EU CONVERGENCE PROGRAMMES 2007-2013
Frequently Asked Questions
What
are the Structural Fund programmes?
What are the
Convergence programmes for 2007-2013?
What is the
difference between the ERDF and ESF programmes?
Which areas of Neath Port Talbot County Borough are eligible
for funding under the Convergence programme?
When were the
programmes legally agreed by the European Commission?
When were the programmes
officially launched?
How will the programme be implemented / what are Strategic
Frameworks?
How can I apply for
funding?
What are the Structural Funds programmes?
Structural Fund programmes help to deliver Welsh Assembly
Government economic, education and employment and environment
policies on the basis of seven-year Operational Programmes agreed
with the European Commission.
What are the Convergence programmes for 2007-2013?
The Convergence programmes cover the West Wales and the Valleys
region (15 local authority areas) and are the successor to the
Objective 1 programme 2000-2006. West Wales and the Valleys will
receive EU Structural Funds worth £1.4 billion at current prices
for the 2007-2013 programming period. Together with match funding,
the total investment in West Wales and the Valleys is likely to be
around £3.2 billion.
What is the difference between the ERDF and ESF
programmes?
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Convergence
programme will focus on R&D and Innovation, access to business
finance, transport, addressing climate change and physical
regeneration of our most deprived communities.
The European Social Fund (ESF) Convergence programme will focus
on developing the skills of individuals in employment, particularly
basic skills, and tackling economic inactivity through addressing
barriers to employment. It will also seek to help young people
remain in education, learning or training and improve their
employability skills, and to a small degree, support the public
services improvement agenda – Making the Connections.
Funding is split 60% / 40% between the ERDF and ESF
programmes.
Which areas of Neath Port Talbot County Borough are
eligible for funding under the Convergence programme?
The whole of the West Wales and Valleys region, including all
wards in Neath Port Talbot County Borough, are eligible for funding
under the Convergence Programme.
When were the programmes legally agreed by the European
Commission?
The European Commission legally adopted the West Wales and the
Valleys ERDF and ESF Convergence Operational Programmes (the first
two programmes to be legally agreed in the UK and among the first
in Europe) on 8 and 9 August 2007, respectively.
When were the programmes officially launched?
The ESF Convergence programme was launched on 20 September and
the ERDF Convergence programme was launched on 5 October 2007.
How will the programme be implemented / what are Strategic
Frameworks?
The 2007-2013 programmes will be implemented through the use of
Strategic Frameworks. For the Convergence programme there are
Thematic Frameworks (covering subjects such as R&D and
Innovation, transport, tackling unemployment and economic
inactivity; and skills development especially basic skills but also
intermediate and higher level skills) and, for ERDF only, Spatial
Frameworks (focussing on the sustainable regeneration
strategies).
Strategic Frameworks are operational strategies that aim to
assist WEFO, project sponsors and the wider stakeholder community
to derive maximum benefit from the Structural Fund programmes
including Convergence.
Responsibility for the co-ordination of Strategic Framework
development rests with nominated Framework co-ordinators. For
Thematic Frameworks, this responsibility rests with the relevant
Welsh Assembly Government Departments. Wales Spatial Plan Area
Groups are responsible for co-ordinating the development of the
ERDF Spatial Frameworks.
The aims of the Strategic Framework are to:
- provide clear information on the operational strategy developed
by partners to deliver effectively on the relevant Priorities and
Themes in the Operational Programmes;
- assist potential sponsors in identifying and developing project
ideas that will best contribute to achieving the aims, objectives
and targets of the Operational Programmes, and,
- guide the selection, prioritisation and approval of
projects by WEFO.
Fit with a Strategic Framework will be an important element of
the project selection criteria. The strategic frameworks have been
published on the WEFO website and can be accessed by clicking
here. Over the life of the programme, as conditions change, the
operational strategies set out in the Frameworks may also need to
change; therefore each Framework will be subject to on-going
monitoring, evaluation and review.
How can I apply for funding?
Guidance on how to apply for Convergence Funding can be found
here
Where can I find further information?
The WEFO telephone helpline is operational and will work with
all Framework Co-ordinators and WEFO staff in handling enquires
from prospective project sponsors and interested stakeholders,
providing advice and guidance on framework fit and other
implementation and monitoring issues.
WEFO Website: www.wefo.wales.gov.uk
Helpline Enquiries tel: 0845 010 3355
Helpline Enquiries email: enquiries-wefo@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Alternatively, you can contact the European Team to discuss
your project idea on 01639 686074, or email europeanteam@npt.gov.uk
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Last Updated: 09.04.2013 at 12:57