The EU Macro-regional Strategies relevant for Western Balkans, with specific Focus on the Environmental Issues

Transcription

1 Marco ONIDA, DG REGIO, Brussels Frithjof EHM, DG REGIO, Brussels The EU Macro-regional Strategies relevant for Western Balkans, with specific Focus on the Environmental Issues Sarajevo, 14 April :00 15:30 PM

2 Structure of the Presentation 1. Introduction 2. The Strategies and non-eu countries 3. The EUSDR 4. The EUSAIR 5. Examples for the Involvement of the Western Balkan Countries in the Strategies 6. Some Funding Opportunities 7. Summary and Outlook

3 1. Introduction Article 2 paragraph 31 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of 17 December 2013 defines "macroregional strategies" as "an integrated framework endorsed by the European Council, which may be supported by the ESI Funds among others, to address common challenges faced by a defined geographical area relating to Member States and third countries located in the same geographical area which thereby benefit from strengthened cooperation contributing to achievement of economic, social and territorial cohesion".

4 Four macro regional strategies covering 270 mil h. in 20 MS 1. Introduction

5 BACKGROUND ABOUT THE STRATEGIES Objective: organise cooperation between countries or territories by mobilising local and regional actors to align policies and funding and to identify common issues, solutions and actions. Principles: 3 "NOs": No additional funding, No new structures, No new legislation Better/more coordinated use of existing structures and instruments Calendar: 2009: EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region 2011: EU Strategy for the Danube Region 2013: EC Report on the evaluation of added value 2014: EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region 2015: EU Strategy for the Alpine Region 1. Introduction

6 2. The Strategies and non-eu countries Article 2 paragraph 31 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of 17 December 2013 defines "macro-regional strategies" as "an integrated framework endorsed by the European Council, which may be supported by the ESI Funds among others, to address common challenges faced by a defined geographical area relating to Member States and third countries located in the same geographical area which thereby benefit from strengthened cooperation contributing to achievement of economic, social and territorial cohesion". COM-Report concerning the added value of macro-regional strategies, , page 11: "Contributing to working-level links with Third Countries. With regard to cross-border coordination, the integration of Third countries is of particular interest (at least for macro regions going beyond the EU). Macro regional strategies are a flexible framework complementing existing EU and national policies. With relation to Third countries, they can be seen as a tool for bridging European Neighbourhood Policies and territorial development policies. The involvement of non-eu partners in macro regional strategies may facilitate (a) the collaboration between institutions and governments in and outside the EU, and (b) a gradually economic integration and make EU s external borders less of an obstacle to the flow of goods, services, capital and persons within a macro-region."

7 2. The Strategies and non-eu countries COM-Report concerning the added value of macro-regional strategies, , page 19: "With regard to Third countries, macro regional strategies offer platforms for increasing cooperation and reducing barriers at working level." Council conclusions on the governance of macro-regional strategies, 28 November 2014, para. 7: "STRESSING that macro-regional strategies [ ] contribute [ ] to foster cooperation between EU and non-eu countries, and to assist participating candidate and potential candidate countries on their path towards the EU" These ideas are also stressed in the main documents of the two strategies: (1) Communication, (2) Action Plan, and (3) Conclusions of the Council of the European Union.

8 3. The EUSDR

9 3. The EUSDR The Region 14 countries: 9 EU Member States: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany (Baden- Württemberg, Bavaria), Romania, Slovenia 5 non-ms: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine

10 3. The EUSDR Why a strategy for the Danube Region? - A number of issues in the Danube Region requires working together, across borders and national interests - Political commitment needs to be translated into action - Actions need to be coordinated and carried out together

11 3. The EUSDR How is the Strategy being implemented? Transnational approach: Addressing the common challenges together, beyond national and EU borders Partnership and inclusion: With all participating member countries (MS and non-ms) Multi-level approach (subsidiarity principle): And with the involvement of all relevant authorities and stakeholders

12 3. The EUSDR Priority Area Countries in charge of coordination P1 Mobility and intermodality P2 More sustainable energy P3 Culture and tourism, people to people P4 Water Quality P5 Environmental risks P6 Biodiversity, landscapes, quality of air and soils P7 Knowledge society (research, education and ICT) P8 Competitiveness of enterprises P9 People and skills P10 Institutional capacity and cooperation P11 Security and organised crime Inland waterways: Austria, Romania Rail, road and air: Slovenia, Serbia Hungary, Czech Republic Bulgaria, Romania Hungary, Slovakia Hungary, Romania Germany (Bavaria), Croatia Slovakia, Serbia Germany (Baden-Württemberg), Croatia Austria, Moldova Austria (Vienna), Slovenia Germany, Bulgaria

13 3. The EUSDR

14 4. The EUSAIR

15 EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) Requested by the European Council of December 2012 Adopted by the Commission on 17 June 2014 [COM(2014)357] Endorsed by the European Council of October 2014 Launched by Ministers of FA at a Conference held on 18 Nov 2014 Builds on the intergovernmental Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, which cover 8 countries: 4 EU Member States (GR, HR, IT, SI) and 4 (potential) candidate countries (AL, BA, ME, RS) It remains open to other partners in the Region (Commission Communication COM(2014)357)

16 4. The EUSAIR

17 4. The EUSAIR PILLAR 3: ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Coordinators: Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina The specific objectives for this pillar are: To ensure a good environmental and ecological status of the marine and coastal environment by 2020 in line with the relevant EU acquis and the ecosystem approach of the Barcelona Convention. To contribute to the goal of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020, and restore them in so far as feasible, by addressing threats to marine and terrestrial biodiversity. To improve waste management by reducing waste flows to the sea and, to reduce nutrient flows and other pollutants to the rivers and the sea. Two topics are identified as pivotal in relation to environmental quality in the Adriatic-Ionian Region: - Topic 1 - The marine environment - Topic 2 - Transnational terrestrial habitats and biodiversity

18 5. Examples for the Involvement of the Western Balkan Countries in the Strategies Beginning of summer 2015 (June resp. July): Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia visits, organized by PA4 and PA5. The goal was to define basic problems and concentrate on mutual cooperation mainly focusing on waste-water treatment problems of the two countries. Among important aims was the discussion between EU and non-eu representatives, inquiry how they plan to proceed and find the solutions for funding. Water directorates of non-eu countries were employed Project: SEE River Sustainable integrated management of international river corridors in SEE countries. Countries involved: Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovak Republic, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania. Project budget: Overall project budget: ,00 EUR; ERDF contribution: ,00 EUR; IPA contribution: ,00 EUR; ENPI contribution: 0,00 EUR. Main target of the project: to empower the stakeholders along the international SEE rivers to gain knowledge on planning and implementing decision-making processes for integrating the heterogeneous interests and objectives by developing and applying a common methodology for setting up frameworks for integrative and sustainable management of international river corridors considering diverse objectives of EU directives.

19 6. Some Funding Opportunities In particular, the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), as well as the Instrument for Pre-accession for non-eu countries (IPA) are relevant for the Western Balkan countries with regard to the strategy. The IPA is made up of five different components: Assistance for transition and institution building; Cross-border cooperation (with EU Member States and other countries eligible for IPA); Regional development (transport, environment, regional and economic development); Human resources (strengthening human capital and combating exclusion); Rural development. The IPA beneficiary countries are divided into two categories: EU candidate countries (Turkey, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) are eligible for all five components of IPA; Potential candidate countries in the Western Balkans (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo under UN Security Council Resolution 1244/99) are eligible only for the first two components.

20 6. Some Funding Opportunities

21 IPA II 2016 PROGRAMMING

22 IPA II 2016 PROGRAMMING

23 7. Summary and Outlook Third countries are involved with different intensity in the elaboration and implementation of such strategies, also with regard to the environment. Opportunity to develop flagship projects that particularly address the Western Balkan countries. Necessity to improve the (intergovernmental) forms of cooperation between EU and non-eu countries with regard to the environmental dimension.

24 THANK YOU VERY MUCH! contact: Marco ONIDA Frithjof EHM