Europe and the Northwest
The EU is of increasing economic and political importance to the
regions of Europe. The Union represents a home market of
approximately 490 million people, where businesses operate under
the same rules and regulations. European policy and legislation has
a direct impact on the prosperity of the Northwest region in a wide
range of areas such as environment, employment, public procurement
and other legislation, which affects the region’s businesses.
The EU is also an important source of funding for economic
regeneration, markets and job growth, be it through business
opportunities for our companies or through EU funding through the
structural funds, R&D budgets or the Common Agricultural Policy
(CAP). Indeed, the level of EU funding accessed by the
Northwest region over the last 15 years testifies both to the level
of need and the significant opportunities that exist.
The Northwest has established a Regional European Partnership to
advise on the wider European agenda.
For more information please contact Pernille Kousgaard or
phone 01925 400 544
NWDA - The Managing Authority & European Regional
Development Fund (ERDF)
In October 2006, the Government confirmed that the 9 Regional
Development Agencies (RDAs) should take responsibility for managing
the ERDF programmes in England for the 2007-2013 period. This was a
reflection of the desire to align EU regional policy with domestic
regional policy and priorities. The NWDA will take on the day to
day strategic management and delivery of ERDF from January 2008
through the new European Programme Team.
For the first time, there will be just one ERDF Programme for
the region, known as the Northwest Operational Programme (NWOP),
with a single set of objectives that supports the EU ‘Growth and
Jobs’ agenda and is aligned to the Northwest Regional Economic
Strategy. Also for the first time applications for funding will
happen through a single appraisal process.
For more information please contact David Malpass or
phone 01925 400 121 or visit Northwest ERDF at www.erdfnw.co.uk

Rural Programme (RDPE)
The Rural Development Programme for England will run from 2007
-2013. This is being delivered by in the North West by NWDA.
RDPE is a programme jointly funded by EU and UK government.
Visit our RDPE pages for further
information.
This project has been
part financed by the
European Union