European Policy & Funding
European
Regional Development Fund
The NWDA manages the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
in the Northwest. We have been allocated €755 million to spend
between 2007 and 2013.
ERDF is one of two European Union Structural Funds; the other is
the European Social Fund, which in the Northwest is delivered by
the Department of Work & Pensions and the Learning & Skills
Council.
ERDF funding is just one way in which the region is funded by
the European Union. The European Union is an important source of
funding for economic regeneration, markets and job growth, through
business opportunities for our companies, R&D budgets or the
Common Agricultural Policy.
The European Union is of increasing economic and political
importance to the regions of Europe, representing a home market of
approximately 490 million people, where businesses operate under
the same rules and regulations.
European policy and legislation has a direct impact on the
prosperity of the Northwest region in a wide range of areas - such
as environment, employment and public procurement - which affects
the region’s businesses.
Regional European Partnership
The Northwest Regional European Partnership was established in
2006 to advise on the wider European agenda. The regional
stakeholder forum has representatives from the public, private,
education and third sectors, including the NWDA Director of
Policy.
The Regional European Partnership:
- Oversees the delivery of the European Priorities through the
annual work plans
- Brings together regional partners, Members of the European
Parliament and Committee of the Regions members on a regular basis
to debate on the future of the European Union
- Influences the debate on the future of the European Union and
its policies
- Develops the region’s strategic relationship with regional
Members of the European Parliament and the Committee of the Regions
representatives
- Promotes England’s
Northwest in Brussels
For more information about the Regional European Partnership
please contact us.
Regional European Priorities
The Regional European Priorities for 2009/13 are based on three
themes: economy, environment and people.
Under economy, priorities are focused on: enterprise & SMEs,
R&D, technology & Innovation and internationalisation.
Under environment, priorities are focused on: climate change,
energy and resource efficiency & eco-innovation. Under people,
priorities are focused on: education & skills, demographic
change & economic inclusion and health.
Supporting regional organisations and initiatives include:
Enterprise Europe Network, Frameworks Northwest, Climate Change
Action Plan Partnership, Envirolink Northwest, Environment Agency,
Demographic Change Group and Northwest Health Brussels Office.
In collaboration with regional partners, the NWDA delivers these
thematic priorities through accessing European Union programmes
outside the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European
Social Fund (ESF) and Rural Development Programme for England
(RDPE).
Rural Development Programme for England
The NWDA manages the Rural Development Programme for England
(RDPE) in the Northwest, which runs from 2007 to 2013. RDPE is
jointly funded by the Government and the European Union.