European Structural and Investment Funds Programmes in Scotland: 2020 case studies booklet

4. Overview of 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Fund programmes

What are the aims of the 2014-2020 programmes?

In Scotland, we have used the funds to help achieve our aims of Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth:

• Smart Growth – supporting Scotland’s businesses and workforce;
• Sustainable Growth – making Scotland a greener, cleaner place to live and work; and
• Inclusive Growth – removing barriers from disadvantaged communities and lifting people out of poverty.

The overarching priorities of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Fund programmes are designed by the European Commission^[1].

Countries design the programmes so that they satisfy their own priorities as well as those of the European Commission.

How do the 2014-2020 programmes work in Scotland?

The Scottish Government is the Managing Authority of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Programmes.

We allocate funding to Lead Partners who then bring their own match funding to increase the total amount available for operations.

Lead Partners then distribute funding between individual projects and organisations and/or deliver projects themselves.

Our Lead Partners are made up of:

• Scotland’s 32 local authorities;
• Scottish Enterprise;
• Highlands and Islands Enterprise;
• Transport Scotland;
• NatureScot;
• Zero Waste Scotland;
• Skills Development Scotland;
• Scottish Funding Council;
• National Lottery Community Fund; and
• Other Scottish Government Directorates.