Interreg IVB

1. Interreg IVB Summary and Key Issues

2. Interreg IIIB About 500 project ideas • 217 application forms received • 99 transnational projects approved by the Steering Committee • Over 900 partners in the North West Europe zone • Funds distributed: €323M ERDF • Each project consists of about 9 partners and represents €3M ERDF (match funding of ~50%)

3. Key Aim The North West Europe Programme aims to capitalise on the cooperation between key actors to address territorial issues across the NWE area. This is in order to contribute to the NWE’s economic competitiveness while equally promoting regionally balanced and sustainable development.

4. 844,239 square km • 21% of EU25 area • 179 million people • 39,5% of EU25 population • 307 inhabitants/km2 • EU25 average 118 inhabitants/km2 • 75% of population live in urbanised areas with more than 500 inhabitants/km2 • 23% of cooperation area is sparsely populated (180,000 km2)

5. INTERREG IVB - NWE • Time Frames – 2007- 20013 • Intervention Rate 50% • Funding Types – Action/Investment/Feasibility • Key Drivers – Lisbon & Gothenburg & EU Cohesion Policy • Guidance Published • Call for bids – Sept/Oct ---- Dec SteeringCommittee meeting

8. INTERREG IVB - NWE Due attention will be given to engaging those key actors which have previously not been involved in INTERREG partnerships, in order to expand the cooperation networks set up under the previous cooperation programmes Partner Areas Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, UK, Northern Ireland, and Switzerland

9. Key Words • Innovation & Integrated approach • Transnational Co-operation on Territorial issues • Achieve more cohesive sustainable development • Contribute to competitiveness of the EU • Durable Projects – go beyond the life of EU funding Horizontal: Different Policy Sectors Vertical: Different levels of Government Geographically: Across administrative boundaries

10. Lisbon Strategy • Lisbon Strategy - by 2010 the EU is to “…to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion” Lisbon European Council March 23rd-24th 2000

11. IVB NWE • Lisbon • To strengthen economic competitiveness • GDP • Employment Rates • Expenditure on R&D – GDP • Expenditure on R&D – Private Sector • Education Attainment Levels • Knowledge Transfer – Research to Commercial • Support and develop clusters • Improve Innovation Climate

12. IVB NWE • Gothenburg • To increase environmental sustainability • Climate Change • Flooding and Storm prevention • Reduce Technical Hazards • Protect Natural Landscapes • Energy efficiency research and investment • Improve Accessibility • Improve Settlement Parity (rural – urban)

13. EU Territorial Cohesion policy Balanced development More attractive places to live & work Better employment prospects based on growth, knowledge & innovation

14. IVB NWE • 4 Priorities – each with 3 Objectives • Priority 1 - Support Knowledge Economy and Innovation • Objectives • Transfer of knowledge • Support and develop new clusters • Innovative Climate • Priority 2 - Managing our Natural Resources Efficiently • Objectives • Promote Innovative Sustainable Approaches – nature management – water, biodiversity, energy, greenhouse effect • Risk Management • Improve Soil, Water & Air

15. IVB NWE • Priority 3 - Improve Connectivity – Sustainable Intelligent Transport Systems • Objectives • Managing transport growth – optimising existing network • Support multi-modal interoperable systems – land and water • Use ICT to limit travel • Priority 4 - Promote Sustainable dynamic communities @ a transnational level • Objectives • Strengthen Urban nodes – socio/economic growth and co-operation between cities • Improve management of the natural environment and cultural heritage – strengthen urban-rural relationships • Respond positively to migration – supply and demand needs - skills

16. “It will seek to actively maintain the natural and cultural resources of the region and alleviate negative environmental impacts on the territory, including the promotion of innovative approaches to the management and prevention of natural and technological risks in the context of climate change” The cross-sectoral approach to territorial development promoted by the programme, and the involvement of public authorities, universities, non-governmental organisations and the private sector in cooperation projects of transnational territorial significance is therefore a unique contribution to the cohesion and competitiveness of the European Union.

17. The focus of the programme on supporting novel, innovative and sometimes even experimental solutions to shared and transnational concerns provides a unique platform to solving key problems of transnational relevance and to even overcome political sensitivities. By providing funding for cooperation projects, INTERREG works as a catalyst for subsequent infrastructure investments of transnational relevance, thereby contributing to the further territorial integration of the European Union.

18. the greatest potential for added-value through transnational territorial cooperation can be achieved in projects where the problem addressed is of such nature that it cannot be satisfactorily tackled within one nation-state. Where the project results are of relevance to the wider NWE area and can therefore be transferred to other parts of the transnational territory, the multiplicator effect of INTERREG support can be most effectively demonstrated. The consideration of other European programmes and initiatives is crucial for transnational territorial cooperation, as all of these are targeted towards achieving the objectives set out in the Lisbon-Gothenburg Strategy. By complementing other European initiatives, the NWE programme adds an important transnational cooperation dimension to a wide variety of policy problems with a territorial impact.

19. The project addresses a topicof importance for, or having an impact on, the whole or an important part of the NWE cooperation area; The project develops model solutions and provides for exchange of know-how and learning in a transnational context through the involvement of relevant actors in different countries of the programme area; and/or The project provides joint strategic actions, programmes or concepts for the whole of NWE or large contiguous parts of the transnational cooperation area.

20. An innovative approach to transnational territorial cooperation implies that projects introduce novel approaches to tackling problems of transnational concern. Project applications should clearly set out the state of knowledge on which they build, by making appropriate references to existing projects, actions and studies in the field in order to avoid duplication and to take into consideration other relevant EU-funded projects and relevant initiatives at wider European level, including previous relevant INTERREG projects. Projects will not be supported if they present merely a continuation of existing activities.

21. Communication and Dissemination Projects should put forward a professional and effective communication strategy which, besides ensuring excellent communication between project partners and the programme management structures, is explicitly aimed at disseminating project information and findings to interested parties outside the project partnership and to a wide audience of policy- and decision-makers. One of the key aspects of transnational territorial cooperation programmes is the expectation that projects result in organisational learning effects and that project actions will lead to model solutions which can be transferred to other interests outside the partnership. Project partnerships should therefore develop appropriate methods for sharing the knowledge gained during the project with other actors and thus achieve synergy effects and contribute to making the best use of resources at programme and EU level.

22. Ensure that these key issues are addressed in your application • Map out these issues

23. Discussion with UK Contact Point

24. New & innovative ideas & approaches. …not "more of the same" • Building on the lessons of IIIB (where relevant) …without repetition • Partners with wide transnational impact …not cross-border • Truly joint solutions (with evidence of partnership involvement)