| EPRC comments on presentation of the draft Regional Aid Guidelines |
 Rodriguez-Galindo, Head of the Regional Aid Unit at DG Competition. Fiona’s comments focussed on the issues of incentive effect, the role of economic analysis in the Commission’s assessment of regional aid policy and the proposals to restrict the use of regional aid to large firms in all but the most disadvantaged areas. In addition, she provided a background paper outlining the main issues in the reforms on regional aid in the draft Regional Aid Guidelines 2014-20 and in the draft General Block Exemption Regulation 2014-20. The background paper is available here. |
Contact: Fiona Wishlade
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| North Sea Region Programme consultation event |
 On 10 and 11th June Arno van der Zwet presented at a North Sea Region Programme consultation event in Halmstad, Sweden. The aim of the consultation was to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to provide input in and feedback on the programme preparation process for the 2014 -2020 period. The EPRC are the ex ante evaluators for the North Sea Region Programme. |
Contact: Arno van der Zwet
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| EPRC workshop: Ireland, N. Ireland and the Arctic |
 On 5 June 2013, EPRC chaired a workshop in Dundalk, Ireland on the implications of changes in the Arctic for Ireland and Northern Ireland. The workshop brought together a range of participants from the academic institutions, health care bodies, local and regional government and other public and private sector bodies to discuss the economic, social and environmental implications of climate change in the Arctic and the opportunities for organisations in Ireland and N. Ireland to engage in debate, research and development. The workshop was organised as part of a study being conducted by Irene McMaster, Arno van der Zwet and John Bachtler, together with Frank Gaskell of Integritas Liaison, for Highlands & Islands Enterprise. The study is examining how Scotland, Ireland and N. Ireland can work together on Arctic-related issues with its international partners in the EU-funded Northern Periphery Programme that promotes territorial cooperation on the north-western edge of Europe. |
Contact: Arno van der Zwet or Irene McMaster
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| New publication: 'European Territories: From Cooperation to Integration' |
.jpg) A newly published volume 'European Territories: From Cooperation to Integration' edited by Grezegorz Gorzelak and Katarzyna Zawalińska (EUROREG) includes three chapters authored by EPRC staff: Dr Irene McMaster, Dr Arno van der Zwet and Ms Heidi Vironen. The publication is part of the ESPON funded TERCO project and brings together new innovative research from leading academics in the field of territorial cooperation. The work discusses various forms of territorial cooperation - INTERREG A, B, C, twinning cities and transcontinental cooperation - and their impact growth, jobs and quality of life. EPRC authored chapters that provide a historical overview and evaluate territorial cooperation; discuss governance issues in relation to territorial cooperation; and a case study of territorial cooperation in Scotland, Norway and Sweden. Copies are available here. |
Contact: Arno van der Zwet
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| EPRC Policy Briefing: Commission perspectives on the 2014-2020 Partnership Agreements & Programmes: A comparative review of the Position Papers |
 The post-2013 reform of EU Cohesion policy is at a critical juncture. Following the agreement by the Heads of State on the 2014-2020 EU Budget in February 2013, the inter-institutional negotiations between the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament on Cohesion policy funding and on the regulatory package are currently underway. In parallel, the strategic planning for the next round of Structural and Cohesion Funds programmes is well-advanced in many Member States.
This EPRC Policy Briefing reviews the Commission's emerging position on the new Partnership Agreements and Operational Programmes, based on a comparative analysis of the Commission's Position Papers for all Member States. The Briefing can be downloaded here. |
Contact: Carlos Mendez or John Bachtler
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| EPRC workshop: Scotland and the Arctic |
.jpg) On 21 May 2013, EPRC chaired a workshop in Inverness on the implications of changes in the Arctic for Scotland. The workshop brought together a range of participants from the Scottish Government, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Highland Council and other public and private sector bodies to discuss the economic, social and environmental implications of climate change in the Arctic and the opportunities for organisations in Scotland to engage in debate, research and development. The workshop was organised as part of a study being conducted by Irene McMaster, Arno van der Zwet and John Bachtler, together with Frank Gaskell of Integritas Liaison, for Highlands & Islands Enterprise. The study is examining how Scotland can work together on Arctic-related issues with its international partners in the EU-funded Northern Periphery Programme that promotes territorial cooperation on the north-western edge of Europe. A second workshop is being held in Dundalk to discuss similar issues from the perspective of organisations in Northern Ireland and Ireland, both of which are also partners in the Northern Periphery Programme.
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Contact: Irene Mcmaster or Arno van der Zwet
or John Bachtler
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| EPRC at the Regional Studies Association European Conference |
 EPRC was well represented at the European Conference of the Regional Studies Association held in Tampere, Finland, on 5-7 May 2013. In the first plenary session, John Bachtler discussed the implications of the current reform of Cohesion policy for the future use of Structural and Cohesion Funds in the next programme period. His paper 'Can Cohesion policy meet expectations in 2014-20' asked whether the policy reforms were losing sight of the core objective of the policy and whether the shared management system and funding should be reconsidered. David Charles presented a paper on Regional innovation leadership and the evolution of institutions in North East. This examined the role of individuals as institutional entrepreneurs in the development and interpretation of innovation policies. Steve Miller presented a paper about the anticipated role of Strathclyde's new Technology and Innovation Centre (TIC) in Scotland. This focussed on the integration challenges which the TIC will face, and the strategic considerations it must account for in order to achieve success. Kaisa Granqvist presented a paper on Financial Engineering Instruments in Cohesion Policy. She studied the ways in which Financial Engineering Instruments strive to deliver Cohesion Policy objectives through two case studies, Finland and Sweden. |
Contact: John Bachtler or David Charles
or Steve Miller
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| Structural Funds and Financial Instruments in Scotland in 2014-20 |
 The third EPRC seminar on financial instruments was held at the University of Strathclyde on 2 May 2013 involving a mix of participants from the academic, policy and financial communities in Scotland. Organised by Visiting Professor Martin Hughes, the purpose of the seminar was to reflect on how the next Structural Funds programme in Scotland (in 2014-20) could maximise the use of financial instruments. The seminar involved a presentation by Antonio Goncalves, Head of the Financial Instruments Unit in DG Regio, on the European Commission’s expectations of the use of financial instruments and the regulatory changes being made to facilitate their application. A second presentation by Kat Feldinger (Structural Funds Division, Scottish Government) outlined the current Scottish Government thinking on possible objectives and options for financial instruments in Scotland. The seminar was the third in a series of discussions on Structural Funds and financial instruments which has previously assessed experiences and lessons from past and current use of financial instruments. |
Contact: Martin Hughes
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| Managing the performance of Cohesion policy: lessons for Croatia |
 John Bachtler was the Keynote Speaker at the opening session of the 10th International Conference 'Challenges of Europe: The Quest for New Competitiveness' held in the Faculty of Economics at the University of Split, Croatia on 8 May 2013. Presenting a paper titled 'EU Cohesion policy: performance and prospects', he discussed the effectiveness and efficiency of Cohesion policy management in the EU12 Member States (which joined the EU from 2004 onwards) and the implications for the use of Structural and Cohesion Funds in Croatia following its accession to the EU in July 2013. Further information on the conference is available here. |
Contact: John Bachtler
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| EPRC Seminar: Pathways to future European territorial development in times of economic and social challenge |
 On Thursday 25 April EPRC hosted a presentation by Professor Klaus Kunzmann, formerly Jean Monnet Professor of Spatial Planning in Europe, Technische Universitat Dortmund. Prof Kunzmann's talk explored the spatial implications of the current dramatic changes in Europe arising from the financial crisis, with a particular focus on metropolisation in territorial development. A range of possible future development perspectives were considered, based on how Europe could envisage its changing character. Central to Prof Kunzmann's discussion was the principle that Europe's territorial development trajectory is contested and uncertain, and that it is based on global economic forces as much as it is on Europe's domestic agenda.
The presentation slides of the seminar are available here.
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Contact: David Charles
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On Thursday 25 April EPRC hosted a presentation by Professor Klaus Kunzmann, formerly Jean Monnet Professor of Spatial Planning in Europe, Technische Universitat Dortmund. Prof Kunzmann's talk explored the spatial implications of the current dramatic changes in Europe arising from the financial crisis, with a particular focus on metropolisation in territorial development. A range of possible future development perspectives were considered, based on how Europe could envisage its changing character. Central to Prof Kunzmann's discussion was the principle that Europe's territorial development trajectory is contested and uncertain, and that it is based on global economic forces as much as it is on Europe's domestic agenda.
The presentation slides of the seminar are available here.