Frankrijk - Operationeel Programma 2007-2013: Bretagne (en)

Operational programme 2007-2013 for the region of Brittany - programme under the Regional Competitiveness and Employment Objective, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

Overview

On 27 December 2007, the European Commission approved an operational programme for the region of Brittany in France for the period 2007-2013.

This operational programme comes under the Regional Competitiveness and Employment Objective and has a total budget of around €878 million. The aid provided by the European Union (EU) under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) amounts to some €302 million, representing about 2.1% of Community aid to France under the cohesion policy for 2007-2013.

Aim and purpose of the programme

Brittany lies on the Atlantic coast of France. Owing to its peninsular nature, most of the region borders on ocean to the north, the west and partly to the south, heightening the impact of its peripheral location. The unemployment rate in the region is lower than the national average (7.9% compared to 9.5%), although the situation in the urban and industrial labour markets of Brest and Lorient is more worrying. Conversely, the unemployment rate is significantly lower in rural areas.

A dynamic agriculture and food industry complex maintains a strong presence in the regional economy of Brittany, accounting for more than 25% of jobs. There is also a strong concentration of rapidly-evolving defence activities. Adapting agricultural production methods is of great importance, particularly to water quality. The agri-food and high-technology industries, which are of key importance to the regional economy, are showing signs of slowing down.

The major risk for Brittany in the period 2007-2013 is that it will disengage from European and global interaction owing to its remoteness from the main flows of goods and people in Europe. Brittany has therefore presented an operational programme which focuses on a major railway infrastructure project using €100 million from the ERDF, i.e. one third of the total budgetary allocation for Brittany in the period 2007-2013.

The strategy of the operational programme has been developed on the basis of the following issues:

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  the accessibility of the region;
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  vulnerability to economic crises;
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  enhancing innovation potential;
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  the impact of climate change and pressure on the environment.

Expected impact of the investment

By 2013, the programme is expected to:

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  increase the percentage of travellers using rail (between Brittany and Ile-de-France) from 43.5 to 48.5%;
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  limit greenhouse gas emissions (CO2 and equivalent) to 100kT;
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  increase the percentage of commuters using public transport from 3.4% (in 1999) to 5%;
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  achieve a 5% average annual growth rate in metropolitan area employment.

Priorities

The operational programme is centred on five priorities:

Priority 1: make Brittany an accessible and attractive European region in order to foster balanced, sustainable development

The main objectives of this priority are:

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  to improve connections between land-locked regions;
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  to promote environmentally-friendly, sustainable transport;
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  to develop strategies to combat the high concentration of environmental, economic and social problems in urban agglomerations;
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  to encourage environmentally-viable transport networks;
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  to rehabilitate the physical environment by redeveloping industrial wasteland while guaranteeing the preservation and enhancement of historical and cultural heritage;
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  to attract highly qualified staff using measures in the field of education, research and development (R&D) and innovation.

Priority 2: improve competitiveness and regional economic performance through innovation and knowledge

The main objectives pursued under this priority are:

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  to promote an economic climate which favours the production, dissemination and use of new knowledge by businesses;
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  to create efficient regional innovation systems;
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  to improve national and regional R&D capacity;
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  to disseminate technology and knowledge using suitable technology-transfer and knowledge-exchange mechanisms;
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  to increase private and public investment in the fields of innovation and R&D;
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  to improve the absorption capacity of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular;
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  to combat environmental pollution by concentrating efforts on prevention, recycling and biodegradation;
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  to promote the information society for everyone by encouraging in particular the integration of ICTs in businesses and households;
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  to support ICT infrastructure investment.

Priority 3: optimise the exceptional assets of Brittany in the maritime economy and marine sciences with a view to achieving sustainable coastal development

This priority covers two main objectives: building on Brittany's strengths in the field of marine sciences and the maritime economy on the one hand, and developing integrated coastal and harbour management on the other hand.

Priority 4: preserve the environment and prevent natural risks

The actions carried out under this fourth priority must make it possible to:

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  foster regional biodiversity;
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  help to combat climate change;
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  prevent natural risks (in terms of energy resources and flood control in particular);
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  improve and disseminate regional knowledge of the environment.

Priority 5: technical assistance

Provision has been made for technical assistance to implement the programme. The financial allocation can be used for administration, monitoring, evaluation and control.

Managing authority: Prefecture of the Brittany - Rennes Region, France

Contact details:

Préfecture de Région

3, avenue de la Préfecture

F - 35026 RENNES cedex 9

France

Tel. +33 299 021 703

Internet: http://www.bretagne.pref.gouv.fr/

Title: Operational Programme 2007-2013 for Brittany

Type of assistance: operational programme

CCI No: 2007FR162PO007

Decision No: C/2007/6909

Approval date: 27/12/2007

Breakdown of funding by priority (€)