COMMITTEE ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
REPORT ON THE DELEGATION TO IRELAND 26-28 MARCH 2014 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summary...... 4
Programme...... 5
Wednesday, 26 March 2014 - Dublin and Waterford...... 10
Thursday, 27 March 2014 – Waterford and Kilkenny...... 17
Friday, 28 March 2014 – Waterford ...... 23
Concluding remarks ...... 25
Media Coverage...... 26
ANNEXES...... 27
3 Summary
Subject Delegation visit to Ireland ( Dublin, Waterford and Kilkenny)
Main objective: - Get on ground knowledge on projects and programmes implemented with the support by the European Structural and Investment Funds; - Meet local and regional authorities responsible for the implementation of the Funds, discuss the Irish experience with the ESIF and in particular the phasing out of the current period and the preparedness of the country for the future programming period 2014- 2020;
- Witness the positive effects of on-going and completed projects aimed at growth & jobs and projects and programmes aiming at cross- Objectives border territorial cooperation;
- Get a first-hand knowledge on the preparations for the programming for 2014-2020 and in particular to evaluate how the partnership agreement translates to the national and regional levels the priorities of the new Cohesion Policy.
- The delegation would also look on the opportunities offered by the EU co-funded programmes to fight economic recession, create jobs and emerge from recession;
26-28 Mars 2014
Places Ireland - Dublin; Waterford and Kilkenny
The delegation consists of 5 Members and substitute Members of the Participants Committee on Regional Development (Delegations Members and Accompanying Members) (see annexe).
The list of participants is attached in the annexe.
4 Programme
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
COMMITTEE ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Delegation to Ireland 26 - 28 March 2014
PROGRAMME1
Wednesday 26 March 2014 – Dublin
Individual arrival of the Members and the Staff to Dublin
11.30-12.00 Bus transfer from Dublin Airport to Government buildings
12.15-13.15 Meeting with Mr Brendan Howlin TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform with participation of Mr Brian Hayes, Minister of State for Public Service Reform and the Office of Public Works
Venue : Department of Public Expenditure & Reform Government Buildings South Block, Merrion Street Dublin 2
13.15-14.15 Working lunch with Mr Ciarán Lynch TD, the Chairman of Committee on Finance Public Expenditure and Reform and other Members of the Parliamentary Committee
Venue : Leinster House Kildare Street Dublin
14.15-17.00 Bus transfer to Waterford City and check in at hotel
The Hotel chosen for the delegation:
Tower Hotel The Mall, Waterford, Ireland T: +353 (0)51 862300 | E: [email protected]
5 http://www.towerhotelwaterford.com/
18.00-19.30 Mayoral Reception at Waterford City Hall with Cllr John Cummins - Mayor of Waterford
Venue : City Hall, The Mall, Waterford Tel : 051-309900 Fax : 051-870813 [email protected]
20.00-22.00 Dinner hosted by Mr Ciarán Cullen, Waterford County Enterprise Board, joined by Student Enterprise Europe. 44 enterprise programme students from Norway & Sweden
Venue: Waterford City Viking Triangle The Mall Waterford City Waterford
22.00-22.30 Bus transfer to hotel
Thursday 27 March 2014 – Waterford
09.00 The delegation meets in the hotel lobby
9.00-9.15 Bus transfer from the hotel to Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT)
Venue: ArcLabs Research & Innovation Building WIT, West Campus Carriganore Co. Waterford t: +353 51 30 2000 e: [email protected]
9.15-11.30 Meeting with Dr Ruaidhrí Neavyn, the President of Waterford Institute of Technology, Dr Willie Donnelly, the Head of Research & Innovation and other colleagues
Topics: Tour of the facility and meeting with staff/partners implementing EU funded projects
11.30-12.30 Meeting with Mr Pat Colgan, Executive Director of Special European Union Programme Body (SEUPB) managing authority for PEACE III and Interreg IVA Programmes
Topics: 1) Overview of cross border programmes (PEACE & Interreg)
6 2) "B.R.I.C" (Peace) and "Tellus Border"(Interreg) BRIC Kerry McIvor, Project Co-ordinator Jonathan Walmsley RDC Communications (non-speaking role) Mary Montague TIDES Director Laura Couser TIDES Operations
Tellus Border Ray Scanlon from GSI
Venue: Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) Main Campus Cork Road, Waterford City Co. Waterford, Ireland t: +353 51 30 2000 e: [email protected]
12.30-13.30 Working lunch with Dr Ruaidhrí Neavyn, President Waterford Institute of Technology and Dr Willie Donnelly, the Head of Research & Innovation with participation of Mr Pat Colgan
Venue: Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) Main Campus Cork Road, Waterford City Co. Waterford, Ireland t: +353 51 30 2000 e: [email protected]
13.30-14.30 Bus Transfer to House of Waterford Crystal and Tour of Facilities
Venue: House of Waterford Crystal 28 The Mall, Waterford, Ireland
14.30-16:30 Meeting with Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly (Mr Stephen Blair, Director) and Border Midland and Western Regional Assembly (Mr Kieran Moylan, Assistant Director)
Topics: Discussion on operational programmes, EU co-financing and future perspectives
Venue: Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly Assembly House O'Connell Street Waterford, Ireland T. + 353 (0) 51 860700
16.30-17.15 Bus transfer to Glanbia Ingredients Ireland Limited (GIIL) – Ireland’s largest dairy processor. An example of locally led global company.
Venue: Ballyconra, Ballyragget
7 Co. Kilkenny, Ireland T.:+353 56 883 3600
17.15-18.30 Meeting with Senior Management of GIIL and Chairman of GIIL Board Mr Liam Herlihy
Topics:
- Overview of GIIL; EU funding and interactions; Locally led multinational company.
Venue: Ballyconra, Ballyragget Co. Kilkenny, Ireland T.:+353 56 883 3600
18.30-19.00 Visit Cheese Plant Viewing Area
Venue: Ballyconra, Ballyragget Co. Kilkenny, Ireland T.:+353 56 883 3600
19.00-19.30 Meeting with Mr Joe Crockett, County Manager and CEO Kilkenny County Council
Venue: Ballyconra, Ballyragget Co. Kilkenny, Ireland T.:+353 56 883 3600
20.15-21.30 Informal dinner hosted by Glanbia Ingredients Ireland Limited
Venue: Lady Helen Restaurant, Mount Juliet Hotel Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny
21.30-22.15 Bus transfer to the hotel
Friday 28 March 2013
09.00 The delegation meets at the entrance of the hotel (check out)
09.15-11.00 Breakfast meeting hosted by Waterford Chamber of Commerce
Joined by:
8 Flahavans (An ERDF beneficiary) Barron's Bakery (Waterford Blaa´s) South Eastern Regional Assembly. (SERA) ERDF managing authority IDA South East - With presentation/ Q&A with Ms Michelle McHugh, EEN Manager
Venue: The Tower Hotel The Mall, Waterford, Ireland
11.30-12.15 Press conference
Venue: The Tower Hotel The Mall, Waterford, Ireland
12.30-15.00 Bus transfer to Dublin Airport
End of the official program of the Delegation
1 Please note that the Committee delegations shall consist solely of full or substitute Members of the Committee, appointed by the Committee, assisted only by political group secretariats, a secretariat from Parliament's services and an interpretation service.
Only Members who are officially part of the delegation shall have the right to speak at official meetings. In principle, they shall put forward Parliament's official position on the matter under discussion. If Members outline a personal standpoint or a standpoint of their group, they shall indicate it clearly. On the Chair's authority, the Secretariat can take the floor (when necessary) in procedural issues or pertinent clarifications.
9 Wednesday, 26 March 2014 - Dublin and Waterford
12.15-13.15 Meeting with Mr Brendan Howlin TD, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform with participation of Mr Brian Hayes, Minister of State for Public Service Reform and the Office of Public Works
Minister Howlin's ministry is in charge of the general coordination of the ESIF and also deals with the PEACE programme and the European Territorial Cooperation programmes in Ireland.
Minister Hayes's ministry also deals with EU funds but in a more indirect way. His portfolio is more centred on public works and administrative reform. Both Ministers shared with the committee their experience from the work with Funds. A shared opinion was that Ireland has greatly benefited from the use of the funds especially for key sectors to the economy such as education, infrastructure and public services. Ireland has had a long history of fund absorption and used to be one of the the biggest beneficiaries back in the 70s and early 80s.
The Ministers gave a general account of the work with the Fund from a historic perspective, but also a hint on what is under negotiations with the Commission for the next programming period.
Overview of 2007-2013 ERDF implementation in Ireland
Since accession to the EU in 1973, Ireland has been net beneficiary from the Union budget to the tune of €42 billion. Structural and Cohesion Funds made a substantial and acknowledged contribution to the emergence of the "Celtic Tiger" economy over the past 20 years. For 2007-2013, Ireland is eligible for Structural Funds support under the "Regional Competitiveness and Employment" Objective. The total Structural Fund allocation for 2007-2013 totals €751 million split equally between ERDF (two regional programmes) and ESF (one national programme). Ireland's allocation is much lower than that for the previous funding periods when Ireland qualified for Objective 1 funding. Ireland is divided into a "phasing-in" Border, Midland and Western (BMW) region, that receives 61 % of the Community allocation, and the Southern and Eastern (S+E) region. 90 % of the "phasing-in" investment was front loaded to the first four years of the programme.
Regional ERDF breakdown 2007-2013
10 Regional split Community National Total Funding Counterpart Border, Midlands & Western 228,758,839 228,758,839 457,517,678 Region (BMW) Southern & Eastern Region 146,603,534 220,396,466 367,000,000 (S&E) 375,362,373 449,155,305 824,517,678
It is worth noting that Ireland receives an identical funding allocation (i.e.EURO 375,362,373) for its national ESF programme.
Ireland benefits from an estimated further € 150 million from cross-border and territorial co-operation including allocations under the PEACE III programme. ERDF operations typically focus on niche investment opportunities in the area of RTD and small business support. Further support has been provided for the extension of broadband availability in rural and peripheral areas. A number of small sustainable urban development projects have also been supported. The BMW programme has also invested in road infrastructure including motorway and by-pass projects.
Progress in the implementation of the Programmes
Programme implementation across ERDF is largely satisfactory. Reported expenditures (not all of these certified as yet) under the ERDF programmes will mop up all of the ERDF contributions foreseen. Certified expenditure amounts to 65% of the total national ERDF allocation. Similarly good absorption is reported for the cross-border and territorial co-operation programme.
Monitoring information confirms that the programme has assisted in the creation of 176 enterprises in ERDF-funded incubation centres. 7000 micro-enterprises have received business support (financial and/or in-kind) through the countrywide network of County/City Enterprise Boards. The monitoring information also suggests the creation of approximately 4000 jobs in the micro-enterprise sector since 2007 notwithstanding difficult economic conditions.
Response to the economic crisis In 2009 the co-financing rate for the Border, Midland and Western (BMW) ERDF programme was increased from 40% to 50%. The programme was also modified in order to allow the introduction of heavy duty infrastructure investment including 3 major projects: the Tullamore by-pass (in the Midland area), the stretch of motorway connecting Athlone and Ballinasloe (Western area) and a number of rail carriages serving the BMW as a whole.
11 Ireland has, since 2011, benefited from accelerated cash-flow provisions under the BMW ERDF programme. On the basis of the 2014-2020 regulatory framework governing cohesion policy, these arrangements will remain in place until June 2016. In relation to other EU funded programmes, it is worth noting that Ireland has taken additional action in order to relieve match-funding constraints. Thus the ESF (national) OP was twice modified: In 2009, the original focus of upgrading skills of the employed was replaced by supporting the unemployed. In March 2012, the ESF intervention rate was increased to 50 %, the regulatory maximum.
In a similar vein, in March 2012, the EAFRD contribution rates for two RDP axes were increased from 50% and 55 % to 85 % in order to alleviate pressures on the national budget.
In parallel with the Commission's "Youth Opportunities Initiative" presented in December 2011, the Irish authorities redirected €25 million ESF to the integrated Youthreach programme which provides education, training and work experience to young people who have left school early without any qualification or vocational training. This will ensure that 3,700 training places for early school leavers are maintained until end 2013.
State of preparation of 2014-2020 ESIF programmes
With the adoption of the Cohesion Policy regulatory framework on 17 December 2013, Ireland is now obliged to submit its Partnership Agreement by 22 April 2014. Programmes are to be submitted within 3 months of submission of the Partnership Agreement.
Ireland has acknowledged delays in the overall programming effort for European Structural and Investment Funds on account of its Council Presidency during the first half of 2013.
Ireland submitted a draft Partnership Agreement in November 2013. The Commission services duly forwarded its informal observations in December 2013. The informal observations highlighted the extremely general and vague nature of the approach, generally devoid of strategic direction. Thus the PA required a more detailed analysis of disparities, development needs and growth potentials.
The informal observations requested reassurance that the basic principles of partnership as reflected in the recently adopted Code of Conduct have been /will be properly applied as regards the preparatory phase of Ireland ESIF programmes and their future implementation.
In the absence of any information on budgetary allocations across funds and thematic objectives, the draft Partnership Agreement failed to describe the principal results
12 likely to derive from ESIF programmes, this (in turn) raising general concern in relation to the adequacy of Ireland's intervention logic.
In terms of sustainable urban development, the Ireland authorities have not so far provided any information on the city(ies) to be selected for the focussing of investment, the governance arrangements attaching thereto and the corresponding strategic underpinning by way of integrated actions. In terms of integrated territorial investment, the draft Partnership Agreement suggests that a Greater Dublin area – with its own Regional Assembly – will be the focus of such investment. The implications for strategic approaches involving all ESIF funds have not been described in detail. In terms of ex ante conditionalities, the informal observations requested clarity on whether or not the general and relevant thematic ex-ante conditionalities are fulfilled and, in the case of non-fulfilment, how gaps would be addressed and deadlines for necessary remedial actions established.
On the basis of information available, REGIO services remainof the view that the ex ante conditionality relating to Smart Specialisation Strategy remains unfulfilled. Commission services acknowledge that the Irish authorities have adopted priority research areas and action plans in 2013. As matters stand, however, there remains concern that the prioritisation exercise and subsequently adopted action plans are insufficiently focussed, that they broadly favour a "business as usual" agenda and that private sector actors have been insufficiently involved in their elaboration and monitoring.
In a nutshell, therefore, the key issues identified (non-exhaustively) in the Commission's informal observations include:
The need for a strategic approach taking account of EU2020 targets and placing programming within a National Reform Programme context;
The requirement for clear and substantiated analysis of national/territorial development needs as a key ingredient in establishing the intervention logic for programmes and the elaboration of appropriate monitoring and performance frameworks including the principal results expected to be achieved through ESIF investment;
The need for financial allocations to be specified for each regional/national programme and for each thematic objective across all ESIF funds;
The requirement for a clear description of the partnership process, how this has been organised and how partnership views have been taken into account in the Partnership Agreement/ Programmes preparation process;
13 The requirement for Ireland's self-assessment of the degree to which relevant ex ante conditionalities specified in the regulatory framework are met or not. To the extent that they are not satisfied, the Irish authorities will need to establish an action plan designed to secure their fulfilment by 31 December 2016 at the latest
Likely contents of ERDF regional programmes
support for research and technological development with a focus on the commercialisation of applied research. Any such support is conditional upon Ireland fulfilling the smart specialisation strategy ex ante conditionality further funds for the upgrading of Ireland's broadband provision in line with the strategy laid down in "Developing a Connected Society" – with faster broadband speeds across the country a key priority; continue support for Ireland's micro-enterprise sector through the national network of City/County Enterprise Boards – likely to be converted into Local Enterprise Offices in the near future; focus on energy efficiency through targeted investment seeking to improve the energy efficiency of public buildings and social housing. This is likely to involve the creation of a financial instrument (note that a feasibility study was conducted in collaboration with the European Investment Bank in 2012/2013; Ireland is currently examining the regulatory provisions relating to the SME Initiative. Bilateral meetings are likely to take place shortly between the Ireland authorities and Commission/EIB counterparts with a view to clarifying the alternative actions possible under the Initiative and the possible scope for Ireland's involvement.
13.15-14.15 Working lunch with Mr Ciarán Lynch TD, the Chairman of Committee on Finance Public Expenditure and Reform and other Members of the Parliamentary Committee
A meeting was also organised with the Chairman of the Committee on Finance Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr Ciaran Lynch (Labour) and other Members of the Parliamentary Committee.
The MEPs discussed with their counterparts the current situation in Ireland and the aftermath of the crisis in relation to the EU Funds absorption. A shared view of the TD's (members of the Irish lower chamber) was that unemployment rates were still too high compared with the once before the crisis. In this context, they have all underlined the importance of the good use of the ESIF to support job creation and to
14 accompany unemployed people to pre-qualify and acquire new skills which will, in the end, allow them to find new jobs.
Mr Lynch and his colleagues underlined that Ireland had a great advantage - the youngest workforce in the EU! IN their opinion this was a great advantage as it gives more flexibility and makes them more adaptable to the market.
It was underlined that innovation will play an important role in the Future programming period. Ireland is establishing a network of institutes of technologies throughout the country to act as catalysers of innovation and as centres of excellence in research and establishing links between academia and businesses.
A particular problem that was raised amongst the members of the Irish parliament was the importance of the development and widespread of 4G broadband internet network. In their opinion this was a key element for business development in remote localities in the field of services and especially ICTs.
18.00-19.30 Mayoral Reception at Waterford City Hall with Cllr John Cummins - Mayor of Waterford
The delegation was received by the youngest Mayor in the history of the city founded in 902, Mr John Cummins. The discussion was focused on the economic situation of Waterford, the use of the Funds in the region and the perspectives for the future. Mayor Cummins has a plan to attract economic activity in the city and thus develop the whole region further.
The past programming period was discussed and numerous projects were enumerated. Ireland received some 18 billion Euros during 2007-2014 from the Structural Funds. In most cases this EU funding was matched by Irish Exchequer contributions. Successive National Development Plans since 1989 have identified priority projects in the county and in the Southern and Eastern Region where Waterford is located.
A significant proportion of the funding that the EU has provided since the 1970s has been targeted at improving local and national infrastructure. In Waterford, major improvements have been made to the national road network in recent years - many of which have been built with part funding from the EU.
The Mayor and his councillors are looking forward to strengthen the city's appeal to investors and in near future. Expansion in the IT sector looks should be key and should attract a number of servicing companies to establish operations in Waterford and vicinity.
15 20.00-22.00 Dinner hosted by Mr Ciarán Cullen, Waterford County Enterprise Board, joined by Student Enterprise Europe. The event is organised as closing ceremony of a study trip of 44 enterprise programme students from Norway & Sweden.
Waterford County Enterprise Board was established in 1993 to fill a need for economic development in the County Waterford area. Since then, the board has helped over 250 small businesses to set up and grow. It's main objective is to provide supports to facilitate the establishment, development and growth of micro-enterprises in the County. The Board provides financial support in the form of capital and employment assistance. It also provides customised training to improve the entrepreneurial and management development ability of owner-managers of small businesses.
The role of the CEB is: •To stimulate and promote local enterprise culture and entrepreneurship •To provide a broad range of business supports to the micro-business community •To maximize the employment potential of small businesses in our region •To grow a significant number of companies beyond micro-enterprise status •To develop strong business networks
16 Thursday, 27 March 2014 – Waterford and Kilkenny
9.15-11.30 Meeting with Dr Ruaidhrí Neavyn, the President of Waterford Institute of Technology, Dr Willie Donnelly, the Head of Research & Innovation and other colleagues
Waterford Institute of Technology (Irish: Institiúid Teicneolaíochta Phort Láirge) (WIT) is a state funded third-level educational freely available large scale institution situated in the city of Waterford, Ireland. The Institute has six Schools and 16 Departments.
The institute opened in 1970 as a Regional Technical College and adopted its present name on May 7, 1997. The institute is currently headed by President Dr. Ruaidhri Neavyn.
The institute was founded in 1970 as Regional Technical College, Waterford. Once founded, the regional technical college grew very quickly as a result of the obviously strong regional need for tertiary education. In 1997 the college adopted its present name by order of the Minister for Education Niamh Bhreathnach, with Dublin Institute of Technology being the only other institution with the "institute of technology" title at the time in Ireland. Following a change of government and enormous political pressure on behalf of other regional technical colleges, especially Cork Regional Technical College, all other regional technical colleges were renamed similarly by Minister for Education Micheál Martin.
Since 2001 Institute has conferred its own awards at all levels from Higher Certificate to PhD, subject to standards set and monitored by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) which was established by the Government in June 2001, under the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, 1999. In October 2005 the institute was selected by The Sunday Times newspaper as the "Institute of Technology of the Year" in Ireland.
The institute now has a student population of approximately 6000 full-time students and 3500 part-time students. The Staff currently consists of approximately 470 Full- time academic, 300 part-time and 300 support staff.
The institute formally applied in 2006 for university status in accordance with the Universities Act, 1997, and the process of examining the case for redesignation has commenced. In January 2007 Dr Jim Port was engaged by the government to carry out a "preliminary assessment" of the institute's case.
17 The WIT has extensively benefited from European financing throughout the years. The main sources of EU financing are the 7FP and ERDF. The overall objective of the use of these funds is to accompany the transformation of the region's economy from a manufactory based to innovation/technologies based.
R&D expenditure of the WIT is 20 million Euros/year. The Institute has secured some 130 million Euros in R&D contracts between 2003 -2013. The institute accompanies local companies-SMEs and Micro Entreprises- in order to allow them to benefit from R&D. It adapts business solutions in a tailor made approach so that they can fit the small size. Thus, SMEs can benefit from R&D which otherwise would be inaccessible to them. In this sense, WIT provides linkages to the local business community with international fore of researchers and industries. WIT uses EU funding to adopt R&D solutions to a customised accessible and cheaper product.
(ex: 2,5 million Euros from ERDF for the Arc-lab business incubator)
ERDF funding is used to enhance research infrastructure and 7FP funding to fund actual R&D projects.
11.30-12.30 Meeting with Mr Pat Colgan, Executive Director of Special European Union Programme Body (SEUPB) managing authority for PEACE III and Interreg IVA Programmes
The SEUPB is one of the six cross-border Bodies set up under the “Agreement between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland establishing implementing bodies” signed on 8 March 1999 (the British-Irish Agreement of 8 March 1999).
Its main role is to manage cross-border European Union Structural Funds programmes in Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and parts of Western Scotland.
The SEUPB has four main areas of work, as detailed below:
Corporate Services; Certifying Authority and Managing Authority
The Managing Authority is one of a number of bodies identified by European Regulation and given particular roles in the administration of the programme. The Managing Authority has overall responsibility for the management and implementation of the Operational Programme (the document approved by the European Commission which establishes the programme strategy and priorities).
18 The Managing Authority within SEUPB has formally delegated the responsibility for selecting projects to the Joint Technical Secretariat (JTS) for the INTERREG IVA Programme. For the PEACE III Programme both the JTS and the Consortium of Pobal and the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council have responsibility for selecting projects.
The SEUPB also has a role to facilitate project participation in the INTERREG IVB Transnational Programmes which are relevant to Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland and also the INTERREG IVC Programme, which is open to projects across the European Union.
The Importance of EU funding to the Region
The PEACE Programme was created in 1995 as a direct response to the European Union’s desire to support the emerging Northern Ireland peace process. Its creation followed the loyalist and republican paramilitary ceasefires of 1994. These ceasefires represented the first real move towards the ending of the large-scale terrorist violence that had cast a disfiguring shadow across the region for almost three decades.
Since its inception in 1995 the PEACE Programme has undergone three separate incarnations and is about to embark upon its fourth, for 2014-2020. This makes it one of the longest publicly financed peace and reconciliation intervention in the history of the region.
Indeed given the size, scale and value (approximately €2 billion) of the Programme, there are very few peace and reconciliation projects that it has not supported in the past 18 years. Many of these projects have physically transformed large parts of the region and in doing so created a meaningful legacy that will last long into the future.
The INTERREG Programme is an EU supported structural funds programme which aims to promote greater territorial cohesion. Building on the successes and lessons of the previous INTERREG Programmes, the INTERREG IV Programme aims to support strategic cross-border co-operation for a more prosperous and sustainable region. In particular, the Programme will focus on developing a dynamic economy, supporting infrastructure and promoting innovative ways of addressing specific cross- border problems. Previous INTERREG Programmes have operated on a Northern Ireland/Ireland cross- border basis. Following a re-definition of maritime borders by the EU, a distinctive aspect of the current Programme is the inclusion of Western Scotland and the opportunity to promote co-operation between Scotland/Ireland/Northern Ireland.
The Way Ahead
19 In its role as Managing Authority of the current programmes, the SEUPB has been asked by the two Member States (UK and Ireland) to conduct a consultation on the Operational Programme’s for the future PEACE IV and INTERREG V Programmes. The initial public consultation took place between August and November 2012. A second consultation will also be held to provide the general public and other key stakeholders with an opportunity to comment on any aspect of the draft Operational Programmes (OPs), the Equality Impact Assessments (EQIAs) and the Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs).
14.30-16:30 Meeting with Southern & Eastern Regional Assembly (Mr Stephen Blair, Director) and Border Midland and Western Regional Assembly (Mr Kieran Moylan, Assistant Director
The BMW and S&E Regional Assemblies were established in 1999 following the designation of two regions in Ireland for EU Structural Funds purposes. The Regional Assemblies have been the Managing Authorities of co-funded Regional Operational for two programme periods running from 2000 to 2013 and they are currently drafting the ERDF co-funded programmes which will run from 2014-2020. The Assemblies are also involved in the management, project selection and monitoring of several EU co-financed INTERREG Programmes
The delegation Members were eager to hear the achievements of the ERDF co-funded Border, Midland and Western (BMW) and the Southern and Eastern (S&E) Regional Programmes and the plans for the next programme period which runs from 2014 to 2020. Welcoming the delegation to Assembly House, Cllr. Thomas Kinsella, (Chairman) Cathaoirleach, S&E Regional Assembly said “it is very appropriate that the REGI Committee of Parliament has chosen to come here to Waterford, as Regional Policy, whether at EU or at National level is at the very heart of the work we do here in the Regional Assembly”.
Mr. Stephen Blair, Director of the S&E Regional Assembly in outlining the significant achievements of both regional programmes emphasised the continued need to strive to achieve balanced regional development. He said “on-going supports of our urban growth centres, recognising their function as drivers of the regional economy is a central pillar of the S&E programme”. “Significantly” he said “a positive outcome of the regional programmes was how they facilitated the reporting of EU Structural Fund investment on a regional level for the first time in Ireland”. BMW Regional Assembly Asst. Director, Mr Kieran Moylan sketched out the preparation of the ERDF co-funded regional programmes for the 2014-2020 period, providing the delegates with an outline of the types of interventions that could potentially attract funding under the programmes. He said that “Ireland’s regional programmes for the 2014 -2020 period will focus on strengthening research capacity, supporting the creation and expansion of enterprises, extending broadband networks
20 promoting energy efficiency and enhancing urban growth centres economically, socially and environmentally”.
18.00 - 22.00 Meeting with Senior Management of GIIL and Chairman of GIIL Board Mr Liam Herlihy with Mr Joe Crockett, County Manager and CEO Kilkenny County Council and informal dinner.
A visit was organised to Ireland's biggest dairy producer and one of the country's main employers.
With more than €3 billion in revenues and 5,202 employees worldwide, the group is a locally led global leader in performance nutrition and ingredients group.
The Group is divided into four segments: Global Performance Nutrition, Global Ingredients, Dairy Ireland and Joint Ventures & Associates. Global Performance Nutrition and Global Ingredients, together representing 76% of Total Group EBITA, are the two largest segments and the key drivers of growth. While these businesses differ in their routes to market, they share a commitment to producing innovative nutritional products of the highest quality. They also represent separate but complementary ways to address the opportunity provided by on-going health and nutrition trends globally.
With 5,202 employed people across a total of 29 countries worldwide, Glanbia is a truly global organisation.
The visit included a presentation on the activities of Glanbia group worldwide and a glimpse into its core activities. The Chairman of the group made a general presentation followed by more detailed and specific presentations on few aspects of the company's activities.
An accent was put on the importance of the development in the county and the region of dense and highly performing infrastructure, which allowed for the establishment in a remote rural area of Ireland's biggest milk processing plant. Another important point for the company was the support from the EU rural development fund, which helped sustain the farmers' activity.
The company is a great example of highly successful multinational business endeavour started at a local level and partially owned by local farmers. The company's activities have great impact not only on the local and regional economy, but on the country's development as well.
The Delegation also met with the county manager of county Kilkenny, Mr Joe Crockett who was present at the meeting. Mr Crockett gave a full account of the local economic development strategy of the county. The county manager has actually
21 invited a number of executives from the region to present their visions and to develop jointly a strategy for the development of the region. The main tool that they have is the creation of strong networks exchanging good practices and knowledge. For example, Glambia works within a network of 3000 farmers from all over the region and beyond.
The regional development strategy has 6 main strategic objectives:
1) To develop third level education and research;
2) To support the development of agriculture and agri-business;
3) To support the development of tourism and the arts;
4) To support the development of life science and manufacturing in Kilkenny county;
5) To support the development of services generally and of ICT, telecoms and Financial services particularly;
6) To support the development of Kilkenny city and Belview port and the scheduled towns.
22 Friday, 28 March 2014 – Waterford
09.15-11.00 Breakfast meeting hosted by Waterford Chamber of Commerce Joined by: • Flahavans (An ERDF beneficiary) • Barron's Bakery (Waterford Blaa´s) • South Eastern Regional Assembly. (SERA) ERDF managing authority • IDA South East and the Enetrprise Europe Network, Ms Michelle McHugh, EEN Manager
At their last day in Ireland, the delegation members were invited to a working breakfast with the Waterford Chamber of commerce and some of the businesses in the city.
After a couple of presentations made by representatives of the Chamber and local businesses, Sean Kelly MEP said, “Firstly I am very proud that the delegation from the Regional Committee has made this visit to the South East. We really enjoyed both the presentations that were made and the great hospitality that was shown. We learned a great amount, both about the challenges faced by the region and also how we can help to address them, particularly through the ERDF and the ESF.
It was underlined that the Members who came on the delegation were vastly experienced and hugely influential and that this would really help to put the case across for the South East in a coherent manner to European decision-makers.
The delegation heard from local businesses interests including Laurent Borla, Arkopharma, Dermot Walsh, M&D Bakery, John Flahavan, E. Flahavan & Sons, and Paul Nolan, Dawn Meats.
Commenting after his presentation to the visiting MEPs, Paul Nolan for Dawn Meats said he was delighted to have had the opportunity to outline the national & regional importance of the Beef Industry to Ireland and to make the case for Beef not being used by the EU as a bargaining chip when doing trade deals with other trading blocks. “Whilst the Irish Beef Industry recognises that there will be some beef imports, it is crucial that these quotas are set with care and fully managed to minimise market disruption which would be to the detriment of our beef farming families who produce at cost, to the highest standards.”
Chamber President, Nora Widger stated, “The timing of this visit is important as we enter a new funding period for the European Union’s structural & investment funds.
23 Our meeting with the delegation was positive and we exchanged a range of ideas and information which focussed on how we can strengthen our economy here in Waterford and the wider region.”
24 Concluding remarks
The delegation to Ireland and particularly to the South East was a unique opportunity to receive first hand input on the impact of the EU's Cohesion policy on the territorial, social and environmental challenges that Ireland and its regions is facing. MEPs learned about the implementation process of ongoing projects, but also on planned projects of cross-border cooperation at the border between the republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and in particular the PEACE IV programme. Members of the delegation could witness the excellent quality of the work done in the context of the projects co-financed by the EU Cohesion policy. MEP's learned a great deal about the forthcoming programming period and the priorities of Ireland and the South East region. The delegation was also instrumental in the sense that the local actors could take account of the dedication of MEPs and their commitment to push for a stronger EU support for territorial, social and economic cohesion through excellent quality projects in the future programming period.
25 Media Coverage
Links to the Articles:
EU Parliament delegation to visit Kilkenny next week By KCLR96FM News & Sport on March 20, 2014 in News – Recent http://kclr96fm.com/news/eu-parliament-delegation-visit-kilkenny-next-week/
European Parliament Regional Development Committee visit to Ireland (Waterford and Kilkenny) 26 - 28 March 2014 26-03-2014 http://www.europarl.ie/en/news_events/news/press_releases_2014/march_2014/regi.e u/portal/en/Background%20information%20about%20the%20Sakharov%20Prize;jses sionid=3BF17AFD96647849F48316556F5EDA08
Howlin meets European Parliament to discuss EU funding for Ireland Published on Wednesday 26th March 2014 http://www.merrionstreet.ie/index.php/2014/03/howlin-meets-european-parliament- to-discuss-eu-funding-for-ireland/
Waterford Chamber meets European Committee on Regional Development http://www.waterfordchamber.com/index.php/news/2078-chamber-meets-european- committee-on-regional-development
Regional Development on the Ground-European Parliament Committee on Regional Development Delegation http://www.seregassembly.ie/en/newsroom/details/regional_development_on_the_gro und_european_parliament_committee_on_regiona
26 ANNEXES
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
MEMBERS Lang. Political Group Tel. Fax Office spoken BXL/STR BXL/STR 45910/49910 ASP 15E258 Chair of the delegation EN EPP 75910/79910 LOW T10084 Mr Joachim ZELLER Mr Iosif MATULA 45589 ASP 05F255 RO EPP 75589 LOW T08046 Ms Constanze KREHL 45134 ASP 12G258 EN, DE S&D 75134 LOW T07013 Mr Iñaki IRAZABALBEITIA 45823 ASP 08H165 FERNÁNDEZ EN, ES Greens/EFA 75823 LOW T05082
TOTAL NUMBER 4
Accompanying MEMBERS Lang. Political Group Tel. Fax Office Spoken BXL/STR BXL/STR Mr Seán KELLY 45206 ASP 08F353 EN EPP 75206 LOW T09069
TOTAL NUMBER 1
27 SECRETARIAT of the EP Committee on Lang. Tel.Fax Office Regional Development spoken BXL/STR BXL/STR EN, FR, ES, Mr Stefan MANEV (Administrator) 46193 ATR 01K058 BG 74970 SDM G04007 Mr Gabriel ALVAREZ RECARTE EN, ES, FR 41667 ATR 01K040 (Administrator) 74970 SDM G04007
TOTAL NUMBER 2
POLITICAL GROUP STAFF
Mr Pawel KALETA (EPP) 32682 ASP 05H342 PL, EN, FR 64070 WIC M04108 TOTAL NUMBER 1
OTHERS
Mr Francis JACOBS
Head of EP Office in Dublin
TOTAL NUMBER 1
INTERPRETERS Main lang. Ms Ana Laura TIFRAC STOIAN FR, DE, EN, Team Leader RO FR, EN, PT, Ms Dona URSU RO TOTAL NUMBER 2
TOTAL PARTICIPANTS NUMBER 11
EP OFFICE in Ireland Dublin European Parliament Information Office in Ireland
43 Molesworth Street Dublin 2 [email protected] 353 (0)1 605 7900 353 (0)1 605 7999
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