This document summarizes EU funding that will be available in Wales from 2014-2020, including key information about third sector involvement in the previous funding period from 2007-2013. It provides an overview of the partnership arrangements for designing the new funding program, and notes both support for and concerns about priorities in the draft operational programs. Specific priorities and recommendations are outlined to encourage greater third sector involvement and ensure funding is effectively used to support poverty reduction initiatives and social enterprises.

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:
–
–
–
–
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