(Reference: Article 8(7) of Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013)
8.1 Sustainable development
Description of specific actions to take into account environmental protection requirements, resource efficiency, climate change mitigation and adaptation, disaster resilience and risk prevention and management, in the selection of operations.
Sustainable development is integrated as horizontal principle in the cooperation programme and will be respected during its implementation, monitoring and evaluation. This will be supported through appropriate management arrangements for a sustainable development of the cooperation area.
Besides the verification of the respect of in-force rules and regulations on environment and sustainable development, the programme seeks to avoid or reduce environmentally harmful effects of interventions and to deliver results in terms of social, environmental and climate benefits. The following general principles will be adopted in the selection of applications and the monitoring of operations:
– To direct investments towards the most resource-efficient and sustainable options
– To avoid investments that may have a significant negative environmental or climate impact and to support actions to mitigate any remaining negative effects
– To take a long-term perspective when ‘life-cycle’ costs of alternative options for investment are compared
– To encourage the use of green public procurement
Operations funded under any chosen priority axis will be encouraged to incorporate activities for tackling environmental concerns and reducing their environmental footprint, for example by:
– Including environmental criteria in procurement procedures (e.g. green procurement procedures)
– Giving preference to environmentally-friendly mobility options for short travel distances
– Adopting to the possible extent measures for the organisation and implementation of conferences and events in a sustainable way (e.g. reducing printing and using recyclable materials, using video conference facilities)
– Considering resource efficiency and the use of renewable energy to the possible extent
– Making use of regional supply chains (reducing supply chain length and CO2 emissions)
All operations supported by the programme will have to respect the relevant policies and rules on environment protection and sustainable development, including the reviewed European Union Strategy for Sustainable Development (2009), the Flora-Fauna-Habitat Directive and the Birds Directive being the “cornerstone of Europe’s nature conservation policy” (cf. European Commission, 2013p), and any other applicable rule. This obligation will be laid down in the subsidy contracts with operations.
When submitting proposals, applicants have to describe the contribution to sustainable development in the application form, explaining how the sustainability principle is anchored within the design and activities of operations, in particular related to potential environmental effects of foreseen investments. This is considered as a horizontal issue during the quality assessment of applications (see section 5.3.h). Particular attention will be placed on avoiding possible negative environmental effects such as identified by the strategic environmental assessment (SEA) for specific thematic fields. The contribution of operations to sustainable development will be monitored within the final report.
116 The principles of sustainable development will also be considered in terms of programme management arrangements (priority 5).
In addition to those general principles, applications will have to demonstrate their contribution to sustainable development (along its economic, social and environmental pillars) in line with the scope of each priority axis:
Priority axis 1 aims at strengthening regional innovation capacities as well as building knowledge and skills for improving economic and social innovation. Specific attention will be given to the fields of eco-innovation and innovation for low-carbon and climate change related solutions. The stimulation of social innovation and entrepreneurship will contribute to meeting social needs such as those deriving from demographic change, migration and brain drain.
Priority axis 2 targets low-carbon strategies with a focus on energy sustainability considering the economic growth potential of this sector. It will support operations increasing the usage of renewable energy, improving energy efficiency of public infrastructure. Territorially based low carbon-strategies and low-carbon mobility of functional urban areas will help to tackle challenges of energy production and consumption, to reduce CO2 emissions and to mitigate climate change. Priority axis 3 focuses on the preservation and sustainable use of natural and cultural heritage and resources, which are considered important location factors for regional development and economic growth. Further emphasis is put on resource efficiency, climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as on improving the quality of the environment in functional urban areas which will directly affect the quality of life for urban residents. Operations supported under this priority will clearly contribute to all dimensions of sustainability.
Priority axis 4 deals with sustainable transport, namely by supporting the connectivity of regions and cities to the European transport networks and the improvement of multi-modal environmentally-friendly freight and passenger transport. Considering the principle of sustainable development, emphasis is put on public transport, considering also improved mobility services in the public interest (e.g. for disadvantaged groups, shrinking regions). It thereby contributes to sustainable growth and climate change mitigation by supporting the energy reduction objectives considering also social aspects.
8.2 Equal opportunities and non-discrimination
Description of the specific actions to promote equal opportunities and prevent any discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation during the preparation, design and implementation of the cooperation programme and, in particular, in relation to access to funding, taking account of the needs of the various target groups at risk of such discrimination, and in particular, the requirements of ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities.
The CENTRAL EUROPE 2020 Programme will consider the principles of equal opportunities and non- discrimination throughout all stages of its implementation, including the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of operations. The programme strives for promoting equal opportunities and preventing any discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation during its life cycle and in particular in relation to access to funding. It will take into account the needs of the various target groups at risk of such discrimination and in particular the requirements of ensuring accessibility for persons with disability.
As shown in the regional analysis and baseline situation (cf. section 1), central Europe is characterised by disparities in terms of social cohesion, economic development, innovation, accessibility etc. and between urban, rural and peripheral regions. Especially peripheral areas are confronted in many regions with negative demographic trends and brain drain occurrences, due to out-migration of well-educated persons.
In response to this situation and applying the principle of equal opportunities and non- discrimination in a horizontal manner, the programme will contribute to a more inclusive and
117 cohesive development by means of stimulating activities (in the fields of accessibility, knowledge and skills, social innovation etc.) that address the needs of disadvantaged groups in order to allow them to better integrate into the labour market. This will facilitate their full participation in society as well as social inclusion and foster the integration of people facing particular difficulties on the labour market, such as older workers, people with disabilities, minorities etc. as laid down in the EU green paper on equality and non-discrimination (cf. European Union, 2013c).
Besides actions of operations which explicitly address the reduction of disparities, all operations submitted under any chosen priority axis will be encouraged to incorporate activities for integrating measures to consider the principle of equal opportunities and non-discrimination, for example by actively tackling concerns of demographic change, peripherality and inequality. Operations are also encouraged to integrate the principle of barrier-free accessibility to physical investments or pilot infrastructure implemented in the frame of the operations in order to prevent discrimination.
Additionally, all operations funded by the programme will have to ensure that the activities implemented are in line with the principle of equal opportunities and do not generate discrimination of any kind. The obligation to comply with the Community rules of horizontal policies such as equal opportunities will be included in the subsidy contract of each operation. When submitting proposals, applicants will have to describe the contribution to equal opportunities and non-discrimination within the application form, explaining how the equal opportunity principle is anchored within the design and planned activities of operations. This matter is considered as a horizontal issue during the quality assessment of applications (see section 5.3h).
The principle of equal opportunities described above will also be considered in terms of programme management arrangements (priority 5).
In addition to these general principles, applications will have to demonstrate their contribution to equal opportunities in line with the following principles defined at the level of each priority axis: Priority axis 1 aims at strengthening competences and stimulating entrepreneurship for social innovation (e.g. health care, social inclusion of minorities, disabled persons, ageing society, etc.). This will contribute to meeting social needs such as those deriving from demographic change, migration and brain drain (e.g. youth unemployment, shrinking regions facing skills shortages, etc.). It will also allow for better integrating disadvantaged persons into the labour market and thereby facilitate their full participation in society.
Priority axis 2 targets low-carbon strategies and will include actions to tackle challenges of low- carbon public transport in functional urban areas, thereby contributing to ensuring equal access to sustainable urban transport services.
Priority axis 3 will cover actions on participatory planning and decision-making processes for improved urban environmental management. It will also tackle the reduction of land use conflicts due to urban sprawl, shrinkage and fragmentation under the consideration of social implications. This will consequently lead to an improved quality of the environment in functional urban areas which will directly affect the quality of life for all population groups.
Priority axis 4 targets sustainable transport and will consider also social aspects in terms of provision of improved mobility services in the public interest (e.g. for disadvantaged groups or for shrinking regions).
8.3 Equality between men and women
Description of the contribution of the cooperation programme to the promotion of equality between men and women and, where appropriate, the arrangements to ensure the integration of the gender perspective at cooperation programme and operation level.
The CENTRAL EUROPE 2020 Programme will follow the principle of equality between men and women throughout all stages of programme implementation, including the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of operations.
118 Operations submitted under any chosen priority axis will be encouraged to incorporate activities for integrating the gender mainstreaming principle, for example by:
– Integrating equal participation of women and men
– Actively promoting gender mainstreaming
Additionally, all operations funded by the programme shall ensure that the activities implemented are in line with the principle of equality between men and women and do not generate discrimination of any kind. The obligation to comply with the Community rules of horizontal policies such as equality between men and women will be included in the subsidy contract of the operations.
When submitting proposals, applicants will have to describe the contribution to this principle in the application form, explaining how the gender mainstreaming principle is anchored in the design and planned activities of operations. This matter is considered as a horizontal issue during the quality assessment of applications.
The principle of equality between men and women as described above will also be considered in terms of programme management arrangements (priority 5 technical assistance). The programme will also carry out a self-assessment exercise focusing on the application of the gender mainstreaming principle (in accordance with Annex I 5.3 of the CPR).
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