European Structural Fund Programmes
31ST December 2006 signified the
end of the two main sources of European structural funding
available to the Vale of Glamorgan for the period 2000-2006: the
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Objective 2 &
Transitional Programme and the European Social Fund (ESF) Objective
3 Programme.
Under the European Commission’s new
arrangements, the Vale of Glamorgan’s main sources of Structural
Fund support will come from the Regional Competitiveness and
Employment (RCE) Programmes.
Note: West Wales and the
Valleys have qualified for the ‘Convergence’ Objective, which is
the successor to the previous Objective 1 Programme.
The RCE Programme for East Wales covers the
Unitary Authorities of Cardiff; Flintshire; Monmouthshire; Newport;
Powys; the Vale of Glamorgan and Wrexham.
Approximately £97 million of European funds
will be available to East Wales between 2007-2013 under RCE (or
‘Competitiveness’ as it has become known). The priorities for
funding have been developed to give effect to the vision of
creating a thriving, vibrant and competitive region that has a
highly skilled, innovative workforce that can compete
internationally.
Two Operational Programmes have been developed for East Wales,
one for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and one
for the European Social Fund (ESF).
There are four European Regional Development Fund
priorities:
Priority 1 - Knowledge and Innovation for Growth;
Priority 2 - Business Competitiveness and Growth;
Priority 3 - Tackling Climate Change;
Priority 4 - Regeneration for Growth.
There are two funding priorities under the European Social Fund
Programme:
Priority 1 - Increasing Employment and Tackling Economic
Inactivity;
Priority 2 - Improving Skill levels and the adaptability of the
workforce.
If you would like to know more about how this impacts on the
Vale of Glamorgan you can contact Mike Jones, Policy
Officer (External Funding) for further information.
Tel: (01446) 709772
Email: migjones@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk