FGE-Galicia News

02/12/2014

FGE presents in Brussels the region of Galicia as an example of good governance in managing structural funds

Brussels, 2 December 2014.- The head of Fundación Galicia Europa in Brussels, Ana Ramos, was invited by the regional representation of Sicily to the EU to participate at a seminar celebrated this morning and aimed at Members of the European Parliament from this Italian region. The event was part of a series of sessions organised by the representation of Sicily to the EU in Brussels with the main objective of raising awareness among the Sicily’s political representatives about the latest milestones in EU policy, such as the guidelines provided by Europe 2020 or the new Cohesion Policy.

It was at the panel dedicated to the Cohesion Policy where the representative from Fundación Galicia Europa introduced Galicia as an example of good governance in managing structural funds. To illustrate the fact, she explained several specific cases of funded projects by the EU Structural Funds (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF), which have contributed to the Galician economic growth and, therefore, to the inclusion of the region in the most developed EU regions during the period 2014-2020.

Ana Ramos also took the opportunity of making known the situation of Galicia for the Cohesion Policy’s new period, given its new classification. Along this line, she highlighted the intensive work performed by Xunta de Galicia and Fundación Galicia Europa in the past years in order to achieve a “security network” that ensures for Galicia at least 60% of the ERDF funds and ESF received during the period 2007-2013 and, in consequence, eases its transition towards the category of “developed region”.

Finally, she expounded the initiatives put in place from the Galician government in order to adapt to the new guidelines of the Cohesion Policy 2014-2020, such as the thematic concentration, the result focus or the establishment of ex ante conditions. Thus, concerning investment in R&D&I, she explained the Galician Smart Specialisation Strategy (RIS3), presented in March 2014 and which identifies active ageing, reindustrialisation and innovative management of natural and cultural resources as priority pillars.