European Funding 2014-2020 Roadshow – Post Event Page

From 2014 the way in which EU Structural Funds, Rural Development Fund and Fisheries Fund operate and their focus will change. We therefore have an opportunity to re-look at how the Funds are delivered and how we can more effectively exploit this source of funding to support sustainable jobs and growth in England.

In April 2012 the government undertook an informal consultation on what and how the Funds should be delivered to best support sustainable growth and jobs.  The key messages from stakeholders were support for:

  • Flexible funding programme boundaries allowing for place based and thematic programmes as necessary and including local engagement
  • Integrating and or aligning the funds.
  • Better use of local and national match funding
  • Reducing the administrative burden on beneficiaries and project developers

Over the last few months the Government has been working through what this could look like in practice. This workshop, at Curve in Leicester on 22 November, brought together senior representatives from DCLG, DWP, DEFRA and BIS to engage with a broad range of stakeholders in setting out this thinking. The objectives for the workshop were:  

  1. To set out the latest government thinking on what the Funds will aim to achieve and on options for how they could be delivered: 
  • Present overall objectives and possible models for delivery;
  • To provide examples of what this could look like in practice;
  • What the changes could mean in terms of improving impact of the funds;
  • What the changes in administration of the Funds could mean in practice for the customer, for instance any changes in audit, application and e-delivery.
  1. To find out from stakeholders:
  • To what extent does the Government view of the objectives it wants to achieve through the funds accords with theirs?  
  • To what extent the suggested models would enable stakeholders to do what they want? If not, why not?
  • How can the suggested models be improved? 

Feedback from stakeholders from this event will inform a formal public consultation in 2013 on the proposed approach the UK government will take for the Partnership Agreement.

Resources from the workshop are available to download below. For further information on One East Midlands ERDF Reach and Impact Project click here. If you would like to join One East Midlands ERDF mailing list email information@one-em.org.uk.

Downloads: 
PDF icon Presentation: EU Common Strategic Framework Funds in England 2014-2020 - Initial Government Proposals (HM Government, Nov 2012)
Microsoft Office document icon Common Strategic Framework Funds in England 2014-2020: Background briefing (Nov 2012)
Microsoft Office document icon Common Strategic Framework Funds: Proposed Growth Programme Model (HM Government, November 2012)