EU and East Midlands
The UK’s membership of the European Union impacts on the East Midlands in a number of ways:
Policy and legislation
70% of domestic laws are influenced by EU legislation. The push for new legislation or policy change comes from a number of sources, including MEPs, the Committee of the Regions, pressure groups, national governments and local authorities.
Single Market and Freedom of Movement
- Goods, people, services and money can move freely around the EU without restrictions or quotas.
- Trade: In 2005, East Midlands exports to other EU countries grew by 11.2% - 5 times faster than the UK average. This contributed to a positive trade balance for the region of £1.6 billion for the first three quarters of the year. Machinery and transport saw the biggest increase, and the region made £9 million from sales to the EU’s new Member States.
- Deregulation of air travel has led to a huge expansion of low-cost airlines and unprecedented growth in services from airports such as Nottingham East Midlands.
- Student mobility: On average, over 600 students a year from East Midlands universities take part in Erasmus exchanges to other EU countries.
Economy
- EU is the world’s largest trading bloc – 460 million consumers.
- Local and regional economic strategies have similar priorities to EU-wide strategies such as the Lisbon Agenda, i.e. growth, jobs, skills, sustainable development, research, innovation, SME-university Collaboration.
Funding
The European Union supports a wide variety of activities to help the East Midlands region through European Funding and the encouragement of transnational partnerships.
The largest source of European funding for the region is at present the Common Agricultural Policy. The East Midlands region receives an annual £190 million in agricultural and rural development funds.
Structural funds are another important source of funding and are aimed at promoting economic development, sustainable growth and social cohesion. For the period 2000-2006, the East Midlands region receives over £400 million in Structural Funds.
Although these funding amounts are likely to change from 2007, there are many other European Union funds available for transnational projects that the East Midlands benefited from. These include programmes such as Ecos-Ouverture, Interreg, Leonardo, Article 6, CITEAIR, Daphne II and the TIDE programme to name but a few.
EMEO works with its partners to ensure that the region is able to take full advantage of all the funding programmes available to it. EMEO is closely following current discussions on the shape of future funding streams, such as the 7th Research Framework Programme and programmes aimed at supporting business and trade, such as Asia Invest.
A top European region
Nottingham Ice Stadium
The East Midlands Regional Economic Strategy stipulates that by 2010, the East Midlands will be a place where people want to live, work and invest because of:
- our vibrant economy
- our healthy, safe, diverse and inclusive society
- our quality environment
EMEO contributes to this goal by engaging fully with the European Union institutions to best represent the region in Brussels and to help secure economic development opportunities for the region from Europe.
The East Midlands Integrated Regional Strategy
The East Midlands will be recognised as a region, with a high quality of life and sustainable communities, which thrives thanks to its vibrant economy, rich cultural and environmental diversity, as well as they way it addresses social inequalities, manages resources and contributes to a safer, more inclusive society. This will be achieved through:
- A vibrant and competitive economy, driven by high levels of learning and skills, entrepreneurship, productivity and improvements in physical infrastructure.
- Cohesive and diverse communities that empower and engage people, are safe and healthy, and combat discrimination and disadvantage.
- A diverse and attractive natural and built environment, as well as a rich cultural heritage
- Sustainable patterns of development that make efficient use of land and resources, incorporate sustainable construction and enhance local distinctivenes
