STRAT.AT Report 2012

Second Strategic Report for Austria

on the implementation of EU Cohesion Policy 2007-2013

some selected results

Alexandra DeimelFederal ChancelleryDivision IV/4 – Coordination – Spatial Planning and Regional Policy

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• Federal State – 9 Länder – 8.2 Mio. Inhabitants• GDP per inhabitant (2011): 129 % of EU27 (=100)• NSRF and 21 Operational Programs: 1.46 Bill. Euro SF (= 0.4% of

EU-Funds)• Focus: Strongly committed to Lisbon-Objectives (91% earmarked)• Specific focus on networks and local partnerships

AT - Framework

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Socio-economic development and the economic crises

Effects of the crisis:

•AT proved to be a „resilient“ economic region with excellent problem-solving capacities

•Due to contraction of investment activities: consequences for the programmes:

(i) longer and smaller projects(ii) delays in payments because of the prolongation of the projects(iii) a shift in the focus of the projects from detail engineering to less

riskier investments in companies

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Ad Indicators:Planning and implementation of the agreed sets of indicators as part of the EU core indicators – in relation to project commitments (ERDF)

- Generally good to very good across all programmes - both with respect to financial implementation and attainment of the agreed objective indicators.

Implementation Progress

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Conclusions for the current programming period

• STRAT.AT is largely compatible with the EUROPE 2020 strategy -- > current strategies and OPs continue to serve as a reference framework

• Due to limited amounts programmes are not suitable as „economic steering elements“

• The consequences of the crises are ameliorated by national interventions

Challenges for remaining term of the programming period 2007-2013:- Implementation of system adaptations to account for the more stringent

requirements for the audit system introduced in the period 2007-2013, but without hindering or slowing down the overall process;

- Furthermore, the situation that the management of the current programmes and the complex planning process operate parallel at several levels (national, region) should be solved in the new programming period

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Conclusions for the further design of the EU Structural Policy 2014

• Good governance principles must be strictly observed by all sides avoidance of an excessive density of regulations, timely and clear definition of the rules and avoidance of any ex-post additions or new interpretations

• Improve the performance of the system: et.al. sufficient resources

• Vertical coordination: deepen the relationship to the NRP

• Harmonisation of the regulations: by the EC as well as in the national financial aid rules – e.g. with EU framework programme

• Proportionality

• As regards content: emphasis on research and the related development of locations as well as more on „CO2 reduction“

What is needed: framework conditions from the EU and MS that permit and/or encourage higher risk tolerance and enable clear, enforceable strategies.