ESEP Download Resources : UP-date August 2008
Welcome to the August 2008 issue of UP-date, the e-Newsletter for the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland Programmes
PROGRAMME NEWS
Second Application Round Deadlines
- 15 August 2008: Closing date for submission of First Stage Applications
- 12 September 2008: Call for Second Stage Applications for successful First Stage Application projects
- 10 October 2008: Closing date for submission of Second Stage Applications
Registration of Organisations
To apply for European Structural Funds all organisations must register on the new €UROSYS online system. By completing the registration process organisations establish their ability to apply for funds. Applicants are reminded that the deadline for Registration of Organisations by Second Round applicants is Friday 8 August 2008.
Availability of Funds
Potential applicants for the second and future rounds of funding under the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland Programmes should be aware of the current level of funds available under each Priority. There are a number of Priorities that are already realising high commitment levels after the first round of funding. Details of the current commitment levels for ERDF and ESF are now available.
LUPS Eligible Areas
The annual stock-take of the statistics that form the basis for ‘spatial' targeting in the ESF and ERDF Lowlands and Uplands areas was completed on 30 June 2008. The stock-take shows that the existing eligible local authority areas remain eligible to apply for the forthcoming year. Scottish Ministers have therefore agreed that eligible areas will remain the same, until next year's stock-take in June 2009. The spatially targeted areas apply to:
- ESF Priority 1 - Progressing Into Employment
- ERDF Priority 3 - Urban Regeneration
- ERDF Priority 4 - Rural Development
Progress Reports and Claims
Successful project sponsors from the First Application Round of the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland Programme will be contacted shortly to confirm the date of the launch of the Progress Reports on €UROSYS. Individuals from these organisations involved in the compilation and submission of Progress Reports and Claims will receive information on workshops to be held in late August-September 2008. Details of these workshops will also be posted under Events
OTHER NEWS
Compendium of Labour Market Statistics
Scotland's Chief Statistician has published statistics from the Annual Population Survey, a boosted version of the Labour Force Survey that is the official source of many labour market and lifelong learning indicators for Scotland and local authority areas in Scotland. This publication provides an annual summary of the data covering key indicators such as:
- employment rates
- unemployment rates
- rates of young people not in education, employment or training
- qualification breakdowns in Scotland, Local Authority areas and other selected geographies
A summary of the main findings and details on how to download the full Annual Population Survey are available from the Scottish Government website
Skills Development Scotland
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) came into operation on 1 April 2008. The four partner organisations that have come together to form SDS are:
- Careers Scotland
- Scottish University for Industry (Learndirect Scotland, Learndirect Scotland for Business, ILA Scotland, The Big Plus)
- Key skills elements from Scottish Enterprise
- Key skills elements from Highlands and Islands Enterprise
As Scotland's new skills body, the SDS has brought together a shared vision to drive forward real, positive and sustained change in Scotland's skills performance. Through this merger Scotland now has a dynamic, forward-looking organisation which will deliver comprehensive information, advice and guidance for careers and learning as well as extensive support for skills development. For more information visit the Skills Development Scotland website.
Renewable Energy Potential Feasibility Study
A feasibility study into offshore renewables and
grid potential is to be conducted by the Scottish Government in
partnership with the Government of Ireland and Northern Ireland
Executive. Energy Minister Jim Mather said the study would
explore the potential for the transmission of electricity generated by
offshore renewables off the west coast of Scotland, the north and east
coasts of Northern Ireland, the Irish Sea and the west coast of the
Republic of Ireland.
In June 2008, the partnership successfully
applied for INTERREG funding towards the cost of a full feasibility
study. The study is estimated to cost £1.6m and will explore
technological, economic, construction and regulatory factors associated
with the development of such an offshore transmission network. The
full news release on the ISLES (Irish-Scottish Links on Energy Study)
project to be launched later this year can be found on the Scottish Government website
Celebrating 20 years of Cohesion Policy
It is 20 years since the EU adopted the first
regulation grouping together already-existing funds under the banner of
a genuine 'Cohesion Policy'. With an ever-increasing allocation of the
European budget afforded to the policy, its importance has been
consistently underlined.
Twenty years later, the bjective
of delivering economic and social cohesion across the EU remains true,
with the draft Lisbon Treaty proposing to broaden the scope to include
a new territorial dimension. The policy has also adapted to respond to
new challeges by radically shifting its investment priorities towards
research and innovation, and measures to combat climate change.
To
celebrate the occasion, a special anniversary event was held in the
Museum of Arts and History in Brussels on 24 June. Commissioner H
übner
welcomed around 500 invited guests, with President Barroso providing
the keynote speech followed by a panel debate including Commissioners
H
übner and Spidla and representatives of the other EU institutions.
You can read more about the Cohesion Policy anniversary in the latest edition of the EU Panorama magazine
