Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on regions for economic change
Date: 2007-06-07
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: EU initiative, EU regional policy, regional cooperation, regional development

24.8.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 197/57

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on regions for economic change

(2007/C 197/10)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

— points out that, despite the fact that since the Communication was issued on 8 November 2006 the
Regions For Economic Change initiative has changed its approach, i.e. the Commission has abandoned
the top-down approach in favour of the bottom-up principle applied by regional and local authorities,
there has never been official notification of this from the Commission. In any case, this opinion takes
the development into due account.

— stresses that the Committee of the Regions could contribute actively to monitoring operational
programmes in the context of Interreg IV and Urbact II, playing a consultative role in the respective
Monitoring Committees.

— calls for synergy to be achieved between the Lisbon Monitoring Platform and the Regions For
Economic Change initiative, while preserving the specific qualities of each. The Lisbon Monitoring
Platform is an opportunity to pass on expertise with a view to helping to strengthen cohesion policy
and promoting the Lisbon agenda.

— focuses on communication and provision of information at European level, which are the key to the
success of the Regions For Economic Change initiative. In this connection, the Committee of the
Regions has a major role to play, working together with the Commission.

— calls for the initiative to be organised in such a way as to help identify the best practices in use in
regions and create simple mechanisms for passing them on to other EU regions. The Regions For
Economic Change initiative must serve as a stimulus, a catalyst for good ideas and initiatives, as a
number of Community initiatives have in the past.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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I. Policy recommendations

7.
therefore proposes that the European Commission discuss
the progress and subject matter of the initiative at a joint annual
conference with the Committee of the Regions;

Communication from the Commission: Regions For Economic
Change

(COM(2006) 675 final)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

General comments

1.
welcomes the Commission's intention to make regional
and local development measures more effective through the
Regions For Economic Change initiative, harnessing local and
regional best practices and promoting their dissemination,
through
exchange
networking actions; these should be given fresh impetus as
Community policy instruments for economic modernisation
and greater competitiveness;

and customisation for other

contexts

recognises that

2.
the initiative ties in closely with the
Committee of the Regions' institutional role; therefore, feels that
the CoR's potential
for action and participation should be
brought into play and calls for its role providing unified repre-
sentation of the EU's regional and local systems to be exploited;

that

emphasises

the Committee of

3.
the Regions has
launched the Lisbon Monitoring Platform, made up of local and
regional authorities, which are monitoring and highlighting the
implementation of the strategy at local and regional level;

that

points out

4.
this is the only programme expressly
devoted to promoting thematic cooperation between local and
regional stakeholders which sets no geographical requirements,
there being no need for them to belong to the same border or
transnational area. It is potentially the most flexible instrument
for European integration available to regions, and it should also
help to strengthen regional policy, which is increasingly efficient,
comprehensive and ambitious;

5.
supports the Commission's intention to use the Regions
For Economic Change initiative to promote a real exchange and
dissemination of experience and best practice in development
and cohesion among European local and regional authorities in
order to achieve the Lisbon strategy. The Committee therefore
highlights
the operational
involving
programmes'
regional managing authorities effectively and
directly in the networks promoted by the initiative;

importance of

the

and represents

notes that the Commission initiative respects the subsi-
6.
diarity principle
learning,
networking and taking the best of local and regional achieve-
ments towards the Lisbon and Gothenburg objectives. However,
it feels that successful European regional policy requires political
reinforcement of the local and regional dimension;

a process of

The role of regions and cities

cooperation,

8.
points out that the Regions For Economic Change initia-
tive should be seen as complementary to the existing forms of
interregional
been
strengthened by the new regional policy goal of European terri-
torial cooperation.
the
is thus important
support for cooperation between regions, cities and other local
authorities in Europe, which was launched under Interreg III C,
continues at a sufficient level in the future;

to ensure that

especially

since

has

It

it

considers it necessary to clarify arrangements for coopera-
9.
tion between regions and cities, since although both institu-
tional
in the
levels are mentioned and taken into account
Commission documents available, networks of
regions are
referred to primarily. In this connection, it should be stressed
that regions and cities are both eligible for both the Interreg IV C
programme
the Urbact 2007-2013 programme,
although regions will have to be treated as a driving force under
the former and this role will be accorded to cities under the
latter; also believes that it would be very useful and constructive
to encourage the involvement of major bodies and institutions
which are active in regions and cities as partners;

and for

10.
calls for more transparency from the Commission than it
has displayed in the past. The work programmes of networks
which have already been launched should at least be published
on the Internet, as should summaries of the various meetings
held, as well as the results, current best practice and contact
details of the lead partner of the network, so that those in-
terested parties have access to and can make use of the results.
It would also be helpful for the Commission to consider setting
up a website where anyone who is interested can search for
partners and other relevant information;

The fast track option

the last meeting,

the draft opinion at

notes that, following the COTER Commission meetings
11.
and discussions held on 31 January and 16 March 2007 and
the adoption of
the
Commission has updated and clarified its stance on the Regions
that
For Economic Change initiative; stresses,
although this has not yet been officially formalised in any offi-
cial EC document, a bottom-up approach will clearly be used to
select operations for the fast-track scheme. Moreover, the opera-
tions will be implemented in line with the OPs Interreg IV C
and Urbact II and their respective implementing regulations.
This should in effect ensure equal access to the initiative for all
European regions and cities and the hoped-for transparency of
the initiative as a whole.

in particular,

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 197/59

12.
also recommends that notices of interest be published on
the websites of the Commission and the Committee of the
Regions, and that a letter be sent to the offices of the regions
in Brussels or to desk officers for regional affairs at the Member
States' permanent representations to the EU, so as to dissemi-
nate information and ensure that it reaches the regions and
municipalities promptly. Finally,
the INFO RELAYS network
operated by the Commission in almost all the regions of the EU
is available, as well as the promotion and PR network that was
set up to support the Community Support Frameworks in
the Member States.

the diversity, originality and value of the different development
solutions adopted. The initiatives carried out as part of Regions
For Economic Change and fast-track actions should draw on
these different experiences, and take account of the interplay
between the regional and local dimensions in terms of
the
selected themes. The Committee of the Regions could play an
effective role representing integration of the two dimensions, as
regards both the definition of the initiative's general thematic
guidelines and implementing arrangements, and the framing
and implementation of
financing programmes
the direct
(Interreg IV C and Urbact 2007-2013);

proposes, moreover,

13.
to define a procedure for active
participation (consultation upon invitation/proposal from the
Commission?) by the Committee of
in the
drawing-up of operational programmes, or — alternatively —
to set up a communication channel to convey the CoR's recom-
mendations to the bodies responsible for drawing them up;

the Regions

The networks' contribution to the initiative

understands why the Commission feels the need to make
14.
existing networks
larger and more general, and why the
thematic approach is taking precedence over the geographical
approach, but believes that these two approaches can actually
be usefully dovetailed: since there is a recognised need to safe-
guard and reflect diversity, the regional and local patterns of
diversity must be taken into account when deciding on themes;
synergy between the various networks is also essential, reflecting
their complementary features in both thematic and geographical
terms. In this context, it also calls for due attention to be given
to less prosperous and marginal areas;

15.
stresses the need to leave more scope for grass-roots
initiatives. As representatives of local and regional authorities,
the CoR's members welcome such measures and will strive to
ensure that this ‘open approach’ does not result in a ‘closed
approach’ at national level. The CoR will work to ensure that
the initiative truly supports and recognises networks maintained
by regions and cities that are keen to work together, in order to
encourage the best innovations for economic, social and en-
vironmental development;

16.
stresses the fact that the networks should be sustainable,
i.e. it must be possible to sustain the exchanges launched for
long enough periods (which poses a problem of resources), and
they must be able to facilitate involvement of and interaction
between institutions (genuine involvement of institutional stake-
holders) and between regions (involvement of
the various
regions and districts of the EU and of their respective stake-
holders, who can indeed benefit from shared expertise);

Selection of priority themes

17.
the
urges the Commission to ensure involvement of
different kinds of regional and local authorities so as to reflect

18.
fears that although the priority themes may be suffi-
ciently broad and clearly in line with the renewed Lisbon
agenda, the way they are defined might be too rigid (1); for
example, the role of industry in regional development is not
referred to in the themes currently proposed. A process for
supplementing or reviewing these themes should therefore be
specified and drawn up, ensuring the greatest possible tran-
sparency in the decision-making process, in synergy and coop-
eration with the regions and local authorities. Moreover, regions
and local authorities' autonomy in managing their networks
should be fully preserved, even though the networks will be
the Commission. The
focusing on themes
selected by
Committee also questions the consistency of some of
the
themes mentioned with the priorities of the European Regional
Development Fund (2). For
the admissibility of
themes directly relating to the European Social Fund should be
specifically spelt out.

this reason,

Financial framework for the initiative

recognises that,

19.
in order to achieve more efficient and
effective use of the financial resources earmarked for cohesion
policy, both commitment from national and regional authorities
and a more direct role for the Commission are essential, with
voluntary definition of new ways in which regions, local autho-
rities and the Commission can network, exchange best practices
and work together;

20. moreover, considers that more precise definition of the
financial reference framework for the initiative would be useful,
not least because the resources have to come from different
sources: any remaining resources available from the 2000-2006
programmes, the two new operational programmes (a particular
percentage which has yet to be defined in the respective draft
budgets), the regional mainstream programmes, and directly-
available resources from Commission technical assistance. In this
context, the funding from Interreg IV C and Urbact 2007-2013
can serve only as a catalyst for implementation in the main-
stream programmes. The main source of funding for the initia-
tives must be the mainstream programmes. Moreover, the level
taking into
of national co-financing needs to be defined,
account the limits imposed by the need to maintain budget
stability in the Member States;

(1) Cf. Commission Staff Working Document — SEC(2006) 1432

of 8.11.2006.

(2) See Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006 of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 5 July 2006 on the European Regional Development
Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1783/1999, Articles 4, 5 and 6.

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Implementing and participation procedures for the initiative

integrate particularly useful ideas for structural policy into the
main programmes under the fast-track scheme;

believes that the initiative must be organised so as to
21.
make it easy to identify best practices at regional
level, and
create simple systems for sharing these with other regions in the
EU. In short, the Regions For Economic Change initiative must
serve to leverage and catalyse good ideas and initiatives, as other
Community initiatives have done in the past;

22.
stresses the importance of demonstration and dissemina-
tion to ensure that the initiative is viable. To secure funding,
Regions For Economic Change must prove its worth by being
dynamic, showing that
in the best
projects being included in mainstream cohesion policy program-
ming;

it will genuinely result

23.
welcomes, in the context of the initiative's communica-
tion policy, the information provided by DG Regional Policy
during the COTER meeting of 31 January 2006 to the effect
that a member of the Committee of the Regions would sit on
the annual innovation awards adjudication committee provided
for under Regions For Economic Change;

24.
stresses that communication and dissemination are essen-
tial to publicise the initiative. The annual conferences planned
should focus on presentation of best practices and on the possi-
bility of replicating them in Europe's regions and cities. The
Committee of the Regions is ready to work together with the
Commission on this point, particularly as regards exchange of
information with the Lisbon Monitoring Platform. More infor-
mation on the initiative should be disseminated during the
preparation phase. Some of the reference documents — such as
the Staff Working Paper setting forth the proposed themes (3)
— are currently only available in English: the CoR proposes that
they be issued in the other Community languages as well;

the

three

welcomes

25.
conferences organised by the
Commission in connection with the Regions For Economic
Change initiative, and recommends that additional communica-
tion and dialogue initiatives to those already mentioned be
launched (real or virtual meeting points, conferences and
forums etc.), and, in particular, that communication, promotion
and dissemination measures be made part of a coordinated
communication plan which — projecting the measures over a
timespan of several years — will enable a coordination frame-
work to be established, to include the endeavours expected from
the Commission information units and other stakeholders, with
a special role for the Committee of the Regions, which will be
happy to provide the necessary details in this regard;

26.
suggests that additional funds be made available to the
managing authorities of Objective 3 programmes in order to
ensure that the initiative can enhance the territorial cooperation
networks' contribution to implementing the Lisbon strategy for
the benefit of the public,
in the framework of the European
Commission's Plan D (4);

27.
supports the European Commission's proposal to orga-
nise regular thematic conferences under this initiative and to

(3) Ibid.
(4) This is a reference to the plan launched by the European Commission in
2005 — Debate Europe, Democracy-Dialogue-Debate: The future of
Europe.

28.
is concerned about the timeframes necessary to launch
the initiative, which will only become fully operational in the
second half of 2007. The Commission does state its intention to
launch a number of fast-track actions now, using any resources
available under
still being implemented
(Interreg III C and the current ‘Urbact’ programme), so as to
make the new programmes operational sooner. In the light of
this, clarification of the overall timeframes laid down would be
useful;

the programmes

29.
suggests that a member of the Committee of the Regions
should sit on the Interreg IV C and Urbact 2007-2013
programmes' Monitoring Committees with consultative status,
to ensure proper, ongoing interaction and cooperation in the
operation of Regions For Economic Change and to acknowledge
that it is the Committee of the Regions' prerogative to represent
local and regional authorities at EU level;

30.
suggests that the institutions maintain regular dialogue
with the associations in which citizens are involved and with
civil society, thus boosting participatory democracy;

calls on the Commission to issue more information on
31.
the initiative's management procedures.
to
specify the procedures for cooperation between Commission
DGs and regions and cities, and between the Commission and
the Committee of the Regions;

is important

It

32.
calls for the Monitoring Committee to take the decisions
on the adoption of innovative operations under an operational
programme conducted in the context of a network involving the
region;

stresses that the aim of the initiative is to feed main-
33.
stream programming with the best of the ideas emanating from
networks; calls, therefore, for clarification of the process for
selecting the best practices and then monitoring them at the
review stage; proposes that, rather than the regions, cities and
other local authorities just volunteering contributions for selec-
tion, codified, simple, flexible procedures should be introduced
to enable them to submit suggestions to the Commission on
best practices of particular interest and potential value for the
setting-up or expansion of networks, within the themes esta-
blished in the initiative;

asks the Commission to provide clarification regarding
34.
the organisation and funding of
technical assistance for the
initiative too, as this is crucial for ensuring that best practices
are harnessed effectively; in particular, there is a need for metho-
dological support, in order to evaluate significant innovations
it
and identify those which can be transferred or developed;
therefore proposes that the Commission should assume this role
in cooperation with external evaluators
for each thematic
measure, subject to the decisions of the Monitoring Committee;

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35.
is concerned that the title given to the initiative might
not be wholly accurate and comprehensive. The CoR wonders
whether the title Regions For Economic Change is really the
most suitable, or whether it might create confusion with other
initiatives (such as Regions of Knowledge or the Lisbon Group).
While recognising that the umbrella term ‘regions’ has been
preferred to refer collectively to all local and regional levels, the
Committee believes that, for the purposes of communicative
‘Regions and Cities for Economic Change’ would have
impact,
been a better title for the initiative;

The Committee of the Regions' role of representation, cooperation and
support

proposes, on the basis of the above considerations and
39.
in view of the role and significance of Regions For Economic
Change, that,
in line with its institutional responsibilities, the
Committee of the Regions take on a role of representation,
cooperation and support which could prove decisive. In particu-
lar, the following elements (mentioned above) will enable it to
perform that role:

The Lisbon Monitoring Platform

36.
points out that the Committee of the Regions launched
the Lisbon Monitoring Platform, which it regards as an oper-
ating tool for local and regional authorities in order to give
prominence to their contribution to the Lisbon strategy and
increase ownership of the strategy locally. An interactive plat-
form has been operational since 2006. For
the moment,
100 regions and cities are taking part. The principal aim of the
platform is to help regions to keep pace with modernisation
trends in Europe and to move beyond a purely national
mindset. The platform is based on monitoring (assessment of
needs), comparative analysis (transparency at European level),
exchanges within working groups and interactive forums (on-
line exchange);

37.
calls on the Commission to ensure that proceedings are
guided by the need for maximum streamlining, given the poten-
tial
for complicating matters; recommends that synergy and
compatibility with regional policy be pursued. To this end, it
would be useful to find common ground between Regions For
Economic Change and the Committee of the Regions' Lisbon
Monitoring Platform;

suggests, in particular, simplifying, through more appro-
38.
priate and efficient arrangements,
interactions between the
initiative and the Lisbon Monitoring Platform, given the latter's
role as a forum for discussing and comparing the experiences of
European regions and cities. This would facilitate and fuel, in
terms of ideas and proposals, the selection process for the inter-
regional networks of the Regions For Economic Change initia-
tive, especially with regard to the fast track option. At the same
time, the platform should maintain and make the most of its
own role in monitoring governance and policy orientation in
the planning and implementation of the Lisbon strategy. To this
end, the Committee of the Regions is prepared to develop any
necessary institutional and operational
synergies with the
Commission and the Interreg IV C and Urbact 2007-2013
programmes;

Brussels, 7 June 2007.

a) involvement

in the drawing-up of

the new operational
programmes Interreg IV C and Urbact 2007-2013, using
appropriate arrangements for consultation and/or participa-
tion;

programmes

b) a genuine role in integrating the regional and local dimen-
sions with regard to the themes chosen when the general
thematic guidelines,
implementing procedures and direct
IV C and Urbact
(Interreg
financing
2007-2013) are defined; to this end, a constant exchange of
information with the programmes' managing authorities,
where appropriate inviting these authorities to regular hear-
ings at the Committee of the Regions; they could also be
asked to submit a report to the Committee at regular inter-
vals;

c) mutual

involvement of representatives of the Commission
and the Committee of the Regions respectively in events they
organise, for the purposes of sharing and exchanging infor-
mation on expertise gained in the context of Regions For
Economic Change;

d) participation, in a consultative capacity, in the implementa-
IV C and Urbact 2007-2013
the
tion of
programmes,
a member
proposed by the Committee of the Regions to each program-
me's Monitoring Committee;

Interreg
through the

appointment of

e) cooperation to promote in the future networks, possibly by
means of a preliminary study, the use of European Group-
ings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTCs), a new legal instru-
ment established to facilitate and give direction to territorial
cooperation;

f) active participation in demonstration and dissemination
activities, as part of a coordinated communication plan, in
accordance with procedures to be agreed when the Plan is
defined;

g) establishment of synergy and compatibility between the
Regions For Economic Change initiative and the CoR's
Lisbon Monitoring Platform;

recommends discussing and evaluating the progress and

40.
subject matter of the initiative at a joint annual conference.

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Michel DELEBARRE

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III. Procedure

Title

Reference(s)

Legal basis

Procedural basis

Communication from the Commission: Regions
Economic Change

For

COM(2006) 675 final

Optional referral, Article 265(1)

Date of Council referral/Date of Commission letter

8.11.2006

Date of Bureau/President's decision

9.1.2007

Commission responsible

Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy

Rapporteur

Analysis

Discussed in commission

Date adopted by commission

Alvaro Ancisi, Member of
Ravenna (IT/EPP)

the Municipal Council of

16.1.2007

16.3.2007

16.3.2007

Result of the vote in commission

Unanimously adopted

Date adopted in plenary

6-7.6.2007

Previous Committee opinions