European Structural Fund Programmes

31 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 and 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