This page was last updated on 03.05.2008

Click on any question in the list to see the answer:

Q1 What will happen after the Objective One Programme?
Q2 Has Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly qualified for a Convergence Programme?
Q3 Will the Convergence Programme be the same as the Objective One Programme?
Q4 What will happen to rural investments?
Q5 What will happen to fisheries investments?
Q6 What is the Lisbon Agenda?
Q7 How much investment will there be?
Q8 Who will manage the programme?
Q9 What are the next steps?
Q10 What does the Draft National Strategic Reference Framework contain?
Q11 How are we preparing?
Q12 How were the Priorities for the Convergence Programme agreed?
Q13 How can I keep up to date?
Q14 What is happening in South West England?
Q15 What is JEREMIE investment?
Q16 What is Framework 7?
Q17 What is the ERDF Convergence Programme?
Q18 What is Commissioning?
Q19 Who will manage the ERDF Convergence Programme?
Q20 How can businesses engage with the ERDF Convergence Programme?
Q21 What is the ESF Convergence Programme?
Q22 What are the management and delivery arrangements for the ESF Programme?

All the answers have been kept brief and as simple as possible with links to more detailed information where appropriate.

My question is not here
If your question isn't here call the Objective One Helpline on 0800 028 0120, or try the relevant contact in our Directory listing.

Other links and sources of information include:

The European Commission:
www.europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/index_en.htm

South West UK Brussels Office:
www.southwestukbrusselsoffice.com

Defra:
www.defra.gov.uk

South West Regional Development Agency:
www.southwestrda.org.uk

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Q1. What will happen after the Objective One Programme?
The 25 EU Member States agreed the 2007-2013 EU budget on 16 December 2005 at Brussels European Council and it was finalised in April 2006. The agreement of the budget has also set out the framework for its use, including:

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Q2. Why has Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly qualified for a Convergence Programme?
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly was awarded Convergence status in 2005, when the European Union's budget for 2007-2013 was decided. The criteria for identifying regions for Convergence Programmes were the same as for the Objective One Programmes, ie any region with less than 75% of the EU average GVA (Gross Value Added). According to Eurostat statistics published in January 2005 for the 3 years 2000-02, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly was at 70% of the EU average GVA.

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Q3. Will the Convergence Programmes be the same as the Objective One Programme?
There will be a number of differences between this Objective One Programme and Convergence:

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Q4. What will happen to rural investments?
European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund - EAGGF (investment from which has included food processing and rural diversification) and LEADER+ will become part of a mainstream national programme.

Because Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, as a region, have qualified for a Convergence Programme - there will be a "ring-fenced" budget for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly within the national rural programme.

The European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) will be replaced by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) from 2007 to 2013. It will not be available through the Convergence Programme, but through the new Rural Development Programme for England 2007-13 (RDPE). The RDPE investment will consist of monies from both the UK government and the European Union.

New rural development programmes will revolve around 4 axes. Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) will be the Managing Authority for the programme in England with responsibility for delivery devolved to other agencies.

Consultation
The government has consulted on the Rural Development Programme for England which will set the priorities and objectives for agriculture and rural development 2007-2013. The consultation began on 27 February 2006 and closed on 22 May 2006. Further information is available from Defra at www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/rdp07_13/index.htm.

Operational Programme
The Rural Development Programme for England has been agreed by the European Union Rural Development Committee and can be viewed online at: www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/rdp07_13/progdoc.htm.

Budget
From 2007-2013 the rural programme in England has a budget of approximately £3.9bn. The South West has a budget of c. £156m over the life of the Programme to deliver the socio-economic parts of the Programme. Of this, £55m has been reserved for investments in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

South West Regional Implementation Plan
The South West Regional Development Agency, in consultation with partners, has developed the South West Regional Implementation Plan which outlines the priorities, delivery arrangements and alignment with other funds for EAFRD (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development) investment in the South West.There will be seven investment themes: skills, business support, supply chain and adding value, resource management, sustainable rural tourism, social enterprise, and community-led development.

Delivery
Delivery will be based on a commissioning approach which will identify intermediaries (through competitive tendering) who will engage with end beneficiaries.

Governance
A Programme Monitoring Committee (PMC) has been established by Defra to monitor delivery of the Programme. Details of its function and organisations represented are available at www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/rdp07_13/committee.htm.

Natural England, The Forestry Commission and the Regional Development Agencies will be accountable for funding.

At regional level, the existing South West Regional Implementation Plan (SWRIP) group will monitor delivery.

Governance arrangements for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are being developed.

Further information about rural investment for 2007-2013, including a link to the latest draft of the Regional Implementation Plan can be found at:

www.southwestrda.org.uk/what-we-do/regeneration/eafrd/introduction.shtm

and

www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/rdp07_13/index.htm

Pre-commissioning
Pre-commissioning work has started to identify potential projects and, in Cornwall, sector meetings have been arranged to ascertain industry needs and opportunities and to discuss potential support through the Rural Development Programme for England.

Local Action
Axis 4 of the rural programme focuses on local action to improve quality of life and economic prosperity. Local Action's launch event took place on 1 November 2007. For further information about Local Action and how communities can get involved please refer to Convergence Newsletter 29 (9 November 2007) and:

www.southwestrda.org.uk/what-we-do/regeneration/eafrd/community-led-develo.shtm

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Q5. What will happen to fisheries investments?
Current Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG) investment - which supports the sustainable use of fisheries and fish processing - will be replaced by the European Fisheries Fund and will become part of mainstream national activity under the Common Fisheries Policy.

Five priority axes for the EFF have been proposed:

The Marine Fisheries Agency (MFA) wll be the Managing Authority for the Fisheries Programme.

Defra is preparing a UK National Strategic Plan for Fisheries which will set out the national objectives for 2007-2013 and describe how EFF will be delivered in the UK. A consultation was conducted in 2005. The National Strategic Plan is expected to be formally submitted to the European Commission for discussion in January 2008. The UK must also submit an EFF Operational Programme to the European Commission, which is currently being developed by the Marine Fisheries Agency. It will be subject to a consultation beginning in March 2008 before approval by the EU and will cover priorities, finance and delivery for England.

The RDA will, with the Marine Fisheries Agency, have a key role in developing the regional approach to the EFF. This will be a commissioned programme with good practice from Cornwall rolled out to the rest of the South West Region and vice versa. Regional delivery will be developed further once national arrangements have been finalised.

The RDA has held the first meeting of the EFF Strategy Board along with the MFA - this is a regional board but has ample representation from Cornish Fisheries interests. The Board has reviewed what worked and did not work with FIFG and explored using the Cornish Strategy as a basis for developing a regional approach.

The budget for the whole EFF investment across Europe, in the period 2007-13, will be approximately £3.8 billion. England has been allocated £26.42m and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has an allocation of £7.3m.

Additional information about the European Fisheries Fund can be found at:

www.defra.gov.uk/fish/sea/grants/index.htm,
www.southwestrda.org.uk/what-we-do/policy/european-prog/european-programmes.shtm and
www.ec.europa.eu/fisheries/index_en.htm.

Q6. What is the Lisbon Agenda?
European and UK economic regeneration policy is increasingly being driven by the Lisbon Agenda where the EU set itself the goal of becoming the most competitive and dynamic knowledge based economy in the world. This means a significant increase in emphasis on competitiveness, innovation and a more knowledge based economy and the explicit targeting of investment on outcomes that will drive this.

It has been written by the EU and Member States in response to intensified competition from around the world and the issue of Europe's ageing population and low birth rate. It has two aims for Europe:

Generate stronger, sustainable economic growth
Create more and better jobs

Its mission statement is "to make the EU the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world … by 2010."

Stronger Economic Growth will be achieved by:

More and Better Jobs will be achieved by:

This strategy informs EU and Member State approaches to economic strategy - including business regulation and employment policies – as well as national, regional and local economic development strategies.
www.ec.europa.eu/growthandjobs/index_en.htm

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Q7. How much investment will there be?
European investment in the Convergence Programmes will be as follows:

Public sector match funding for the ERDF Convergence Programme is expected to come from a combination of local, regional and national sources.

The sterling value of the Convergence Programmes will vary over the life of the Programme according to the exchange rate.

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Q8. Who will manage the Convergence Programmes?
The management arrangements for the 2007-2013 Convergence Programme are outlined in the National Strategic Reference Framework and further detail is given in the ESF and ERDF Operational Programmes.

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Q9. What are the next steps?
The next steps are as follows:

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Q10. What does the National Strategic Reference Framework contain?

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Q11. How are we preparing?
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Economic Forum (the Cornwall County Council/Cornwall Enterprise supported public-private economic regeneration partnership) led on the review of "Strategy and Action" which provides the over-arching economic regeneration strategy for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The appropriate coverage by the strategy is vital to ensure the successful knitting together of all economic regeneration investment programmes whether UK or EU in origin.

The relevant parts of Strategy and Action inform the basis of the Convergence Programme as well as those for the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the European Fisheries Fund (EFF).

Strategy and Action can be found at www.economicforum.org.uk.

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Q12. How were the Priorities for the Convergence Programme agreed?
A detailed and justified evidence base, together with an analysis of the drivers of economic regeneration for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, within the Lisbon Agenda, have informed the priorities for the Convergence Programme. These must clearly drive competitiveness, innovation, enterprise and a more knowledge based economy.

Thirteen-week consultations on the Draft ERDF Convergence Programme and Draft ESF Programme have also been undertaken.

Priorities for the ERDF Convergence Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have been informed by the revised economic strategy for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Strategy & Action. Cornwall's priorities will be locally relevant, but complement those at regional, national and European level.

A Europe-wide policy, the Lisbon Strategy, is a key driver of the Convergence Programme. It aims to generate faster economic growth and more and better jobs by increasing competitiveness, innovation and developing a more knowledge-based economy.

Agriculture and fisheries are no longer part of the Convergence Programme. They will become part of programmes managed by the government and will receive funding through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the European Fisheries Fund (EFF).

This means the ERDF and ESF Convergence Programmes will be able to focus on other aspects of the economy which will include:

All of which will be driven by the Lisbon Strategy.

As in the development of the Objective One Programme, negotiations with the European Commission drew heavily on and tested the evidence base underpinning the Operational Programme.

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Q13. How can I keep up to date?
'Strategy and Action', the economic regeneration strategy for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly can be viewed at:
www.economicforum.org.uk

The Cornwall Economic Forum can be contacted at:
enquiries@economicforum.org.uk
The key contact is Lucy Harris – Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Economic Forum Manager

The Cornwall Agricultural Council – which is the industry voice for agriculture, horticulture, food and the land based industries – have developed their strategy for their sectors for the period 2003-2010 – this and their contact details are available at:
www.cornwallagriculturalcouncil.org.uk

Information about the Rural Development Programme for England can be found at www.defra.gov.uk and www.southwestrda.org.uk.

Click here to read the fortnightly newsletter, Towards Convergence. If you would like to receive the newsletter by email please contact objectiveone@cornwall.gov.uk to be added to the mailing list.

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Q14. What is happening in South West England?
The South West Cohesion Steering Group (SWRDA, GOSW, RA, LGA, CCC*) is developing an integrated approach to cohesion policy across the South West. Cohesion Policy is the EU framework that aims to narrow differences in economic performance between regions of the EU. It includes the structural funds programmes, such as Convergence, which are the main EU-level financial instruments for achieving this goal. These funds complement both national and private sector investment. A South West Cohesion Framework that provides the context for any EU funding in the region has been agreed and can be viewed via the link below:
www.southwestrda.org.uk/what-we-do/policy/european-funding-pos.shtm

While the Convergence Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is being developed, a Competitiveness Programme is being developed for the rest of the South West. Competitiveness will focus on increasing business productivity and reducing disparities between parts of the South West region. Further details are available from www.southwestrda.org.uk.

*South West Regional Development Agency, Government Office for the South West, Regional Assembly, Local Government Association, Cornwall County Council.

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Q15. What is JEREMIE investment?
JEREMIE (Joint European Resources for Micro to Medium Enterprises) is:

Authorities managing programmes funded by Structural Funds can access JEREMIE if they wish.

For more information go to:
www.ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funds/2007/jjj/index_en.htm

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Q16. What is Framework 7?
Framework 7 (FP7) is the EU Seventh Research Framework Programme 2007-2013, subtitled "Building the European research area of knowledge for growth".

How does FP7 differ from FP6, the previous programme for research?

It has a renewed focus on increasing Europe's growth and competitiveness, recognising that knowledge is Europe's greatest resource.

Greater emphasis on research that is relevant to the needs of European industry, to help it compete internationally, and develop its role as a world leader in certain sectors.

For the first time the programme will provide support for the best in European investigator-driven research, with the creation of a European Research Council.

Participation in the programme will be made simpler and easier, through measures addressing the procedures, plus a rationalisation of instruments.

How is it similar to the previous programme?

It is intended that for the majority of participants, the programme itself will not change, but participation will become simpler.

What is the budget for FP7?

An indication of the budget can be found at: www.cordis.europa.eu/fp7/budget_en.html

How is the Programme organised?

FP7 is organised in to 4 specific programmes:

What is FP7's 'Co-operation Programme' about?

The Co-operation Programme will support research activities carried out in trans-national cooperation, to gain or consolidate leadership in key scientific or technological areas.

The Programme will be divided into themes which will operate autonomously, but will be complementary to allow collaboration. They include:

What is the FP7 'Ideas Programme' about?

A European Research Council supports "frontier research" and the Programme is expected to support investigator-driven research projects carried out by research teams competing at European level.

What is the FP7 'People Programme' about?

The People Programme aims to improve the human potential in European R&D and increase the numbers working in this field, encouraging people to enter research professions, making Europe attractive to researchers and supporting training and career development.

What is the FP7 'Capacities Programme' about?

The Capacities Programme aims to enhance and develop research capacities in Europe, operating in the following broad areas:

How could FP7 help release Cornwall's full research potential?

The FP7 Capacities Programme includes an initiative to unlock the research potential of outermost and Convergence areas. It will support:

For more information see:
www.cordis.europa.eu/fp7/capacities/convergence-regions_en.html

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Q17. What is the ERDF Convergence Programme?
European investment in the Convergence Programmes will come from two sources, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). Each fund will have its own Convergence Programme, with specific objectives and priorities that complement each other and contribute to sustainable economic growth.

The ERDF Convergence Programme will commission most of its projects so there will be very limited opportunities to bid into the Programme. Please see question Question 18 for further information about commissioning.

Match-Funding
ERDF investment of approx. £311.4 million (approx. €458m) will be supplemented by investment from the UK public sector, known as match-funding. Public sector match-funding is expected to come from a combination of local, regional and national sources. In addition, private sector investments, known as leverage, will be vital to the success of the aims of the Programme.

The Operational Programme and Consultation
The ERDF Convergence Operational Programme is the document which describes the overall objectives, more detailed priorities and financial allocations for the investment of European Regional Development Fund money in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

There was a thirteen-week consultation from 20 November 2006 to 16 February 2007 and consultation events were held. To view the version of the ERDF Convergence Operational Programme which went out for consultation, please click here.

Responses to the consultation informed an updated Operational Programme known as the 'negotiation draft'. This was submitted to the European Commission for negotiations in May 2007. To view the Negotiation Draft of the ERDF Convergence Operational Programme, please click here.

Following negotiations, the Operational Programme was further revised and re-submitted to the European Commission in November 2007. Click here to view the revised document.

In December 2007 the Operational Programme was approved. Click here to view the final document.

The first meeting of the Joint Programme Monitoring Committee on 30 January 2008 marked the beginning of the ERDF and ESF Convergence Programmes.

Next steps for the ERDF Convergence Programme
Pre-commissioning work is being carried out to identify early investments for the Programme and investment in key areas, such as digital infrastructure, is expected to start later this year.

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Q18. What is Commissioning?
The ERDF Convergence Programme aims to make fewer, more strategic investments than the Objective One Programme. To achieve this, investments will be commissioned and there will be very limited opportunities for bidding into the Programme, if any. The commissioning process and some initial investments are being developed by the Programme Monitoring Committee, the Partnership Delivery Board and commissioning teams.

Information about potential investments identified through pre-commissioning work can be found in Newsletter 24 (3 August 2007) and the notes of the 1 August 2007 Shadow Partnership Delivery Board meeting. Click here to view the meeting notes.

Please click here for further information about commissioning.

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Q19. Who will manage the ERDF Convergence Programme?
The South West Regional Development Agency will be the Managing Agent for the ERDF Convergence Programme.

Partners have agreed the overall governance structure: a 'shadow' Programme Monitoring Committee (PMC) and a 'shadow' Partnership Delivery Board (PDB) have been established and was formalised when the Programme began in January 2008. The PMC has evolved into the Joint Programme Monitoring Committee which will have responsibility for overseeing strategy and delivery for both the ESF and ERDF Convergence Programmes.

The PDB's main function is to support the Programme Monitoring Committee in developing commissioning. Commissioning teams have been established to develop certain projects.

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Q20. How can businesses engage with the ERDF Convergence Programme?
The private sector is essential to the success of the ERDF Convergence Programme and can contribute to Convergence activities by providing additional levered investment.

The Managing Agent will work closely with the Cornwall Business Partnership to ensure business is engaged in the Convergence Programme at both strategic and delivery level.

Businesses will also be able to benefit through business support packages which will be part of the Convergence Programme and are still under development at present. Further details will be made available in due course.

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Q21. What is the ESF Convergence Programme?
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will also receive investment through the European Social Fund (ESF). This will be managed and delivered separately from ERDF investment, although both Programmes will complement each other. The England ESF Programme will contribute to sustainable economic growth through investments in employment opportunities and skills.

ESF investment in the UK is being managed nationally, so an England ESF Operational Programme has been developed. Within this there are specific objectives and ring-fenced funding for the Convergence area of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The area will receive approx. £133.3 million (€196m) of ESF investment and its broad priorities are:

• Tackling barriers to employment
• Improving the skills of the local workforce

Within these priorities the South West Regional Skills Partnership has developed an ESF Framework for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly which will ensure the national and regional priorities work together. It can be viewed at www.swrsp.org.uk.

Development of the England ESF Operational Programme
Following a consultation period from 30 October 2006 to 22 January 2007 the England ESF Operational Programme was submitted to the European Commission on 5 March 2007 for negotiations and on 4 May 2007 the UK Government published its response to the ESF consultation. During negotiations the key issue was the percentage of disadvantaged people supported, with an expectation from the Commission that funds should concentrate on the target groups: disabled people, lone parents, young people not in education, employment or training and women beneficiaries, etc. The final version was submitted on 30 May 2007 and agreed in August 2007.

The agreed version of the England ESF Operational Programme can be found at www.esf.gov.uk.

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Q22. What are the management and delivery arrangements for the ESF Programme?
At national level the Managing Authority for the England ESF Programme will be the European Social Fund Division of the Department for Work and Pensions, overseen by a Programme Monitoring Committee and supported in this region by Government Office for the South West.

Most delivery of the national programme will take place at regional level, where the Regional Skills Partnerships will have a leading role in developing the Regional ESF Frameworks. Each region, including Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, will have an ESF Regional framework and Committee. A joint ERDF and ESF Convergence Programme Monitoring Committee has been established to oversee the Programmes and supporting management structures are being developed.

Co-Financing
Co-financing matches European investment with UK government funding. In the Objective One Programme, ESF investment was supplemented by investment from co-financing organisations (CFOs) including Jobcentre Plus and the Learning and Skills Council.

The Co-Financing Organisations for the ESF Convergence Programme in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will be the Department of Work and Pensions/Jobcentre Plus and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).

Competitive Tendering
Co-financing Plans outline the CFOs' investment plans for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. At present the Department for Work and Pensions/Jobcentre Plus and the Learning and Skills Council are offering organisations the opportunity to compete, through an open and competitive tendering process, to deliver provision funded by the European Social Fund Programme 2007-2013.

Contracts are expected to begin during spring/summer of 2008.

Further information can be found at:

The ESF website
www.esf.gov.uk

The Department for Work and Pensions
www.dwp.gov.uk/supplyingdwp/what_we_buy/european_social_fund.asp

The Learning and Skills Council
www.lsc.gov.uk/providers/esf-procurement/

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