Further Information : Policy
To be fully effective, the ERDF and ESF Programmes must link into to a range of policy actions, enabling Structural Funds to maximise the value added. These links must be established at different levels to ensure funding not only complements but builds on existing policy.
The Lowlands and Uplands Programmes will fit within and alongside:
- The Community Strategic Guidelines, which set the indicative framework for Cohesion Policy in support of the EU's growth and jobs commitments
- The UK's National Strategic Reference Framework, as specified in Article 25 of the General Regulation, in which the chapter on Scottish Structural Funds goals provides the overall framework
- The UK's National Reform Programme, detailing how the UK as a whole is addressing the challenges and targets developed as part of the wider Lisbon Agenda, to which the Structural Funds are intended to contribute
- Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs, approved by the European Council in 2005
- European Employment Strategy, determining how the Lisbon Growth and Jobs Agenda can be achieved in the areas of employment, employability and social inclusion policy.
- Scottish domestic policy initiatives
Scottish Government Economic Strategy (Nov 2007) supports the delivery of the Purpose, that is, to focus the Government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable growth.
Further information on the policy context of the new Programmes can be found under Part 3 of the ESF and ERDF Operational Programme documents.
Rocket Science Third Sector Report (Aug 2008)
Following consultation with the Scottish Government and a number of voluntary organisations, ESEP Ltd commissioned Rocket Science UK Ltd to undertake a study to look at some of the challenges facing the voluntary sector as a result of new priorities for the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland Programmes, and the new implementation arrangements for the Programmes.
Since 1994 we have seen the relative value of Structural Funds Programmes in Scotland reduce, with the greatest reduction being experienced in respect of the current Programmes. This has been accompanied by the need for project sponsors, in particular the voluntary sector, to reduce their dependency on European funding, develop an exit strategy and/or look to mainstream or alternative funding sources.
The brief for this feasibility study was to offer suggestions on how voluntary sector organisations can develop the necessary scale of activity to bid over the qualifying £200,000 threshold for projects under the LUPS Programmes, and to help them generate the capacity and business skills to position themselves to bid for public sector contracts.
The study also looked at issues around funding, sustainability of activity and organisations, and how to build and maintain capacity within voluntary sector organisations, for example by improving the business model under which voluntary sector organisations operate.
