COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS REGIONAL POLICY CONTRIBUTING TO  SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN EUROPE 2020
Date: 2011-01-26
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU policy, common strategy, economic and social cohesion, environmental protection, regional policy, social policy

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 26.1.2011 
COM(2011) 17 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS 

REGIONAL POLICY CONTRIBUTING TO  
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN EUROPE 2020 

SEC(2011) 92 final 

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1. 

INTRODUCTION 

This  Communication  sets  out  the  role  for  Regional  Policy  in  contributing  to  the 
implementation  of  the  Europe  2020  strategy1,  and  in  particular  to  the  flagship  initiative, 
'Resource  Efficient  Europe'.  The  European  Council  of  17  June  2010  stressed  the  need  for 
Cohesion  Policy  to  support  this  strategy  to  help  put  the  EU  economy  on  the  path  to 
sustainable and job-creating growth. Success in achieving Europe 2020 goals will in large part 
depend on decisions taken at local and regional level2. Regional Policy plays an essential role 
in driving the shift to investment in smart and sustainable growth through the actions it can 
support to tackle climate, energy and environmental issues.  

The  Community  Strategic  Guidelines3  on  Cohesion  Policy  were  adopted  in  2006.  This 
Communication  takes  into  account  recent  policy  developments  and  legislative  changes  to 
reinforce  the  sustainable  development  of  the  regions.  It  complements  the  recently  adopted 
Communication4 on Regional Policy and smart growth, boosting the policy contribution to the 
structural changes in the economy and to the delivery of the Europe 2020 strategy. Changes in 
the  investment  priorities  of  regional  policy5  have  to  take  place  in  a  context  of  redirecting 
general economic policy to the priorities outlined in Europe 2020. In other words, Regional 
funds should be used, where appropriate, to support structural reforms6.  

Given the current fiscal situation in the Union, and the substantial funds still available under 
the  current  Cohesion  Policy  2007-13  programming  period7,  this  Communication  calls  on 
Regional Policy stakeholders to act without delay, invest more in sustainable growth, and use 
funds more effectively. It recommends practical ways for regions to use the policy to develop 
a  resource  efficient,  low  carbon,  climate  resilient  competitive  economy,  including  examples 
of  good  practice  identified  in  the  accompanying  staff  working  document8.  The  Commission 
will  work  closely  with  national  and  regional  authorities  to  facilitate  the  implementation  of 
these recommendations.  

2. 

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND REGIONAL POLICY 

Approximately 30% of the total € 344 billi on Regional funding over 2007-2013 is available 
for activities with a particular impact on sustainable growth. By the end of 2009, 22% of this 
funding for sustainable growth had been allocated to specific projects compared to 27% for 
the total of Regional funding.  

1 
2 
3 
4 
5 

6 
7 
8 

COM (2010)2020 
European Parliament, 2009/2235(INI), 30 April 2010 
OJ L291/11 OF 21.10.2006 
COM(2010)553 
COM(2010)642 final, 'Conclusions of the fifth report on economic, social and territorial cohesion: the 
future of cohesion policy' 
COM(2010)700 final, 'The EU Budget review'  
COM(2010)110 
Details in SEC(2011) 92 

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Table 1: Cohesion Policy 2007-13 allocations contributing to sustainable growth 

DIRECT 
Water supply 
Waste water
Waste
Air quality
Nature protection
Climate change adaptation
Eco-innovation in SMEs

INDIR ECT
Rail
Urban transport
Other sustainable transport
Electricity 
Sustainable energy
Urban and rural regeneration 

TOTAL

Amount of 
adopted 
Operational 
Programs 

Amount allocated to 
selected operations 
by end 2009 

Bn €  ( roun ding)

Bn € 

45,5
8,1
13,9
7,0
1,0
5,2
7,8
2,5

59,5
23,9
7,8
4,6
0,6
9,0
13,6

105

(rou nding )
9,9
1,7
3,8
1,1
0,1
1,0
1,8
0,5

13,4
5,4
2,2
1,0
0,02
1,4
3,4

23,3

%

22%
21%
27%
16%
6%
19%
23%
20%

23%
23%
28%
22%
4%
15%
25%

22%  

Source: Member States Strategic Reports, September 2009 – January 2010. 

In  particular,  investments  for  energy-related  and  environmental  programmes  were  below 
average.  

At  the  start  of  this  programming  period,  energy  efficiency  and  renewable  energy  were  not 
recognised  as  the  priorities  they  are  today.  The  financial  crisis,  restricted  public  budgets, 
administrative bottlenecks and insufficient technical expertise in what are relatively new areas 
of activity for managing authorities have all contributed to delays in these fields.  

Chart 1: Percentage of uptake of the 2007-2013 Cohesion Policy allocations contributing 
to sustainable growth by Member States 

90,0%

80,0%

70,0%

60,0%

50,0%

40,0%

30,0%

20,0%

10,0%

0,0%

BE IE LU CY EE HU IT SE ES MT NL FI SI PT LT DK FR AT LV BG UK CZ SK DE RO PL GR

Cross-Border

Total 

Source: Member States Strategic Reports, September 2009 – January 2010. 

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The  Flagship  Initiative  on  a  'Resource  Efficient  Europe'  underlines  the  importance  of 
mobilising  Regional  Policy  funding9  in  a  consistent  funding  strategy  mobilising  national, 
public  and  private  funding.  Clear  national  strategies  will  be  a  prerequisite.  The  graph 
illustrates how Cohesion Policy has so far leveraged national funding for investments mostly 
in environmental infrastructure and rehabilitation. 

Chart 2: Total public expenditure in environmental protection as a share of GDP (2008) 

P
D
G

f
o

e
r
a
h
s

1,8%

1,6%

1,4%

1,2%

1,0%

0,8%

0,6%

0,4%

0,2%

0,0%

HU  EE 

BG 

MT 

LV  RO 

CZ 

SK  LT 

PL  SI 

PT 

GR 

CY 

ES 

IT 

FR 

DE 

UK 

BE  FI 

IE 

NL 

LU 

SE 

AT 

DK 

EU

NON COH MS
COH MS

EU cohe sion policy

National expendit ure

COH MS: Cohesion Member State - NON COH MS: Non Cohesion Member State 

Source: Eurostat, DG REGIO 

The following maps show that the current allocations of regional policy will help to tackle the 
identified gaps in sustainable resource management10 for several regions and Member States. 

9 
10 

See also CdR 223/2010 
Details in SEC(2011) 92 

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Map  1:  Situation  of  MS  on  'sustainable  use  of  resources'  and  planned  investments  of 
Cohesion Policy in 'sustainable use of resources' over 2007-13 

.

Scores in 'sustainable use of resources' 
Relative positions of MS: the higher the score, the better the situation 

Source: European Commission, DG ECFIN 

. 

Source: European Commission, DG REGIO 

Regional Policy has consistently co-financed the provision of environmental infrastructure for 
water  and  waste  management  helping  regions  meet  the  stringent  framework  set  out  in  EU 
directives.  This  has  also  been  an  opportunity  to  facilitate  improvements  in  competitiveness 
while preserving their environment and creating jobs.  

The  Commission  believes  that  within  the  current  programming  period  there  is  considerable 
scope  for  the  managing  authorities  to  deploy  available  resources  more  effectively.  In  the 
existing  Operational  Programmes  there  is  room  to  reconsider  the  priorities  for  projects  and 
launch new ones. The recommendations offered in this Communication are intended to serve 
as  a  guide  on  how  priorities  for  investment  can  be  best  selected  and  how  they  can  be  best 
managed to obtain maximum results in terms of sustainable growth. This advice draws on the 
good examples shown already by regions and cities.  

3. 

REINFORCING  REGIONAL  POLICY'S  CONTRIBUTION  TO  SUSTAINABLE  GROWTH  IN 
THE CURRENT PROGRAMMING PERIOD 

This Communication proposes a two-pillar approach to increase the contribution of Regional 
Policy to sustainable growth during the current programming period: 

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(1) 

(2) 

Investing  more  in  sustainable  growth:  encouraging  greater  strategic  focus  in 
investments  on  sustainable  growth  with  an  emphasis  on  resource  efficient  and  low-
carbon economy; and 

Investing  better  in  sustainable  growth:  improving  policy  delivery  mechanisms  by 
reinforcing  the  application  of  sustainable  development  principles  in  the  operational 
programmes.  

3.1. 

Pillar one: Investing more in sustainable growth  

To contribute to the sustainable growth objectives and targets of Europe 2020, three priorities 
have  been  identified:  a  low-carbon  economy,  ecosystem  services  and  biodiversity,  and  eco-
innovation.  

Transition  to  a  low-carbon  economy:  focus  on  investments  in  energy  efficiency, 
buildings, renewables and clean transport  

Over  the  recent  years  a  number  of  major  new  EU  policy  measures  have  been  adopted, 
including  the  2008  climate  and  energy  package,  its  technology  pillar  the  Strategic  Energy 
Technology Plan and the recast of the Energy Building Performance Directive.  

•  Regions and cities should seize the new opportunities in energy investments in buildings. 

Buildings account for 41% of energy consumption, making this a key area for investment11 to 
achieve  EU  2020  targets.  Such  investment  can  contribute  by  enhancing  resource  efficiency 
and creating local jobs. 

Amendments  to  the  European  Regional  Development  Fund  (ERDF)  Regulation12  have 
expanded its scope for sustainable energy investments in buildings. 

Whereas  Regional  Policy  has  traditionally  financed  energy  efficiency  investments  only  in 
public and commercial buildings, it is now possible to use these funds in the residential sector 
in all Member States. Up to 4% of the national ERDF allocations may now be used for energy 
investments  in  housing  that  supports  social  cohesion.  If  Member  States  decide  to  re-
programme  accordingly  a  potential  €8  billion  could  be  reallocated  during  the  current 
programmes.  

In addition, to encourage greater use of market instruments, another regulatory amendment13 
extended  the  use  of  financial  engineering  instruments  to  energy  efficiency  and  renewable 
energy in buildings, including existing housing. Managing authorities should quickly tap into 
these new opportunities bearing in mind the role that local authorities play in this investment 
area.  

•  Regions  and  cities  should  accelerate  investments  in  renewable  energies  and  energy 

efficiency, according to their local energy potential.  

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12 
13 

SEC(2008) 2865r  
Regulation (EC) No 397/2009 
Regulation (EU) No 832/2010 

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Achieving  the  EU  target  of  20%  of  renewables  in  final  energy  consumption  in  2020  could 
provide  additional  jobs,  many  of  them  close  to  where  these  investments  are  made.  The  job 
potential of energy efficiency is also considerable. 

Managing authorities should see renewables and energy efficiency as drivers of development, 
especially in rural and coastal areas, outermost regions and islands, tapping into their marine 
energy  potential.  Regional  Policy  can  also  assist  in  boosting  sustainable  energies  in  district 
heating  and  co-generation.  Equally  important  is  investment  in  TEN-E  and  local  smart 
distribution networks. 

•  Managing authorities should give priority to projects that enhance the resource efficiency 

of transport.  

In the transport sector, more must be done to deliver investments in clean public transport and 
decarbonisation.  In  line  with  the  latest  EU  recommendations14,  regions  and  cities  are 
encouraged to exploit fully existing EU allocations to support a shift to more efficient modes 
of transport. Clean urban  public transport, maximising the use of clean  and energy efficient 
vehicles and non-motorised transport are a priority, as is rail, where particular attention should 
be  given  to  speeding  up  the  implementation  of  the  €  19  billion  indicative  EU  allocation  to 
TEN-T rail priorities.  

In relation to the TEN-T, Regional Policy funds should focus more on the implementation of 
the  core  network  with  high  EU  added  value  aiming  at  removing  critical  bottlenecks,  in 
inter-modal  nodes  and  promoting 
particular  cross-border  sections,  at  connecting 
interoperability.  

Sustainable European Cities  

Up  to  75%  of  CO2  emissions  are  generated  in  cities15,  which  therefore  have  a  particularly 
important role to play in developing a low-carbon and resource efficient economy. Whether 
through sectoral projects, such as clean public transport and energy efficiency of buildings, or 
more holistic approaches, such as measures to address urban sprawl, it is essential that urban 
development planners consider how to use all the instruments available to foster sustainable 
growth. Good examples include:  

-  the  comprehensive  approach  to  sustainable  energy  investments  in  the  Barcelona  (ES) 
province through the Covenant of Mayors and the ELENA facility, 

- the support to energy investments in residential buildings in Lithuania, through the creation 
of a € 227 million JESSICA fund. 

Ecosystem  services:  focus  on  preserving  and  maximising  the  potential  of  the  natural 
environment  

The  EU  has  missed  its  2010  target  of  halting  biodiversity  decline.  To  step  up  efforts  the 
Member States agreed on a new target for 202016 which will underpin the forthcoming new 

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16 

COM(2009)279 final 
http://www.worldenergyoutlook.org/index.asp 
'To halt the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020, restore 
them in so far as feasible, while stepping up the EU contribution to averting global biodiversity loss' 

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EU  biodiversity  strategy.  At  international  level  the  EU  has  committed  to  the  results  of  the 
recent conference of the CBD17, including starting working on a resource mobilisation process 
to implement the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.  

•  Managing authorities should invest in natural capital as a source of economic development.  

Air, water, land, species, soil and seas are amongst the natural resources that are crucial to our 
well-being and also to our economic prospects. The term 'ecosystem services', coined in the 
United Nations 2004 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, refers to these naturally occurring 
benefits, and the losses that can be suffered if they are not preserved. Preserving ecosystems 
leads to sustainable jobs and socio-economic development. About 16.8% of European jobs are 
indirectly linked to natural assets18. For instance, the estimated value of insect pollination for 
European agriculture is € 22 billion per year 19.  

•  Managing authorities should use Regional Policy funding for natural risk prevention as an 

element of preservation of natural resources and adaptation to climate change.  

Risk  prevention  can  be  an  efficient  investment  since  the  costs  of  preventive  measures  are 
many  times  less  than  the  potential  costs  of  rehabilitation.  Well  designed  risk  prevention 
projects  can  preserve  ecosystem-services,  such  as  water  quality  and  quantity  and  benefit 
biodiversity,  agriculture  and  coastal  zones.  By  strengthening  nature's  buffer  role  it  also 
reinforces adaptation to climate change which will make natural disasters more frequent and 
severe. 

•  Managing authorities should prioritise "green infrastructure".  

"Green  infrastructure"  refers  to  forests,  rivers,  coastal  zones,  parks,  eco-corridors  and  other 
natural or semi-natural features which constitute key elements for the provision of ecosystem 
services. Developing green infrastructure is key to maintaining a sustainable environment in 
which our economy and society can prosper. In particular it helps to adapt to climate change 
and  contributes  to  the  creation  and  proper  management  of  ecological  networks.  Thus, 
managing  authorities  should  ensure  that  the  impact  on  natural  areas  and  land  use  is  fully 
examined in their appraisal of all infrastructural projects. The use of appropriate instruments 
such  as  integrated  coastal  and  river  basin  management  should  be  reinforced  in  particular 
where Natura 2000 areas are likely to be affected. 

Towards integrated management of ecosystem services  

•  Restoring  flood  plains  to  adapt  to  climate  change  while  preserving  other  valuable 

ecosystems services such as clean water availability (HU). 

•  Developing green infrastructures such as eco-corridors to ensure the functioning of Natura 

2000 networks (PL). 

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18 
19 

Tenth  meeting  of  the  Conference  of  the  Parties  to  the  Convention  on  Biological  Diversity  (CBD 
COP10), Nagoya, October 2010 
TEEB: 'The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity': 'TEEB for Local and Regional Policy Makers' 
Gallai et al. 2009 

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Eco-innovation: 
technology  

focus  on  mobilising 

innovation  partnerships  and 

information 

Eco-innovation is an essential tool in the pursuit of resource efficiency, competitiveness and 
job creation. 

•  Managing authorities should give greater support to eco-innovation. 

Eco-innovation can bring improved resource efficiency and new jobs in all economic sectors. 
For  instance  the  eco-industry  is  now  one  of  Europe's  biggest  industrial  sectors  employing 
around 3.4 million people. In recent years it has grown by around 8% annually and 600,000 
additional jobs were created between 2004-0820. 

•  Managing  authorities  should  support  clusters  in  the  green  technology  field  through 

partnerships with enterprises. 

The  geographical  concentration  of  interdependent  groups  of  firms,  research  institutions  and 
other  innovation  stakeholders,  often  referred  to  as  "clusters"  are  important  regional  assets. 
Managing  authorities  are  invited  to  support  environmental  and  energy  clusters  based  on 
partnerships  amongst  public-private  players  as  a  means  to  accelerate  investments  in  eco-
innovation. 

•  Managing authorities should use Regional funding to promote Information Communication 

and Technology (ICT) for the green economy. 

Networked  ICT  infrastructure21,  along  with  innovative  services  and  applications  are  a  key 
enabler  for  the  deployment  of  green  technologies  and  eco-innovation.  Therefore  the 
respective investments should be coordinated and leveraged to be mutually beneficial. Smart 
electricity grids, renewable energies and intelligent transport systems are examples where ICT 
brings  significant  added-value  and  supports  emission  reductions  while  offering  new  market 
opportunities for eco-innovations.  

Regions tapping into the potential of green technologies and eco-innovations  

•  Developing a cross-cutting strategy to foster eco-innovation in regional clusters (AT). 

•  Investing in a comprehensive business support programme to help SMEs improve resource 

efficiency (UK). 

Investing  in  human  capital  and  ensuring  that  people  have  the  right  skills  will  be  key  to 
building a resource efficiency society. The European Social Fund can provide help to unlock 
the skills, creativity, entrepreneurship and capacity of the workforce to innovate, in line with 
the Europe 2020 flagship initiative "An Agenda for new skills and jobs".  

It is essential that Regional Policy actions are designed in synergy with other EU policies in 
all  the  above  fields.  Managing  authorities  are  strongly  encouraged  to  draw  on  the 

20 

21 

"The  most  competitive  industries  are  the  most  resource  efficient  and  the  other  way  round"  in  study 
funded by the European Commission, Project ENV.G.1/ETU/2007/0041 
COM(2010) 245 final/2, the 'Digital Agenda for Europe' underlines a range of actions in this respect 

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complementary support offered by the Rural Development policy, the LIFE+ programme, the 
7th R&D Framework Programme and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme. 

3.2. 

Pillar two: Investing better  

Mainstreaming  sustainable  development  principles22  in  the  implementation  of  the  Regional 
fund's programmes will enhance their impacts on the sustainability of the regions, without the 
need for other mitigating measures or instruments. 

Integrating sustainability throughout the project life-cycle 

•  Sustainable  Development  considerations  have  to  be  an  integral  part  of  every  plan  from 

design to delivery and monitoring. 

While  well  established  as  a  concept  in  the  minds  of  most  policy-makers  and  programme 
managers,  sustainable  development  is  not  sufficiently  mainstreamed  into  the  conception, 
implementation and evaluation of all actions. Consistent attention throughout the project life-
cycle is key to improving the effectiveness of regional funds23. Managing authorities should 
also  take  a  longer-term  perspective  when  ‘life-cycle’  costs  of  alternative  methods  of 
investment  are  compared,  for  example  by  including  the  preservation  of  ecosystems  and 
biodiversity in their calculations. 

•  Regions and cities should make much more use of green public procurement.  

Green public procurement (GPP) can improve the competitiveness of European suppliers of 
goods and services. European Public Procurement directives allow public authorities to take 
climate, environmental and social considerations into account in their purchasing procedures. 
A  range  of  techniques  and  methods  are  already  available24  to  encourage  the  use  of  GPP. 
Regional Policy can help tackle the challenge of training and informing officials in charge of 
public purchasing at all levels of local and regional authorities. 

•  Establishing proper indicators for monitoring and evaluation. 

Eurostat has developed a set of sustainable development indicators that can help national and 
regional  authorities  establish  their  own  sustainable  development  scoreboards.  Through  its 
technical  assistance  Regional  Policy  can  support  the  development  of  evaluation  and 
monitoring  tools25  to  help  policy  makers  decide  on  the  types  of  investments  that  can  best 
contribute to the reduction of the CO2 emissions of the programmes. 

22 

23 
24 
25 

The  Brundtland  Commission  (1987)  defined  it  as  meeting  the  needs  of  current  generations  without 
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs 
European Court of Auditors, Special Report No 3/2009  
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/gpp/index_en.htm  
See carbon budgeting tool 'NECATER' (FR) as good practice example in SEC(2011) 92  

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Good practice in life cycle project design 

•  Developing a specific environmental guide to support project promoters in preparing and 

selecting projects (SE);  

•  Promoting  Green  Public  Procurement  in  the  Hradec  Králové  region  (CZ)  with  a 

competition of towns and other institutions on good practices;  

•  Defining  concrete  climate  change,  biodiversity  and  desertification  indicators  to  monitor 

progress (BG) 

Checking investments against climate resilience and resource efficiency  

•  Managing authorities should screen operational programmes and projects for their climate 

resilience. 

Screening programmes and projects not only for their environmental impact, but their likely 
vulnerability  in  the  face  of  climate  change  is  an  important  part  of  increasing  a  region's 
adaptive  capacity.  The  White  Paper  on  adaptation  to  climate  change  encourages  regions  to 
develop  ‘Regional  Adaptation  Strategies'  by  2012.  Member  States  and  regions  should  use 
current regional policy funds to finance these new strategies and their implementation.  

•  Managing  authorities  should  steer  their  investments  towards  the  most  resource  efficient 

options. 

When investing in major environmental infrastructures full consideration should be given to 
options according to the so-called waste and water hierarchies embodied in EU legislation26. 
This means that preference should be given first to waste prevention, then reuse, followed by 
recycling,  recovery  such  as  energy  recovery.  Disposal  is  the  option  of  last  resort.  Waste 
management plans have to give a clear priority to waste prevention and recycling over other 
options.  

For water, managing authorities should give priority to projects on water  savings,  increased 
efficiency  in  water  utilisation,  water  pricing  policy  or  cost-effective  measures  on  demand 
management.  Concrete  examples  are  reducing  leakages  in  pipes,  installing  rain-water 
collectors or re-use of recycled water.  

These  methodological  approaches  can  be  extended  to  other  areas,  assessing  the  investment 
options in terms of resource efficiency. 

Good  practice  in  screening  operational  programmes  in  terms  of  climate  resilience  and 
resource efficiency 

•  Climate screening of a project for the regeneration of a coastal area leading to a decision to 

displace a coastal road (FR);  

•  Integration  of  recycling,  composting  and  a  biogas  power  plant  in  the  municipal  waste 

management plant in Sant'Antnin (MT). 

. 

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Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC and Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC 

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Better governance 

Regional  Policy  is  uniquely  placed  to  contribute  to  the  delivery  of  the  EU’s  sustainable 
growth  objectives  as  a  'place-based  policy'  which  promotes  multi-level  governance  and 
public-private partnerships within integrated strategies. 

•  The  public  administration  and  policy  makers  in  Member  States  need  to  insert  the 

objectives of sustainable growth in the general framework of policy making. 

Europe 2020's objectives will be achieved more effectively if use of regional policy funds is 
part  of  a  broader  policy  framework  providing  the  necessary  legal  certainty  and  appropriate 
incentives. In practice this means that the programmes and projects should be accompanied by 
changes in the regulatory and administrative framework. 

•  Managing  authorities  need  to  broaden  partnerships  and  reinforce  the  strategic  content  of 

the monitoring committee of programmes. 

Better  governance  is  essential  to  achieve  sustainability  as  confirmed  in  recent  ex-post 
evaluations  of  the  2000-2006  cohesion  policy.  It  is  a  crucial  building  block  for  creating 
ownership  and  consensus  over  a  common  vision  among  the  stakeholders  that  drive  the 
strategy  and  programme  implementation.  The  involvement  of  socio-economic  partners  and 
civil  society  needs  to  start  early  and  be  carried  on  during  the  whole  programming  cycle. 
Monitoring committees need to revise periodically the progress in meeting the agreed strategy 
and  programmes  objectives,  as  well  as  the  possible  need  for  any  major  reorientation. 
Developing  nation  wide  thematic  networks  with  the  relevant  authorities  can  also  boost  the 
sustainability of programmes. 

Good practices in governance strengthening sustainability 

•  Networks of national and regional environmental authorities (ES, IT, PL, UK, DE, HE) in 

link with the management of Structural and Cohesion Funds; 

•  Develop capacities of non governmental organisations to act as policy partners (SI). 

•  Encouraging  greater  leverage  in  the  use  of  EU  financing  and  exploring  innovative 

approaches to financing. 

With the economic crisis, Member States may no longer have the possibility of relying solely 
on public sector funding. Private companies can and should become more involved such as, 
for  example,  in  the  design,  building  and  operation  of  infrastructures.  The  application  of  the 
'polluter  pays'  principle  needs  to  be  stepped  up  and  seen  as  a  crucial  element  in  project 
sustainability.  
As  a  further  step,  financial  engineering  instruments  should  be  considered  to  achieve  better 
leverage of the limited resources available. Much greater use should be made within regional 
policy  of  JEREMIE  and  JESSICA  as  well  as  learning  from  other  instruments  such  as  Risk-
Sharing Finance Facility used in the EU framework research programmes. 

•  Reaping the full benefits of action across borders. 

Regions should invest in sustainable growth through the integration of policies affecting EU 
territories  and  seas,  especially  coastal  zones,  forests  and  river  basins  with  high  biodiversity 

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potential.  Co-operation  between  Member  States  and  regions  on  coherent  sets  of  actions  and 
within specific territorial or maritime areas, such as sea basins, would bring additional value 
added.  
In particular, managing authorities should take full advantage of the opportunities offered by 
cross-border,  interregional  and  transnational  co-operation  in  line  with  the  new  territorial 
cohesion objective introduced by the Lisbon Treaty. The Baltic Sea and the Danube Strategies 
illustrate the value of action at macro regional level. 

4. 

POLICY CONCLUSIONS 

While major changes in the way Regional Policy operates can only be envisaged in the next 
multiannual financial framework, this Communication sets out how managing authorities can 
realign current Regional Policy programmes to Europe 2020 sustainable growth objectives. It 
is a call to national, regional and local authorities, to take action now, and to make better use 
of the available funds to promote sustainable growth in every European region. These actions 
should be seen in the context of and are complementary to the "Resource Efficient Europe" 
flagship initiative and the climate and energy targets of Europe 202027. 

27 

European Council Conclusions of 17.06.2010 

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Annex  1  -  Actions  to  attain  the  Europe  2020  sustainable  growth  objectives  through 
Regional Policy and its funding.  

Member States and regions are encouraged:  

•  To  realign  expenditure  within  existing  programmes  priorities  to  boost  the  transition  to 
resource  efficient  and  low-carbon  economy  and  examine  the  need  for  programme 
modifications, drawing on complementary support offered by Rural Development Policy, 
the  LIFE+  programme,  7th  R&D  Framework  Programme  and  the  Competitiveness  and 
Innovation Programme as regards: 

•  Energy efficiency, renewable energy and de-carbonising transport; 

•  Ecosystem services, in particular protection of biodiversity, adaptation to climate 

change and natural disaster prevention; 

•  Eco-innovation support through clusters and ICT services and applications.  

•  To  ensure  the  systemic  integration  of  the  sustainability  principles  in  each  step  of  the 

project life-cycle with particular attention to increase resource efficiency; 

•  To address climate change in their territorial planning, including local, regional and macro-
regional strategies involving supranational areas linked to sea or river basins in particular. 

•  To  carry  out  specific  evaluations  and  to  include  a  dedicated  section  within  the  Annual 
Implementation  Reports  of  their  Operational  Programmes  to  assess  the  extent  to  which 
this 
Regional  Policy  supported  programmes  match 
Communication; 

the  guidelines  set  out 

in 

•  To  consider,  in  the  context  of  the  National  Reform  Programmes,  the  flexibility  being 
offered  within  the  Operational  Programmes  to  reorient  regional  policy  funding  towards 
Europe 2020 priorities; 

•  To begin preparation for the next generation of programmes in terms of: 

•  A  greater  thematic  focus  on  green  investment  and  a  shift  to  a  low  carbon  and 
climate  resilient  economy  while  ensuring  an  integrated  approach  to  sustainable 
urban  and/or  rural  development,  and  fully  taking  into  account  the  territorial 
context and opportunities; 

•  Capacity  building,  using  technical  assistance  budgets,  to  involve  local,  regional 
and NGO actors in regional climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies. 

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Annex  2  -  Actions  to  attain  the  Europe  2020  sustainable  growth  objectives  through 
Regional Policy and its funding.  

The  Commission  commits  to  swift  consideration  and  support  to  any  request  for 
reprogramming for funding towards Europe 2020 priorities and will work: 

•  With  International  and  national  financial  institutions  to  leverage  resources  and,  as 
appropriate, maximise the use of financial instruments, including a more intensive use of 
JEREMIE  and  JESSICA.  There  will  be  a  particular  focus  on  sustainable  energy  in 
residential buildings to build on the recent amendments to Structural Funds regulations; 

•  With  the  relevant  authorities  in  the  Member  States  and  regions  to  develop  targeted  pilot 

initiatives and seminars to deploy proposals outlined in this Communication; 

•  To  assist  national  and  regional  authorities  with  thematic  expertise  in  the  implementation 

and monitoring of programmes; 

•  To  mobilise  the  available  resources  in  existing  Operational  programmes  to  build  up 
institutional  capacity  in  order  to  ensure  the  application  of  the  sustainable  development 
principles, and unblock bottlenecks, especially with JASPERS;  

•  To further assist Member States in mobilising the available Technical Assistance of their 
programmes for boosting regional sustainable growth and to facilitate at all administrative 
levels the preparation of the pipeline of projects; 

•  To  identify  and  encourage  further  exchange  of  good  practice  between  Member  States  in 
areas  related  to  sustainable  growth  through  initiatives  such  as  Regions  for  Economic 
Change or ESPON. 

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