EU Structural Funds in Scotland

Author: Iain Thom

PDF Published: Wednesday 10 Apr 2019 (SB 19-19)

Expand
Overview
Report

Hide

Hide

Overview
Report
- Executive Summary
- What are structural funds?
- Brexit's impact on structural funding
  - UK Shared Prosperity Fund
- Why do we have EU structural funding?
  - Cohesion policy
  - Structural funds in Scotland since 1989
- How the current programme works (2014-2020)
  - 1. Role of the EU
    
    Setting a framework and strategy
    
    Setting high-level objectives
    
    Funding distribution (to regions via Member States)
  - 2. Role of the UK Government
    
    Defining high-level outcomes
    
    Funding distribution within the UK
  - 3. Role of the Scottish Government
    
    Identifying priorities
    
    Funding distribution (to strategic interventions)
  - 4. Role of Lead Partners
    
    Managing strategic interventions
    
    How much funding has gone to projects?
  - 5. Role of Delivery agents & organisations
    
    Project delivery
    
    Current projects and activity
- ETC funding
- LEADER funding
  - Funding model
- Is current structural funding effective?
- What role has the Scottish Parliament played?
- Post-Brexit questions
  - How should funding be distributed?
  - What barriers do projects face?
  - Is the structure right?
  - How to "simplify" the programmes?
  - Future funding: recommendations, risks & opportunities
Sources

Flowchart describing process of structural fund decision making

Image: Figure 1: process of structural fund decisions

Image: Figure 2: the family of ESI funds

Map of Scotland showing NUTS2 regions for structural funding purposes

Image: Map 1: structural fund eligibility

Image: Figure 3: structural funding per capita 2014-2020, by regions of the UK

Image: Figure 4: EU objectives mapped to Scottish strategic interventions

Image: Figure 5: top ten Lead Partners by budget

Image: Map 2: ETC funding in Scotland, by region

Image: Figure 6: extract of EU survey on barriers projects face

Image: Figure 7: extract of EU survey on simplifications

McIver, I., Thom, I., Evans, A., Kenyon, W., McCallum, F., & McGrath, F. (2018, November 26). The UK's Departure from the European Union - An overview of the Withdrawal Agreement. Retrieved from https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/ResearchBriefings/Report/2018/11/26/The-UK-s-Departure-from-the-European-Union---An-overview-of-the-Withdrawal-Agreement#

Thom, I., & Kenyon, W. (2018, September 28). SB 18-61: European Union funding in Scotland. Retrieved from https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/ResearchBriefings/Report/2018/9/28/European-Union-funding-in-Scotland#

European Commission. (2019, March 25). Brexit preparedness: EU completes preparations for possible “no-deal” scenario on 12 April. Retrieved from http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-19-1813_en.htm

UK Government. (2019, February 21). Speech by Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell MP: Devolution after Brexit. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/speech-devolution-after-brexit

UK Government. (2017, November). Industrial Strategy: building a Britain fit for the future. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-building-a-britain-fit-for-the-future

UK Government. (2018, July 24). Local Growth. Retrieved from https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2018-07-24/debates/18072456000031/LocalGrowth [accessed 7 September 2018]

Scottish Parliament. (2018, February 15). Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee, European Structural and Investment Funds Inquiry. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/107784.aspx

UK Government. (2019, January 29). UK Shared Prosperity Fund:Written question - 214087. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2019-01-29/214087

House of Commons Library. (2019, March 13). The UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Retrieved from https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-8527

European Economic Community. (1957, March 25). Treaty of Rome. Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=LEGISSUM%3Axy0023

European Commission. (2008, June). EU Cohesion Policy 1988-2008: Investing in Europe’s future. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/panorama/pdf/mag26/mag26_en.pdf

European Commission, Regional Policy DG. (2008, June). EU Cohesion Policy 1988-2008: Investing in Europe’s future. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/panorama/pdf/mag26/mag26_en.pdf

Brunazzo, M. (2016). The history and evolution of Cohesion policy. Handbook on cohesion policy in the EU.

European Commission. (n.d.) Summary of Treaty of Maastricht on European Union. Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1551721102985&uri=LEGISSUM:xy0026 [accessed 4 March 2019]

European Commission. (2010, November 29). Fifth Report on Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion - Investing in Europe’s future. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/information/publications/reports/2010/fifth-report-on-economic-social-and-territorial-cohesion-investing-in-europe-s-future

European Commission. (2018, March 20). Panorama 64: Cohesion Policy: 30 years investing in the future of European Regions. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/panorama/pdf/mag64/mag64_en.pdf

Bachtler, J. (2018). Brexit and Regional Development in the UK: what future for regional policy after Structural Funds?. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_EconomyJobsFairWork/Inquiries/20180511-John_Bachtler-Brexit_and_regional_development.pdf

European Commission. (n.d.) EU budget headings and ceilings. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/about-european-commission/eu-budget/how-it-works/long-term-planning/headings-and-ceilings_en [accessed 7 March 2019]

European Commission. (n.d.) Regional Policy Priorities for 2014-2020. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/policy/how/priorities [accessed 5 March 2019]

European Commission. (2010, March 3). EUROPE 2020 A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Retrieved from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1551799461684&uri=CELEX:52010DC2020

European Union. (2013, December 17). 'Common Provisions Regulation' Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013. Retrieved from http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/1303/oj

European Union. (2013, December 17). Regulation (EU) No 1304/2013 (on the ESF). Retrieved from http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/1304/oj

European Union. (2013, December 17). Regulation (EU) No 1301/2013. Retrieved from http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/1301/oj

Institute for Fiscal Studies. (2016, April 6). The budget of the European Union: a guide. Retrieved from https://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/8225

European Commission. (2014, April 3). 2014/190/EU: Commission Implementing Decision of 3 April 2014 (on allocation of structural funds to Member States). Retrieved from http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2014/190/oj

European Parliamentary Research Service. (2015, August 5). How The EU Budget Is Spent: The European Structural And Investment Funds. Retrieved from https://epthinktank.eu/2015/08/05/how-the-eu-budget-is-spent-the-european-structural-and-investment-funds/

UK Government. (2014, October 30). European Structural and Investment Funds: UK partnership agreement, 2014 to 2020. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/european-structural-and-investment-funds-uk-partnership-agreement [accessed 7 September 2018]

UK Government. (2013, March 26). Allocation of EU structural funding across the UK. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/news/allocation-of-eu-structural-funding-across-the-uk [accessed 7 September 2018]

UK Government. (2014, April 30). EU Structural Funds allocations in the UK for the period 2014 to 2020: equality impact assessment. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-structural-funds-uk-allocations-2014-to-2020

Scottish Government. (2015, March 12). European Structural and Investment Funds: roles and responsibilities. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/esif-roles-and-responsibilities/

Scottish Government. (2016, November 4). European Structural and Investment Funds: operational programmes 2014-2020. Retrieved from https://beta.gov.scot/publications/esif-operational-programmes-2014-2020/ [accessed 7 September 2018]

Scottish Government. (2019, January 19). European Structural and Investment Funds: Challenge Fund principles. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/esif-challenge-fund-principles/

Scottish Government. (2019, April 9). personal communication.

Scottish Government. (2018, December 14). Letter to CTEEA Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_European/Meeting%20Papers/20190117CTEEAPublicPapers.pdf

Scottish Parliament. (n.d.) Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee ESIF inquiry - Written Submissions. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/108294.aspx [accessed 5 April 2019]

Scottish Rural Network. (n.d.) LEADER. Retrieved from https://www.ruralnetwork.scot/funding/leader [accessed 8 March 2019]

Scottish Government. (2017, September 29). Written Parliamentary Question S5W-10973. Retrieved from http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&ReferenceNumbers=S5W-10973 [accessed 27 September 2018]

European Commission. (2014, March 26). Community-led Local Development. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/information/publications/brochures/2014/community-led-local-development

Eurostat. (2019, February 26). Regional GDP per capita ranged from 31% to 626% of the EU average in 2017. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/2995521/9618249/1-26022019-AP-EN.pdf/

Charles, D. (2016). Cohesion policy in the service economies of the north. [No description].

UK Government. (2014, July). Cohesion policy report: review of the balance of competences. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/review-of-uk-and-eu-balance-of-competences-call-for-evidence-on-cohesion-policy

Scottish Government. (2013, May 14). European Structural Funds 2014-2020 programmes consultation. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/european-structural-funds-2014-2020-programmes-consultation/pages/2/

Scottish Government. (2017, December 21). Joint Programme Monitoring Committee minutes: June 2017. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/jpmc-minutes-june-2017/

Scottish Government. (2018, November). JPMC 12-03a - ESF and ERDF programme performance against the operational programmes. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/joint-programme-monitoring-committee-minutes-november-2018/

Scottish Parliament. (2012, July 3). European and External Relations Committee, 5th Report, 2012 (Session 4) EU Structural Funds. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/52516.aspx

Scottish Parliament. (2013, December 6). European and External Relations Committee letter. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/66513.aspx

Scottish Parliament. (2019, January 17). Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee, 2nd Meeting, Papers. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_European/Meeting%20Papers/20190117CTEEAPublicPapers.pdf

Scottish Parliament. (2017, September 28). Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee, 22nd Meeting, Papers. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/107275.aspx

Len Duvall AM, EU Exit Working Group. (2017, December 20). Joint letter on ESIF. Retrieved from https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/joint_letter_on_esif_final.pdf

Scottish Parliament. (2018, June 13). Finance and Constitution Committee, 19th Meeting, Papers. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/107946.aspx

Scottish Parliament. (2018). Written submissions on Funding of EU Compentences. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/107946.aspx

Keating, M. (2018). Evidence to Scottish Parliament Finance and Constitution Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Finance/General%20Documents/Written_Evidence_on_Funding_of_EU_Competences.pdf

Bird, N., & Phillips, D. (2018). Evidence to Scottish Parliament Finance and Constitution Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Finance/General%20Documents/Written_Evidence_on_Funding_of_EU_Competences.pdf

Bell, D. (2018). Evidence to Scottish Parliament Finance and Constitution Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Finance/General%20Documents/Written_Evidence_on_Funding_of_EU_Competences.pdf

European Commission. (2018). Factual summary of the public consultation on the EU long-term budget in the area of cohesion. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/consultations/public-consultation-eu-funds-area-cohesion_en

Scottish Local Authorities Economic Development Group. (2018). Evidence to Scottish Parliament Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_EconomyJobsFairWork/Inquiries/ESIF-009-SLAED.pdf

Dumfries and Galloway Council. (2018). Evidence to Scottish Parliament Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_EconomyJobsFairWork/Inquiries/ESIF-005_-_Dumfries_and_Galloway_Council.pdf

COSLA. (2018). Evidence to Scottish Parliament Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_EconomyJobsFairWork/Inquiries/ESIF-017-COSLA.pdf

Highlands and Islands of Scotland European Partnership. (2018). Evidence to Scottish Parliament Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_EconomyJobsFairWork/Inquiries/ESIF-004__-_Highlands_and_Islands_European_Partnership.pdf

Aberdeenshire Council. (2018). Evidence to Scottish Parliament Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_EconomyJobsFairWork/Inquiries/ESIF-001_-_Aberdeenshire_Council.pdf

Universities Scotland. (2018). Evidence to Scottish Parliament Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_EconomyJobsFairWork/Inquiries/ESIF-015-Universities_Scotland.pdf

University of the Highlands and Islands. (2018). Evidence to Scottish Parliament Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_EconomyJobsFairWork/Inquiries/ESIF-032-University_Highlands_Islands.pdf

Scottish Government. (2013, December 9). European Structural Funds 2014-2020 consultation document. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/european-structural-funds-2014-2020-consultation-document/pages/3/

Scottish Government. (2017, December). Paper 06 - Review Recommendations - 14 June 2017. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/jpmc-minutes-june-2017/

Zero Waste Scotland. (2018). Evidence to Scottish Parliament Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_EconomyJobsFairWork/Inquiries/ESIF-031-Zero_Waste_Scotland.pdf

Scottish Funding Council. (2018). Evidence to Scottish Parliament Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_EconomyJobsFairWork/Inquiries/ESIF-016-SFC.pdf

Last Updated: 9/4 5:30pm

An error occured while loading, please try again in a few minutes.