Manage EU Funding
The RDAs’ overarching aims for involvement in European funding are threefold: to ensure strategic alignment of European funded programmes with Regional Economic Strategy priorities; to deliver efficient and effective programme management; and to encourage greater coherence with domestic funds (including the RDA Single Pot) and investments.
Our involvement in European Funds coming into the regions varies depending on both the Fund in question and the region itself:
- All RDAs have programme management responsibility for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the socio-economic elements of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE);
- Some RDAs co-finance elements of their region’s European Social Fund (ESF) programmes (although the Government Offices are responsible for regional ESF programme management) and all RDAs participate in Regional ESF Monitoring Committees;
- Most RDAs play an informal role in terms of facilitation and participation in the trans-national and interregional programmes, but this varies greatly from region to region.
The RDAs work collectively to ensure that the lessons, best practice and challenges associated with our various roles in European funding are effectively and constructively communicated back to both Central Government and the European Commission, so that our experience and expertise can be used to improve current programme delivery and shape future European funded programmes.
Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE)
Funded by Defra and the EU’s European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), the RDPE Programme aims to improve the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector, improve the quality of life in rural areas and support the diversification of the rural economy.
The RDAs manage the socio-economic elements of the Programme, distributing £600m of funding to land-based businesses between 2007-2013. RDAs have worked with partners to develop a clear picture of the needs and priorities for their region and sub-regional areas and have sought to align the investment as closely as possible with other funding to maximise the opportunities and effectiveness of investment in rural areas.
European Social Fund (ESF)
ESF aims to improve people’s skills and employment prospects. Two national priorities for action have been identified: extending employment opportunities; and developing a skilled and adaptable workforce.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has overall responsibility for ESF funds in England, however, each region has its own ESF allocation to fund projects to address regional jobs and skills needs. At the regional level, ESF funds are distributed through public agencies known as 'Co-financing Organisations' (CFOs). Several RDAs are CFOs, bringing together ESF and RDA Single Pot funding for employment and skills and contracting with the providers to deliver ESF projects on the ground.
Other European Funding
A multitude of other European funding streams exist which have the potential to support the objectives of the Regional Economic Strategies, seeking to raise productivity, increase employment and regional competitiveness, embed sustainable development or tackle climate change, for example. These funds range from the more cross-cutting, economic development funds such as the Territorial Cooperation programmes, through to other smaller funding streams with a more specific and thematic focus such as LIFE+, which focuses on environmental policy, or funding to support collaboration between EU Member States and the emerging Asian economies through the SWITCH programme.
One of the biggest funding streams outside of the core Structural Funds is the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) which focuses on research and technological development and provides a significant opportunity for knowledge-based economies to develop capacity and capability in collaboration with other Member States.
RDA involvement in the non-mainstream Structural Funds detailed above varies from region to region depending on a range of factors: the priorities of the RES; the potential benefits to the region; the engagement of regional stakeholders and partnerships; the needs of the SME base within a region; and, the resource available to support the activity.