The proposal of the Integrated Regional Operational Programme for the

Preparation of the Moravia-Silesia region for the future programming period has been executed since 2011, when the legislation of the EU Cohesion Policy 2014 – 2020 at the European level was published. The first reaction was to update the Moravia-Silesia Region Development Strategy 2009 – 2016 so as to be consistent with the objectives that will be implemented in accordance with the Europe 2020 Strategy and with the length of the cohesion policy by 2020. It is also based on the current Regional Operational Programme and other strategies at national and regional levels (e.g. the Regional Innovation Strategy, regional strategies on the field of infrastructure, environment, tourism, etc.). The Regional

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thirty-one specific objectives that have their indicators to monitor progress. The global objectives are as follows:204

1. Competitive, innovation – based economy,

2. Good education and high employment – opportunities for all,

3. Cohesive society – quality health care, targeted social services and successful fight against poverty,

4. Quality environment, services and infrastructure to live, work and visit, 5. Effective governance.

All current Regional Operational Programmes will be replaced by the Integrated Regional Operational Programme in the programming period 2014 – 2020. As mentioned in section 4.3.4, the IROP will be financed by the ERDF and will be managed by the Ministry of Regional Development. However, some of its agenda will be delegated to the Intermediary Bodies which will be probably a part of each current Regional Council of the Cohesion Regions. The Intermediary Bodies will take the form of either semi- budgetary organizations of the region authority or joint-stock companies and it will be used only for the payments of projects and counselling. The final form of the IROP implementation is not decided yet. This solution has been selected mainly because the drawing of the resources from EU Funds earmarked for the period 2007 – 2013 will still continue until 2015, and then there will be still a termination and evaluation of the current programming period. This means that the Moravia-Silesia region should basically operate as in the current period some years after the official closure of the current programming period.205 The idea to replace seven ROPs by one Integrated Regional Operational

Programme met opposition in regions themselves. There were worries about the jobs

losses, the disappearance of tried and tested implementation structure of the ROPs and ignorance of regional problems whose solution would not be effective at the national level. There are several reasons why the Ministry and the Czech Government agreed with this change. The most important element of the future functioning should be to simplify the system of subsidies under the IROP. The main role in the emergence of the one IROP played corruption cases that have been revealed in some regions in recent years. There is

204 _{AGENTURA PRO REGIONÁLNÍ ROZVOJ. Strategie rozvoje Moravskoslezského kraje 2009 – 2020} [online]. 2012 [cit. 2012-03-23]. Available from: http://verejna-sprava.kr- moravskoslezsky.cz/assets/rozvoj_kraje/srk_2009_2020.pdf.

205 _{EUROACTIV.CZ. Daniel Braun: V přípravě kohezní politiky zatím míříme na pohyblivý terč. Euractiv.cz} [online]. 2012b [cit. 2013-03-27]. Available from: http://www.euractiv.cz/regionalni-rozvoj/interview/daniel- braun-v-priprave-kohezni-politiky-zatim-mirime-na-pohyblivy-terc-010592.

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also expected more transparency and a stronger emphasis on control of the entire system of implementation of the EU Cohesion Policy at the regional level during the period 2014 – 2020 because of only one Managing Authority. It has not solved yet how the precise implementation structure of the IROP and the allocated amount from the ERDF will look like. Also there is still addressed the issue of implementation of integrated approaches and applications of spatial dimension.206

But the forms of priority axes of the IROP are already known. There will be eight priority axes which will be adequately linked to the thematic objectives of the Common Strategic Framework, which were introduced in section 2.2.1. The proposed IROP axes are as follows:207

1. Support accessible and sustainable regional transport and serviceability priority axis follows the seventh thematic objective and the proposal presents two areas of support. One is supposed to focus on the development of Class II and Class III, but the other on the development of infrastructure for public transport.

2. Development of tourism and cultural heritage priority axis corresponds to the third and sixth thematic objective. The proposed areas of support are focused on the development of infrastructure, services and marketing for tourism. This priority axis could also include the development of tourism in Prague, but this point is still under discussion as well as the promotion of tourism in rural areas which should be financed from the Operational Programme for Rural Development. This priority axis is also ideal for applying an integrated approach.

3. Promoting energy efficiency in municipalities and regions priority axis should match to the fourth thematic objectives and it would operate on the basis of three areas of support such as the improving energy efficiency in buildings, public infrastructure and support of low-carbon strategies. In this priority axis is considered the use of financial instrument JESSICA.

206 _{EUROACTIV.CZ. Vláda dnes projedná budoucí nastavení operačních programů, bude jich osm.} Euractiv.cz [online]. 2012a [cit. 2013-03-27]. Available from: http://www.euractiv.cz/regionalni-

rozvoj/clanek/vlada-dnes-projedna-budouci-nastaveni-operacnich-programu-bude-jich-osm-010425.

207 _{MINISTRY OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CZ. Návrh prioritních os IROP, working document,} 2012.

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4. The priority axis of social and medical infrastructure which is linked to the ninth thematic objective could support services in the field of social integration and health care. These services are primarily provided by public institutions so it is still under negotiations with the concerned ministries.

5. Support for the development of education infrastructure priority axis has only one area of intervention which is supposed to focus on the development of infrastructure for education. There is finding a way how to connect this priority axis, which is in line with the tenth thematic objective, with the partly co-financing by the ESF through a global grants.

6. Support of integrated development of urban areas and region priority axis combines the eighth and ninth thematic objective. The areas of support should include the promotion of sustainable urban development and integrated development of area. Employment, social inclusion and combating poverty should become the priority in urban areas. Furthermore, the framework of urban development counts on the implementation of integrated plans which will also help other priority axes IROP. In addition, it should focus on strengthening the role of urban centres as natural growth poles in regions, education and the environment. The urban development will also contribute significantly to thematic operational programmes.

7. Strengthening of institutional capacity and improving efficiency in the regional public administration priority axis corresponds to the second and the eleventh thematic objective. In this priority axis, there is still being addressed the issue of public administration support between Less developed and More developed regions. The areas of support should focus on the development of ICT in public administration, in particular the introduction and development of digitizing agendas as e-Government, e-Health, e-Justice, e-Commerce, e-Business, etc. Then, it will focus on promotion of institutional capacity, programme planning and procurement documentation of the regions and municipalities.

8. The last proposed priority axis is the Technical Assistance. It should be directed, as in the current period, to support the activities of the Managing Authority and Intermediary Bodies within a comprehensive implementation of the Operational Programme. This priority axis should consist of support activities associated with the programme management and other costs of technical assistance. Discussed area

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is also the possibility to use this priority axis for the OP Prague - pole of growth in the Czech Republic.

4.4.4. The form of the EU Cohesion Policy implementation in the Moravia-Silesia