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European Funding

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The EU provides funding and grants for a broad range of projects and programmes.  The Commission awards money in the form of grants in order to implement projects or activities in relation to European Union policies.  These grants may be awarded within fields as diverse as research and innovation, business, education, health, culture, consumer protection, protection of the environment, humanitarian aid, etc.  The grant beneficiaries are mainly private or public or third sector organisations, and exceptionally individuals, chosen by the European Commission for their capacity to implement the projects concerned.  Since grants cover a very diverse range of fields, the specific conditions that need to be fulfilled vary from one field to another.  It is therefore important to consult carefully the rules of each grant programme.

The programmes operate according to the EU budget timeframes called 'programming periods'.  We are currently in the 2007-2013 programming period.  The next one will run from 2014-2020.

There are a wide range of other EU funding programmes.  Cumbria is eligible for mainstream European funding.  Some of these funds will be along similar lines to current funding and some will be different, with varying methods of delivery.  These cover:

  • Competitiveness and economic development
  • Culture tourism and sport
  • Education, Youth and citizenship
  • Employment skills and social policy
  • Environment and energy
  • Transport
  • Community safety
  • Health
  • Consumer protection
  • Contingency planning
  • International development

For more advice, contact Europe Direct Cumbria for information.

Structural funds - Cumbria is eligible in 2007-2013 for Structural Funds from the European Union (EU). The Structural Funds help to deliver the European Union's Cohesion Policy, which is intended to narrow the gaps in development and economic performance among the regions and EU Member States.

For the current programming period the European Commission has developed the following objectives for its Cohesion Policy:

  • 'Convergence' to replace Objective One (for regions where the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is under 75% of EU average GDP)
  • 'Competitiveness' to replace Objectives Two and Three (criteria to be determined by the Member States) 
  • 'Territorial Co-operation'

Cumbria is eligible for Competitiveness and Territorial Co-operation.

The European Regional Development Fund is also used to provide co-financing for the European Commission's INTERREG projects.  This match-funding is not part of the North West Operational Programme.  Examples of current programmes match-funded by the ERDF are some of our local achievements.

Transition or 'intermediate' Funding - Alongside other UK regions and sub-regions, Cumbria has started to influence a case for it to be eligible for future ERDF funding after the current  funding period which ends in 2013.  Cumbria wishes to focus on the successes of the current programmes it has benefited from and how Cumbria has used ERDF funding to enhance the Cumbrian economy.  As part of our case we will be describing our evidenced-based needs and projected economic profile.


The European Social Fundthis external link will open in a new window - As one of the EU's Structural Funds, ESF seeks to reduce differences in prosperity across the EU and enhance economic and social cohesion.

Rural Development Programme for England 2007-2013 - The RDPE is the framework to distribute funds from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.  The programme is an opportunity to deliver public benefits that society wants by safeguarding and enhancing our rural environment, and fostering thriving rural communities.  Partners in Cumbria have worked together to develop a set of proposals for the delivery of the RDPE in Cumbria through 2 Local Action Group areas (LAGs), named: 

Solway, Border and Edenthis external link will open in a new window
 Local Links Community Office, Market Hall, Church Street, Wigton, CA7 9AA
T: 01697 349212
E: info@sbeleader.org.uk

Fells and Dalesthis external link will open in a new window
The Old Stables, Redhills, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0DT 
T: 01768 869533
E: info@fellsanddales.org.uk

For more information about the Rural Development Programme for England, visit the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' websitethis external link will open in a new window.

The European Fisheries Fund - The European Fisheries Fund 2077-2013 (EFF) is a European Commission scheme which seeks to promote sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.  Within the UK, approximately €138 million of funding has been made available from the Commission for EFF.  The total EFF funding for Axis 4 is €4.6 million.  This aims to provide localised support for coastal comunities in decline by helping them to develop a sustainable future through, for example, promoting ecotourism and heritage buildings.  Funding and project management is administered through the Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) themselves.

Six FLAGs have been set up including the North Cumbria Coast.  The purpose of FLAGs is to provide real support to communities that would otherwise not benefit from EU support, and encourage local tourism.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has responsibility for delivering EFF in England.  Part of this role is the promotion and facilitation of the England Axis 4 FLAG selection process.