EU AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

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EU AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES Prepared by
Marios Vourgos Founding member European Institute
of Serbia
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Introduction The European Union A Half
Century of Change and Progress

• Since the creation of the EU half a century ago,
  Europe has enjoyed the longest period of peace in
  its history.
• European political integration is unprecedented
  in history.
• EU enlargement has helped overcome the division
  of Europe contributing to peace, prosperity,
  and stability across the continent.
• A single market and a common currency conditions
  for companies and consumers.
• EU has united the citizens of Europe while
  preserving Europes diversity.

European Union United in diversity
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What is the European Union?

• The EU is a unique economic and political
  partnership between 27 European countries that
  together cover much of the continent.
• It was created in the aftermath of the Second
  World War. The first steps were to foster
  economic cooperation the idea being that
  countries who trade with one another become
  economically interdependent and so more likely to
  avoid conflict. The result was the European
  Economic Community (EEC), created in 1958, and
  initially increasing economic cooperation between
  six countries Belgium, Germany, France, Italy,
  Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Since then, a
  huge single market has been created and continues
  to develop towards its full potential.
• What began as a purely economic union has also
  evolved into an organization spanning all policy
  areas, from development aid to environment.
• A name change from  the EEC to the European
  Union (the EU) in 1993 reflected this change.
• Today the EU covers over 4 million km² and has
  495 million inhabitants the worlds third
  largest population after China and India.

27
Member States
495 million
Combined population of EU Member States
7
Percent of worlds population
30
Percent of global GDP
Percent of combined worldwide Official Development
Assistance
55
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A brief history of the EU (1)

• 1945 1959 A peaceful Europe the beginnings
  of cooperation
• The European Union is set up with the aim of
  ending the frequent and bloody wars between
  neighbors, which culminated in the Second World
  War.
• As of 1950, the European Coal and Steel Community
  begins to unite European countries economically
  and politically in order to secure lasting peace.
  The six founders are Belgium, France, Germany,
  Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
• The 1950s are dominated by a cold war between
  east and west. Protests in Hungary against the
  Communist regime are put down by Soviet tanks in
  1956 while the following year, 1957, the Soviet
  Union takes the lead in the space race, when it
  launches the first man-made space satellite,
  Sputnik 1.
• Also in 1957, the Treaty of Rome creates the
  European Economic Community (EEC), or Common
  Market.

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A brief history of the EU (2)

• 1960 1969 The Swinging Sixties a period of
  economic growth
• The 1960s sees the emergence of 'youth culture,
  with groups such as The Beatles attracting huge
  crowds of teenage fans wherever they appear,
  helping to stimulate a cultural revolution and
  widening the generation gap.
• This is a good period for the economy, helped by
  the fact that EU countries stop charging custom
  duties when they trade with each other.
• EU countries also agree joint control over food
  production, so that everybody now has enough to
  eat - and soon there is even surplus agricultural
  produce.
• May 1968 becomes famous for student riots in
  Paris, and many changes in society and behaviour
  become associated with the so-called 68
  generation.

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A brief history of the EU (3)

• 1970 1979 A growing Community the first
  Enlargement
• Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom join the
  European Union on 1 January 1973, raising the
  number of member states to nine.
• The short, yet brutal, Arab-Israeli war of
  October 1973 result in an energy crisis and
  economic problems in Europe.
• The last right-wing dictatorships in Europe come
  to an end with the overthrow of the Salazar
  regime in Portugal in 1974 and the death of
  General Franco of Spain in 1975.
• The EU regional policy starts to transfer huge
  sums to create jobs and infrastructure in poorer
  areas.
• The European Parliament increases its influence
  in EU affairs and in 1979 all citizens can, for
  the first time, elect their members directly.

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A brief history of the EU (4)

• 1980 1989 The changing face of Europe - the
  fall of the Berlin Wall
• The Polish trade union, Solidarnosc, and its
  leader Lech Walesa, become household names across
  Europe and the world following the Gdansk
  shipyard strikes in the summer of 1980.
• In 1981, Greece becomes the 10th member of the
  EU and Spain and Portugal follow five years
  later.
• In 1986 the Single European Act is signed. This
  is a treaty which provides the basis for a vast
  six-year programme aimed at sorting out the
  problems with the free-flow of trade across EU
  borders and thus creates the Single Market.
• There is major political upheaval when, on 9
  November 1989, the Berlin Wall is pulled down and
  the border between East and West Germany is
  opened for the first time in 28 years. This leads
  to the reunification of Germany when both East
  and West Germany are united in October 1990.

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A brief history of the EU (5)

• 1990 1999 A Europe without frontiers
• With the collapse of communism across central and
  eastern Europe, Europeans become closer
  neighbors. As a result, in 1993 the Single Market
  is completed with the 'four freedoms' of
  movement of goods, services, people and money.
• The 1990s is also the decade of two treaties, the
  Maastricht Treaty on European Union in 1993 and
  the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1999, laying down
  plans to reform EU institutions, to give Europe a
  stronger voice in the world, and to concentrate
  more resources on employment and the rights of
  citizens.
• In 1995 the EU gains three more new members,
  Austria, Finland and Sweden.
• A small village in Luxembourg gives its name to
  the Schengen agreements that gradually allow
  people to travel without having their passports
  checked at the borders. Millions of young people
  study in other countries with EU support.
  Communication is made easier as more and more
  people start using mobile phones and the
  internet.

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A brief history of the EU (6)

• 2000 2009 Further expansion
• The euro is the new currency for many Europeans.
• 11 September 2001 becomes synonymous with the
  'War on Terror' after hijacked airliners are
  flown into buildings in New York and Washington.
  EU countries begin to work much more closely
  together to fight crime.
• The political divisions between east and west
  Europe are finally declared healed when no fewer
  than 10 new countries join the EU, eight in 2004,
  (The Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,
  Hungary, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia) followed
  by two more in 2007,(Cyprus and Malta).
• A financial crisis hits the global economy in
  September 2008, leading to closer economic
  cooperation between EU countries.
• The Treaty of Lisbon is ratified by all EU
  countries before entering into force on 1
  December 2009. It provides the EU with modern
  institutions and more efficient working methods.

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A brief history of the EU (7)

• 2010 today A decade of opportunities and
  challenges
• The new decade starts with a severe economic
  crisis, but also with the hope that investments
  in new green and climate-friendly technologies
  and closer European cooperation will bring
  lasting growth and welfare.
• On 9 December 2011 leaders from the EU and
  Croatia signed the accession treaty. Subject to
  its ratification by all EU countries and Croatia,
  then the country will become the 28th EU member
  country on 1 July 2013.
• Other candidate countries are Iceland,
  Montenegro, Serbia, The former Yugoslav Republic
  of Macedonia and Turkey.
• Potential candidates are Albania, Bosnia and
  Herzegovina and Kosovo.

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THE EUROPEAN UNION TODAY
Candidate Countries Croatia Iceland
Serbia Montenegro Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia Turkey Potential Candidate
Countries Albania Bosnia Herzegovina Kosovo
under UN Security Council Resolution 1244
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How the EU works EU Institutions (1)

• European Commission
• The interests of the EU as a whole are promoted
  by the European Commission, whose members are
  appointed by national governments. The president
  of the Commission is currently Jose Manuel
  Barroso.
• 27 Commissioners, representing the European
  perspective, each responsible for a specific
  policy area.
• EUs executive branch proposes legislation,
  manages Unions day-to-day business and budget,
  and enforces rules.
• Negotiates trade agreements and manages Europes
  multilateral development cooperation.

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso
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How the EU works EU Institutions (2)

• Council of the European Union
• EUs main decision-making body, comprised of
  ministers of 27 Member States, representing
  Member States point of view.
• The European Coucil sets the EU's overall
  political direction but has no powers to pass
  laws.
• Led by its President currently Herman Van
  Rompuy - and comprising national heads of state
  or government and the President of the
  Commission, it meets for a few days at a time at
  least every 6 months.
• Decides on foreign policy issues.
• Council presidency rotates among Member States
  every six months. The Presidency for July 2012
  December 2012 is held by Cyprus.

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How the EU works EU Institutions (3)

• European Parliament
• Directly elected by the member states MEPs
  represent European citizens in the European
  Parliament
• Voice of European citizens members elected for
  five-year terms.
• With the Council, passes EU laws and adopts EU
  budgets.
• Approves EU Commissioners.

• Together, the three major EU institutions
  described so far, produce through the Ordinary
  Legislative Procedure (ex "co-decision") the
  policies and laws that apply throughout the EU.

European Parliament in session
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How the EU works EU Institutions (4)

• Two other institutions play vital roles
• 1. The Court of Justice Upholds the rule of
  European law
• Highest EU judicial authority.
• Ensures all EU laws are interpreted and applied
  correctly and uniformly.
• Can act as an independent policy maker but unlike
  the U.S. Supreme Court, the ECJ can only deal
  with matters covered by the Treaties.
• 2. The Court of Auditors checks the financing of
  the EU's activities.
• Please note that the powers and
  responsibilities of all of the EU institutions
  are laid down in the Treaties, which are the
  foundation of everything the EU does. They also
  lay down the rules and procedures that the EU
  institutions must follow. The Treaties are agreed
  by the presidents and/or prime ministers of all
  the EU countries, and ratified by their
  parliaments.
• For more information about the workings of the EU
  please check
• http//europa.eu/about-eu/institutions-bodies/ind
  ex_en.htm

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The European Central Bank

• The European Central Bank (ECB) is the central
  bank for Europe's single currency, the euro.
• The ECBs main task is to maintain the euro's
  purchasing power and thus price stability in the
  euro area.
• The euro area was established in 1999. Today the
  eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus,
  Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
  Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the
  Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and
  Spain. Most other EU states are obliged to join
  once they meet the criteria to do so
• The ECB operates independently from Member State
  governments.

The euro was introduced in 1999
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The uro

• In 1999, the euro area was established as a
  currency in eleven of the then fifteen EU Member
  States.
• Of the 27 EU Member States today, seventeen have
  adopted the euro.
• One of the striking benefits of a single European
  currency are low interest rates due to a high
  degree of price stability.
• The euro is as stable and credible as the
  best-performing currencies previously used in the
  euro area countries.

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Europes growth strategy Europe 2020 Priorities

• Europe 2020 is the EU's growth strategy for the
  coming decade.The EU wants to become a smart,
  sustainable and inclusive economy. smart, through
  more effective investments in education, research
  and innovation sustainable, thanks to a decisive
  move towards a low-carbon economy and inclusive,
  with a strong emphasis on job creation and
  poverty reduction. The strategy is focused on
  five ambitious goals in the areas of employment,
  innovation, education, poverty reduction and
  climate/energy to be reached by 2020.
• These three mutually reinforcing priorities
  should help the EU and the Member States deliver
  high levels of employment, productivity and
  social cohesion.
• Each Member State has adopted its own national
  targets in each of these areas. Concrete actions
  at EU and national levels underpin the strategy.
  To ensure that the Europe 2020 strategy delivers,
  a strong and effective system of economic
  governance has been set up to coordinate policy
  actions between the EU and national levels.

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Europes growth strategy Europe 2020 The 5
Targets

• 1. Employment
• 75 of the 20-64 year-olds to be employed.
• 2. RD 
• 3 of the EU's GDP to be invested in RD.
• 3. Climate change / energy
• Greenhouse gas emissions 20 (or even 30, if the
  conditions are right) lower than 1990
• 20 of energy from renewables
• 20 increase in energy efficiency
• 4. Education
• Reducing school drop-out rates below 10
• At least 40 of 30-34year-olds completing third
  level education
• 5. Poverty / social exclusion
• At least 20 million fewer people in or at risk of
  poverty and social exclusion

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EU funding programmes as tools for growth and
achieving EU targets. (1)

• Rationale
• EU Funding Programmes are the tools of the
  European Union to promote effectively its
  policies, objectives and priorities for certain
  programming periods.
• Currently, well over 300 EU funding programmes
  are running with a global budget up to 975
  billion Euro for the period 2007-2013,Covering
  almost all the sectors of EU activities. The next
  seven year period starts next year (2013) and
  ends in 2020.
• General Rules
• Co-Financing Principle
• Transnational project consortiums
• Non-profit oriented projects
• Innovative character
• European Added value

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EU funding programmes as tools for growth and
achieving EU targets. (2)

• The EU Funding Programmes are divided into three
  main categories
• 1. The Community Action Programmes (Known as EU
  Programmes, managed centrally by the EU. These
  are otherwise called Competitive Programmes)
• 2. Programmes funded by Structural Funds
  (Decentralized, Managed by national/regional
  authorities)
• 3. The external Cooperation Programmes
  (Cooperation between EU and non EU countries)

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EU funding programmes Community action
programmes (1)

• 1. Presenting some of the Important Community
  Action Programmes. These programmes stress
  competitiveness and innovation as well as social
  action.
• PROGRESS (Euros 743,25 million) It groups
  different instruments supporting company and
  employment policies, equal opportunities and in
  general work towards achieving the European
  Lisbon Strategy concerning growth and employment.
• LLP, or Life Long Learning (Euros 6,97 billion)
  These are intergraded programmes for education
  and training.
• Europe for Citizens (Euros 215 million) Target
  is bringing together EU citizens from different
  regions and countries in exchanging experiences,
  opinions and values.
• Fundamental Rights and Justice ( Euros 96.5
  million) A framework programme aiming at
  creating a European community based on the
  European ideals and values and at the same tine
  respecting human rights. It targets the
  implementation of EU law amongst member states.

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EU funding programmes Community action
programmes (2)

• 1. (continued) Presenting some of the Important
  Community Action Programmes.
• e. The 7th Framework Programme, (Euros 54,5
  billion) This the most important of the
  Community Action Programmes. It is structured
  into four specific programmes and its thematic
  axes are recognized under the names of the
  following 5 pillars
• Cooperation Fostering collaboration between
  Industry and Academia to gain leadership in key
  technology areas.
• Ideas Supporting basic research at the
  scientific frontiers.
• People Supporting mobility and career
  development for researchers both within and
  outside the EU.
• Capacities Helping develop the capacities of
  Europe to become a thriving Knowledge-based
  economy.
• Nuclear Research ( Euratom Programme)
  Developing Europe's nuclear fission and fusion
  capabilities.

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EU funding programmes Community action
programmes (3)

• e. (continued) The 7th Framework Programme,
  (Euros 54,5 billion).
• In short, the target of the FP7 programme is
  the improvement of EU competitiveness through the
  expansion of knowledge and the advancement of
  the European research and development realm.
• For more info www.cordis.europa.eu/fp7

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EU funding programmes Structural Funds

• 2. Presenting some EU Programmes funded by
  Structural Funds Called for supporting the
  Lisbon Strategy, these funds are now oriented
  towards innovation and support for
  competitiveness and employment.
• The 3 major objectives of the Structural Funds
  are
• Convergence
• Regional Competitiveness and Employment
• European Territorial cooperation.
• The most important programmed in this category of
  funds is
• Jeremie (Euros 1.1 billion), which aims at the
  improvement of the financing of SMEs (small and
  medium size enterprises).

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EU funding programmes External Cooperation
Funds

• 3. Presenting some of the important external
  Cooperation Programmes (Cooperation between EU
  and non EU countries)
• 1. IPA-Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance
  It supports candidate countries to comply with EU
  rules and policies.
• 2. ENPI-European Neighborhood and Partnership
  Instrument It aims at financing assistance to EU
  neighborhood countries especially in areas such
  as development, environment, education, energy,
  health and human rights.
• 3. DCI-Development Cooperation Instrument For
  EUs development cooperation activities and is
  investing in people, environment and sustainable
  management of natural recourses and energy, non
  state actors and local authorities.
• 4. ICI-Instrument for Cooperation with
  Industrialized countries For initiatives and
  interactions with Industrialized countries,
  targeting social, economic, public and private
  actors of EU Member states, North America, Asia
  and Gulf countries.