Horizontal Principles/Cross Cutting Themes in the European Regional Development Fund
The horizontal principles or cross-cutting themes (CCTs) are issues that touch on general principles such as democracy, equality, sustainability and good governance. They require action in multiple fields and as such need to be integrated into all areas of the European Funding programmes and be addressed in the dialogue on development of the programmes. For the 2014–2020 programmes, the CCTs are Equal Opportunities and Gender Mainstreaming, Sustainable Development and Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion. Relevant information can be found in the CCT Key Document.
There are two aspects to the CCT commitments – internal to the operation and external i.e. anyone else benefiting from the funding. When we accepted the funding from the European Union via WEFO, therefore, we committed to the following:
When carrying out the Operation, you must:
(i) comply with our guidance relating to the Cross Cutting Themes Equal Opportunities and Gender Mainstreaming and non discrimination as set out in Article 7 of Regulation 1303/ 2013
(b) the Welsh Governments Strategic Equality Action Plan:
Strategic Equality Plan and Objectives 2012–2016: working for equality in Wales April 2012
Equality Objectives 2016–2020: working towards a fairer Wales March 2016
(c) the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011
(e) Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015
(f) Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion as set out in the Tackling poverty action plan 2012–2016
We also accepted responsibility to ensure that the Cross Cutting Themes requirements are passed onto anyone else contracted to deliver the Operation and that a lead person is identified as being accountable for the Cross Cutting Themes.
These are not optional but we believe that adopting the Well-being of future generations approach enables us to fulfil our obligations in a way that promotes good project management and makes sound business sense.
Here are some key documents on Cross Cutting Themes you may find useful:
- Cross Cutting Themes Key Document European Regional Development Fund: integrating the Cross Cutting Themes across the 2014–2020 European Structural Funds v. 2 March 2016
- Cross Cutting Themes matrix: European Regional Development Fund 2014–2020 v. 2 March 2016
- Guidance on indicator definitions, data and evidence requirements: ERDF: Priority Axis 1: research and innovation v 1.2 March 2016
- Annex 4 – SEE guidance on horizontal themes: – equal opportunities – sustainable development