European Affairs

Welcome, Willkommen, Bienvenue

Our Regional and European Strategy Unit plays a key role in the regeneration and socio-economic development of the city and North Staffordshire. We provide information on funding programmes, projects and policies (regional, national and European).

The European Strategy Unit works with our new neighbours in the 25 member states of Europe, to develop European funded projects to help regenerate the city and benefit North Staffordshire.

We work with regional and European partners to represent the city internationally and influence regional and European policy to make our city a better place to work, live and enjoy.

Our overall objectives are to:

• lead on policy and strategy development for the City of Stoke-on-Trent, within a regional, national and international context and maximise external funding to regenerate the city;
• develop market opportunities with Stoke-on-Trent’s twin city, Erlangen and other European networks for cultural, commercial and economic purposes; and
• market and promote Stoke-on-Trent locally, regionally and internationally, as a place to invest, live and work.

The Unit plays a key role in co-ordinating regeneration programmes including the city council’s Regeneration Strategy, European Structural Funds (Objective 2 and 3), both within the city council and, crucially, with external agencies.

It also:

• leads in the procurement, management and development of European funded projects that require transnational partnerships;
• uses its twinning link with Erlangen and other European networks to do project development work of particular importance with the planned changes to the European Union’s Structural Funds and Community Initiative Programmes (Post 2006);
• gives advice on funding/ bidding, lobbying, influencing regional and European policy, dissemination of information (Bulletins and Alert emails);
• has a wide range of contacts and networks, representing the city council at a local, regional and international level, to help raise the profile of the city council;
• is responsible for delivering the Priority 3 Action Plan (“Building  Communities”) in the city.

Our service is used internally by city council teams and externally by partners.

News

The Department of Trade & Industry also known as DTI, is launching a review of Assisted Area Status for 2007-2013. This status has been of great benefit in regenerating the city during 2000-2006, and will continue to benefit the city through the next stage. However, the amount of the United Kingdom's population to be covered by this will be reduced from 31% to 24%, so there is no guarentee that Stoke-on-Trent will be successful.

The deadline for responses to the DTI is 19 April 2006. If you need more information please contact us at the email address below.

The Department of Trade & Industry is also consulting on how Structural Funds (European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund) will be allocated for 2007-2013. With our partners we will be lobbying to ensure continued access to Structural Funds for that time.

The deadline for responses is 22 May 2006. See the quick links for more information.

For further information, please contact:

Regional and European Strategy Unit
PO BOX 2461
Civic Centre
Glebe Street
Stoke-on-Trent
ST4 1WR

Email: europeanaffairs@stoke.gov.uk
Tel: 00 44 (0)1782 232747