Scottish Government

European Structural Funds - Annual Event - 15 December 2011

The Structural Funds Annual Event took place in Maryhill Burgh Halls on 15 November 2011. A key part of the day was a round table discussion focussing on what we could learn from the current programme, how we could ensure that lessons learned were incorporated into the new programme and how best to use Structural Funds to support Government priorities. The three specific questions are outlined below. This short report captures the main points from the discussions on the day..... Continue

PhD studentship on the governance and delivery of EU Cohesion policy in Scotland - 9 September 2011

As part of the European Structural Funds evaluation process the Managing Authority have agreed for a partial funding of a PhD student placement in partnership with the European Policy Research Centre at University of Strathclyde. The advert is detailed here and applications would be welcomed from suitable candidates.

UPDATE TO ERDF Legal Context of European Structural Funds State Aid Notification (REFERENCE: X654/2009) - 1 August 2011

The Scottish Government has made an amendment to the State Aid Notification (Reference: X654/2009). The update has been made to include regional investment and employment aid (Article 13) of Commission Regulation (EC) 800/2008 (General Block Exemption Regulation).

The State Aid Notification (Reference: X654/2009) sets out the legal basis which ensures that the European Regional Development Fund in Scotland complies with the relevant provision of the EC General Block Exemption (Commission Regulation No 800/2008). The notification covers the European Regional Development Fund in the Highlands & Islands and Lowlands and Uplands Scotland.

This Notification has been sent to the European Commission via the State Aids Unit - http://www.stateaidscotland.gov.uk/

Click here to see the legal context of the European Structural Funds State Aid notification document

Programme Document Retention - 15 July 2011

An important aspect of European Structural Funds is the retention of all project records, in order to demonstrate a clear and transparent audit and procurement trail. To find out more please click here.

National Rules - Questions and Answers - 15 July 2011

A new version of our National Rules Questions and Answers is now available for upload here.

National Rules (Version 6) - 1 June 2011

A new version of our National Rules is now available for upload here.

UPDATE TO ESF Legal Context of European Structural Funds State Aid Notification (REFERENCE: X664/2009) - 19 April 2011

The Scottish Government has made a minor amendment to the State Aid Notification (Reference: X664/2009). The update has been made to include the new Priority 5 'Strategic Skills Pipeline' which operates under the European Social Fund in Lowlands and Uplands Scotland (2007-13) Programme.

The State Aid Notification (Reference: X664/2009) sets out the legal basis which ensures that the European Social Fund in Scotland complies with the relevant provision of the EC General Block Exemption (Commission Regulation No 800/2008). The notification covers the European Social Fund in Highlands & Islands and Lowlands and Uplands Scotland.

This Notification has been sent to the European Commission via the State Aids Unit - http://www.stateaidscotland.gov.uk/

Click here to see the legal context of the European Structural Funds State Aid notification document

Information note for project sponsors - The Role of the Audit Authority - 4 April 2011

Under Article 62 of Council Regulation (EC) 1083/2006 the Audit Authority is required to carry out the following tasks - Please click here for more.

Evaluation of the Contribution of European Structural Funds to Community Planning Partnerships - 18 March 2011

The Scottish Government commissioned the independent research organization Blake Stevenson to examine the role of Community Planning Partnerships in delivering European Structural Funds, which was an innovation in delivery of the programmes for 2007-2013.

The study, carried out over almost two years, made use of interviews with people running CPPs and other stakeholders, performance data and surveys of delivery partners. The report is primarily concerned with Lowlands and Uplands Scotland but also looked at experience in the Highlands and Islands. Blake Stevenson note the different approaches taken and identify factors contributing to successful implementation. They found that, irrespective of the model adopted, in delivering European supported programmes, the CPPs have developed clearer local strategies and improved co-operation between delivery partners, and that this has contributed to more strategic and effective use of the European funds. .

In addition to the main report there is an Executive Summary and separate reports on all the thirteen CPPs in Lowlands and Uplands Scotland included in the initiative.

UK Government Response to the European Commission's Consultation on the Conclusions of the Fifth Report on Economic and Social Cohesion - 9 February 2011

The UK Government has submitted its response to the European Commission's Consultation on the Conclusions of the Fifth Report on Economic and Social Cohesion. To see a copy of the response please click here.

Scottish Government Response to the European Commission's Consultation on the Conclusions of the Fifth Report on Economic and Social Cohesion - 4 February 2011

The Scottish Government has submitted its response to the European Commission's Consultation on the Conclusions of the Fifth Report on Economic and Social Cohesion. To see a copy of the response please click here.

National Rules (Version 5) - 12 January 2011

A new version of our National Rules is now available for upload here.

£168 million skills package - 14 December 2010

Funding targeted at local communities most in need of support

Communities across Scotland will receive a share of a £168 million windfall as part of a national skills development programme to strengthen Scotland's workforce.

Education Secretary Michael Russell made the announcement at the Orkney Street Enterprise Centre in Glasgow today where he met young people involved in employability courses.

The STUC, organisations within the third sector, Community Planning Partnerships, Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council are topping up £64.6 million of European Structural Funds to deliver a total investment of £168 million.

Please find attached press release for this announcement - A separate e-mail will be sent to all bidders today to inform them of their funding allocations

EUROPEAN STRUCTURAL FUNDS - 2010 BEST PRACTICE AWARDS - SHORTLISTS - 9 November 2010

There has been an excellent response to the call to projects for applications for the 2010 European Structural Funds Best Practice Awards. We are grateful to all those who sent in their applications. Following careful deliberation by the Judging Panels, the shortlists in the 7 award categories are given below (in alphabetical order of the name of the project sponsor).

Category 1. Best contribution to a "Wealthier and Fairer" Scotland through the use of European Structural Funds

Category 2. Best contribution to a "Greener" Scotland through the use of European Structural Funds

Category 3. Best contribution to a "Smarter" Scotland through the use of European Structural Funds

Category 4. Best contribution to Rural Development in Scotland through the use of European Structural Funds

Category 5. Best contribution to Urban Regeneration in Scotland through the use of European Structural Funds

Category 6. Best partnership working in the use of European Structural Funds

Category 7. Best publicity of a European Structural Funds project in Scotland

All the shortlisted project sponsors will be invited to the Best Practice Awards Ceremony to be held at the Glasgow School of Art on Tuesday 23 November. Further details on this will follow.

Please note that the judges' decisions are final.

LOWLANDS AND UPLANDS SCOTLAND:
PROGRAMME MONITORING COMMITTEE - MEETING ON 28 OCTOBER 2010

This note summarises the main points discussed at the LUPS PMC Meeting in Glasgow on 28 October 2010. The full minutes of the meeting will be published following their approval at the next PMC meeting in March 2011.

The Committee discussed a paper from the Managing Authority on the allocation of the funds available for the new Priority 5 of the European Social Fund. Members noted the principles that had been applied - and the evidence base of labour market data used - in the proposed allocation of the funds between 17 CPPs and the national bids that had been invited from the Scottish Funding Council, Skills Development Scotland, STUC and the Third Sector. There was general agreement to the proposed allocation, with recognition that the total amount of the bids had exceeded the funds available by approximately one-third.

The Committee's view was that Managing Authority might be being too risk adverse in factoring the effects of likely programme underspends and future movements in the exchange rate into the proposed allocations. The MA agreed to re-examine the relevant assumptions with a view to finding room for (relatively modest) pro rata increases in the sizes of the respective awards. Underspends would be either re-cycled into Priority 5 or held in reserve to assist the Scottish Government in addressing specific local economic challenges; these options would be further examined at the next PMC meeting in March.

The Committee also received presentations/papers on:

• Progress to date on the implementation of the 2007-13 ERDF and ESF Programmes and the "N+2" targets (from ESEP)
• The role of the Audit Authority and the AA's Annual Report (from SG Internal Audit Services)
• Europe 2020 (from the DG Employment and DG Regional Policy desk officers)
• Progress on ERDF Priority 4: Rural Development (from ESEP and the South of Scotland Global Grants Body)
• Progress on the use of ERDF to assist Venture Capital and Loan Funds (from ESEP)

In addition, the Committee:

• Noted the progress on the development of a JESSICA fund covering the appointment of the investment board and an overview of the likely delivery model. The Committee agreed to consider the procurement documentation for the urban development fund manager by written procedure.
• Agreed to give the Managing Authority the delegated authority to vary grant awards that had previously been made, within specified limits, in response to unanticipated changes in the circumstances facing project sponsors. Committee members would be notified of such variations and a full report would be provided at each PMC meeting.
• Agreed with the recommendations of the respective Advisory Groups with regard to a total of 10 ERDF and ESF projects that had been brought forward under the Exceptional Projects procedure. 7 of these projects were recommended for support. It was noted that ESEP will give detailed feedback to each of the unsuccessful bidders to assist with the submission of improved bids.

Scottish Ministers will consider the recommendations made by the PMC and will make the appropriate announcements in due course.

MID-PROGRAMME BEST PRACTICE AWARDS - DEADLINE EXTENSION - 20 October 2010

It has been brought to our attention that the deadline for nominations for the Best Practice Awards coincides with the October school holidays in various parts of Scotland. We are keen to ensure that all projects are given an equal opportunity to submit a nomination and so have extended the deadline to Thursday 28 October at 10am. Please note that this is the final deadline and no extensions will be given.

MID-PROGRAMME BEST PRACTICE AWARDS - 11 October 2010

To mark the mid-point of the 2007-13 European Structural Funds programmes, the Scottish Government will be announcing a total of 7 Best Practice Awards at an Awards Ceremony to be held on Tuesday 23 November at The Glasgow School of Art.

There is a straightforward self-nomination process. All projects funded via the 2007-13 European Regional Development Fund or European Social Fund programmes in Scotland are eligible. The Application Form and accompanying Notes are attached below.

The Awards Categories are:

• Best contribution to a "Wealthier and Fairer" Scotland through the use of European Structural Funds
• Best contribution to a "Greener" Scotland through the use of European Structural Funds
• Best contribution to a "Smarter" Scotland through the use of European Structural Funds
• Best contribution to Rural Development in Scotland through the use of European Structural Funds
• Best contribution to Urban Regeneration in Scotland through the use of European Structural Funds
• Best partnership working in the use of European Structural Funds
• Best publicity of a European Structural Funds project in Scotland

Applications should be sent to Norman Muir at the Scottish Government address given below by 5.00pm on Monday 25 October either electronically or in hard copy.

The announcement of those shortlisted for awards (a maximum of 3 in each category) will be made on Monday 8 November.

Good luck to all applicants for the Best Practice Awards

European Structural Funds Division

Scottish Government

4th Floor

5 Atlantic Quay

150 Broomielaw

Glasgow

G2 8LU

Norman.muir2@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Please click here to open an application form.

LUPS ESF Priority 5 Strategic Skills Pipeline - Advisory Group Members required - 04 August 2010

Applications are requested for Advisory Group members for the new ESF Priority 5 Strategic Skills Pipeline. During August and September 2010 a range of bids will be received from Strategic Groups who can apply for funding from this new Priority under the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland 2007-13 ESF Programme.

Advisory Group Members will be required to mark bids, attend a Standing Advisory Group Meeting the week of the 4th October 2010 and provide feedback which will inform Scottish Minister's funding allocations of approximately €62 Million.

Potential Advisory Group members should send a CV and a covering letter indicating why they would be suitable for the Priority 5 Group (please send your CV & Covering letter by e-mail to Norman.Muir2@scotland.gsi.gov.uk ).

The closing date for applications is 3rd September 2010. There will be a Group preliminary meeting on 14th September with applications to consider from 27th September with an Advisory Group meeting in the week commencing 4th October.

Successful candidates will be contacted after the 3rd September 2010 to confirm details for the Advisory Group meetings.

Background to the ESF Priority 5 Strategic Skills Pipeline - 04 August 2010

The Programme Monitoring Committee for the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland Programmes discussed options for changes to the Operational Programme at the March 2010 meeting. A more detailed options paper was then discussed with the European Commission on 22 April, and presented to the PMC on 27 May 2010 at an additional meeting. At this meeting, the PMC recommended to Scottish Ministers that an amendment should be made to the LUPS Operational Programme to prepare a new Priority 5 Strategic Skills Pipeline. They also agreed there would be no further challenge round for Priority 1, 2 or 3 and that all unallocated funding should be moved into the new Priority 5 (approximately €62 Million).

Ministers considered this and asked for a steering group of partners to look further at the detail of implementation and the new indicators and targets for such a Priority. This Group met first on 5 June and again to agree a final position on 29 June. The Head of the LUPS ESF Managing Authority and the Head of the European Structural Funds Division met Mr Jim Mather, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism later that day. He agreed that a submission should go to the Commission seeking the change to the Operational Programme to vire the remaining un-allocated funds into a new Priority 5 Strategic Skills Pipeline. This request was sent to the Commission on 14 July 2010.

A new Priority 5 has been agreed in principle will be the linking of needs and opportunities at local level and this will be done largely, but not exclusively, through CPP bids to fund local strategic skills pipelines. Complementary (not competing) national bids would be accepted from SFC, STUC, SDS, and a consortium of national Third Sector organisations where a local approach to address certain groups' needs (such as ex-offenders) would be too complex and where best value could be demonstrated by a national approach complementing the local plans.

For more information please visit the Intermediary Administrative Body for the LUPS ESF Programme website: http://www.esep.co.uk/

ERDF Legal Context of European Structural Funds State Aid Notification - 03 August 2010

The Scottish Government has proposed a Legal Context for the European Structural Funds State Aids Notification for the European Regional Development Fund in Highlands & Islands and Lowlands and Uplands Scotland. This Notification has been sent to the European Commission via the State Aids Unit.

The Notification sets out the legal basis which ensures that the European Regional Development Fund in Scotland complies with the relevant provision of the EC General Block Exemption (Commission Regulation No 800/2008).

Click here to see the legal context of the European Structural Funds State Aid notification document.

Sale or Disposal of Assets Part Funded By ERDF - May 19, 2010

We accept that the period taken to deliver ERDF projects and the long auditable life attached to the programmes mean that issues around the sale and transfer of assets are inevitable. We have been asked to clarify the implications of the sale or disposal of an asset funded by ERDF in this and in earlier programmes.

Please click here for more information.

Community Planning Partnerships in the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland Programme Area and approved projects in the Highlands and Islands - January 11, 2010

First Minister Alex Salmond announced an increase in the awards and extension to a number of the Community Planning Partnerships in the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland Programme Area.

He also announced the approved projects for Round 4 in the Highlands and Islands. The lists of these projects can be found in the Funded Projects sections.

Refreshed Communications Plan and Evaluation Plan - July 29, 2009

Attached today are new versions of two key strategy documents for European Structural Funds in Scotland.

· Our Communication Plan (2007-13) is refreshed by 30 June each year. The plan is provided to the European Commission and published widely for the information of partners. It sets out our overall communication strategy and forward planning to promote the funding provided by European Structural Funds.

· Likewise our Evaluation Plan (2007-13) is also refreshed yearly and voluntarily published for the information of all partners and the public. It shows the overall approach we have adopted for monitoring and evaluation of the Scottish Programmes and sets out the intended work plan for evaluations, as overseen by the Scottish Programmes' Monitoring and Evaluation Group, over the lifetime of the current Programmes.

ESF Legal Context of European Structural Funds State Aid Notification

The Scottish Government has proposed a Legal Context for the European Structural Funds State Aids Notification for the European Social Fund in Highlands & Islands and Lowlands and Uplands Scotland. This Notification has been sent to the European Commission via the State Aids Unit.

The Notification sets out the legal basis which ensures that the European Social Fund in Scotland complies with the relevant provision of the EC General Block Exemption (Commission Regulation No 800/2008).

Click here to see the legal context of the European Structural Funds State Aid notification document.

ERDF Legal Context of European Structural Funds State Aid Notification - July 23, 2009

Today, the Scottish Government has proposed a Legal Context of European Structural Funds State Aids Notification. This Notification will go forward to the European Commission via the State Aids Unit.

The Notification sets out our legal basis which ensures that ERDF Scotland complies with the relevant provision of the General Block Exemption (Commission Regulation No 800/2008).

Click here to see the legal context of the European Structural Funds State Aid notification document.

Extension of the 2000 - 2006 Programmes - June 5, 2009

The Scottish Government has given careful consideration to the option of extending the eligibility period of the 2000-2006 Structural Fund programmes, as suggested by the European Commission. After assessing the merits of this option, and of front-loading spend in the 2007-2013 programmes on counter recessionary measures, it has been decided that concentrating on the 2007-2013 programmes represents a more effective and secure use of available resources.

Although we welcomed this initiative of the European Commission, it has not been possible to overcome UK budgetary considerations. HM Treasury have informed the Scottish Government that any costs resulting from applications for extensions would be charged to the Scottish Government, in effect a 70 per cent clawback. It is clear that using the finite resources available to us to support an extension would inevitably have a negative impact on spending in other areas and could have undermined the delivery of elements of the Economic Recovery Programme.

In addition to the short term financial considerations, we also believe that offering additional support to projects originally funded in the earlier programming period raised issues of additionality and carried an unacceptable longer term audit risk to the Scottish budget.

The policy of front-loading the spend in the 2007-2013 programmes has seen investment in 472 projects (with a value of £335 million) across the whole of Scotland, since the launch of the 2007 - 2013 Programmes.

First Minister announces £95 million in European Structural Funds for Lowlands and Uplands Scotland - April 18, 2009

Today First Minister Alex Salmond announced significant additional funding, to the value of £95 million, for 129 projects under Round Two of the 2007 - 2013 the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland Programme.

This further announcement brings the number of approved projects to 472 (with a value of £335 million) across the whole of Scotland, since the launch of the 2007 - 2013 Programmes.

See the full list of both European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and European Social Fund projects and the awards given here.

First Minister announces Highlands and Islands European Regional Development Fund - March 23, 2009

First Minister Alex Salmond announced the Highlands and Islands European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) projects, approved in Round Three of the 2007 - 2013 Programme.

See the full list of projects and the amount of Regional Development Fund awarded.

Minister announces Highlands and Islands European Social Fund Projects - March 20, 2009

Today Cabinet Secretary for Education and LifeLong Learning, Fiona Hyslop, announced the Highlands and Islands European Social Fund (ESF) projects, approved in Round Three of the 2007 - 2013 Programme.

Click here for the full list of projects and the amount of Social Fund awarded.

European Commission audit report on Highlands and Islands 1994-1999 European Regional Development Fund - March 9, 2009

Recently the European Commission carried out an audit on the Highlands and Islands Objective 1, 1994-1999 European Regional Development Fund.

Click on the links for more information on the final audit report and/or the European Commission's final decision on their audit.

Green Paper on Territorial Cohesion: Turning Territorial Diversity into Strength - Scottish Government Response - February 27, 2009

The Finance and Sustainable Growth Minister, John Swinney, submitted the following paper to the Commission in February 2009, in response to the EU Green Paper on Territorial Cohesion.

• Scottish Government's response to the Territorial Cohesion Green Paper

Extension of 2000-06 Programmes - February 3, 2009

Partners will be aware that the European Commission offered Member States the option of extending the eligibility period of the 2000-2006 Programmes. The Scottish Government has applied to take advantage of this flexibility and we are awaiting confirmation that this request has been accepted.

If technical issues can be satisfactorily resolved with both the Commission and Treasury we will contact the sponsors of infrastructure projects of national strategic importance, business support and Venture Capital/loan fund projects who did not claim up to the level of the ERDF grant offered to them to see if they can make another claim. Claims must be supported by a full transaction list to cover the period of the additional expenditure and the normal rules on the existence of a full and transparent audit trail and document retention will apply.

Ministers are keen that any additional funds made available to sponsors through this exercise will have an immediate impact on the economy. To allow us to report to Ministers on the likely impact of this intervention sponsors will be asked to provide a report on what the additional funding will be used for.

Global Grants Body - South of Scotland - December 2008

Applications are now being sought through EUROSYS for projects eligible to apply in the Dumfries & Galloway and Scottish Borders local authority areas, through the new South of Scotland Global Grants Body.

The Global Grants Body will be responsible for delivering projects under the £19 million package agreed for the area. The projects will be able to bid through Priority 4 (Rural Development) of the Lowlands and Uplands ERDF Programme.

In the New Year also watch out for the advertising for an Advisory Group for the Global Grants Body. Details will be published at www.sosep.org.

26 September 2008

Publicity Guidance for Structural Funds projects

The Scottish Government and our Intermediate Administration Body (IAB) partners have today published guidance on how projects can comply with European Commission publicity requirements.

The guidance is available on both the ESEP and HIPP IAB websites.

12 September 2008

Stage 1 applications

The Scottish Government and our Intermediate Administration Body (IAB) partners, ESEP and HIPP, are currently assessing the Stage 1 applications received for the ERDF and ESF Programmes in both the Lowlands and Uplands (LUPS) and Highlands and Islands (H&I) areas. The following number of applications are being assessed:

• LUPS (application round 2) - 155 ESF applications. 113 ERDF applications.
• H&I (application round 3) - 42 ESF applications. 23 ERDF applications.

These assessments will be complete soon and all project contacts will be notified of the outcome, via e-mail from the new on-line system, €UROSYS. Those applications successful in the Stage 1 process will then be invited to submit a further Stage 2 application on €UROSYS by no later than 10 October 2008.

Evaluation contracts awarded

The Scottish Government has set up an evaluation framework contract to cover all evaluation activity under the four 2007-13 Scottish Programmes. The contract, awarded after a full competitive tendering process, will run for 3 years, with an option for a further one year extension at the end of that period. The 3 successful companies to be placed on the framework contract are:

• Blake Stevenson
• Fraser Associates
• Hall Aitken

The Scottish Government looks forward to working with all 3 companies to deliver on the detail of the Scottish Programmes' Evaluation Plan.

05 September 2008

Call for Advisory Group Members

Applications are being sought today for a limited number of additional members of the Advisory Groups which were established last year for the 2007-13 European Social Fund (ESF) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programmes. This is to ensure a good representative balance of external stakeholders with relevant experience and expertise.

Applications should be submitted in time for the appraisal of second round applications. There are different deadlines for the Programmes operating in different parts of the country:

• For Highlands & Islands Advisory Groups a response is required no later than Friday 19 September 2008.
• For Lowlands and Uplands Advisory Groups a response is required no later than Friday 28 November 2008.

Full details are available in the Nominations for Advisory Groups for the 2007-2013 Programmes guidance. The information is also being released on the IAB websites at ESEP and HIPP.

Scottish Structural Funds Operational Programmes

Available for download today is the documentation for each of the four the Operational Programmes:

• Lowlands and Uplands Scotland: European Social Fund 2007-2013: Structural Funds Operational Programme

• Lowlands and Uplands Scotland European Regional Development Fund 2007-2013 structural funds Operational Programme

• Highlands and Islands Scotland: European Social Fund 2007-2013: Structural Funds Operational Programme
• Highlands and Islands Scotland: European Regional Development Fund 2007-2013: Structural Funds Operational Programme