This page was last updated on 09.06.2008

6 June 2008
Higher Education Themes call for proposals published

Government Office for the South West has published a call for proposals for Higher Education investments for the ESF Convergence Programme in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.  Themes included in the call are: research, developing entrepreneurship and enterprise, employer demand led provision and raising aspirations. 

Please click here for further information.

Please click here for the Higher Education Themes Call for Proposals and application form.

Please click here for the ESF Convergence Framework for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

21 May 2008
Business Support in the Convergence Programme
The Pre-Commissioning phase for Business Support in the ERDF Convergence Programme is nearing its conclusion as the initial report is considered by the South West Regional Development Agency in its capacity as the managing agent for the Programme.

Please click here for further details, in the form of a summary report.

13 May 2008
Rural Development Programme for England to be promoted at the Royal Cornwall Show
The South West Regional Development Agency will be promoting the  Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) at this year's Royal Cornwall Show from 5 - 7 June.  Members of the Agency's RDPE team will be manning a stand next to the Members' Pavilion together with Cornwall Agri-food Council and the Rural Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Partnership.  It is hoped that Natural England will also be available on the stand.

RDPE will also feature at a Breakfast Event  entitled 'Supporting Rural Development - Life after Objective One', to be hosted by Rural Enterprise Gateway and South West Regional Development Agency in the CLA tent on 5 June between 8.15 am and 9.45 am. 

To book, please contact sarah.fern@cla.org.uk or by post at FREEPOST RLXX-SZBH-KZYH, Country Land and Business Association Ltd, Hartham Park, Corsham, Wilts, SN13  0RP.

Further information about the RDPE Programme in the South West can be found at www.southwestrda.org.uk/what-we-do/regeneration/eafrd/introduction.shtm.

27 March 2008
Call for Grant Administration Services for Rural Programme
The South West Regional Development Agency has advertised for an organisation to provide Grant Administration Services for the Rural Development Programme for England in the South West. To read more visit: www.southwestrda.org.uk/news/release.asp?releaseid=2419

The advertisement can be found in the Official Journal of the European Union and at www.southwestrda.org.uk.

The closing date for expressions of interest is 23 April 2008.

20 February 2008
Graduate Placements Theme call for proposals published
Proposals are invited from organisations, or consortia of organisations, to deliver activity in the Graduate Placement Theme for the ESF Convergence Programme in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.  Applications must be logged with the ESF Secretariat, Government Office South West no later than 1300 hours on Thursday 20th March 2008.

Click here to view the Call for Proposals - Graduate Placement Theme

Further information can be found at www.gosw.gov.uk/gosw/news/newsarchive/652785

30 January 2008
Convergence Programmes Begin
The first formal meeting of the Joint Programme Monitoring Committee, held on 30 January 2008, marked the beginning of the ERDF and ESF Convergence Programmes for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Click here to read a press release about this event.

14 December 2007
ERDF Convergence Operational Programme Approved
The ERDF Convergence Operational Programme has been approved by the European Commission and is expected to begin early in 2008. The final version of the Operational Programme is available via the links below.

Click here to view the approved ERDF Convergence Operational Programme.

Click here to view the Executive Summary of the approved ERDF Convergence Operational Programme.

Click here to read a press release about approval of the ERDF Convergence Programme.

6 December 2007
Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) agreed
The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) has been agreed by the European Union Rural Development Committee. Implementation of the Programme is likely to start in January 2008. Further information can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/rdp07_13/index.htm.

27 November 2007
Budget for European Fisheries Fund Programme agreed
The budget for the European Fisheries Fund Programme 2007-13 has been agreed. England has been allocated £26.42 million and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has an allocation of £7.3 million. Further information can be found at www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/071127a.htm.

November 2007
ERDF Convergence Operational Programme formally re-submitted
The ERDF Convergence Operational Programme, detailing priorities for ERDF Convergence investment in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, has been formally re-submitted to the European Commission for approval following negotiations.  Some further minor changes may be made following feedback from the Commission before the final version is agreed.  Final approval is expected in December 2007.

Click here to view the ERDF Convergence Operational Programme Negotiation Draft V2 (Nov 07).

9 August 2007
ESF Operational Programme agreed by European Commission
On 9 August the European Social Fund (ESF) Operational Programme for England 2007-13 was agreed by the European Commission, following a period of negotiation. It outlines plans for the investment of £4bn (£2bn of which will come from the European Social Fund) for tackling barriers to work and raising workforce skills. Further information can be found at www.esf.gov.uk.

July 2007
NSRF approved by European Commission
The European Commission has approved the UK's National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) which outlines how €9.9bn will be invested between 2007 and 2013, in line with the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs. Further information can be found at www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1195&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

27 July 2007
Report on ERDF Convergence consultation published
A report collating responses to the consultation on the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) Convergence Operational Programme has now been published. The responses informed the final draft of the Operational Programme which was submitted to the European Commission in May. Click here to view the report.

July 2007
European Social Fund Framework for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly finalised
The European Social Fund (ESF) Framework for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, outlining how ESF investment can support employment and skills priorities in the Convergence area, has been finalised and can be found at www.swrsp.org.uk.

14 June 2007
Draft Rural Development Programme for England submitted to European Commission
The England Rural Development Programme document, which outlines the aims of European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) investment in England from 2007 to 2013, has now been formally accepted by the European Commission and can be viewed online at: www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/rdp07_13/index.htm.

8 May 2007
Consultation on Convergence ESF Framework
The South West Regional Skills Partnership is holding an electronic consultation on the draft ESF Framework for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and the draft ESF Framework for the South West. Responses can be emailed to swresf@lsc.gov.uk until 16.00 on 1 June 2007. The Frameworks and further information about the consultation can be found at www.swrsp.org.uk.

4 May 2007
Government response to ESF consultation
The Government's response to the consultation on the draft England ESF Operational Programme (which was held from 30.10.06 – 22.1.07) was published on 4 May 2007. It summarises stakeholders' responses to the consultation and sets out the Government's position on the main issues raised. It also indicates the modifications made to the draft Operational Programme in the light of stakeholders' views. The response can be found at www.esf.gov.uk.

May 2007
Convergence ERDF Operational Programme submitted to the European Commission
The final draft of the Convergence ERDF Operational Programme was submitted to the European Commission in May 2007. This marks the beginning of a formal negotiation period with the Commission, which is expected to run until the Autumn. Click here to view the Operational Programme, along with all the annexes and attachments.

March 2007
The South West Regional Skills Partnership, working with partners in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, will prepare an ESF framework to inform the delivery of the ESF programme.

There will be a short consultation period following the local government election on 3 May.

Details of the framework are available at www.swrsp.org.uk/library.

5 March 2007
England ESF Operational Programme 2007-2013 submitted to the European Commission
The England ESF Operational Programme 2007-2013 was submitted to the European Commission by the Department for Work & Pensions and is expected to be agreed by autumn 2007. It can be downloaded from www.esf.gov.uk.

4 December 2006
Post 2006 Co-ordination Group meeting held
Click here to view a presentation on the Draft Operational Programme.

20 November 2006
ERDF Convergence Operational Programme Consultation launched
Click here for further information.
Deadline for comments is Friday 16 February 2007 using the feedback form at the following address: convergence@southwestrda.org.uk

30 October 2006
The Department for Work and Pensions launches consultation on the draft European Social Fund programme for England in 2007-2013
The draft Programme contains separate objectives for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. You are invited to respond to the consultation. The deadline for response is 22 January 2007.

The consultation document, draft programme and supporting annexes are available on the ESF website:
www.esf.gov.uk

23 October 2006
DTi publishes National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF)
The NSRF outlines the broad priorities, management arrangements and funding allocations for the European Structural Funds 2007-2013.

For more information see
www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/page28796.html

1 August 2006
Final Structural and Cohesion Funds Regulations published

Available at
www.eur-lex.europa.eu/JOHtml.do?uri=OJ:L:2006:210:SOM:EN:HTML

22 May 2006
Danuta Hübner, EC Commissioner for Regional Policy congratulates Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly on the success of the Objective One Programme
"These projects are tremendous examples of what can be achieved with the will, the ideas and the financial assistance. If projects like these are able to encourage enterprise, create jobs, attract investment and knowledge and sustain our environment then I would say that it is money well spent and all those who contribute to make them happen deserve our appreciation. It is an added bonus for me as Commissioner for Regional Policy to see how the EU can contribute in a practical way to improving people's prospects and enabling them to realise their dreams."

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28 February 2006
DTi launch consultation on draft National Strategic Reference framework

The NSRF is available from
www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/page28796.html

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27 February 2006
Defra launch of consultation on the next Rural Development Programme (2007 - 13)
The consultation document considers how the next RDP could be used to make a difference in rural areas. The consultation period lasts until 22 May 2006.

More information is available at
www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/rdp2007-13/index.htm

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19 December 2005
Defra launch of consultation on the draft UK National Strategic Plan for Fisheries
The consultation document proposes strategic objectives for the management of fisheries on which to base the UK priorities for the use of the European Fisheries Fund. The consultation period lasts until 17 February 2006.

More information is available at www.defra.gov.uk/fish/sea/grants/index.htm

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15 - 16 December 2005
Agreement on the EU budget

More information is available at www.ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/hubner/focus/focus_en.htm

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