Debate between Institutions and territories to outline strategies and perspectives for the post-2020 Patrizio Bianchi Regional Minister of Emilia-Romagna Catania, 22 maggio 2018
The importance of the Mediterranean area The Mediterranean Sea has unique bio-geo-physical characteristics and socio-economic features. It prominently contributes to the EU economy by: bearing 30% of global sea-borne trade with more than 450 ports/terminals, hosting the 2nd World s largest market for cruise ships, half of the EU s fishing fleet and an unique cultural heritage and natural patrimony (400 UNESCO sites; 265 protected areas).
Networking in the Mediterranean Promote cooperation among initiatives, networks and actors active in the area, e.g.: q EU Strategy for the Adriatic Ionian Region (EUSAIR) and Western Mediterranean initiative (WEST MED), via joint workshops and BLUEMED CSA Policy Platform; q CPMR, qinterreg MED, q UNEP-MAP, Bologna Chapter; q Major ongoing EU/international projects (R&I, training, education and governance, technology clusters and platforms active in the whole MED area: VANGUARD INITIATIVE
Funding opportunities in the area q BLUEMED Initiative fosters integration knowledge and efforts of Countries of the MED (28 EU MS) to jointly create new blue jobs and sustainable growth in the area. q Horizon 2020 and new Horizon Europe q Interreg Programs q Life
Where we are The overall objective of the MED programme is to promote sustainable growth in the Mediterranean area by fostering innovative concepts and practices
q 90 projects q 206 stakholders involved q 18 Italian Regions involved q 45 Private partners q Total 176M engaged q 1 Governance project Med projects co-funding Platform projct focused on a new governance in the Mediterranean area : q 12 MED countries involved q 56 MED Regions involved q 11 associated partners q 9 M
BlueGrowth in the Mediterranean q Global Blue Growth: 1.3 trillion /year which will double by 2030 (OECD data) q European Blue Growth: 500 billion/year; 5 million jobs. q Six broad areas: living resources, non-living resources, transport, shipbuilding, tourism and offshore renewable energy (EU Commission data).
BlueGrowth is cross cutting issue strategic for Mediterranean
Integrated vision of Europe in the Mediterranean at territorial dimension Local dimension strategic to implement territorial systems and networks between stakeholders Sharing new solutions for common needs to focus on new policies in the area climate change environment bluegrowth research/bigdata
The Commission proposal about MFF 2021-2027 Ø Lack of ambition: the weight of 2012-27 budget on EU27 gross national income is not increase in the Commission proposal, but slightly reduces (taking into account the move ofthe European DevelopmentFund) Ø A tentative to accommodate new political priorities (security, borders management, social rights, youth and mobility) with persistent needs (research and innovation, developmentand cohesion) Ø Both Common Agricultural Policy and Cohesion Policy subject to financial cuts with a share on total budget for the first time below 30%. In the case of cohesion policy the changes in the architecture seem more important than the overall financial cuts: Ø slight shift of focus from basic infrastructure to more integrated regional development investments (cutsconcentred on Cohesion Fund) Ø higher focus (in relative terms) on middle income regions, in the Mediterranean and Western Europe area Ø Single out of European Social Funds, still part of the cohesion policy but under a differentheading within the same priorityarea
Ø DA QUI SI INNESCA IL DISCORSO SULLA CTE DI STAMATTINA. The Commission proposal about MFF 2021-2027 Ø Beyond the issue of amount and distribution of financial resources, it is of paramount importance to preserve the identity of the Cohesion Policy as a comprehensive place-based development policy for all regions, aiming at promoting sustainable and balanced developmentofthe whole European Union Ø To meet these results investments on i) physical infrastructure, ii) industrial policies and promotion of innovation, ii) human capital and competences need to go hand in hand to exploit complementarities and synergies THE RISK OF CENTRALISATION OF EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND SHOULD BE CONTRASTED FIRMLY Ø The role of regions is crucial for the design and implementation of such policies, enhancing territorial assets and responding to the diversified needs of local communities Ø Regional policies should be open to the European and global dimension. European Territorial Cooperation plays a crucial role to build networks and partnershipsof collaboration on strategic issues of common interest.
Unbalanced development in EU and the Mediterranean area GDP per head (2013) vs. growth rate of GDP per head (2001-2013) Ø Different structural development groups with weak convergence and diffusion mechanisms: Ø In MED area concentration of regions with below EU average GDP percapita e slower long term growth rate (no convergence) Ø Also regions with GDP percapita above EU level have grown more slowly (Provence Alpes Côte d Azur and Rhône-Alpes are the onlyexceptions)
Unbalanced distribution of innovation capacity and the Mediterranean area Regional Innovation Scoreboard 2017 Ø In terms of innovation performance there is a clear divide between Northern-Western EU regions (core) and Southern-Eastern regions (periphery) Ø Most MED regions are moderate innovators with different intensity and diversified characteristics Ø There is a strong need to strengthen critical mass in MED and pursue a Mediterranean way to innovation and development