Over the last fifteen years EU funding has played a
significant part in supporting many Groundwork projects, with
approximately 15% of project income coming from EU Structural Funds
– although for many Groundwork Trusts, and for some specific
programme areas – the contribution of EU funding has been
much higher – up to 25-50% in some programme areas. The EU
funded projects including physical regeneration of run-down areas,
training and re-skilling unemployed people in programmes such as
the Environment Task Force, and helping business to adopt good
environmental management practice. Recognising the importance of EU
funding to Groundwork, we have been developing our capacity to have
our voice heard in Europe, including engaging with the European
Commission and other EU institutions. We regularly participate in
UK and Brussels based European conferences and networks.
At the end of the current funding cycle in 2007 the level of EU Structural Funds coming to the UK is likely to be significantly reduced. Groundwork has been working with RSPB [link to their site] and a range of other organisations in the UK and Europe to lobby the UK government to continue prioritising implementation of the EU's sustainable development strategy through its regional investment policy no matter what the future of EU funding. For more details of this work download our joint position paper. [PDF document : 740Kb]
We recognise there is an increasing focus within the EU on promoting transnational partnership projects that bring together experience and know-how from different member states to tackle problems that affect all of Europe. In the past five years Groundwork has participated in a growing number of transnational projects, and has so far worked with partners from 12 other EU member states.
The trans-national dimension for EU funding and programmes is expected to develop in future years, and the award of €10 million for the Groundwork led SAUL project is indicative of the future potential of this type of funding. However the motivation to participate in these programmes is not just about funding. Equally, and often more important, is the opportunity to share experience, good practice and innovation with partners in Europe, which brings direct and major benefits back to our work in the UK.
Groundwork is the lead partner in the Interreg IIIB
project SAUL (Sustainable
and Accessible Urban Landscapes), the development phase of the
successful Interreg IIc project New Urban Landscapes. The project,
involving eight partners from London, Germany, Luxembourg and the
Netherlands, seeks to address the role of socially inclusive urban
spaces on the sustainable development of metropolitan regions
together with regional identity, planning through partnerships and
the transnational value of the 'learning region' approach. With a
budget of 16.3 million euros, SAUL is one of the largest of a
series of major transnational action / research and development
projects funded by the European Union's Interreg III programme for
North West Europe. It is also one of the first UK-led projects. For
further information please visit the SAUL website www.saulproject.net.
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