Launch of ERDF Operational Programme for Sustainable Growth will lead to mobilisation from today of 5.52 billion euros throughout Spain

The ERDF Operational Programme for Sustainable Growth 2014-2020 (OPSG) was launched on Friday, a national programme with 5.52 billion euros of financing from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the principal aim of which is to ensure that economic growth in Spain will also be sustainable through the promotion of an economy that makes more efficient use of its resources, is greener and is more competitive. This was the explanation provided by the State Secretary for Budgets and Expenditure, Marta Fernández Currás, at an event held on Friday in Madrid, at which she was accompanied by the Director for Smart and Sustainable Growth and Southern Europe of the EU's DG REGIO, Charlina Vitcheva, as well as representatives from all autonomous regions.

This programme forms part of the programmes using European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI) that, in Spain, will represent aid worth 38 billion euros for the period 2014-2020. Its main goal is to increase the economic, social and territorial cohesion of Spain and its regions, by fostering smarter, more sustainable and more integral growth, in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy. Its geographical scope covers the whole country, but will be centred on the less-developed regions and those in the process of transition, on which two-thirds of this aid will be concentrated.

The OPSG, together with the Smart Growth Programme and the SME Initiative Operational Programme, which was launched last week, is one of the three Operational Programmes of a national nature co-financed with the ERDF in 2014-2020. Besides these, another 19 Operational Programmes of a regional nature will be developed in each autonomous region and city of Spain.

"Of all the programmes supported by funds in Spain, the OPSG is the one receiving the most funding: this aid amounts to 5.52 billion euros - 28% of the total - which, together with the accompanying public and private domestic contribution, is estimated to provide an approximate investment of 7.69 billion euros over this period", explained Marta Fernández Currás.

The OPSG is focused on four key themed areas that are directly related to sustainable growth: fostering a low-carbon economy; integrated sustainable urban development; water quality improvements; and sustainable transport.

• In terms of its overarching objectives, it has been designed to contribute towards achieving the three environmental targets set for Spain in the Europe 2020 Strategy:
• A 10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the diffuse sectors (basically transport, building and services) on 2005 levels.
• A 20% increase in participation by renewable sources in final energy consumption.
  A 20% energy efficiency improvement.

Low-carbon economy

2.1 billion euros of this ERDF aid (38% of the total for the programme) will be used to help foster a low-carbon economy which will limit greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors. To do so, energy saving and efficiency at companies, in buildings and at public infrastructure will be supported, as well as the energy-related refurbishment of homes. The importance of renewable energies will also continue to be increased, both for electricity and heat.

The State Secretary explained that a very important part of the provision under this key area - 507 million euros in total - will be allocated to individual local projects in a low-carbon economy.

Integrated sustainable urban development

1.01 billion euros of ERDF aid (18% of the programme aid) will be used to foster the implementation of Integrated Sustainable Urban Development Strategies in Spanish towns, with a view to building smarter and more integrated cities.

In this regard, Marta Fernández Currás said that two calls for proposals will be published in the coming weeks aimed at local authorities: one for individual local projects in a low-carbon economy; and the other relating to Integrated Sustainable Urban Development Strategies. ""We are working in parallel with the approval of the Operational Programmes on the implementation of their lines of investment in order to accelerate actions to the greatest possible extent", she said.

Water quality improvement

695 million euros of ERDF aid (12% of the aid in the programme) will be used to take steps in terms of compliance with the guidelines set by the EU Directive on sanitation and waste water treatment, completing the infrastructure necessary to achieve this, mainly in the less developed regions and those in transition.

Sustainable transport

In this key area, the OPSG will allocate 1.68 billion euros of ERDF aid (30% of the aid in the programme) to eliminate bottlenecks in transport systems and to promote a modal shift from highways to more efficient means of transport, mainly railways. These efforts will be made from a perspective aimed at reducing emissions and increasing competitiveness in the economy.