Integrated approaches to territorial development supported from European structural and investments (ESI) funds
Possibility to choose fields of financing from European funds has been to some level limited in financial perspective 2014-2020. Member States are in current perspective obligated to select fields of interventions from predefined list which consists of 11 thematic objectives. The objectives actually refer to different sectors and present the basis for thematic concentration of financing. In the same time the need for balanced investments on territorial level has been recognized and therefore tools/mechanism for integrated approaches to territorial investments have been design. Those tools/mechanism have been described in chapter 3 of Partnership Agreement:
Possibility to choose fields of financing from European funds has been to some level limited in financial perspective 2014-2020. Member States are in current perspective obligated to select fields of interventions from predefined list which consists of 11 thematic objectives. The objectives actually refer to different sectors and present the basis for thematic concentration of financing. In the same time the need for balanced investments on territorial level has been recognized and therefore tools/mechanism for integrated approaches to territorial investments have been design. Those tools/mechanism have been described in chapter 3 of Partnership Agreement:
- Community-led Local Development (CLLD)
- Sustainable Urban Development
- Integrated Territorial Investments
- Integrated approach addressing specific needs of geographic areas most affected by poverty.
Community-led Local Development
In Croatia, Community-led Local Development (CLLD) is applied in rural and fisheries areas e.g. financed from Rural Development Programme and Operational Programme for Maritime and Fisheries. Implementation of the approach is based on establishment of Local Action Groups (LAGa) in areas with 10.000-150.000 inhabitants. LAGs are obligated to prepare local development strategies. The mechanism is also known as LEADER approach (Liaison Entre Actions de Développement de l’Economie Rurale). In rural area LAGs were introduced during IPARD implementation. Within Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 activities are financed as part of Measure 19 (details in Croatian: Measure 19). Conditions for preparation, selection and implementation of local development strategies are defined by the Ordinances Ordinance on implementation of sub-measure 19.1. (OG 43/15) and Ordinance on implementation of sub-meausures 19.2., 19.3. and 19.4. (OG 96/17, previous version: OG 47/16 with attachments and 108/16). Minimal conditions, besides the population size in the areas, are as follows:
In fisheries areas there is a possibility to establish the FLAGs (Fisheries Local Action Groups), with following criteria:
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Source: Official Gazette 43/15 and 96/17
http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2015_04_43_880.html http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2017_09_96_2217.html Archive
Source: Official Gazette 47/16 and 108/16
http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2016_05_47_1218.html http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2016_11_108_2338.html |
Integrated territorial investments and sustainable urban development
Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) are defined in Common Provision Regulation EU 1303/2013 as a mechanism which enables supporting urban or other territorial strategy or pact from different priority axes from one or more operational programmes. In that way implementation of one territorial strategy can be co-financed through combination of different ESI funds, which is logical approach. Regulation on European fund for regional development envisaged that in each Member State at least 5% of EFRD allocation under the Investment for growth and jobs goal must be invested in sustainable urban development. By this provision cities are recognized as important centres in which economic growth is concentrated, but there is also concentration of challenges. Sustainable urban development is based on integrated strategies that set out measures tackling economic, environment, climate, demographic and social challenges affecting urban areas. Sustainable urban development can be undertaken through ITI, dedicated priority axis or specific operational programme. Bodies responsible for implementation of strategies should also be responsible for tasks at least related to selection of operations financed within sustainable urban development. ITI has been selected as a mechanism to implement sustainable urban development in Republic of Croatia and indicative allocation is about 345 millions EUR. As potential ITI areas seven urban areas with more than 50.000 inhabitants in central settlement have been selected. Those are: Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Osijek, Zadar, Slavonski Brod and Pula. Level of EU co-financing is set based on development index of city which is the center of urban area. Activities implemented as part of ITI will contribute to three themes:
Basic info on ITI for sustainable urban development are available at the website of the Ministry (in Croatian). Additional information on sustainable urban development strategies are also available. Call for ITI areas published on the official site for Structural Funds was opened until 15 July 2016. Agreements with all seven areas were signed in April, 2017. Some of the cities has also prepared their own sites on ITI mechanism with set of useful information: Zagreb - ITI site Slavonski Brod - ITI site Pula - ITI site, but there are also some information on websites of other areas included: Zadar, Split, Rijeka and Osijek. |
Source: Strukturni fondovi, July 2016 - http://www.strukturnifondovi.hr/natjecaji/1204
Source: MRDEUF, July 2016 - https://razvoj.gov.hr/javni-pozivi-i-natjecaji/aktualno/javni-poziv-za-neovisne-procjenitelje-prijava-pristiglih-na-poziv-za-odabir-podrucja-za-provedbu-mehanizma-integriranih-teritorijalnih-ulaganja-itu-mehanizam/3384
Source: City of Split, July 2016 - http://www.split.hr/Default.aspx?art=7881&sec=2309
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Programme of integrated physical, social and economic regeneration of pilot areas of small towns affected by war
Total of 120 million EUR from Operational programmes "Competitiveness and Cohesion" and "Efficient Human Potential" is to be invested in physical, social and economic regeneration in small towns. First five towns to be selected based on calculation of index of multiple deprivation as stated in Decision on pilot areas were: Beli Manastir (with municipality Darda), Benkovac, Knin, Petrinja and Vukovar. Two years later eight more towns were included: Pleternica, Imotski, Nova Gradiška, Slatina, Garešnica, Novska, Đakovo and Popovača. Index of multiple deprivation is calculated for self-government units with more than 10.000, but less than 35.000 inhabitants. Following indicators were included: 1.population (20%) a.change of population (15%) b. ageing coefficient (5%) 2. Social status (35%) a. unemployment rate (15%) b. activity rate (10%) c. rate of population with social welfare support (10%) 3. Educational status (10%) 4. Economic strength and potential (20%) a. income per inhabitant (10%) b.income of local budget per inhabitant (10%) 5. Population density (5%) 6. Coefficient for war affected ares(10%) Implementation on activities is based on intervention plans in which projects are defined. Goals of Programme are:
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Source: MRDEUF, July 2016 - https://razvoj.gov.hr/novi-pocetak-za-beli-manastir-benkovac-knin-petrinju-vukovar-i-dardu/3028
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