INTEGRATED TERRITORIAL INVESTMENTS. New solutions for cities in the Cohesion Policy

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1 INTEGRATED TERRITORIAL INVESTMENTS New solutions for cities in the Cohesion Policy

2 ZINTEGROWANE INTEGRATED TERRITORIAL INWESTYCJE INVESTMENTS TERYTORIALNE W IN POLSCE POLAND Editor: Ministerstwo Infrastruktury i Rozwoju ul. Wspólna 2/ Warszawa Departament Koordynacji Strategii i Polityk Rozwoju tel , faks: [email protected] [email protected] Warszawa, wrzesień 2015 Contractor: A.V.-T. URBACT Fot.: private resources Own design and freepik 2

3 ZINTEGROWANE INTEGRATED TERRITORIAL INWESTYCJE INVESTMENTS TERYTORIALNE W IN POLSCE POLAND Table of Contents: New solutions for cities in the Cohesion Policy Functional approach to development in the Cohesion Policy Legal bases of the Integrated Territorial Investments 6 Selection principles of the Integrated Territorial Investments areas in Poland 7 Delimitation principles of Functional Areas for the ITI in Poland 8 24 Areas of the ITI implementation in Poland 9 Conditions of the Integrated Territorial Investment Implementation 11 ITI associations 12 ITI strategies 14 Model ITI strategy developed by the Krakow Agglomeration Association 16 ITI associations as Intermediary Bodies 17 Example of the scope of task delegation to Intermediary Bodies 18 Scope of interventions 20 Projects selected under the ITI formula 21 Role of ITI associations/partnerships in the project selection process 22 Examples of the project selection criteria under the competition procedure, in respect of the compliance with the ITI Strategy 23 Sources of financing of the Integrated Territorial Investments 24 Funds allocated for ITI implementation in Poland 25 The Szczecin Metropolitan Railway Project 26 Integrated Territorial Investments in EU Member Countries 28 Functional Urban Areas performing ITI s 29 3

4 NEW SOLUTIONS FOR CITIES IN THE COHESION POLICY The Cohesion Policy for the financial perspective of provides various tools designed for specific types of territories, including those directly aimed for cities or, in broader terms, for Functional Urban Areas. That is the result of the application of the area-based approach, founded on the premise that interventions adjusted to specific types of territories are more effective than any other traditional types of interventions. The area-based approach, which assumes moving from perceiving the area through its administrative borders, takes into account internal potentiality, challenges and barriers to development. To strengthen the urban dimension of the Cohesion Policy and assure a larger involvement of cities in the policy programming and implementation, the European Commission introduced a number of mechanisms in the EU regulations, such as the sustainable development of urban areas, innovative actions for sustainable development of urban areas, the Urban Development Network and the Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) approach. Polish cities and their functional areas will also benefit from these possibilities. The implementation of the sustainable development of urban areas is mandatory in the EU, as each Member State has been obligated to assign, for the use of that mechanism, at least 5% of the resources received from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Sustainable development can be carried out on urban areas either under a separate multi-thematic priority axis, a dedicated Operational Programme (OP) or Programmes, or Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI). 14 Member States decided to carry out sustainable development of urban areas through Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) 4

5 FUNCTIONAL APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT THE COHESION POLICY IN Poland belongs to the group of countries that have decided to implement sustainable urban area development programmes entirely through Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI), since Poland has been a supporter of territorial instruments for a number of years. In such strategic documents as the National Strategy of Regional Development or the National Spatial Development Concept 2030, cities constitute the main Strategic Intervention Areas (OSI/SIA), or the areas on which it is necessary to concentrate a considerable portion of development activities. What are the Integrated Territorial Investments ITI are a new mechanism, based on the territorial intervention logic, through which territorial strategies will be implemented on specific types of areas. There are three basic objectives of the Integrated Territorial Investments: Promotion of a partnership cooperation model for various levels and units of administration operating on the functional urban areas. Increase of the effectiveness of interventions through integrated projects, responding in a comprehensive manner to the needs and problems of cities and the areas that are functionally associated with cities. Increase of the influence of cities and the areas that are functionally associated with them on the shape and manner of carrying out actions in their areas in the frame of the Cohesion Policy. The perspective gives the Polish cities a chance not only to fulfil the role of beneficiary of the EU funds, but also to participate responsibly in programming the development of their areas 5

6 LEGAL BASES OF THE INTEGRATED TERRITORIAL INVESTMENTS The Integrated Territorial Investment instrument was described explicitely in the EU regulations. The Polish legal bases were strengthened by the provisions of the Act on the principles of implementation of the Cohesion Policy programmes, financed under the financial perspective and the Partnership Agreement. In addition, the European Commission and the Polish Ministry of Infrastructure and Development jointly established the guidelines concerning the use of the ITI instrument. Legal basis of the integrated Teritorial Investments: AT THE EU LEVEL: Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of (especially Art. 36) Regulation (EU) No 1301/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of (especially Art. 7) Regulation (EU) No 1304/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of (Art. 12) AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL: Act on the principles of implementation of the Cohesion Policy programmes, financed under the financial perspective of (Art. 30) Partnership Agreement (May 2014). Part of the chapter on the Territorial Development Instruments is dedicated to ITI (Section 3.1.2) ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES: Guidance for Member States on Integrated Sustainable Urban Development Principles of the Integrated Territorial Investment Implementation in Poland Guidelines of the Ministry of Regional Development, issued in July 2013, the basic document on ITI in Poland before the Partnership Agreement and the Act on the principles of implementation of the Cohesion Policy programmes, financed under the financial perspective were adopted. The guidelines on the project selection procedure for of , developed by the Minister of Infrastructure and Development 36 Art. 36 of the ERDF Regulation describes the ITI instrument directly 7 Art. 7 of the general regulation describes ITI as one of the three forms of implementing sustainable development of urban areas 6

7 SELECTION PRINCIPLES OF THE INTEGRATED TERRITORIAL INVESTMENTS AREAS IN POLAND The selection principles of the urban areas on which the Integrated Territorial Investments will be implemented in Poland have been determined in the Partnership Agreement, the essential document specifying the intervention strategy associated with European funds available under three EU policies: the Cohesion Policy, the Common Agricultural Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy ( ). The selection of urban areas was made on the national level, in co-operation with regional authorities. Based on the Regional Government Resolutions and the conditions determined in the Partnership Agreement, the Integrated Territorial Investments will be carried out in Poland with very ambitious assumptions: not just on urban areas, but rather on functional areas (including the surrounding municipalities that are strongly connected with cities). The ITI implementation on the functional areas, reaching out beyond the administrative borders of cities, is intended to strengthen co-operation and attainment of common objectives on large areas. ITI s will be implemented in Poland as follows: In regional capital cities and on their functional areas (the socalled Regional ITI s), constituting the most important centres in the country. They were selected by decision of the Member Country, represented by the minister proper for Regional Development, who decided to issue 5% of the national ERDF allocation to support those centres and also granted an additional allocation to Regional Governments for the Regional Operational Programmes. In cities of regional or subregional importance and on their functional areas. The ITI implementation on those urban areas depends on the Regional Government s decisions in a given Region (Voivodship), which governments may decide on supporting those centres through ITI s and the Regional Operational Programmes adopted upon negotiations with the European Commission. In that case, the area designated for the ITI instrument intervention will be agreed upon jointly by the Regional Government and the municipalities interested in the ITI implementation. 7

8 DELIMITATION PRINCIPLES OF FUNCTIONAL AREAS FOR THE ITI IN POLAND The delimitation of the ITI areas preceded the works on the determination of Functional Urban Areas (FUA s) in regional capitals, declared in the National Spatial Development Concept For that reason, the FUA delimitations may be different from the ITI areas *. The delimitation of the ITI implementation areas in regional capitals was based on the document by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development Selection criteria of functional urban areas of regional capitals dated July The document indicated that a FUA must be composed of the following: the regional capital, all the cities belonging to the core functional area, and other municipalities belonging to that area. For the purpose of selecting other municipalities, the following indicators were considered: the number of commuters (workers and students), the population of the FUA core, the proportion of those employed in nonfarming professions, the number of businesses, the population density, and the rate of residential house building. As part of the delimitation process, at least half of the municipalities indicated by the Ministry had to be included in an ITI area. Consequently, the city and regional governments were quite flexible in the selection of the municipalities to be specified in the respective Regional Government Resolution. For example, the ITI Association for the Szczecin Metropolitan Area decided to include in their FUA the cities of Stargard Szczeciński, Stepnica, and Świnoujście which had not been mentioned in the ministerial document. Exact ranges of ITI urban areas are determined in the respective Regional Government Resolutions (in accordance with the conditions specified in the Partnership Agreement). The principle of selecting at least half of the municipalities did not apply to the Warsaw FUA, owing to the determination of the Mazowieckie Region in which Warsaw is located as better developed and to other consequences resulting from that fact * The works on the respective Ministry Regulation for the FUA delimitation are underway. 8

9 24 AREAS OF THE ITI IMPLEMENTATION IN POLAND In total, ITI s will be carried out in Poland on 24 FUA s, including 17 functional areas of the regional capitals (there are 16 regions in Poland; however, the regional capital of Zielona Góra has poor functional links with Gorzów Wielkopolski and, consequently, two separate FUA s were delimited there), with 7 FUA s in regional/subregional cities. Four Regions decided to create ITI s for smaller regional/subregional cities: Śląskie (Regional ITI areas for the Subregions of Częstochowa, Rybnik, and Bielsko-Biała), Dolnośląskie (Wałbrzych and Jelenia Góra), Wielkopolskie (Kalisz- Ostrów Agglomeration), and Zachodniopomorskie (Koszalin-Kołobrzeg-Białogard Agglomeration). In several cases, one ITI area covers more than one main city, e.g. in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region, where the cities of Bydgoszcz and Toruń will be covered by one ITI area. Similarly in the Zachodniopomorskie Region, where one area will cover three cities: Koszalin, Kołobrzeg, and Białogard. The Śląskie Region is unique in this respect. Their ITI area covers the whole Region subdivided into four Subregions: Northern (Częstochowa), Central (Katowice), Western (Rybnik), and Southern (Bielsko-Biała). Within their Regional Operational Programmes, several Polish Regions decided to implement other and more flexible support mechanisms, directed at smaller regional/subregional cities, based on the ITI approach. Here are some examples: ITI-bis in the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Region designed for two cities: Elbląg and Ełk. The Integrated Territorial Agreement in the Pomorskie Region for the FUA s covering Bytów, Chojnice- Człuchów, Słupsk, Kościerzyna, Kwidzyn, Malbork, Lębork, and Starogard Gdański. 9

10 350 TERRITORIAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS INVOLVED IN THE ITI s The number of municipalities belonging to one ITI Association/ Partnership in Poland may differ from several (e.g. the FUA of Zielona Góra and Gorzów Wielkopolski), to many (e.g. the FUA of Katowice, where the Association has been created by as many as 81 municipalities). The structure of ITI Associations/ Partnerships is also diverse, e.g. the Częstochowa area has been established by 31 municipalities of which 2 are urban, 6 urban-rural, and 23 rural (Polish municipality types or gmina). In addition to municipalities, the middle level of the Polish public administration may participate in the Associations/ Partnerships, namely the counties (powiat). Such a situation occurs e.g. in the Kalisz-Ostrów Association, with the participation of three counties: Kalisz, Ostrów, and Pleszew. 10

11 CONDITIONS OF THE INTEGRATED TERRITORIAL INVESTMENTS IMPLEMENTATION In order to implement the ITI instrument, it is mandatory to fulfil the following conditions: Establishment of an institutional form of co-operation (ITI Association or Partnership). The ITI Associations play the role of a joint representation for the city and FUA management in respect of the national and regional authorities. Three types of co-operation are possible: Municipal and/or County Association, Local Government Association, or Municipal Association. Preparation of the ITI Strategy. That is the fundamental document under which support is granted for actions/priorities adopted in the ITI formula, within the Regional Operational Programme (ROP). The ITI Strategy should be agreed with the Managing Authority (MA) of the Regional Operational Programme and positively evaluated by the Minister proper for the regional development, in respect of the Strategy s compliance with the Partnership Agreement. Holding a proper institutional capability, within the institutional system of the Regional Operational Programme (ROP), the Partnerships will play the role of Intermediary Bodies (IB s). The functions of IB s may differ, depending on the provision of the Agreements signed with the ROP Managing Authority (MA). As each unit of the IB, the ITI s will be subjected to audit and designation. Signing of the ITI Implementation Agreement, within the Region, between the ITI Association and the ROP Managing Authority (MA). Acting specific provisions in the Regional Operating Programme (ROP) to fulfil the European Commission s requirements and comply with the Partnership Agreement. The ITI implementation within the ROP is taking place through the identification of dedicated actions and activities under at least two ROP priority axes, being financed from at least two Thematic Objectives (TO) and the Cohesion Policy funds. 11

12 ITI ASSOCIATIONS The partnerships established within the ITI FUA s are called ITI Associations. They are composed of the regional capital and its surrounding municipalities, constituting a joint representation in respect of the national and regional authorities. According to the provision of the Polish implementation Law: The ITI s shall be managed in Poland either by ITI Associations, established for the purpose of co-operation between municipalities, as specified in the Polish Municipality Law of 8 March 1990, or by the Local Governments under Partnership Agreements, concluded between the ITI area municipalities, for the purpose of joint ITI implementation. In practice, the Integrated Territorial Investments will be carried out in Poland under two legal forms: either ITI Associations or ITI Partnership Agreements, established or signed by the municipalities, respectively. ITI Associations On the one hand, the roles of the ITI Associations can be played by the existing Municipality Unions, e.g. the Szczecin Metropolitan Area Association which was established in 2005 to manage the metropolitan co-operation. That Association expanded its activities upon the appearance of the ITI instrument by the assumption of the ITI Association role. On the other hand, the Kraków Metropolitan Area established its Association mainly owing to the appearance of the ITI instrument. 13 Functional Urban Areas decided to carry out Integrated Territorial Investments under Municipal Partnership Agreements. 11 Functional Urban Areas decided to carry out Integrated Territorial Investments through either existing or newly established Associations. ITI Associations are composed of: Councils composed of all the member municipalities representatives, with legislative powers; several-person strong Management Board, acting as steering and audit bodies; and Offices, with supporting service functions. For example, the Poznań Agglomeration Association has the following bodies: the General Members Assembly called Metropolitan Council, the Management Board, and the Audit Commission. The Associations also act as Intermediary Bodies (IB s). 12

13 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS COOPERATION AGREEMENTS AIMED AT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ITI S ITI Associations functionning as cooperation agreements of local government units Some municipalities decided to choose a less complex form of co-operation and signed ITI Partnership Agreements for joint implementation of the ITI instrument. In such a case, they do not have to establish an Association. The ITI Partnership parties are represented by a Mayor who assumes Leadership. In that case, the Leader fulfils the role of Intermediary Body (IB) and is represented by the cities Mayor. ITI Partnerships functionning as Cooperation Agreements are not associations, therefore their internal units play the roles of opinion makers and supporters of the Mayor who has been elected Leader under the Agreement. Most of the ITI Partnership Agreements appoint their Steering Committees, with legislative powers, supporting the Leader. They are composed of representatives of all the municipalities participating in the ITI Partnership. The role of the Steering Committee is to issue opinions, e.g. on the approval of the ITI Strategy. Management Boards support the Steering Committee s operation. Also, ITI Offices are established to handle administrative matters. They are usually placed within the City Office structures. For example, the Wrocław Functional Area ITI Partnership Agreement is composed of the following: the Steering Committee, the ITI Council, and the ITI Office. The Council groups social and business partners, including the representatives of business, local communities, and academic circles. 13

14 ITI STRATEGIES One of the basic conditions of the ITI implementation is that the city, in co-operation with the FUA, should prepare an ITI Strategy, which, according to the provisions of Art. 7 ERDF, should determine sustainable urban development through strategies that set out integrated actions to tackle the economic, environmental, climate, demographic and social challenges affecting urban areas, while taking into account the need to promote urbanrural linkages. The ITI Strategies are intended to assure cohesion and effectiveness of the development activities on the selected areas. On the one hand, the ITI Strategies demonstrate the visions of the area development, and, on the other hand, they are strictly adjusted to the conditions, specified mainly in the Regional Operational Programmes. The ITI Strategies will be implemented by the public intervention entities, local governments, as well as other institutions. Considerable participation of the residents, businesses, NGO s and business organizations operating on the intervention area is an indispensable precondition of the Strategy implementation. The Strategy period should reach at least ITI Strategy complementarity The ITI Strategies must result from the Europe 2020 Strategy and comply with the Cohesion Policy regulations, the Partnership Agreement, the Polish Act on the principles of implementation of the Cohesion Policy programmes, financed under the financial perspective of 11th July 2014, as well as the Guidelines prepared by both the European Commission and the Polish Ministry of Infrastructure and Development. In addition, the Strategies must comply with the documents adopted at the EU level (Europe 2020) and the national level (National Regional Development Strategy, National Spatial Development Concept, and Regional Development Strategies), as well as other strategic and planning documents approved for the functional areas. 14

15 ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF THE ITI STRATEGIES Each ITI Strategy must comply with the following requirements: Indicate the area supported by the ITI Strategy. Include a synthetic diagnosis of the supported area, with an analysis of development challenges and problems existing on the area, and a SWOT analysis indicating the respective aspects. Indicate the development objectives and priorities for the implementation of ITI s, with expected outcomes and result and product measurement indicators, associated with the ROP. Define the project selection principles and the list of tasks to be carried out under the ITI formula, for the projects to be selected outside a competition or a bidding procedure, with a project identification method. Indicate a proposition of project evaluation criteria for the projects to be selected under competition, in respect of the compliance with the ITI Strategy (the criteria must be approved by the Monitoring Committee of the given Programme). Indicate the influence of the planned activities on the achievement of the assumed indicators. Include a Financial Plan. Describe an Implementation System. Include a report on the course of the works and involvement of the partners of the functional area, with the description of the way in which the partners will be engaged in the fulfilment of the ITI Strategy. Define the list of strategic operations of a complementary nature that can be implemented outside the ITI formula. 15

16 MODEL ITI STRATEGY DEVELOPED BY THE KRAKOW AGGLOMERATION ASSOCIATION Number of participating municipalities: 15 Functional Area population: 1,03 million Surface of the area: 1275 km² Amount of funds: 465 mio euro (including 236 mio. euro from the Małopolskie Region ROP and 229 mio. euro from the Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment - POIŚ) ACTIONS Non-competition ROP project selection procedure ( 202 mio.) Business Activity Zones Public building energy efficiency projects Air quality improvement (replacement of heating systems) Low-carbon emission transport (P&R, bicycle paths, buses) Water and sewage management Waste management Road infrastructure Health care infrastructure RESULTS Attractive capital investment lands, new business projects, new jobs Reduction of energy consumption in buildings Liquidation of non-ecological heat sources, better access to district heating New P&R systems, bicycle paths, modern and ecological buses and trams Better access to sewage systems New and modernized selective waste collection, fewer facilities with asbestos Traffic streamlining with better local roads Modernized hospital infrastructure Competition ROP project selection procedure ( 236 mio. plus 229 mio. from POiŚ) Pre-school education Vocational education Care services for the disabled More places in kindergartens, expanded extra-curricular courses Additional competitions and apprentice placements for vocational school students, better co-operation with employers, new specialized Vocational Competence Centres More day care places for the disabled 16

17 ITI ASSOCIATIONS AS INTERMEDIARY BODIES According to Art of General Regulation No /2013, the ITI Associations fulfil the functions of Intermediary Bodies (IB s). In the case of ITI Partnerships, the Leader (the Mayor) of the Partnership Agreement performs that role. In Poland, the ITI Associations/Partnerships work as the Intermediary Bodies only within ROP s. However, as to the support in the performance of these national programmes: the Infrastructure and the Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment (POIŚ) and the Eastern Poland Operational Programme (POPW), their role is limited to arranging the projects eligible for the respective funds. The ITI Associations/ Partnerships are obligated to sign, with the Managing Authority (MA) of ROP, written agreements on the delegation of specific tasks. Such agreements are signed before the initiation of each programme. Minimum scope of tasks delegated to the city government by the Managing Authority: The Intermediary Body at least evaluates projects, in respect of their compliance with the ITI Strategy The Intermediary Body, acting jointly with the Managing Authority, selects the projects to be funded. Consequently, both IB and MA approve the final project list. As a consequence of the fulfilment of the Intermediary Body functions, the ITI Associations or Partnerships become internal components of the management system and will be subjected to the designation process (as to their functions), audits, and task performance checking. The minimum scope of delegation consists in the selection of projects either by com petition or by preliminary approval of the projects outside a competition. The ITI Associations/ Partnerships and MA s jointly accept the list of the projects to be funded. An especially important role of the ITI Associations/Partnerships is confirmation whether the planned projects comply with the respective ITI Strategy. The ITI Associations/ Partnerships propose the project selection criteria in the ITI Strategy, based on such compliance. Later, the criteria must be approved by the Monitoring Committee of the respective ROP. It may happen that a city may be both the Intermediary Body and the beneficiary. In that case, such functions must be separated within the Body. 17

18 EXAMPLE OF THE SCOPE OF TASK DELEGATION TO INTERMEDIARY BODIES Various scopes of tasks can be noticed when analysing the contracts signed between the MA of the Operational Programme of the Dolnośląskie Region and its three ITI Associations located in Jelenia Góra, Wrocław and Wałbrzych. JELENIA GÓRA (8 TASKS) Develop, update, and perform the ITI Strategy WROCŁAW (18 TASKS) Develop, update, and perform the ITI Strategy WAŁBRZYCH (28 TASKS) Develop, update, and perform the ITI Strategy Co-operate on the Description of Functions and Procedures in the scope that is proper for each task Participate in drafting of the project selection criteria in respect of the projects compliance with the ITI Strategy Participate in the acquisition and evaluation of the funding applications and appeals procedure, with the approval of the list of winning projects Publish the projects applying for funding on a website Carry out information and promotional activities, within the scope to be agreed with the MA of the ROP Co-operate on the Description of Functions and Procedures in the scope that is proper for each task Drafting of the project selection criteria in respect of the projects compliance with the ITI Strategy Participate in the acquisition and evaluation of the funding applications and appeals procedure, with the approval of the list of winning projects Publish the projects applying for funding on a website Carry out information and promotional activities, within the scope to be agreed with the MA of the ROP Co-operate on the Description of Functions and Procedures in the scope that is proper for each task Drafting of the project selection criteria in respect of the projects compliance with the ITI Strategy Participate in the acquisition and evaluation of the funding applications and appeals procedure, with the approval of the list of winning projects Publish the projects applying for funding on a website Carry out information and promotional activities, within the scope to be agreed with the MA of the ROP 18

19 EXAMPLE OF THE SCOPE OF TASK DELEGATION TO INTERMEDIARY BODIES JELENIA GÓRA (8 ZADAŃ) WROCŁAW (18 ZADAŃ) Prepare and update the Performance Instruction for the Functional Area Participate in drafting the project evaluation criteria by the MA of the ROP Participate in drafting the project handling schedule WAŁBRZYCH (28 ZADAŃ) Prepare and update the Performance Instruction for the Functional Area Participate in drafting the project evaluation criteria by the MA of the ROP Carry out the project acquisition process Approve and settle the Project Funding Agreements Verify the project evaluations in case of appeals against decisions Handle payments to the beneficiaries Monitor project performance progress Audit project performance 19

20 SCOPE OF INTERVENTIONS The scope of the interventions is specified in the ITI Strategies and it is strictly associated with funding eligibility under the Thematic Objectives and investment priorities available in the Cohesion Policy. The final selection of the scope of interventions under the ITI Strategy has been arranged between the MA and the ITI Associations/Partnerships. Some ITI s include a wide scope of interventions. For example, the Wrocław Functional Area will carry out projects within 23 investment priorities, while the Warsaw Functional Area selected only 7 priorities. The largest number of ITI Associations/Partnerships will carry out their projects selected from 4e. priorities: 3a. promoting entrepreneurship, in particular by facilitating the economic exploitation of new ideas and fostering the creation of new firms ( ); 4c. supporting energy efficiency, smart energy management and renewable energy use in public infrastructure, including in public buildings, and in the housing sector; 4e. promoting low-carbon strategies for all types of territories, in particular for urban areas, including the promotion of sustainable multimodal urban mobility and mitigation & relevant adaptation measures; 6c. conserving, protecting, promoting and developing natural and cultural heritage; 6d. protecting and restoring biodiversity and soil and promoting ecosystem services, including through Natura 2000, and green infrastructure; 9b. providing support for physical, economic and social regeneration of deprived communities in urban and rural areas; Most popular Investment Priorities 20

21 PROJECTS SELECTED UNDER THE ITI FORMULA Within the RPO framework, the ITI Associations/Partnerships will be able to carry out the projects selected either by a competition process or outside a competition. The project selection procedures are defined in specific Programmes and they are the results of the negotiations with the European Commission. Consequently, only in some of the ROP s it will not be possible to choose projects without a competition, while other ROP s use the non-competitive selection process as a basic procedure, within the ITI formula. The complementary projects, submitted under the national POIŚ and POPW programmes, are selected without competitions. However, such projects have to be arranged by the respective Managing Authorities and ITI Associations/Partnerships. The projects selected under the ITI formula must fulfil the following criteria: The project must be integrated and complementary in respect of other territorial, thematic, and functional projects that either have been completed or are currently performed. The integrated projects must respond in a compre hensive manner to the problems of a specific functional area. In addition, the projects must combine various sources of financing, ERDF and ESF, soft and hard interventions. According to Art. 32 of the Implementation Law an integrated project consists in fact of at least two projects, interconnected thematically within one common objective to be attained upon the completion of the project. The project must be created in partnership. The projects to be performed within the ITI formula should be arranged between many partners operating within the ITI Associations/Partnerships and other entities operating on the area: businessmen, communities, social organizations, and residents. It is also important to arrange the contemplated project with the Managing Authority which will be financing specific interventions. The project must be ready to implement. The ITI projects must be realistic, represent clearly determined conceptions, schedule of works, project documentation, construction plans etc. 21

22 ROLE OF ITI ASSOCIATIONS/PARTNERSHIPS IN THE PROJECT SELECTION PROCESS The main role in the project selection process is played by the ITI Associations/Partnerships. The Managing Authority (MA) of the RPO holds auxiliary functions, e.g. in the process of project eligibility checking. The Intermediary Bodies (IB s) may act as Competition Organizing Institutions either independently, or in co-operation with other organizations, e.g. the MA. Considering that the Intermediary Bodies are responsible for the project selection, the ITI Associations/ Partnerships will at least evaluate the degree in which the projects fulfil the compliance criteria in respect of the ITI Strategy. The Intermediary Bodies and the Managing Authorities will finally approve the lists of the projects selected for funding. Detailed solutions are diverse in particular ITI s: The project compliance criteria refer to eligibility (formal criteria), evaluation (substantive criteria), and mixed aspects (both types of criteria). The Polish ITI s apply all the three approaches. In the case of the substantive criteria, with evaluation based on a point scale, there are various weights attached to each criterion, e.g. in the case of the ITI for Zielona Góra, the weight was 6%, for Gorzów Wielkopolski 51%, and for Kraków only 20% worth. The Managing Authorities can be responsible for competition scheduling and calls for projects. They may co-operate with Intermediary Bodies, or the latter can act independently in that task. The Intermediary Bodies which independently organize calls for projects can be found only in Wałbrzych and Łódź (and only within the ERDF framework). The majority of competition schedules are drafted by the ROP Managing Authorities. Either the MA s or the IB s can be responsible for competition rule drafting (in the case of the Polish ITI s, the majority of such rules will be prepared by the respective MA s, in consultation with IB s). The Project Evaluation Commission may operate within a single stage (providing a joint evaluation of all the projects) or two stages (with separate evaluations and separate teams within MA s and IB s). In the majority of the Polish ITI s, the process will consist of two stages. The project compliance verification can be provided either before evaluation (most often in Poland) or afterwards. 22

23 EXAMPLES OF THE PROJECT SELECTION CRITERIA UNDER THE COMPETITION PROCEDURE IN RESPECT OF THE COMPLIANCE WITH THE ITI STRATEGY Below are listed some examples of the implemented project compliance criteria, in respect of the ITI Strategy: FORMAL: Location of the project on the Functional Area of the given ITI territory Is the project characterized by its integrated nature? Is the project adequate for the diagnosed problems/challenges and the Objectives/Priorities/Actions specified in the ITI Strategy? SUBSTANTIVE: Influence of the project realisation on the achievement of the target values of the ITI Strategy s goals monitoring indicators. Relation of the project to other activities and further development potential. Solution of additional problems indicated in the ITI Strategy. Project complementarity with other currently performed or completed projects. Wider influence of the project, exceeding beyond one municipality, with a positive impact on the whole area. 23

24 SOURCES OF FINANCING OF THE INTEGRATED TERRITORIAL INVESTMENTS The Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI s) will be carried out in Poland with the support from both the ERDF and ESF, in the framework of the 16 Regional Operational Programmes, and directly within national programmes, and that will allow to fund the ITI s from various sources. Poland does not expect to fund the actions under the ITI formula as part of the Cohesion Fund. Regional Operating Programmes (ca. 3.7 billion ) ROP s constitute the main sources of the ITI Strategies financing. As part of the Operational Programme, ITI s will be performed by identification of activities or tasks, within at least two priority axes, financed from two structural funds: ERDF and ESF. The basic allocations for ITI s are determined in the Partnership Agreements; however, the resources can be increased by the decision of the Regional Government. For example, the Poznań Agglomeration received 16 million euros from ERDF and 2 million euros from ESF. The highest value of additional resources was allocated in the Śląskie Region: 32% of the whole RPO allocation will be used by the Integrated/Regional Territorial Investments. National Operational Programmes (ca. 2.2 billion ) Additional funds to support ITI s designed for the regional capitals their functional areas will be channelled from the Operational Programme Infrastructure and Environment (POIŚ) and the Operational Programme Eastern Poland (POPW) , serving as the aid sources for the selected and indispensable complementary projects, resulting from the ITI Strategy, and agreed between the ITI Association/Partnership and the respective Management Authority. Within the OPIE, it will be possible to carry out the projects which strengthen urban transport and energy effectiveness on functional areas. Within the OPEP, it will be possible to carry out the projects strengthening urban transport on functional areas. Such resources may not be allocated to the functional areas of regional/subregional cities. 100% That proportion of POPW resources allocated to urban transport will be assigned for the projects which are complementary to ITI s. 55% That proportion of OPIE resources allocated to urban transport will be assigned for the projects which are complementary to ITI s. 24

25 FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR ITI IMPLEMENTATION IN POLAND Poland decided to allocate considerable funds for the Integrated Territorial Investments, exceeding the mandatory 5% of the ERDF resources. The main source of ITI financing in Poland are the 16 Operational Programmes, in which almost 3,8 billion euros will be allocated. Additionnally each functional area will dedicate their own founds for the realisation of the ITI strategy to the level of at least 175 mio euros. Gdańsk-Gdynia - Sopot Metropolitan area Opole agglomeration 4 mio euro Kalisz-Ostrów agglomeration This amount of founds will be dedicated to the realization of ITI Strategies at the regional level 25

26 THE SZCZECIN METROPOLITAN RAILWAY PROJECT Area: the City of Szczecin Project value: PLN 1,149 mio. Subsidy: 48.2%, or PLN 73 mio. Funds from the City and the EU under the ITI formula Construction of the Łękno integrated transportation hub, with the necessary infrastructure on the Intercity Route, to provide passenger services within the agglomeration. This project fulfils two strategic objectives of the Szczecin Metropolitan Area (SOM): Spatial and Functional Integration of SOM Integrated Space and Improvement of the Living Standard of the SOM Residents High Quality and Accessibility of Services. The completion of the project will allow the SOM residents to commute to the city centre and the north-western boroughs of the regional capital quickly and competitively in respect of travelling by car. The city residents will enjoy comfortable travelling conditions in multi-modal systems operating between the boroughs. 26

27 THE SZCZECIN METROPOLITAN RAILWAY PROJECT This project supplements the Szczecin Metropolitan Railway capital investments which cover the majority of the SOM municipalities. The Łękno hub is located in the city s centre. In one place, the project integrates various modes: the city and regional railway station, a joint terminal for tramways and buses, Park & Ride and Bike & Ride facilities, and the proposed Szczecin Urban Bicycle Route. 27

28 INTEGRATED TERRITORIAL INVESTMENTS IN EU MEMBER COUNTRIES The EU Member countries intend to allocate 13.6 billion euros for the ITI implementation. To compare, 2 billion euros will be assigned for the Community-Led Local Development. In total, ca. 9% of the ERDF resources will be spent for the sustainable development of urban areas (Art. 7 ERDF). We should remember that the figures may change since not all the Operational Programmes have been approved by the European Commission yet. The countries which will make the largest ITI allocations are: Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. The thematic scope of the ERDF support concerns mainly three Thematic Objectives: supporting the shift towards a lowcarbon economy in all sectors (TO 4), promoting sustainable transport and removing bottlenecks in key network infrastructures (TO 7), and strengthening research, technological development and innovation (TO 1). The majority of the entities implementing the provisions of Art. 7 through ITI s (ITI Associations/ Partnerships in Poland) will hold a minimum scope of delegated tasks. 13, 6 billion euros That amount will be allocated by the Member Countries to ITI implementation ca. 100 That many Operational Programmes will use the ITI instrument 28

29 FUNCTIONAL URBAN AREAS IMPLEMENTING ITI S Functional Urban Areas Legal Form: Associations or Cooperation agreements Nr. of municipalities ROP Allocation (ERDF, ESF) * Białystok Białystok Functional Area Association 10 76,00 Bielsko-Biała Cooperation agreement ,14 Bydgoszcz-Toruń Cooperation agreement ,79 Częstochowa Cooperation agreement ,16 Gdańsk-Gdynia-Sopot Gdańsk-Gdynia-Sopot Metropolitan Area ,28 Association Gorzów Wielkopolski Cooperation agreement 5 49,28 Jelenia Góra Cooperation agreement ,37 Kalisz-Ostrów Wielkopolski Kalisz-Ostrów Agglomeration Association 24 69,10 Katowice / Gliwice Katowice/Gliwice Association of ,10 Municipalities and Counties of the Central Subregion Kielce Cooperation agreement 12 82,40 K o s z a l i n - K o ł o b r z e g - Cooperation agreement Białogard Kraków Kraków Metropolitan Area Association ,06 Lublin Cooperation agreement ,41 Łódź Łódź Metropolitan Area Association ,00 Olsztyn Cooperation agreement 7 58,58 Opole Opole Agglomeration Association 21 71,40 Poznań Poznań Metropolitan Area Association ,60 Rybnik Association of the Municipalities and ,41 Counties of the Western Subregion Rzeszów Cooperation agreement 13 72,82 Szczecin Szczecin Metropolitan Area Association ,10 Wałbrzych Cooperation agreement ,60 Warszawa Cooperation agreement ,76 Wrocław Cooperation agreement ,25 Zielona Góra Cooperation agreement 5 58,34 TOTAL ,94 * in millions of euros 29

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