross-cutting policy objective - Europe closer to citizens (PO5)

• ITI tool remained to draw funding directly from other policy objectives

• Coherent minimum requirements for all territorial tools defined in the CPR (territorial strategies and duties of local/territorial bodies)

• No intermediate body needed for the minimum scope of responsibilities

• Indicators and categories for PO5 to improve flexibility and EU level monitoring

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