Framework for EU Funding during 2014-2020 starts to take shape

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11 Apr, 2014

Photo: flickr/debarshiray

Over the past few years the ECF has been running the €6 Billion Campaign to increase the amount of EU funds spent on cycling during the new programming period (2014-2020). To date, the focus of the Campaign has been to try and influence the funding priorities included in the Partnership Agreements (PA) and Cohesion Policy Operational Programmes (OP), which have to be prepared by each Member State.

The European Commission has just published a list of 15 countries that have submitted their final PA and 9 that have submitted draft OPs. These important documents will dictate how EU Structural and Investment Funds will be spent for the next six years. Although the programming period officially started on the 1^st January, the Commission has underlined that a strategic approach to the use of the funds is critical and quality is more important than speed.

The 13 remaining official Partnership Agreement proposals are to be submitted to the Commission by 22 April, for adoption as soon as possible so that programme funding can begin. Time is therefore running out for us to influence these important documents. To encourage a final push, we would like to hold the latest of our series of our campaign webinars next Friday (18/04/14) at 10 am (CET). Please join in to hear some ideas about how you can still try and ensure that cycling is not forgotten when the billions of Euros are distributed.

It is worth noting that even in so-called “more developed regions” (where GDP > 90% of the EU-27 Average) €54 billion will be allocated, whilst the overall pot for Cohesion Policy is €351.8 billion.

To register for the webinar please send an email to 6billion@ecf.com. The webinar should last an hour and a half.