Meetings

Professor Danuta Maria Hübner MEP, Chair, Committee on Regional Development

2.1 The Chair welcomed Professor Danuta Maria Hübner MEP, who gave evidence via video link. Members questioned the witness.

4.1 The Committee discussed the report and an amended version would be circulated and agreed out of Committee.

Alun Davies, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and European Programmes
Damien O'Brien, Director of European Programmes
Rob Halford, Head of Planning and Strategy, WEFO

2.1 The Chair welcomed the Deputy Minister and his officials to the meeting.  Members questioned the Deputy Minister.

Iestyn Davies, Federation of Small Businesses

Professor Richard B. Davies, Higher Education Wales

Greg Walker, Higher Education Wales

Berwyn Davies, Higher Education Wales

Professor Phil Gummett, Higher Education Funding Council Wales

2.1 The Chair welcomed Iestyn Davies, Professor Phil Gummett, Professor Richard B Davies, Greg Walker and Berwyn Davies to the meeting.  Members questioned the witnesses.

2.2 Higher Education Wales agreed to provide the Committee with information the number of FP7 projects currently in Wales.

Judith Stone Welsh Council for Voluntary Action

Phil Fiander Welsh Council for Voluntary Action

Katy Chamberlain Chwarae Teg - Welsh Council for Voluntary Action

Lowri Gwilym Welsh Local Government Association

Neville Davies Welsh Local Government Association

Peter Mortimer Welsh Local Government Association

3.1 The Chair welcomed Judith Stone, Phil Fiander, Katy Chamberlain, Lowri Gwilym, Neville Davies, and Peter Mortimer to the meeting. Members questioned the witnesses.

3.2 WCVA witnesses agreed to provide the Committee with further information on successful research and development programmes across Europe which had used structural funds

Derek Vaughan, Welsh MEP

Jill Evans, Welsh MEP

3.1 The Chair welcomed Jill Evans MEP and Derek Vaughan MEP to the meeting.  Members questioned the witnesses.

Jeroen Jutte, Deputy Head of Unit ESF Legislation and Policy, Financial Engineering DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

2.1 The Chair welcomed Jereon Jutte and tbc to the meeting.  Members questioned the witnesses.

2.2 Jereon Jutte agreed to provide the Committee with the following additional information:

·         The pilot initiatives which have used financial engineering instruments funded through the European Social Fund.

·         The rationale behind the proposed approach to evaluating the structural funds as set out in the draft regulations and how this differs from the current requirements.    

·         Veronica Gaffey, Acting Director;  Policy Development Directorate DG Regional Policy

Via video conference

2.1 The Chair welcomed Veronica Gaffey to the meeting.  Members questioned the witness.

2.2 Veronica Gaffey agreed to provide the Committee with further information on how the multi fund based approach to community-led development strategies would work in terms of application of different intervention rates between the different funds.

5.1 The Committee discussed and agreed the draft terms of reference for the inquiry into EU Structural Funds.