European Commission proposes 11.7 billion € for Territorial Cooperation for the funding period 2014-2020

On 29th of June 2011 the EC presented its proposals for a Multi-annual Financial Framework covering the period 2014-2020. A total amount of 376 billion € is proposed to be allocated for spending under the following cohesion policy instruments:

• 162.6 billion € for convergence regions,
• 38.9 billion € for transition regions,
• 53.1 billion € for competitiveness regions,
• 11.7 billion € for territorial cooperation
• 68.7 billion € for the Cohesion Fund

The proposal presented includes also 40 billion € for a new Connecting Europe facility designed to boost investment in transport, energy and information communication technologies.

The proposal includes also an increase of the amount for territorial cooperation of 3 billon € (from 8.7 billion € in the period 2007-2013 to 11.7 billion € foreseen for 2014-2020). According to the Commission, “territorial cooperation will continue to play its role in helping regions overcome the disadvantages of their location on internal or external borders, in contributing to an ambitious neighbourhood policy and addressing shared cross-border and transnational challenges.”

Proposals concerning Enlargement, Neighbourhood and External relations

Several important changes have been made, (see here the descriptions of the Commission's press communication 'Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF): Questions and answers'):

• “A single integrated pre-accession instrument is proposed as the financial pillar of the Enlargement Strategy, encompassing all dimensions of internal policies and thematic issues. It will be implemented through national/multi-beneficiary programmes agreed with the beneficiaries and will also mirror the Structural Funds, the Cohesion Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
• The European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) will be the financial instrument through which the bulk of EU assistance to neighbouring countries is provided. It will support the European Neighbourhood Policy and bilateral partnerships (including bilateral Association Agreements). In addition to the ENI, partner countries will also benefit from other instruments, such as the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights or the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Co-operation and responding to crisis situations (Humanitarian Assistance, Macro Financial Assistance, Instrument for Stability). The Neighbourhood Investment Facility, which the ENI will continue to support, will also provide a flexible and effective financial tool to support investment in partner countries in the areas of transport and energy interconnections, environment and climate change and economic development.
• The Commission proposes to discontinue funding of programmes in industrialised and emerging countries and instead to create a new Partnership Instrument to support public diplomacy, common approaches and the promotion of trade and regulatory convergence in those cases where funding can contribute to strengthening the EU's partnerships around the world. This reflects international changes now underway.
• Also, the proposal foresees the creation of a pan-African instrument to support the implementation of the Joint Africa Europe Strategy, focusing on the clear added value of cross-regional and continental activities. It will be flexible enough to accommodate contributions from EU Member States, African States, financial institutions and the private sector.”