Fuente: © European Union
http://europa.eu.int

EU: Spain — Operational programme 2007–2013: Navarre

/noticias.info/ 1. Operational Programme 2007-2013 for the Autonomous Community of Navarre – programme under the Regional Competitiveness and Employment objective co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

2. Background

On 28 November 2007 the European Commission approved an Operational Programme for the Autonomous Community of Navarre (Spain) for the period 2007–2013.

This Operational Programme comes under the Regional Competitiveness and Employment objective and has a total budget of some 94 million euros. Community assistance through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) amounts to around 47 million euros, representing approximately 0.1% of total EU investment in Spain under the cohesion policy for 2007–2013.

3. Purpose and aim of the programme

For the period 2007-2013, the Autonomous Community of Navarre has reoriented its development strategy in favour of promoting factors linked to the Lisbon strategy, namely:

* renewing the basis for competitiveness;
* increasing its potential for growth and productivity;
* strengthening social cohesion through research, innovation and the development of its human resources.

There are four pillars to the regional strategy, underlying the programme priorities:

* knowledge-based economy, innovation and entrepreneurial development;
* energy resources and access to transport services;
* sustainable local and urban development;
* technical assistance

A detailed description of its strategic priorities makes it possible to estimate the share of the Community Funds allocated to the Lisbon Strategy priorities at more than 90% for the ERDF.

The Autonomous Community of Navarre has chosen to place development of the knowledge-based economy (R&D + information society + entrepreneurial development) and sustainable local and urban development at the heart of its strategy for sustainable and socially integrated development. The overall objective is to increase the region's attractiveness and the overall competitiveness of its economy.

4. Expected impact of the investments

The results expected from the programme for the period 2007-2013 may be estimated as follows:

* expenditure on research and development will increase from the current 1.68% (2006) of GDP to 3% of the GDP forecast for 2013;
* internet use by the population will increase from 50% to 70% in 2013;
* average expenditure per undertaking on environmental protection will increase from €930 to €2 900 in 2013.

5. Priorities

The Operational Programme has four priorities:

Priority 1: Knowledge-based economy, innovation and entrepreneurial development [approximately 90% of total investment]

Under this priority, Navarre is aiming towards a knowledge-based society by creating new scientific and technological infrastructures, strengthening the competitiveness of undertakings by promoting research, technological development (R&D) and exports, entrepreneurial innovation and the dissemination of information and communication technologies.

Particular attention is paid to the Technological Plan 2008-2011, aimed at developing a framework for research, development and innovation (R&D&I) which will form the basis for reinforcing the ten strategic sectors by 2010. This will enable a move towards more diversified, solid and balanced production structures.

Furthermore, given the proportion of small and medium-sized undertakings in Navarre's economy, there are plans to implement actions aimed at improving their international profile and external promotion.

In addition, the Plan for Promoting the Information Society seeks to implant new technologies in various sectors of society in Navarre as part of actions in three well-defined areas:

* technological development to promote the regional information and communication technologies (ICT) sector;
* strengthening online public services, adopting ICT in undertakings and increasing the percentage of people with access to them;
* creating a favourable context for supply and demand with actions in areas such as infrastructures, basic services, the regulatory framework and human resources.

Priority 2: Energy resources and access to transport services [approximately 6% of total investment]

The aim of Navarre's Energy Plan for 2005-2010 is to promote competitiveness among undertakings in parallel with reducing energy consumption through efficient and sustainable use of energy. This enables a gradual reduction in atmospheric emissions.

In order to meet these challenges, the Operational Programme is establishing a measure aimed at promoting energy saving and renewable energies on the one hand and, on the other, the energy aspect of the Plan for the Integration of Urban Industrial Sites.

Priority 3: Sustainable local and urban development [approximately 3% of total investment]

The growth in the population resident in Navarre is creating new needs, requiring the design of new support instruments for the territories.

The Spanish national authorities (Ministry of Finance) have therefore decided to take their main inspiration from the Community's URBAN initiative, establishing aid for integrated local and urban development projects. The aim is to give priority to projects based on prior discussion of the future of the territory in all its aspects (economic, social, environmental, cultural, etc.). Community aid will enable financing for projects with a wide range of content but with the same objective of sustainable development.

Priority 4: Technical assistance and strengthening of institutional capacity [approximately 1% of total investment]

Technical assistance enables the co-financing of management, monitoring, evaluation, control, organisation, information and communication activities under the programme and of operations carried out. notas_de_prensa_archivo