Phil Fiander, director of programmes, Welsh Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA)

1. EU funding in Wales 2014-2020
Phil Fiander
Director of Programmes
Wales Council for Voluntary Action
 www.wcva.org.uk  0800 2888 329  help@wcva.org.uk

2. • Third sector projects 2007-2013
• Partnership arrangements for Programme
design
• Key messages for Welsh consultation on
draft Operational Programmes

3. Delivery of the 2007-13 structural funds:
A shift from small projects to larger more “strategic”
ones
A shift from a grant based delivery mechanism to a
procurement mechanism
Development of partnership projects

4. WCVA Projects and Solutions 2007-13
• 3SET (Technical assistance support
programme)
• Gateway
• Intermediate Labour Market
• Communities Investment Fund

5. Third sector projects 2007-2013
• Approx. £328m 9% of the total approved of EU + match
funding has been committed to third sector projects
– £212m to 46 third sector lead/joint sponsors (direct bids)
– £116m third sector contracted delivery
• Transport, heritage, community buildings, community
economic development, social enterprise support, youth,
employment, skills.

6. Programme design
• European Programmes Partnership Forum
• Supported by work streams:
–
–
–
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Operational Programmes
Delivery & Compliance
Monitoring & Evaluation
Territorial Co-operation
• Integrated approach: ERDF, ESF, EAFRD,
EMFF
• Public consultation on draft OPs Jan-April 2013

7. Draft Structural Funds Programme
Priorities
We welcome:
• The degree of continuity with the current
programme priorities
• A clear commitment to working with the third sector
• Anti poverty and social exclusion as a theme
• Financial instruments
• Transnational co-operation

8. Draft Structural Funds Programme
Priorities
We are concerned about:
• The total size of the funding pot
• Project delivery in East Wales
• Anti-poverty and social exclusion
• No ERDF Priority for community regeneration
• Community-led local development
• Integration of funds (ERDF/ESF/EAFRD/EMFF)
• Delivery mechanisms are crucial

9. Recommendations
1. Work with WCVA and third sector networks to facilitate
involvement in design, commissioning and delivery
2. Ring-fence 20% of ESF for tackling poverty and social
exclusion (in addition to CCT)
3. Ring fence 5% of ERDF for CLLD
4. Create a dedicated ERDF Priority for social enterprise
5. Create a dedicated Priority for transnational co-operation
6. Create a single PMC covering all EU funds
7. Continue to support Technical Assistance for third sector

10. Key concerns
• Harmonisation of rules and regs
• Shift the balance from ‘doing things right to
doing the right things’
• Match funding
• Role for the third sector – sponsor/deliverer
• Advance payments
• Audit
• Procurement and competitive grants