1 INTRODUCTION
The following Operational Programme provides the framework for the spending of the European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF) for the Regional Competitiveness & Employment Programme for Scotland for 2007-13. The Programme covers the 'Lowlands & Uplands Scotland' area, defined as the whole of the NUTS II areas for Eastern Scotland, North-East Scotland and South-Western Scotland (that is, all of Scotland apart from the Highlands & Islands, which are covered by programmes under the Convergence Objective). It will complement the European Social Fund Programme under the Regional Competitiveness & Employment Objective for the same area.
In March 2000, the EU leaders agreed the Lisbon strategy, which committed the EU to become by 2010:
"The most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion, and respect for the environment."
The achievement of this goal is seen as essential if Europe is to respond to the challenges of globalisation and competition from other parts of the world. Scotland is no less ambitious in its goals aimed at ensuring that the Scottish Government and its partners work together to make a real difference to the lives of all the people living and working here to ensure they fulfil their potential and contribute to and benefit from a high-earning, knowledge-based economy.
The Programme aims to achieve this through the following overall vision:
To encourage the growth of the region's economy within a sustainable development framework and thereby enable all parts of the region to contribute to achieving the Lisbon Agenda goals
It will do so through a set of co-ordinated priorities, working in tandem with the existing priorities of Scottish policy but also catalysing the Scottish Government's commitment to improving the main sources of competitiveness in the economy of all parts of the region. It does so fully within the context set by the Community Strategic Guidelines, the UK National Strategic Reference Framework and the UK National Reform Programme. The Programme brings an EU value of €375.958 million to achieving these goals and has been developed within a framework of partnership with the partners and stakeholders who will be delivering the projects that will make the Programme vision concrete.
The Programme document is divided into several sections following this Introduction:
- Socio-economic background: A summary of the key strengths, weaknesses, challenges and opportunities for the eligible area within the context of the Structural Funds contribution to achieving the Lisbon Agenda goals, setting out the main challenges for the Programme to address.
- Policy background: A summary of the policy context for addressing the challenges identified in the socio-economic analysis and how the 2000-06 Structural Funds programmes provide lessons for tackling these issues in the 2007-13 Programme.
- Strategy, Objectives and priorities: A detailed description of the Programme's overall vision and how the Programme will act on the identified challenges, setting out the Programme's objectives and the priorities, as well as the use of Programme technical assistance and the categorisation of activities in line with Lisbon 'earmarking'.
- Financial arrangements: The financial allocation tables for the Programme.
- Co-ordination with other funds: A description of how the European Regional Development Fund will complement other key EU funding in the region, particularly the European Social Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, the European Fisheries Fund and financial instruments available through the European Investment Fund and the European Investment Bank.
- Implementing provisions: A description of key aspects of managing and delivering the Programme, including the roles and responsibilities of the Managing, Paying and Audit Authorities, key intermediary bodies and the Programme Monitoring Committee.
- Cross-cutting themes: A description of how Equal Opportunities, Sustainable Development and Social Inclusion will be mainstreamed as underpinning horizontal themes throughout the Programme.
- Evaluation, monitoring and reporting: The evaluation strategy for the Programme, setting out how the Programme will be monitored and the processes for reporting and evaluation as well as Programme baselines.
In addition, there are a number of Annexes covering:
- acronyms and references;
- summary of the drafting of the Programme and engagement with partners;
- the final ex-ante evaluation report for the Programme;
- summary of the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Programme and the environmental situation;
- summary of the Equal Opportunities Impact Assessment for the Programme; and
- an indicative breakdown of actions by category of activity.