2007-2013 Programmes : Eligibility & Compliance
The Lowlands and Uplands Programmes are governed by a common set of principles:
Eligibility of Expenditure - Agreed National Rules will apply to both ERDF and ESF projects. The national rules governing the eligibility of expenditure have changed for the 2007-2013 period. In broad terms, projects applying for European funding must be discrete and additional to the core functions of the organisations. Spending must be closely accounted for and there are changes to the treatment of some costs, such as in-kind contributions and staffing costs. Applicants should familiarise themselves with the new National Rules for Eligibility of Expenditure
Minimum Project Size - For Lowlands and Uplands Scotland, eligible projects must have minimum annual average total eligible projects costs of £200,000.
Additionality - Grants will be subject to additionality, complementing funding from other sources which must be in place at the time of application. The projects must likewise be additional to existing activities.
Evaluation - Projects will be subject to on-going evaluation. Programmes will now have to meet expenditure targets set by the European Union to ensure activities contribute to the Lisbon goals for employment and economic growth. For the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland 75 per cent of targets must be spent towards Lisbon targets.
Multi-annual Funding - Applicants will be invited to apply for awards for funding for up to three years for revenue projects. While a funding commitment will be made for the three years, funding in each year will depend on successful applicants demonstrating progress in implementation. Capital projects, as before, should be for the costs of providing the infrastructure/facilities.
Strategic Focus - The Programmes will focus much more tightly on certain issues, notably research and innovation. There is a strong possibility that this will be the last significant Structural Funds support available to Scotland. As a result, there will be a greater emphasis on supporting strategic projects in the period 2007-2013 that will leave a long-term legacy for the Scottish economy. This means that during the appraisal of applications particular consideration will be given to the areas of strategic fit and sustainability of projects.
Policy context - Applications are expected to fit within a hierarchy of policy contexts:
- The EU context, the Community Strategic Guidelines, which focus on improving the attractiveness of areas through better services and accessibility; fostering innovation, entrepreneurship and knowledge economy growth; and improving labour market operation though increased employment, flexibility and human capital investment, and employment goals within the context of EU cohesion policy
- The UK context, especially the challenges and targets addressed in the National Reform Programme in respect of the 2005 Lisbon Agenda for economic growth and the National Strategic Reference Framework, which sets out the framework of national goals with which Scottish Structural Funds projects must fit
- Scottish Executive policy initiatives
Partnership - The Programmes will encourage, though not insist on, a partnership approach to project development and implementation.
'Bundling' of projects - There will be a favoured view of bundling projects, meaning either the same activity in different areas or complementary activities in the same area.
Horizontal Themes - Applicants will be expected to demonstrate how their projects comply with the three Horizontal Themes of sustainability, equal opportunities and social inclusion.
Geographical Targeting - For certain Priorities under the Lowlands and Uplands Programmes, eligibility will be limited to particular regions. While projects should address the most deprived areas within each eligible authority area, all project activity does not have to take place in those areas. Where projects cover beneficiary groups that overlap with immediately-bordering deprived areas in neighbouring local authority areas, up to 10 per cent of the project award could be spent outside the designated local areas. Details on geographical targeting within particular Priorities are available under the relevant Programme section of the website.
