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MEMO/08/375
Brussels, 6 June 2008
Spain — Operational programme 2007–2013: Melilla
1. Operational programme 2007–2013 for the autonomous city of
Melilla, under the ‘Convergence’ objective, co-financed by the
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
2. Overview
On 20 November 2007, the European Commission approved an Operational
Programme for the autonomous city of Melilla for the period 2007-2013.
This Operational Programme comes under the ‘Convergence’ objective. It has a total
budget of around 63.5 million euros. The assistance provided by the European Union
through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is around 43.7 million
euros, representing some 0.1% of Community contributions to Spain under the
cohesion policy 2007-2013.
The national contribution provided for amounts to 16.7 million euros and may be
partly met by Community loans from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and by
other lending instruments.
3. Aim and purpose of the programme
The strategy of the Operational Programme is based primarily on:
 regional issues highlighted by an identification and analysis of the region’s
potential;
 the gains achieved during the previous stages of the Community programme;
 the Community’s strategic guidelines and the national strategic framework,
which establish the principles for the allocation of Community funding.
As a complement to other Community programmes for the city, the Operational
Programme for the autonomous city of Melilla thus pursues a development strategy
based on:
 an economic pillar aimed at stimulating growth in order to ensure convergence
with the rest of Spain and the EU;
 a social pillar aimed at enhancing a balanced redistribution of wealth in order to
reinforce territorial and social cohesion.
In operational terms, the programme specifically encourage the promotion of:
 innovation;
 the knowledge-based economy;
 development of private enterprise and the information society (34.6%);
 sustainable development (27.1%);
 improvements to the existing infrastructure (26.8%).
Social cohesion and sustainable local and urban development complement the
priority areas, with 9.1% of the budget for the programme. The contribution from the
Structural Funds allocated to the Lisbon priorities accounts for 67.23% of the total
budget for the programme.
4. Expected impact of investment
The expected objectives of the programme include:
 maintaining the annual growth rate for GDP at 4.1%;
 increasing per capita GDP to 22 000 euros;
 decreasing the unemployment rate by 0.68% compared with the 2006 level;
 increasing productivity by 1% to approach the Spanish average.
5. Priorities
The operational programme is divided into seven priority areas:
Priority 1: Development of the knowledge-based economy (research and
technological development (RTD), information society, information
and communication technology (ICT)) [approx. 3.7% of total
investment]
The first priority has the following objectives:
 to strengthen human capital in the framework of RTD, the information society
and ICT;
 to create a government research centre as a driving force for growth;
 to support technology transfers to small and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs);
 to support viable technological research projects.
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Particular attention will be focused on carrying out innovative projects aimed at
improving the quality and competitiveness of SMEs and the city administration, in
addition to promoting the creation of links between research groups and the
corresponding socio-economic sectors.
Priority 2: Entrepreneurial development and innovation [approx. 17.3% of
total investment]
This priority is based on the following strategic objectives and priorities:
 diversification of the local production structures and, more specifically, growth
in the level of economic activity and employment in the hi-tech sectors;
 modernisation, specialisation and consolidation of employment in the
‘traditional’ sectors;
 enhancement of the city’s human capital, with particular focus on women.
Most of the activities included under this priority are specifically designed to satisfy
the needs of SMEs with regard to technological innovation, globalisation, access to
financial resources and technological services and inspectorates.
Priority 3: Environment, protection of natural resources and water
management, distribution and treatment [approx. 32% of total
investment]
The strategic objectives and priorities under this priority are as follows:
 to eliminate the shortages in the water supply for the general public and
businesses;
 to complete the water purification and waste water circuits;
 to protect natural areas and promote biodiversity;
 to reinforce the prevention of natural risks.
In this connection, initiatives for integrated water management guaranteeing its
availability and quality should be highlighted. Particular attention will also be focused
on protecting and regenerating the aquatic environment and using instruments to
enhance the efficient use of this resource.
Priority 4: Transport and energy [around 34% of total investment]
This priority has the following principal objectives:
 extending and modernising the network, including creating new connections
with the urban centre;
 increasing the operational capacity of the port and its level of service in order
to cope with cargo and passenger flows;
 positioning energy as an instrument of regional development, permitting
enhancement of the use of native, renewable and clean energy resources.
This will make it possible to:
 facilitate communication between the different parts of the city without going
through the city centre;
 position the port as a key strategic element in city communication, for both the
supply of goods and the transport of passengers;
 create new economic activities that will improve citizens’ quality of life and
create new jobs by promoting native energy resources.
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Priority 5: Urban and local infrastructure [approx. 10.7% of total investment]
Five strategic objectives are proposed for this priority:
 enhancing the natural resources of the city;
 enhancing the historical, artistic and cultural heritage of Melilla;
 creating and improving tourist activities;
 promoting and improving urban commerce and tourism;
 promoting sustainable urban development.
These activities are an extension of those carried out during previous programming
periods, involving the restoration, rehabilitation and improvement of the historical,
artistic and cultural heritage of Melilla. They will also be extended to other cultural
activities located in various urban areas of Melilla requiring modernisation and
rehabilitation.
Priority 6: Social infrastructure [approx. 1.3% of total investment]
The objective of this priority is to extend the specific infrastructure that supports
equal opportunities and, in particular, to increase the number of infant day-care
centres and make improvements to the existing ones.
Priority 7: Technical assistance and reinforcement of institutional capacity
[approx. 1% of total investment]
Technical assistance must allow management, monitoring, evaluation, animation,
information and communication activities to be cofinanced.
6. Managing authority: Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance –
Madrid, Spain
Contact details:
Mr Jorge Orozco Perals
Subdirector General de Administración del FEDER
Ministerio de Economía y Hacienda
Paseo de la Castellana, 162
E-28071 Madrid
Spain
E-mail: [email protected]
Internet: http://www.dgfc.sgpg.meh.es/index.jsp
7. Title: ‘Operational Programme 2007–2013 for the autonomous city of
Melilla’
Form of assistance: operational programme
CCI No: 2007ES161PO002
Decision No:
C/2007/5718
Approval date: 20/11/2007
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8. Breakdown of funding by priority (euros)
Priority
EU
contributio
n
National
public
contribution
Total public
funding
1. Development of the knowledgebased economy (RTD, information
society and ICT)
1 875 001
468 753
2 343 754
2. Entrepreneurial development and
innovation
7 720 509
3 308 790
11 029 299
3. Environment, protection of natural
resources, water management,
distribution and treatment, risk
prevention.
14 301 245
6 129 106
20 430 351
4. Transport and energy
14 137 620
7 571 584
21 709 204
4 790 369
2 053 013
6 843 382
6. Social infrastructure
626 250
156 563
782 813
7. Technical assistance and
reinforcement of institutional capacity
337 500
84 375
421 875
43 788 494
19 772 184
63 560 678
5. Urban and local regeneration
Total
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