Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (DBIS) has launched an informal consultation to seek views from businesses, local communities and other organisations on how EU Structural Funds, Rural Development Funds and Fisheries Funds can be used to support growth in England, with the consultation to close on 27 April.
The aims of the individual EU funds are:
· Structural Funds (European Regional Development Funds and European Social Funds) – to reduce disparities that still exist between regions and improve employment opportunities.
· Rural Development Funds (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development) – to improve the competitiveness of agriculture, the sustainable management of natural resources and climate action, and a balanced territorial development of rural areas.
· Fisheries Funds – to promote sustainable and competitive fisheries and aquaculture industry.
Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk said: ‘I want to ensure that we make the most of EU funds to support creation of sustainable jobs and growth across the country. As well as providing direct economic investment, these funds also provide valuable support to the management of the natural environment in England in both rural and urban areas. This informal consultation will allow us to hear the views of industry and stakeholders on what our approach should be to ensure these funds drive growth across the country.’
Businesses, local authorities, voluntary groups, non-government organisations, universities and local enterprise partnerships are being asked for their views on how the Government can more effectively exploit the funds to drive growth and create jobs.
The European Commission proposals for the next funding round (2014-2020) are still subject to negotiation, but the key changes proposed will allow much greater flexibility to tailor the funds to the specific economic challenges faced in different areas. The Government wants to ensure there is maximum potential value of the EU money for taxpayers.
While the size of these funds is still being negotiated, in the current EU budget (2007-13) England receives approximately £8 billion of funding.
Having taken into account the views of stakeholders from the informal consultation, the Government will launch a formal public consultation in 2013 on the proposed approach the UK will take in delivery of the funds.
Following the launch of the informal consultation on the new EU Structural Funds, the NCVO is coordinating a sector-wide response on what the priorities should be for civil society organisations for the period 2014-2020.
The informal consultation covers England only. The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish Administrations are making their own consultation arrangements.
A copy of the informal consultation can be found at: LINK
Responses to the informal consultation should be sent to: structuralfundsnegotiations@bis.gsi.gov.uk
For the NCVO initiative see: LINK
NDS COI News: LINK
