Download European Week of Cities and Regions 8th

European Week of Cities and Regions
8th -11th October 2007, Brussels
Thursday 11th October 9:30-11:30
Workshop: 11E31
Presentation from Ildefonso Martinez, Coordinator of Structural Funds at
the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha
CASTILLA-LA MANCHA STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRUCTURAL FUNDS 2007-2013
Castilla-La Mancha: main features of the Region and programme presented
The Region
Castilla-La Mancha is one of the largest regions in Europe occupying an area of
nearly 80.000 km2. The region is located in the centre of Spain with an
extensive plain dominating the territory. It is sparsely populated (population
density is 23,84 hab/km2) and organised in five provinces (Albacete, Ciudad
Real, Cuenca, Guadalajara and Toledo) and 919 municipalities.
A socio economic picture of the region may be approached when looking at
different fields of interest (i.e. the ones analysed in the Strategic Framework):
o With regards to entrepreneurship, a striving dynamism has been
detected over the last few years, which may be approached by the high
increase in the number of enterprises created and the incipient
internationalisation process. Nevertheless, some weaknesses associated
to the scarce pulse of enterprise innovation and the limited strength of
commercialization channels are detected.
o With regards to employment and formation, very substantial advances
have taken place in the occupation figures (rates of growth amounting
to 5% annual over the last years). However, important relative gaps are
still observed in relation to women incorporation to the labour market
and education.
o Regarding to the situation of R&D&I and Information Society, the
Region has carried out a very important effort in the provision of ICT
infrastructures. Nevertheless, the gaps subsist in terms R&D&I low
expenses, especially among the enterprises.
o With respect to the energy, the high level of energy auto-supply and the
good position to meet the challenge of the development of the
renewable energies should be stressed. On the debit side, relative high
levels of energetic inefficiency should be mentioned.
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o In relation to the environment, the Region is privileged with great
wealth and diversity of natural resources in sharp contrast with
important water shortages.
Castilla-La Mancha was placed in the convergence regions group for the
programming period 2007-2013. Nevertheless, the period of strong economic
growth experienced during 2000-2005 allowed the Region to surpass the 75%
per capita income threshold.
European Funds devoted in the region from 1988 to 2006 have been one of the
key factors fuelling its recent dynamism. According to macroeconometric
calculations, European Funds have added 4,49% to regional GDP.
The Programme to be presented: the Regional Strategic Framework
Castilla-La Mancha has endorsed an integrated programming framework due to
the strategic advantages it may bring. With that aim the Castilla-La Mancha
Strategic Framework has been elaborated. Such a framework is the bridge
that links, through the provision of Structural Funds, the Lisbon Agenda
Objectives with the regional priorities, which have been established in the
Development and Competitiveness Regional Pact 2005-2010.
Major Issues of the Strategic Framework
The Strategic Framework consisted basically in the fulfilment of several tasks
in partnership with the most representative social agents:
•
A diagnostic study covering economic, social, territorial and
environmental issues leading to a SWOT matrix;
•
The setting of the strategic priorities, which were ranked according to a
set of intermediate and final objectives. The objectives are fully
coherent with the Development and Competitiveness Pact for CastillaLa Mancha 2005-2010 (Regional Agreement); the National Reform
Programme (National Agreement) and Community Strategic Guidelines
(European Agreement);
•
The analysis of the coherence with respect to the most important
institutional agreements (Development and Competitiveness Regional
Pact, National Reforms Plan and European Strategic Guidelines of the
Commission);
•
The estimation of the potential impact of the European Funds 20072013
•
The executive summary of the priorities contained in the Regional
Operational Programmes ERDF and ESF;
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•
The definition of the implementing provisions and a compilation of
procedures.
Castilla-La Mancha Strategic Framework was developed through monofund
Operational Programmes with two Operational Programmes taking part in this
scheme: ERDF and ESF Operational Programmes and Multiregional
Programmes (ERDF and ESF). It also bears coherence with EAFRD (CastillaLa Mancha Rural Development Programme 2007-2013) as well as EFF.
Furthermore, the Cohesion Fund (Multiregional Fund) also considers transporttype actions.
On the other hand, a major share of European Structural Funds (74.6%) is
implemented through ERDF actions, whereas 25.4% is implemented through
ESF. Within the Regional Operational Programmes, 40% are to be carried out
by Castilla-La Mancha’s Regional Government and the remaining 60% by the
Spanish Central Government. Spain’s Central Government is also in charge of
the implementation of Multirregional Programmes.
The expected impact of 2007-2013 Funds in the Region amounts to a GDP
increase of 3,81% considering only ERDF actions.
Conclusions
Some key points of the Strategic Framework are worth mentioning as
conclusions:
o Strategic evaluation: The Framework is an exercise of strategic
evaluation that bridges key issues of the Regional Pact with the Lisbon
Agenda (National Reforms Programme and European Guidelines)
o Achievement of desirable (and measurable) goals and a monitoring
process: The Framework aims at following the path of convergence by
means of measurable targets. A set of strategic indicators will show the
progress attained.
o Partnership principle: The involvement of a wide spectrum of regional
agents was a landmark in the elaboration of the Framework
•
Development of monofund Operational Programmes: The Strategic
Framework is basically composed of the Regional Operational
Programmes ERDF and ESF as well as the Multiregional Programmes.
These funds are to be implemented under close cooperation between
Castilla-La Mancha’s Regional Government and Spain’s Central
Government
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