IP/09/369 Brussels, 9 march 2009Cohesion Policy backs "green economy" for growth and long-term jobs in EuropeDanuta Hübner, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, announced today that €105 billion will be invested in the "green economy" through the EU Cohesion Policy. The funding, which represents more than 30% of the regional policy budget for 2007-2013, offers a solid platform for job creation and a significant boost for regions and cities in their quest to maintain Europe's global leadership in the field of green technologies. Commissioner Hübner said: "Support for the green economy and the environment goes hand-in-hand with the Cohesion Policy's objective to deliver sustainable growth, jobs and competitiveness. In a difficult financial climate, this investment will be instrumental in creating long-term employment and reviving local economies, as well as underpinning the EU's commitment to the fight against climate change." Ambitious spending on environmental initiatives The €105 billion dedicated to green projects and jobs is almost three times greater than the sum allocated in the 2000-2006 budgetary period. A large part of the envelope (€54 billion) is designed to help Member States to comply with EU environmental legislation. Improvement of water and waste management alone accounts for €28 billion of the total. Romania and Bulgaria are investing the highest proportion of Cohesion Policy funds on environment-related projects, at 45% and 42% of their allocation respectively. These investments include hundreds of environmental major projects, which also contribute to protecting and creating jobs in the EU. Fight against climate change The EU has embraced ambitious objectives in the fight against climate change – a 20% reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions with a 20% share of renewable energies in EU energy consumption by 2020. With €48 billion targeted at measures aimed at achieving EU climate objectives and creating a low carbon economy, the Cohesion Policy is making a considerable contribution to these goals. This includes €23 billion for railways, €6 billion for clean urban transport, €4.8 billion for renewable energies and €4.2 billion for energy efficiency. The Cohesion Policy is also helping to create new market openings for local economies by enabling them to seize the opportunities created by the need to tackle climate change as new potential sources of growth. Nearly half of the Member States (Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the UK) have integrated indicators for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions into their Cohesion Policy programmes. France, for example, has developed a unique carbon evaluation tool to monitor CO2 emissions produced by all projects funded with EU support. Promoting eco-innovation Promoting eco-innovation and new “green-collar” jobs, especially in small and medium enterprises (SMEs), ranks high in the priorities for support for the regions. The Cohesion Policy is contributing €3 billion to the promotion of environmentally-friendly products and production processes in SMEs. One of the clear aims of funding for research and innovation is to boost overall investment in green technologies. The Lahti Cleantech cluster in Finland is a good example of this type of support. The Community's investment in (€1.5 million) in this project encouraged innovation and development of environmental technologies by bringing together small and large enterprises, educational organisations and regional authorities. The results speak for themselves: 170 new jobs have been created, 20 new clean-tech companies have set up in the Lahti region and the project has attracted more than €30 million in total investment. "Green-proofed" programmes The 455 operational programmes at the heart of the Cohesion Policy are "green-proofed": prior to approval by the European Commission, Member States have to submit a strategic environmental assessment to ensure their programmes respect EU environmental rules. An environmental impact assessment must also be carried out for certain Community-financed schemes – e.g. major transport projects. A flexible policy to adapt to complex challenges The environmental challenge does not respect borders. Cohesion Policy, with its numerous cross-border, transnational and interregional programmes, can offer an important platform for new types of cooperation. For instance, the EU Baltic Sea Region Strategy is the first EU strategy designed at the level of a "macro-region", involving neighbouring countries such as Russia. One of its main objectives is to improve the environmental state of the Baltic Sea. Annex: Cohesion funding earmarked for the environment in each Member State. More information: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/projects/stories/index_en.cfm http://ec.europa.eu/sustainable/ ANNEX Cohesion policy investment in environment, by Member State 2007-2013, in EurosBalgarijaCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in small and medium enterprises (SMEs)23.233.333Railways464.000.000Promotion of clean urban transport68.054.177Renewable energy66.491.830Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management125.619.935Waste management300.521.138Water management934.903.309Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection98.861.283Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration150.263.623Other590.481.108Sum:2.822.429.736Belgique-BelgiëCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs2.000.000Renewable energy11.851.495Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management13.976.147Waste management2.382.219Water management1.000.000Rehabilitation of industrial sites and contaminated land54.048.204Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection16.481.566Promotion of clean urban transport4.018.925Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration147.886.292Other49.218.072Sum:302.862.920Ceska RepublikaCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs292.558.512Railways2.594.682.303Renewable energy567.934.283Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management622.097.020Waste management520.258.572Water management1.745.530.053Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection685.006.132Promotion of clean urban transport200.960.223Risk prevention529.197.260Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration967.788.988Other1.998.500.556Sum:10.724.513.902DanmarkCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs25.980.691Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection6.127.108Other6.127.108Sum:38.234.907DeutschlandCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs123.861.432Railways794.513.644Renewable energy226.110.262Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management252.119.003Waste management47.745.110Water management374.973.719Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection107.257.535Promotion of clean urban transport43.885.020Risk prevention526.609.018Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration989.091.023Other791.879.154Sum:4.278.044.920EestiCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs8.793.732Railways155.269.516Renewable energy: biomass10.200.299Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management63.374.791Waste management70.302.813Water management407.756.320Rehabilitation of industrial sites and contaminated land138.045.325Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection33.943.477Risk prevention38.346.989Other300.379.635Sum:1.226.412.897ElladaCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs41.225.000Railways810.700.000Renewable energy292.840.000Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management71.170.000Waste management432.176.450Water management1.398.166.550Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection201.467.000Promotion of clean urban transport873.870.000Risk prevention479.120.000Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration478.546.683Other425.621.000Sum:5.504.902.683EspañaCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs245.755.147Railways3.575.543.446Renewable energy164.357.038Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management147.617.671Management of household and industrial waste462.015.554Water management4.019.502.284Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection749.878.282Promotion of clean urban transport138.677.144Risk prevention715.036.203Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration1.098.679.757Other679.869.072Sum:11.996.931.598EU cross-border cooperationCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs58.892.704Railways69.095.927Renewable energy223.347.167Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management107.467.685Waste management45.378.270Water management164.631.233Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection300.202.143Promotion of clean urban transport42.777.085Risk prevention253.973.572Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration169.330.476Other1.288.003.764Sum:2.723.100.026FranceCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs148.852.300Railways321.277.778Renewable energy365.435.057Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management192.106.190Waste management134.470.000Water management279.447.993Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection224.068.810Promotion of clean urban transport179.400.928Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration410.220.690Other856.187.829Sum:3.111.467.575IrelandCategoriesCommunity amountRailways6.400.000Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management38.000.000Water management8.000.000Promotion of clean urban transport16.400.000Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration85.000.000Sum:153.800.000ItaliaCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs524.507.449Railways1.839.786.715Renewable energy1.049.129.004Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management793.795.597Waste management338.072.531Water management574.936.708Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection57.132.769Promotion of clean urban transport357.743.723Risk prevention396.135.708Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration1.393.378.542Other1.550.770.104Sum:8.875.388.850KyprosCategoriesCommunity amountRenewable energy5.950.000Management of household and industrial waste125.495.000Water management8.500.000Rehabilitation of industrial sites and contaminated land16.150.000Promotion of clean urban transport29.720.000Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration41.624.324Sum:227.439.324LatvijaCategoriesCommunity amountRailways256.300.000Renewable energy67.180.000Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management60.220.000Waste management129.500.000Water management562.993.781Rehabilitation of industrial sites and contaminated land49.000.000Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection26.000.000Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration263.035.286Other165.300.000Sum:1.579.529.067LietuvaCategoriesCommunity amountRailways558.301.925Renewable energy36.763.789Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management329.961.346Waste management278.995.046Water management343.611.250Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection165.563.265Promotion of clean urban transport40.652.957Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration252.091.219Other417.123.705Sum:2.423.064.502LuxembourgCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs757.310Renewable energy1.767.056Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management504.873Rehabilitation of industrial sites and contaminated land3.786.550Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration757.310Sum:7.573.099MagyarországCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs51.934.567Railways1.657.356.773Renewable energy202.892.004Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management156.200.000Waste management366.500.000Water management1.958.637.850Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection298.966.605Promotion of clean urban transport1.703.305.238Risk prevention969.776.802Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration676.446.480Other1.367.500.341Sum:9.409.516.660MaltaCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs6.000.000Renewable energy18.400.000Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management15.590.000Waste management55.250.000Water management61.500.000Rehabilitation of industrial sites and contaminated land48.280.000Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection20.830.000Promotion of clean urban transport4.000.000Risk prevention46.750.000Other41.670.000Sum:318.270.000NederlandCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs17.747.000Railways847.000Renewable energy21.215.400Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management28.177.600Waste management2.667.500Water management2.244.000Rehabilitation of industrial sites and contaminated land31.340.000Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection7.414.000Promotion of clean urban transport16.424.000Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration110.483.000Other58.067.000Sum:296.626.500ÖsterreichCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs31.209.693Railways3.000.000Renewable energy24.237.408Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management5.956.013Risk prevention9.074.950Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection175.000Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration20.790.928Other4.558.808Sum:99.002.800PolskaCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs182.663.850Railways4.722.444.508Renewable energy775.795.217Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management409.233.887Waste management1.311.253.636Water management3.663.754.044Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection207.772.134Promotion of clean urban transport2.329.261.318Risk prevention823.344.535Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration933.651.717Other2.417.609.127Sum:17.776.783.973PortugalCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs138.179.793Railways1.379.475.000Renewable energy104.650.199Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management146.638.870Waste management224.088.076Water management1.439.369.669Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection166.509.565Promotion of clean urban transport28.757.404Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration454.199.981Other1.076.251.725Sum:5.158.120.282RomâniaCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs125.747.737Railways1.718.455.590Renewable energy191.542.611Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management253.241.727Waste management792.840.872Water management2.776.532.160Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection235.889.966Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration894.245.223Other1.645.475.642Sum:8.633.971.528SlovenijaCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs55.634.088Railways449.567.581Renewable energy54.186.553Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management105.700.000Waste management205.568.426Water management382.881.856Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection89.502.740Promotion of clean urban transport34.069.345Other198.189.929Sum:1.575.300.518Slovenska RepublicaCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs54.794.398Railways1.165.067.078Renewable energy90.252.216Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management78.584.184Waste management368.600.000Water management890.643.065Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection30.454.161Promotion of clean urban transport41.600.000Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration239.124.800Other875.416.028Sum:3.834.535.930Suomi/FinlandCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs38.572.460Railways10.198.058Renewable energy20.682.247Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management24.243.917Water management9.504.672Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection4.801.649Promotion of clean urban transport1.932.884Other46.213.277Sum:156.149.164SverigeCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs33.130.626Railways10.655.373Renewable energy52.342.949Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management9.173.788Promotion of clean urban transport13.741.278Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection8.569.467Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration14.019.266Other41.816.766Sum:183.449.513United KingdomCategoriesCommunity amountEco-innovation in SMEs272.522.371Railways60.931.808Renewable energy136.776.913Energy efficiency, co-generation, energy management141.507.204Waste management20.230.668Promotion of biodiversity and nature protection29.051.366Promotion of clean urban transport95.076.029Integrated projects for urban and rural regeneration423.770.091Other418.900.592Sum:1.598.767.042