LGA report on maximising the true value of EU funds

The Local Government Association has published a report - More than money: maximising the true value of EU funds - looking back at the success of EU-funded projects in UK local authorities and outlining a series of recommendations on the future of European funding. The report puts forward four key messages:
1) Regional Policy should be available to all areas throughout Europe
2) EU Regional Policy offers added value over domestic programmes, particularly with regards to stability of funding, the financing of innovative projects, and developing new multi-sectoral partnerships
3) A local approach to European funding is crucial to maximise EU added value
4) Greater coordination and coherence is needed for EU policy objectives to optimise delivery

The report also quotes a number of successful projects funded by European programmes, including the following from the South West:

- Gloucestershire First Economic Partnership European Strategy as an example of the importance of a stable 7 year framework for action
- Devon’s Renewable Energy for Devon RE4D project as an example of how EU money helps developing new multi-sectoral, multi-level partnerships
- Somerset’s Bioethanol for Sustainable Transport BEST project as an example of how EU money allows for sharing knowledge across boundaries