I am delighted to join you this afternoon to launch the 2011 Annual Report of the Border, Midland and Western Regional Assembly.
While this is a time of significant challenges for the European Union, there is little doubt that cohesion policy has been one of its more important success stories. It lies at the very heart of European integration and solidarity. And it has played a major role in reducing social and economic disparities and increasing cohesion in a Union of 500 million people, in 27 Member States, across 271 regions.
Cohesion funding has played an important role in the development of Ireland’s economy. The financial transfers from the EU Budget have been so important in allowing Member States to bring about change and encourage development in the regions. Everywhere we go around the country we can see evidence of the many ways we have benefitted from Structural Funds.
Ireland is one of the success stories of EU cohesion policy. Across Europe we are regarded as an example of how Member States can benefit from Structural Funds, and many Member States have come here to learn from the Irish experience.
The role of the Regional Assemblies has been key to this success in managing and monitoring ERDF and INTERREG funding. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Gerry Finn and his staff for their hard work and commitment. I wish them good luck in closing the 2000-2006 round of funding which I understand is a very difficult and complex undertaking. I also know that the current Operational Programmes for the period 2007-2013 are progressing well, despite the economic downturn which resulted in a renegotiation of the BMW Operational Programme.
While the future of Cohesion policy is being framed against a very difficult economic backdrop, Ireland continues to see it as a key policy in supporting the goals of the EU 2020 Strategy - supporting growth that is smart, sustainable and inclusive. This will set the strategic direction for future policy - focused on employment, research & innovation, education, climate change and energy, and meeting poverty targets.
As you will be aware, the Commission last year published its proposals for the next round of funding covering the period 2014-2020. The Commission’s proposal is to allocate €376bn to Cohesion policy instruments, an increase on the allocation for 2007-2013. This proposal must be seen in the context of the wider negotiations on the EU Budget, however, where there will be pressure to reduce the overall size of the budget. The Government’s aim will be to maximize Ireland’s allocation and ensure that we continue to benefit from Cohesion policy.
Last October the Commission published its legislative package to underpin the next funding round. Minister Howlin, who has overall responsibility for Cohesion policy, discussed these proposals with colleagues at the Informal Meeting of Cohesion Ministers in Poznan under the Polish Presidency, as well as at a meeting of the General Affairs Council devoted to Cohesion policy in December. I myself represented Ireland at the General Affairs Council in April and June where ‘partial general agreements’ was reached on a number of the Cohesion negotiation blocks. These proposals are subject to further discussion by the Council and will be subject to co-decision with the European Parliament. It is appropriate here to acknowledge the valuable input of the BMW Regional Assembly which I understand has been working closely with officials on Ireland’s response to these proposals.
The Irish Government has argued strongly that Cohesion funding has had a major impact on key economic and social programmes throughout the country and that funding for 2014–2020 must be maintained to help secure Ireland’s recovery.
We will also be arguing for a approach to allow Member States and regions the flexibility to select priorities according to their specific circumstances and the demands of their National Reform Programmes. This approach would give regions the ability to design the means to deliver policies that meet their own particular needs and would provide strong participation and ownership on the ground. This is a reflection of the regional diversity in the EU, where regions have vastly different characteristics, opportunities and needs.
The added significance of the Cohesion negotiations for Ireland is that it may fall to our Presidency of the Council of Ministers next year to finalise the negotiations of the Cohesion package and bring about agreement on the overall legislative package. This will be a significant challenge but one that we are looking forward to as we seek to rebuild our reputation at EU level. I know that we can count on the co-operation and assistance of the Assemblies during this time.
The process of planning for the next programming period has already begun. The National Co-ordination Committee for the Funds, which is chaired by the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, provides the vehicle for bringing together all the relevant bodies, not just the Regional Assemblies, but also the relevant Government Departments including the Department of Education & Skills, which is the Managing Authority for the ESF, which will form a significant part of our Structural Funds allocation under the next round. Minister Howlin will bring proposals to the Government on the best use of our Structural Funds allocation and the most efficient administrative structures required to draw down that allocation in as cost effective a manner as possible.
I am aware that the Regional Assemblies have brought forwards proposals regarding an enhanced role for the Assemblies in the management and delivery of the next round of Structural Funds. Obviously, the experience of the Regional Assemblies in delivering the regional Operational Programmes to date will be something that will be taken into account.
The Irish EU Presidency next year offers us an important opportunity to make a real contribution at European level, helping us to restore and rebuild the excellent reputation we have enjoyed through most of the four decades of our membership. While that reputation may have been somewhat tarnished in recent years, we can be proud that Irish deployment of Structural Funds remains an uncontested success story.
Indeed at a time as we try to grapple with the economic crisis that has befallen the Europe, and as we talk about solidarity, it is worth remembering that Cohesion funding is solidarity in action. It has enabled regions to develop and prosper across the continent, enriching the lives if citizens in the process.
Cohesion has been one of the most successful and demonstrable European policies. Today is an appropriate opportunity to pay tribute to the crucial contribution of the BMW Regional Assembly to that success.
Thank you.