EC Structural Funds MERSEYSIDE Single programming documen 1994-99 Objective 1 : Structural development and adjustment of regions whose development is lagging behind European Commission The Objectives of the Structural Funds Objective 1 (1994-1999) Objective 2 (1994-1996) Objective 5b (1994-199) New members (1.1.95) Economic adjustment of regions Economic conversion of declining Economic diversification of rural Information on the eligible areas in whose development is lagging behind. industrial areas. areas. Austria, Finland and Sweden will be available shortly. v^z?¿> The lists of areas eligible under the Structural Funds are published in the Official Journal of the European Communities. This map gives only general guidance. EC Structural Funds MERSEYSIDE Single programming document 1994-99 Objective 1 : Structural development and adjustment of regions whose development is lagging behind European Commission Series of 'Community support frameworks 1994­99 — Objective 1' Neue Lander—Gemeinschaftliches Förderkonzept Catalogue No: CX­85­94­276­DE­C Italia—Quadro comunitario di sostegno Catalogue No: CX­85­94­284­IT­C Ireland—Community support framework Catalogue No: CX­85­94­107­EN­C Portugal—Community support framework Catalogue No: CX­82­94­771 ­EN­C Portugal—Quadre communautaire d'appui Catalogue No: CX­82­94­771­FR­C Portugal—Quadro comunitário de apoio Catalogue No: CX­82­94­771­PT­C España—Marco Comunitario de Apoyo Catalogue No: CX­85­94­292­ES­C Ελλάδα—Κοινοτικό πλαίσιο στήριξης Catalogue No: CX-85-94-462-GR-C Greece—Community support framework Catalogue No: CX-85-94-462-EN-C Series of 'Single programming documents 1994-99 — Objective 1' France Martinique, Guyane, Guadeloupe, Réunion— Documents uniques de programmation. Synthèse Catalogue No: CX­85­94­301­FR­C Corse—Document unique de programmation. Synthèse Catalogue No: CX­85­94­325­FR­C Arrondissement de Douai, Valenciennes, Avesnes— Document unique de programmation Catalogue No: CX­85­94­317­FR­C United Kingdom Highlands and Islands—Single programming document Catalogue No: CX­85­94­357­EN­C Merseyside—Single programming document Catalogue No: CX­85­94­373­EN­C Northern Ireland—Single programming document Catalogue No: CX­85­94­365­EN­C Belgium Hainaut—Document unique de programmation Catalogue No: CX­85­94­260­FR­C The Netherlands Flevoland—Gecombineerd programmeringsdocument Catalogue No: CX­85­94­268­NL­C These documents can be obtained in the language of the relevant country from the addresses given at the end of the brochure. For further information on other language versions, please contact: European Commission DG XVI E2 Rue de la Loi 200 Β­1049 Brussels Fax: (32­2)296 60 03 Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 1995 ISBN 92­826­8799­6 © ECSC­EC­EAEC, Brussels · Luxembourg, 1995 Reproduction is authorized, except for commercial purposes, provided the source is acknowledged Printed in Germany Contents page Preface 5 1. The regional development context of Merseyside 7 1.1. Introduction 7 1.2. The social and economic situation 9 1.3. The European Community context 9 1.4. Previous public sector support to Merseyside: the national and local contribution and recent developments 12 1.5. Previous public sector support to Merseyside: the European Community contribution and Objective 1 14 1.6. A summary prior appraisal of the Objective 1 programme, and quantified objectives for Structural Fund support 17 1.7. The regional development plan 21 2. The regional development strategy for Merseyside and Structural Fund priorities for the next six years 23 2.1. The vision and strategic objectives: the 'drivers for change' on Merseyside 23 2.2. A strategy for investing in industry and services on Merseyside 27 2.3. A strategy for investing in the people of Merseyside 30 2.4. Sustainable development on Merseyside: an environmental profile of the region 34 2.5. The Merseyside Objective 1 programme: the priorities of the Structural Funds, and the measures to be supported 47 1. Action for industry: inward investment and key corporate business development 49 2. Action for industry: indigenous enterprise and local business development 63 3. Action for industry: knowledge-based industries and advanced technology development 78 4. Action for industry: developing the cultural, media and leisure industries 94 5. Action for the people of Merseyside: pathways to integration, a better training system, community development and a better quality of life 106 3. Financial plan: 1994-99, and a first assessment of additionality 131 3.1. Financial allocations 131 3.2. Additionality 142 4. Administration and conditions of implementation 147 4.1. Administration and monitoring 147 4.2. Financial implementation provisions for assistance 154 Appendix Commission Decision of 29 July 1994 163 Preface This document has been drawn up in response to the regional development plan for the Objective 1 region of Merseyside — 'Merseyside 2000' — presented to the Commission by the United Kingdom Government on 4 November 1993, and containing the proposals of the local, regional and national Structural Fund partnership. The United Kingdom chose to present Merseyside 2000 in the form of a 'single program• ming document' as provided for under Article 5(2) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2082/93. In response, the Commission has drawn up this document, in agreement with the United Kingdom, and through the partnership. The document is the subject of the Commission Decision referred to in Article 10(1) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2082/93. It constitutes the basis on which Structural Fund assistance to Merseyside through Objec• tive 1 will be implemented for the 1994-99 period. It contains: In Chapter 1 • A summary of the key social and economic features of Merseyside, and a setting of Merseyside in its context as a region of the European Community. • A brief synthesis of previous public sector support to Merseyside, including a summary appraisal of previous Structural Fund assistance. • A summary prior appraisal of the Objective 1 programme, and quantified objectives for Structural Fund support. In Chapter 2 • An outline of the strategic context of Structural Fund investment on Merseyside in three key areas: investing in industry and services, investing in the people of Merseyside, and the environment and sustainable development. • A statement of the regional development priorities for Merseyside for the 1994-99 period, and a description of the measures that constitute the Objective 1 programme. In Chapter 3 • The financial plan of the Merseyside Objective 1 programme. • A first assessment of additionality in accordance with Article 9 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2082/93, for Objective 1 regions in the United Kingdom. in Chapter 4 • A description of the administrative and financial arrangements for implementing the Merseyside Objective 1 programme. Preface Chapter 1 The regional development context of Merseyside 1.1. Introduction To appreciate Merseyside's relationship with European Structural Funds, the region needs to be placed in its full economic, social and geographical context. Merseyside is, first and foremost, an important region in its own right, but also an integral part of the wider North West region of England, which stretches from North Wales up to the Lake District. The North West, in turn, comprises a significant part of the traditional industrial heartland of Eng• land, including not only Liverpool and the Merseyside area, but the large conurbation around Manchester. However, Merseyside cannot be looked at purely in its regional or national context. As far as the Structural Funds are concerned, it must be looked at in its context as a region of the European Community, which took the step in July 1993 of giving Merseyside a special status. That status, Objective 1, was given because of Merseyside's position in relation to the European Community as a whole. Objective 1 is part of a whole range of policies linked to strengthening the economic and social cohesion of the Community. This Chapter summarizes some of the key economic and social features of Merseyside that lay behind the decision to give Objective 1 status. It also tries to set Merseyside in its European context. The Structural Funds are only one part of that context, and a number of other Community policies are outlined below. These policies are relevant to the context within which the Structural Funds will operate under Objective 1. Many of them provide opportunities to reinforce Structural Fund activity, and make the Objective 1 programme more successful. Finally, this Chapter contains a summary prior appraisal of the Objective 1 programme. This also includes an evaluation of previous Structural Fund assistance to Merseyside. Chapter 1 - The regional development context of Merseyside Eligible areas under Objectives 1, 2 and 5b in the United Kingdom and Ireland Objective 1 Objective 2 Objective 2 partly Objective 5b Objective 5b partly Non eligible region Non EC Country EC national Border Regional border (NUTS· I or«) Subregional border (NUTS· II or im Capital Major town Tl.. :.:.:; ol r..i :r:.; Mig.bk) fori «ι itio Oito^ JtunvD of ifie Euopoj/i Cixmxxnues. Ths map Κ ' NUTS ­ NomencfaUro ot tantán»! inrts lor stnttó'Jcs 1. Dublin: 2. South­East: 3. South­West: 4. Mid­West: 5. West: 6. Border: 7. Midlands: 8. Mid­East: 1.2. The social and economic situation of Merseyside Some of the key features of Merseyside's economy and society are: • GDP