Technical Assistance and Environment A good practice from Italy

Ministry for Environment & Territory – Italian Environmental Authority for SFs

Technical Assistance and EnvironmentA good practice from Italy

“Italian Evaluation Units Open Days”

Uval, Roma5 July 2006

Aldo Ravazzi DouvanItalian Ministry for Environment & Territory

Environmental Authority (for EU Structural Funds)Coordinator


a) The National Operational Programme (NOP) Technical Assistance (TA) and the Environment

b) The Task-Force of experts for TAc) The Environmental Authorities (EAs)d) The Italian Network (Rete) of Managing Authorities

(MAs) & Environmental Authoritiese) The Working Groups and the Products of the Retef) International Products: GrDP – ENEA – Twinningsg) Recognitionsh) Preparing the National Strategic Framework (NSF)

2007-2013

CONTENTSCONTENTS


a) The National Operational Programme (NOP) for Technical Assistance (TA)

and the Environment

A tool to improve capacity building


NOP Technical AssistanceNOP Technical AssistanceFinancial breakdown of the 1.2 Measure among its Financial breakdown of the 1.2 Measure among its

12 Sector Operational Projects12 Sector Operational Projects

0

10

20

30

40

50

60Sustainable development

Soil

Water

Internationalisation

International Trade

Energy

Tourism

Cultural Resources

Social activities

Agriculture

Healthy

Equal opportunities

environment Millions of Euros


Financial breakdown, at central, regional and horizontal level, of the

Sustainable Development Operational Project

22,168

26,153

2,320 Technical Assistance atcentral level

Technical Assistance atregional level

Horizontal TechnicalAssistance

Millions of Euros


EU Structural Funds in Italian Ob. 1 Regions:EU Structural Funds in Italian Ob. 1 Regions:Three tools for environmental integration in the CSFThree tools for environmental integration in the CSF

I. Environmental Authorities (EAs), both central and regional

II. The Network of EAs and Managing Authorities for Structural Funds 2000-2006

III. An environmental Task-Force for strengthening EAs and the APAT/ARPA system (Env. Agencies) towards the NOP TA

Cooperation with Managing Authorities

Member of Monitoring Committees


b) The Task-Force of experts into the Environment and Sustainable

Development Operational Project of the NOP TA


Price, Waterhouse & Coopers study for the EC, 1999 says:“Only 0,7 units per region dedicated to environmental

integration in Structural Funds”and

“Central and Regional EAs’ structures need to be reinforced. Dedicated central and regional task-forces should be created”

CSF 2000-2006

consequentely


through CSF 2000-2006

The major project of Technical Assistance (Environment & Sustainable Development) includes ≈ 150 experts :

• ≈ 60 for the Regional Environmental Authorities Obj.1• ≈ 50 for the Regional Environmental Protection Agencies for

data and monitoring (ARPAs) Obj.1• ≈ 40 for the Central Environmental Authority (Ministry for En-

vironment & Territory) (of which 20 for the Ecological Network)


CAMPANIA10 junior7 junior1 senior

National Environmental Authority

27 junior

15 senior

MOLISE6 junior4 junior1 senior

BASILICATA6 junior4 junior1 senior

PUGLIA9 junior9 junior1 senior

CALABRIA8 junior6 junior1 senior

SICILIA10 junior8 junior1 senior

SARDEGNA7 junior8 junior1 senior

Environmental AuthoritiesEnvironment Protection Regional Agencies

Tasks force composition


An open and highly competitive public competition:• 130 “junior” experts out of 6.000 applicants• 20 “senior” experts out of 500 applicantsAn “equal opportunity” selection:• 2/3 of women among juniors • 1/2 of women among seniorsA multidisciplinary selection:• 1/3 from economics/law/politics • 1/3 from statistics/architecture/engineering • 1/3 from natural sc./biology/environment sc.


The role of training:• 3 months of high level training in the Center of the

National Training Agency for the Obj.1 Regions• 9 months of “training on the job” with reorientation

seminars

Planned continuous update and training:• with 3-monthly Workshops

• experts website community forum• exchange of best practices and methodologies


Useful characteristics: •environment Task-Force coming

from multiple backgrounds building the necessary interdisciplinary teams

• common training to build a common background• highly motivated

• shock and support for Public Administration people


c) The Environmental Authorities


The environmental Task-Force has given the Environmental Authorities

the possibility to play an effective role for the first time

in the history of Structural Funds

But what are they doing in practice?


Tasks at regional level * supporting the Regional EAs in all SFs activities drafting the POCS for ROPs preparing the ROP Monitoring Committee proposing environmental elements (criteria, indicators,

funds) in ROP’s Measures’ bids working out environmental analysis of PITs helping to draft Water Plans, Parks Plans,Waste Plans,

Contaminated Sites Plans drawing out State of the Environment Reports preparing the new Operational Programmes 2007-2013 preparing the SEA for the new programmes …* the role of the Central Environmental Authority is similar


d) The Italian Network of EAs & MAs (Rete)


“RETE” MEMBERSHIP:established during the late 1994-99 programming period,

becoming significant in the 2000-06 period

• 1 Environmental Authority of CSF + 7 NOPs (Min. of Environment & Territory)

• 1 Managing Authority of CSF (Ministry of Economy & Finance)• 2 European Commission (DG-Env, DG-Regio)• 7 Managing Authorities of NOPs (i.e. Ministries)• 7 Managing Authorities of ROPs (South Regions - Objective 1)• 7 Environmental Authorities of ROPs (South Regions - Objective 1)• 14 Managing Authorities of Docup (North Regions – Ob.2)• 14 Environmental Authorities of Docup (North Regions – Ob.2)• 1 National Statistics Agency (Istat)• 1 National Environmental Agency (Apat)• 21 Regional Environmental Agency (Arpa)often accompanied informally by the experts of the different institutions


In the RETE there are no:• NGOs

• Producers Associations• Consumers Associations

• Workers Unions• Stakeholders of any kind

The RETE is the Network of Public Officers, the experts of Public Administration working together to find the best solutions to serve their role of public service

Participation of stakeholders (NGOs, Producers, Consumers, Unions, etc.) in the Italian SFs system is guaranteed and works in the Steering Committees of:

- the CSF- the 7 National OPs

- The 7 Regional OPs


Instrument for spreading information and best practices, to develop and agree methodologies and assessment

Developing tools of investigation of institutional, technical and procedural issues (specific Working Groups)

An innovative pattern of cooperation among institutions - Systematic Cooperation Operational Plans (POCS) one to one between Environmental & Managing Authorities -and work all together within the RETE)


e) The Working Groups and the Products of the Rete


1. WG Operational Plan of Systematic Cooperation between EAs and Managing Authorities (POCS)

2. WG Methodological and technical guidelines for the evaluation of Operational Programmes (NOPs & ROPs)

3. WG Methodological and technical guidelines for the environmental evaluation of Territorial Integrated Projects (PIT)

4. WG Evaluation of the implementation of the PPP within the CSF (Polluter-Pays-Principle)

The Methodological Working Groups


1. WG Evaluation of the implementation of the PPP into the the CSF (Polluter-Pays-Principle)

2. WG Evaluation of State aid schemes for enterprises for environmental aims (Raita)

3. WG Environmental sustainability into the Urban Areas4. Working Group on guidelines for SEA for 2007-13

The Thematic Working Groups


1. Working Group on Waste2. Working Group on Water

3. Working Group on Ecological Network

4. Working Group on Contaminated Sites

5. Working Group on Environmental Monitoring

6. Working Group Energy

7. Working Group Rural Development

The Sectorial Working Group


1. Methodological and technical guidelines for Operational Plan of Systematic Cooperation between EAs and Managing Authorities (POCS)

2. Methodological and technical guidelines for the evaluation of Operational Programmes (NOPs & ROPs)

3. Methodological and technical guidelines for the environmental evaluation of Territorial Integrated Projects (PIT)

4. Update of the Ex ante Environmental Evaluation of CSF, NOPs, ROPs

5. Evaluation of the implementation of the PPP into the CSF (Polluter-Pays-Principle)

6. Evaluation of State aid schemes for enterprises for environmental aims (Raita)

7. Sectorial Reports on waste, water, monitoring,…..

Some examples of the WG’s products


f) The International Products of the Rete

ENEA – GrDP - TWINNINGS


Structure:• Interreg IIIc Project promoted by the English Environment Agency

and by the Spanish and Italian Networks of EAs & MAs• 16 legal partners at the beginning, 40 including associated partners

now• Structure open to old/new MCs, Eas/Mas/Devpt Agencies,

Nat/Reg/Loc

Aims:• Exchange of experiences, experts, best practices• From greening SFS to greening Regional Dvpt Programmes (are SFs

a best practice?)• Orientate the new cycle 2007-13 towards a better integration of

environment and sustainable development

Rete of EAs &MAs - International Products GrDP “Greening regional Development Programs”


Products:• Handbook on SEA for Cohesion Policy 2007-2013• GRDP Partners Declaration • Handbook on Partnerships• Guidance Greening Projects (ongoing)• Methodology for Greening regional Development Programs

(ongoing)• GrDP Charter planned at the end

• Patras - 4° Technical Workshop – 6-8 November 2006• La Rioja - Final Conference – 18-19 April 2007

• www.grdp.org

Rete of EAs &MAs - International Products GrDP “Greening regional Development Programs”


• Exchange of experiences, sharing information, critical issues and

developments, between Environmental Authorities and with the European Commission

• ENEA 1, Sep. 04 ENEA 5 Spain Jun.06 – ENEA 6 Roma Oct.06• A Network - guided by the European Commission – DG Environment;- with the participation of other DGs (Regio, Empl, Tren, etc.);- and of other significant actors (EEA, REC, GrDP, NGOs); - encouraged by the English, Spanish and Italian EAs & Networks

Rete of EAs &MAs - International Products ENEA

“European Network of Environmental Authorities”


5 Working Groups in the year 2005-06• Positive & Negative Impact of SFs/CF on the Environment• Capacity Building • SEA/EAE (Ex Ante Evaluation) in SFs• Water Framework Directive: financing through SFs• The 3° pillar of the CF: sustainable energy & transport• http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/structural_funds_en.htm

New Working Groups in preparation• Risk Prevention (new priority)• Lisbon ear-marking and Goteborg Strategy (Sustainable Development)• Biodiversity and Natura 2000• Effectiveness of the use of SEA in the preparation of NSRFs and OPs• …

Rete of EAs &MAs - International Products ENEA

“European Network of Environmental Authorities”


• Need for capacity building to support environment and sustainability in CP• Need to prepare capacity in time well

before the beginning of the Programmes• Need to have specific technical tools

(programs-projects)• Need to have strong, motivated, long-

lasting leadership

Conclusions - Lessons to be drawn Conclusions - Lessons to be drawn from the Italian OP TAfrom the Italian OP TA


g) Recognitions


“A 6y project (Env. Operational Project) implemented by MATT and financed by EU Structural Funds seeks to provide

local administrations in Southern Italy with skilled environmental staff. Some 150 experts advise the Env. Auth.

and the ARPAs on how to assess the environmental implications of the CSF, as well as those of national and

regional operational programs. This is

a very innovative capacity building project” OECD, Environmental Performance Review of Italy, 2002

Quoted also in the Recommendations as a best practice to be diffused

The Task Force of Environmental Authorities


“Initiatives towards the strengthening of the environmental aspect of sustainable development should be stressed: by means of skilled staff, they have concurred to the strengthening of the integration of environmental issues and the effective operativity

of Environmental and Managing Authorities Network. Appreciated and important results have been obtained regarding the integration of environmental concerns in

the programming documents, through some important guide-line documents on the modalities of cooperation between Environmental Authority and Managing

Authority and on the methodological aspects of the environmental evaluation of the OPs. The activities carried out by the Network constitute an important added value

for our administrations and are appreciated by the European Commission as excellence praxis to be diffused to other Countries.”

Italian Ministry of Economy & Finance, CSF Managing AuthorityPON ATAS 2002 Annual Report, June 2003



Italy – The Task Force of Environmental Authorities

““During the evaluation of the programme period up to 1993-1999 it was shown that During the evaluation of the programme period up to 1993-1999 it was shown that only 0,7 percent per region were dedicated to environmental integration in Structural only 0,7 percent per region were dedicated to environmental integration in Structural

Funds. This leads to the conclusion that dedicated central and regional task forces Funds. This leads to the conclusion that dedicated central and regional task forces should be created. An innovative capacity building project was created: An expert should be created. An innovative capacity building project was created: An expert

group with about 160 members was established, two thirds of them working in group with about 160 members was established, two thirds of them working in environmental authorities to support programming and in environmental agencies to environmental authorities to support programming and in environmental agencies to

provide support for data collection and monitoring. Another third was employed at the provide support for data collection and monitoring. Another third was employed at the national Ministry of Environment and Territory. Based on this structure, guidelines on national Ministry of Environment and Territory. Based on this structure, guidelines on

indicators, on evaluation and on technical directives for the implementation of the indicators, on evaluation and on technical directives for the implementation of the Operational Programmes were developed. Two years after establishing the system, all Operational Programmes were developed. Two years after establishing the system, all

sides have learned: The acceptance of the experts has increased and they are seen sides have learned: The acceptance of the experts has increased and they are seen more and more as a support, rather than as creator of additional work and more and more as a support, rather than as creator of additional work and

expenditure.”expenditure.”

“Environmental and Social Audit”, Report on behalf of the European Parliament, Committee on Budgetary Control, 2004



Environment in the Process• the “preparatory table” on environment

• the horizontal document on environmental integration to the other 7

“preparatory tables”• the transfer in the draft NSF

• …

Preparing the NSF 2007-2013 (1)


f) Preparing the National Strategic Framework (NSF) 2007-2013


• Environment and Sustainable Development as a Priority

• The role of SEA

Preparing the NSF 2007-2013 (2)


Environmental strategic approach of the NSF 2007-2013

Energy Clim aticchange

Air quality W ate r

So il Natura lris k

W aste Contam inatedsite s

3) Sustainab le andefficien t use o f

environm ental resource sfor developm ent

Natura lresources

Tourism

Cultu ralresources

4) Valorisation o f naturaland cu ltu ral resources

for attractivenessand developm ent

Environm ental and cu ltu ralresources fo r the econom ic

developm ent

1) Hum an resources im provem en tand valo risation

2) Research and innovationprom otion o f com petitiveness

5) Social inclusion , services forthe quality o f life and territo rial

attractivenes s

6) Transport netw orks and links

7) Com petitiveness o f p roductivesystem s and em ploym ent

8) Com petitiveness andattractiveness o f cities an d

urban area s

9) In ternationalisation andinvestm ents com psum ption and

resources attrac tivenes s

10) G overnance, institu tionalcapacity and effective m arket an d

com petition

Environm entalin tegration in to the o ther

NSF prio rities


STRATEGIC COHESION POLICIES GUIDELINES

STRATEGIC COHESION POLICIES GUIDELINES NATIONAL STRATEGIESNATIONAL STRATEGIES

LISBON STRATEGYSTRATEGIC RURAL

DEVOLOPMENT GUIDELINES

THEMATIC SEMINARSCENTRAL

ADMINISTRATIONSREGIONAL

ADMINISTRATIONS

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PARTNERS

REGIONAL LOCAL

AUTHORITIES

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PARTNERS

REGIONAL LOCAL

AUTHORITIES

PRELIMINARY NATIONAL

STRATEGIC DOCUMENT

PRELIMINARY NATIONAL

STRATEGIC DOCUMENT

STRATEGIC DOCUMENT

MEZZOGIORNO

STRATEGIC DOCUMENT

MEZZOGIORNO

PRELIMINARY REGIONAL STRATEGIC

DOCUMENTS

PRELIMINARY REGIONAL STRATEGIC

DOCUMENTS

NATIONAL STRATEGIC DOCUMENT


NATIONAL STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK PROCESS OF DEFINITION




NEGOTIATIONS WITH EUROPEAN COMMISSION

SERVICES

NEGOTIATIONS WITH EUROPEAN COMMISSION

SERVICES

NSFNSF

STRATEGIC PART

OPERATIONAL PART

CONVERGENCE COMPETITIVENESS COOPERATION

P.O. FERS

P.O. FSE P.O. FERS

P.O. FSE P.O. FERS


Programming 2007/2013 definition on the basic of agreement betweenState/Regions/Authonomies of 3.2.2005

8Thematic tables

Centre – Regions – Economic and Social

Partners

8Thematic tables

Centre – Regions – Economic and Social

Partners

10Centre- Regions

Technical working Group

10Centre- Regions

Technical working Group

Proposal for National Strategic FrameworkProposal for National Strategic Framework

Strategic Document

Mezzogiorno

Central Administrations CommitteeCentral Administrations CommitteeMEF/MoL/Mezzogiorno RegionsMEF/MoL/Mezzogiorno Regions

REGIONSREGIONS

NEGOTIATIONSCENTRE - REGIONS

NEGOTIATIONSCENTRE - REGIONS

Table IEducation Territorial DimensionTable IIResearch, innovation, Banks, State AidsTable IIIEnvironment Cultural Resources, Market, ServicesTable IVSocial Services, Inclusion Security, LegalityTable VNetworks and (links), Territorial DimensionTable VILocal Development Drafting GroupTable VIICities, EconomyTable VIIIInternational Dimension Investment Promotion

Table IEducation Territorial DimensionTable IIResearch, innovation, Banks, State AidsTable IIIEnvironment Cultural Resources, Market, ServicesTable IVSocial Services, Inclusion Security, LegalityTable VNetworks and (links), Territorial DimensionTable VILocal Development Drafting GroupTable VIICities, EconomyTable VIIIInternational Dimension Investment Promotion

WG Single Programming process FAS/FSWG Economic and Social PartnershipWG CooperationWG Public Service objectivesWG EvaluationWG Capacity Building, incentivesWG Monitoring and ControlWG Financial circuit and Project DesignWG Links with other EC PoliciesWG Internal Market and Competition

WG Single Programming process FAS/FSWG Economic and Social PartnershipWG CooperationWG Public Service objectivesWG EvaluationWG Capacity Building, incentivesWG Monitoring and ControlWG Financial circuit and Project DesignWG Links with other EC PoliciesWG Internal Market and Competition

Thematic PrioritiesImplementation Conditions

NSF - QSN

Regional Strategic

Documents

Preliminary National Strategic

Document