Structural Funds for Energy Efficiency

1
Structural Funds for Energy Efficiency
Vienna, April 6, 2006

• Eddy Hartog
• European Commission

2
Structure

• Current settings 2000-2006
• EU cohesion policy 2007-13
• Prepare for future programs

3
Part 1

• Current settings 2000-2006

4
The current objectives of Structural Funds

• Objective 1 less developed regions
• Objective 2 regions with structural problems
  (industrial decline and rural areas)
• Objective 3 education, training and employment

5
Cohesion Policy between 2000 and 2006
Objective 1 Objective 2 Total budget
about 233 bn
6
Energy in current Structural Funds activities

• - planned investment 2000-06 1.9 billion
  (EU15)
• - plays a role in mainstream programs, the
  Interreg initiative and innovative actions

7
Guidelines for 2000-2006

• - seek for technologies with reductions of cost
  and energy intensity
• - initial focus on the demand side
• - support for industry investment in efficient
  and innovative energy production technologies
• - energy audits, labelling, best practice,
  training

8
Energy efficiency for buildings in the current
period

• yes, for non residential buildings (notably
  schools, hospitals, town halls etc)
• but not for residential buildings

9
Energy generation example Objective 1

• Wood fire heating plant which supplies hot water
  and heating to local homes and businesses,
  Güssing, Burgenland

10
Energy efficiency example Objective 2

• Promoting energy efficient sources solar panels,
  Marstal, Fyns amt, Denmark.

11
Urban regenerationURBAN Community Initiative

• Economic and social regeneration, local
  inhabitants have been given small plots of land
  on which to grow vegetables and flowers,
  Mulhouse, Alsace, France. Co-financed by ERDF.

12
Part 2

• EU cohesion policy 2007-13

13
Cohesion policy 2007-13

• 308 billion - about 1/3 of the EU budget
• 0.37 of EU 27 GNI
• More or less 50-50 between old and new Member
  States

14
Three EU objectives

• Convergence (82 )
• - Regional competitiveness and employment (16 )
• national level
• regional level
• Territorial co-operation (2 )

15
Geographical concentration Regions below or close
to 75 threshold
GDP/head average 2000-2001-2002
below 75 in EU25
statistical effect below 75 in EU15 above in
EU25
"naturally" above 75 because of growth
other regions
Index EU 25 100
Source Eurostat
16
Cohesion policy and Lisbon Time to move up a
gear

• investing in education and research
• freeing up SME and unlock potential
• getting people into work
• efficient, secure and sustainable energy

17
Energy and the ERDF Convergence objective

• improving security of supply
• completing the internal market
• integrating environmental considerations
• improving energy efficiency
• developing renewable energies

18
Energy and the ERDF Objective Competitiveness

• stimulating energy efficiency,
• more renewable energy production
• development of efficient energy management systems

19
Energy and the ERDF Territorial cooperation

• reducing isolation through cross border energy
  systems and facilities

20
Energy and the Cohesion Fund

• areas to be developed on a sustainable basis and
  with clear environmental benefit in the fields of
  energy efficiency and renewable energy

21
Community strategic guidelines Strategic elements
for energy

• improve energy efficiency and promote low energy
  intensity development models
• support renewable and alternative technologies
• develop networks where market failures, mainly in
  convergence regions

22
European summit December 2005

• ERDF may also contribute to the financing of
  housing projects in EU10, Bulgaria and Romania

23
ERDF and housing,eligible only if

• in the framework of an integrated urban
  development operation
• or priority axis for areas with physical
  deterioration and social exclusion

24
and

• maximum 3 of ERDF allocation to OP concerned
• or 2 of the total ERDF allocation

25
and

• multi-family housing
• or buildings owned by public authorities or
  non-profit operators for housing of low income
  households or people with special needs

26
Part 3

• Prepare for future programs

27
New programming and implementation cycle

• Community's strategic guidelines
• National strategic reference frameworks
• Operational programs
• Program management and project selection
• Strategic follow up

28
Elements to consider

• Start planning in time
• Revenues must be deducted from cost
• Loans could be an option (JESSSICA)
• Use a system that avoid public funds being used
  for speculation

29

Thank you for your attention!
http//europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy