What is the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF)
The NSRF (National Strategic Reference Framework) 2007–2013 constitutes the reference document for the programming of European Union Funds at national level for the 2007–2013 period. It was elaborated within the framework of the new strategic approach to the Cohesion Policy of the European Union, according to which NSRF “…ensures that the assistance from the Funds is consistent with the Community strategic guidelines on cohesion and identifies the link between Community priorities, on the one hand, and the national reform programme, on the other.”
During the elaboration of the 2007-2013 NSRF as a programming document, a significant number of proposals submitted to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, guidelines – political choices at a national and European level, quantitative data and studies were used as input.
The Decisions of the European Council of December 2005, earmarking European Cohesion Policy funds for Greece until 2013, the new Regulations for EU Funds, as well as Cohesion Policy Strategic Guidelines have constituted the framework on which, among others, national authorities were based in order to approach the main parameters of development programming and to draw up the NSRF.
Furthermore, the main EU documents pertaining to the revised Lisbon Strategy and the National Reform Programme for Development and Employment 2005-2008, were taken into account in developing the main strategic choices-priorities, as they constitute central long-term choices for the European Union, to which the development policy of the new NSRF is called upon to contribute.
Based on the above, the NSRF targeting was structured over 4 levels:
- the NSRF strategic objectives level,
- the thematic (5) and spatial (3) priorities level, as required by the General Regulation of the Funds,
- the level of the General Objectives, in which each thematic priority is subdivided,
- the level of special targets and of main means of achievement.
At the same time, the development strategy took into account the national policies laid down in strategic documents, such as the National Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion Strategy2006-2008, the Digital Strategy 2006-2013, the “Plan for the Development of Transports for 2007-2013 and twenty-year plan”, the National Port Policy, the National Strategic Rural Development Plan for Greece 2007-2013, etc.
The financing framework was structured on the basis of the decisions of the European Council of 16th December 2005 and of the specifications – limitations provided for in the new Regulations, and also according to the sectoral and regional development needs for the next period, also taking into account the needs for completion of ongoing projects carried forth from the previous programming period and the requirements for actions serving the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy. A fundamental choice was the optimum utilisation of the resources of the new programming period to the benefit of the country’s balanced regional development.
The basic principles governing the management, monitoring and control framework of the 2007-2013 Operational Programmes were the object of a broad consultation process and were recorded in the position papers of stakeholders. These were complemented by the conclusions of a systematic analysis of the new E.U. Regulations requirements (NSRF Task Force, MOU S.A., CSF Managing Authority/Special Coordinating Service) and of a relevant study that was carried out on behalf of the Ministry of Economy and Finance entitled “Improving the management and control systems of OP of CSF 2000–2006, Community Initiatives, the Cohesion Fund, and their adjustment for the 2007–2013 period”.
The architecture of the NSRF 2007-2013 Operational Programmes (OPs) was formulated in such a way as to implement the country's strategic choices in the best possible manner, whilst also taking into account new data for the programming period 2007–2013 (63% of the country's population in a state of transitional support).
The new scheme is characterised by a smaller number of Operational Programmes in relation to the previous 2000–2006 period, leading to a more flexible management scheme: the country’s strategic planning for the 2007 - 2013 period will be implemented through eight (8) Sectoral OPs, five (5) Regional OPs and twelve (12) European Territorial Cooperation OPs. Thus, during the 2007–2013 period, all accessibility infrastructure projects will be implemented through a single OP, while there will no longer be a distinct OP for the sectors of health and culture and the relevant actions will be carried out through Regional and Sectoral OPs.
Related files
Last modification date: 26/03/2010