The European Commission adopted Partnership agreements with Greece and Poland for theoptimal use of European Structural and Investment Funds. On 23 May, Commission announced:
i)European Commission adopts ‘Partnership Agreement’ with Greece on using EU Structural and Investment Funds for growth and jobs in 2014-2020
The European Commission has adopted a "Partnership Agreement" with Greece setting down the strategy for the optimal use of European Structural and Investment Funds in the country's regions and citiesfor 2014-2020.Today’s agreement paves the way forGreece's return to recovery and growth, and its transformation into a productive economy. It sets out how€15.52 billion in total Cohesion Policy fundingin current pricesand €4.2 billion for rural development to be invested in the country’s real economy. The allocation under Fisheries and Maritime Policy will be finalised and published this summer. The EU investments willtackle unemployment, to create good lasting jobsboostingand growth through support to innovation, the low carbon economy and training and education. They will also promote entrepreneurship, fightagainstsocial exclusion andmake an important contribution toan environmentally friendly and a resource-efficient economy.
Commenting on the adoption, Commissioner for Regional Policy, Johannes Hahn said:"Today Greecehas adopted a vital investment plan that ensures the country continueson the path to economic recovery and renewed growth for the coming decade. This Partnership Agreement reflects the commitment of both the European Commission and Greeceto make the most of valuable EU funding and ensure the Greek economy gets back on track. Our investments will be strategic, according to the new Cohesion Policy focusing on the real economy, on sustainable growth and investing in people. But quality not speed is the paramount aim and in the coming months, we are fully dedicated to negotiating the best operational programmes for investments from the European Structural and Investment Funds in 2014-2020. Commitment is needed from both sides to ensure that good quality programmes are put in place.”
Commissioner Hahn added:"Today's agreement sets the foundations for a new growth model in Greece, thanks to EU investments. The adoption of the PartnershipAgreementrepresents atimely supportfor currentGreece's efforts to exit from the crisis.Important strategic choices have been made to invest in the competitiveness and innovation of SMEs, sustainable job creation and tackling unemployment through capacity building and development of human resources. This andenvironmental protection,themodernisation of public administration and promotion of structural and administrative reforms as well as developing and completingkeyinfrastructures are among the key strategic choices that will produce visible results in the near future. Greece has made smart choices and prioritised its investmentsaccordingly. Tourism, energy, agro-food, environment, blue economy and logistics, will be the primary drivers for growth and jobs, while culture, specialised health services, aquaculture, pharmaceuticals, ICT, waste management, trade and freight transport services will also play a prominent role for Greece's future growth model.
Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, László Andor said:
“I congratulateGreecefor finalising its Partnership Agreement so quickly as a result of its intense collaboration with the Commission and I look forward to continuing this effort with other member states concerning their Operational Programmes. I am very pleased thatGreecehas decided to dedicate31.13%of the Structural Funds resources under the growth and jobs objective - or nearly €4 billion - to the European Social Fund (ESF), in order to help move towardsGreece's 2020 targets on increasingemployment and reducing poverty. ESF investments will supportthe country's economic reconstruction by supportingentrepreneurship and job creation, improving the education and vocational training systems and modernising public administration. It will also support the most vulnerable people in society by helping to improve access to public services.”
Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Cioloş said:
“This Greek partnership agreement is an important step forward for elaborating and implementing a successful rural development policy in Greece, facilitating better coordination and synergies with other EU Funds and therefore providing more efficient investment. Greece's agriculture and its rural areas have a large potential and many strengths, but they are also facing considerable challenges, not least as a result of the economic crisis. The partnership agreement recognises the important role that agriculture and the agi-food industry can play in the economic recovery, while setting the stage for safeguarding the country's natural resources and addressing social issues in its rural areas. It is now up to Greece to propose an ambitious, balanced and well-targeted rural development plan that can provide opportunities for farmers and rural areas to address these challenges.”
Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki said:
"TheEuropean Maritime and Fisheries Fund is about investing in local coastal communities to help them unlock the development and jobs needed to face the crisis. The great change we have introduced was to increase European funding to small scale fisheries and to thelocal economy in order to secure a better future of our fishermen and coastal communities. For Greece in particular, the greatest challenge but also the most promising opportunity is to boost the country's Blue Growth potential, taking advantage of its longstanding tradition and experience in marine and maritime sectors: maritime tourism, marine energy, bottom sea exploitation and aquaculture in addition to maritime transport and port development. We will not prescribe how every single cent should be spent. There is flexibility to let the Greek authorities and those who know their craft best - industry and local regions - to work towards a sustainable future for their own communities."
All Partnership Agreements have now been received by the Commission. Their adoption will follow after a process of consultation.
ii)European Commission adopts ‘Partnership Agreement’ with Poland on using EU Structural and Investment Funds for growth and jobs in 2014-2020
The European Commission has adopted a "Partnership Agreement" with Poland setting down the strategy for the optimal use of European Structural and Investment Funds in the country's regions, cities and people. Today’s agreement paves the way for investing €77.6billion in total Cohesion Policy funding over 2014-2020 (in current prices, including European Territorial Cooperation funding), which is the biggest national allocation among the EU’s 28 Member States. Poland alsoreceives €8.6 billion for Rural Development to be invested in the country’s real economy. The allocation under Fisheriesand Maritime Policy will be finalised and published this summer. The EU investments will help tackle unemployment and boost competitiveness and economic growth through support to innovation, training and education. They will also promote entrepreneurship, fight social exclusion and help develop an environmentally friendly and a resource-efficient economy.
Commenting ontoday'sadoption, Commissioner for Regional Policy, Johannes Hahn said:"Today we have adopted a vital, strategic investment plan that sets Polandon the path to jobs and growth for the next 10 years. This Partnership Agreement reflects the European Commission and Poland’sjoint determination to make the most efficient use of EUinvestmentsandbring about astep changeinPoland’s economy.It can no longer be a question of"business as usual". The use of investments for 2014-2020 ishighlystrategic, according to the new Cohesion Policy- aimed atthe real economy, sustainable growth and investing in people."
Commissioner Hahn added:"Since Poland's accession to the European Union, 10 years ago, theEuropean Structural and Investment Fundshave spurredsubstantial developmentacross the countryand played a key role to ensure growth during the years of crisis.They have helped to create more than 43 000 new jobs. More than 3.2 million people enjoy better urban transport, hundreds of thousands now have clean water and nearly 6000km of roads have beenmodernised or built to better connect the country. Now for 2014-2020European Structural and Investment Funds willbuild on that success. Investments under Cohesion Policy will prove a powerful lever to support research and innovation, SMEs and extending broadband to every household and enterprise. Thiswillboost Poland’s competitiveness and will create substantial new quality employment.With a new focus in EU Cohesion Policy on support for energy efficiency and renewables, the plan agreed today will not only help Poland reach its national growth and jobs targets but also to meet its climate change obligations. Plans tosubstantially upgrade the electricity gridswill mean less energy dependency as well.Sustainable urban transport and railways will be a focus of the investments to connect and transform Poland’s cities and enable higher quality of life and lower emissions."
Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, László Andor said:
"Poland will be the biggest beneficiary of the European Social Fund in 2014-2020, with an allocation of over 13 billion euros. Stepping up investment in people is crucial for continued improvement in Poland's employment rate and productivity, and thus for sustained competitiveness and growth. Moreover, it is important to ensure that every person is offered good opportunities in life and gets support to develop and fulfil her or his potential. ESF funding will help Poland to implement the Youth Guarantee, modernise education and training in line with labour market needs and enhance access to good-quality childcare and pre-school education to enable women to get back into the labour market. The Social Fund will also support social inclusion of vulnerable groups and help to further improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public administration. Many of these challenges are the subject of the EU's Country Specific Recommendations to Poland and I am pleased with the good cooperation we have enjoyed with the Polish authorities so far in preparing to use the ESF to tackle them."
Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Cioloş said:
"With the adoption of the partnership agreement we have achieved in important step in creating the strategic framework for a successful implementation of Rural Development Policy in Poland, building on the success of the last 10 years. We expect that the improved coordination between the Funds will lead to an increased efficiency and synergy in the implementation of programmes and more value for money for the invested EU funds. Poland's rural areas have a large potential and many strengths but are faced with huge challenges. The Polish rural development programme is one of the largest in the EU and provides for many opportunities for farmers and rural areas to address those challenges. I am confident that Poland will propose an ambitious rural development plan which will allow unlocking the potential of its rural areas."
Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Maria Damanaki, said:
"Poland's Partnership Agreement is about investing in the sort of sustainable growth and new jobs that Europe needs and which we are committed to making a reality. The EMFF, in parallel with the other structural funds, seeks to create the conditions for Polish businesses, fishermen, and local communities to unlock their own potential and help make the EU more socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable. I now look forward to seeing the results of these projects on the ground."
All Partnership Agreements have now been received by the Commission. Their adoption will follow after a process of consultation.
http://www.neurope.eu/article/commission-adopts-partnership-agreements-greece-and-poland