JTS INTERREG IVA 2 Seas Lead Applicant Seminar Medway 20 May 2009

1. Part-financed by the ERDF INTERREG IVA 2 Mers Seas Zeeën Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2007-2013 Introduction to the INTERREG IVA 2 Seas Programme JTS INTERREG IVA 2 Seas Lead Applicant Seminar Medway 20 May 2009

2. Part-financed by the ERDF The European Union and the Regions • The Regional policy 2007-2013 •  347 billion euro for 2007-2013 (1/3 of the European Union budget) • 3 objectives •  Convergence (81,54 %) •  Regional competitiveness and employment (15,95 %) • Territorial cooperation (2,52 %) • = INTERREG IV

3. Part-financed by the ERDF European Territorial Cooperation - INTERREG The European Territorial Co-operation objective will strengthen cross-border co-operation through joint local and regional initiatives, trans-national co-operation aiming at integrated territorial development, and interregional co-operation and exchange of experience. • 3 strands: •  Strand A: cross-border cooperation (€5.4 billion – 52 programmes) • Filling the gaps and solve together problems crossing the border • Adjacent zones or countries whose sea border is less than or equal to 150km • Objective: do away with the border as an obstacle to socio-economic development •  Strand B: trans-national cooperation (€1.8 billion – 13 programmes) • Extra European dimension to regional development • larger groups of European regions • Objective: better territorial integration into the Union •  Strand C: interregional cooperation (€0.4 billion – 1 programme) • Building networks to develop good practice and facilitate the exchange and transfer of experience by successful regions • EU27 + Norway + Switzerland • Objective: improving policy and regional development tools’ effectiveness

4. Part-financed by the ERDF Cross border cooperation • 52 programmes but 6 common issues: • Encouraging entrepreneurship, especially the development of SMEs, tourism, culture and cross-border trade; • Improving joint management of natural resources; • Supporting links between urban and rural areas; • Improving access to transport and communication networks; • Developing joint use of infrastructure; • Administrative, employment and equal opportunities work.

5. Part-financed by the ERDF Eligible areas Interreg IVA 2 Seas

6. Part-financed by the ERDF Eligible areas for Channel and 2 Seas Programmes

7. Part-financed by the ERDF The 2 Seas Programme in a nutshell O P E R A T I O N A L P R O G R A M M E CONTEXT ANALYSIS CommunityStrategic Guidelines for Cohesion Policy 2007-2013 • 4 NSRF : • UK • France • Flanders • The Netherlands Socio-economicdiagnosis SWOT Analysis S T E P 1 + Lisbon and GothenburgStrategies General developments and trends Lessonsfrompreviousexperiences Perspectives and challenges of the Programme area = PROGRAMME STRATEGY S T E P 2 Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 3 Priority 4 Common priority with the France(Channel)-England programme Creating an economically competitive, attractive and accessible area Promoting and enhancing a safe and healthy environment Improving quality of life S T E P 3 Specific target group Priority 1 Specific target group Priority 2 Specific target group Priority 3 Specific target group Priority 4 C O M M O N T A R G E T G R O U P S

8. Part-financed by the ERDF Interreg IVA 2 Seas: Priorities • Priority 1: Creating an economically competitive, attractive and accessible area • Priority 2: Promoting and enhancing a safe and healthy environment • Priority 3 : Improving quality of life • Priority 4: Common Priority with the France (Channel) - England programme

9. Part-financed by the ERDF Interreg IVA 2 Seas: Programme Budget The total budget of the Programme: 167 millions euros ERDF

10. Part-financed by the ERDF Interreg IVA 2 Seas: Potential partners • Legal status • - public body • - body governed by public law • - private body (micro, small, medium enterprises) • - not-for-profit-organisations • Who is not eligible as a partner? • Sub partners/umbrella partners • Bodies without budget and not requesting ERDF from the programme • Private companies exceeding the limits set for micro and SMEs

11. Part-financed by the ERDF Interreg IVA 2 Seas: Partnership Partnership requirements: Priority 1, 2, 3 • minimum 2 partners from different MS • minimum 1 English partner • In case a Lead Partner is in adjacent area, at least one partner must be in the eligible area • Partnership requirements: Priority 4 • minimum 3 partners • minimum 1 English partner • 1 partner from the French area of the France-Manche Programme • 1 partner from the “Two Seas Programme” (continental) • In case a Lead Partner is in adjacent area, at least one partner must be in the eligible area

12. Part-financed by the ERDF Interreg IVA 2 Seas: how to be involved? • Develop a projectidea • Set up a partnership • Draft a budget • Make sure you have the necessary match funding (at least 50%) • Collect the letters of intent • Fill out the application form • Check thatyoumeet all the eligibilitycriteria Submit the application form to the JTS 3 calls for proposals/year  check the calendar of the calls

13. Part-financed by the ERDF What’s going on once the application submitted? • An appraisal of the application isperformed by the JTS and the 4 Member States: • Eligibility check • Quality check • The SteeringCommittee (made up of representativesfrom programme partnersauthorities) doesdecidewhichprojectwillbesupported. A projectcanbeeither: • Approved:welldone! • Referred back: the projecthas potential, but needs to be redrafted and isadvised to resubmit in a future call • Rejected:the project does not fit with the programme requirements OR has to be completely revised to be acceptable • The JTS informs the applicants about the decisions • and signsSubsidyContractwithapprovedprojects

14. Part-financed by the ERDF The project Lifecycle Post-project activities, use of results, follow-up Ideageneration & partnershipdevelopment Closure Partner search, elaboration of the idea, needs analysis Coordination of activities, reporting, monitoring, adjustments, financial management Project development & application Implementation Strategy & content, responsibilities, application requirements Kick-off, detailed planning, contracts & agreements Contracting & start-up

15. Part-financed by the ERDF Cross-border success What is a good cross-border project? • It entails 4 elements: joint development, implementation, staffing and financing • Is in line with the objectives and priorities of the Operational Programme • Demonstrates the need for cooperation in tackling a common issue relevant to the 2 Seas area • Delivering sustainable economic growth • Produces lasting, measurable benefits for the programme area • Focussed and of sufficient added-value • WIN/WIN: involves close cooperation of the partners at all stages of the project • Ideally produces valuable results in a wider European context • Is additional to the regular tasks of organisations

16. Part-financed by the ERDF Creating the project budget It is vital that projects start to consider financial issues and the project budget from the very beginning ! Project budgeting Resource planning Costestimating Costbudgeting • TIPS: • ERDF grant = maximum 50% of your total project budget • The partnershipshouldkeep budget estimates as accurate as possible. • Thinkcarefully about how youspreadyour budget over the project’slifetime. • Read the Programme guidance on Eligibility • Look at the different budget lines in the AF to build up your budget as precisely as possible: BL1 Partner staff costs BL2 Administration costs (direct and indirect general costs) BL3 External consultants and suppliers BL4 Travel and accommodation BL5 Equipment BL6 Investment BL7 Validation of expenditure

17. Part-financed by the ERDF After approval: Payment Process • General principles • Payments will be made retrospectively against actual expenditure paid out • Payments will be made in EUR • Co-financing should be secured • Applications for payments should be sent to the JTS with the six-monthly progress reports/final report • 5-Step process • Step 1 – Partners report to the Lead Partner • Step 2 – Lead Partner reports to the JTS • Step 3 – Reports are checked by the JTS and Certifying Authority • Step 4 – Payment is made by the Certifying Authority to the Lead Partner • Step 5 – Funding is distributed by the Lead Partners to the other partners

18. Part-financed by the ERDF After approval: Communication • MANDATORY requirements: • Beneficiaries must inform the general public of the role played by the EU in regional development • Each approved project must design a communication plan and nominate a communication manager • Breaches of publicity rules a common problem spotted in Commission audit – particularly but not only failure to put proper logos on publications • A breach in publicity rules will result in the reduction of the project budget (flat rate)

19. Part-financed by the ERDF The Lead Partner Principle

20. Part-financed by the ERDF Interreg IV 2 Seas: Authorities • ManagingAuthority: Nord-Pas de Calais Region • Has the main operationalresponsibility for the Programme • CertifyingAuthority: Caisse des dépôts et Consignations • Receivesfundsfrom European Commission and makespayments to the Lead Partner • Single payment organisation for the entire programme whatever the nationality of the leadpartner • Audit Authority: Commission Interministérielle de Coordination des Contrôles (CICC) • Drawing up an audit strategy for the programme and ensuringthat international audit standards are met • National Authorities:

21. Part-financed by the ERDF Where to find us? • www.interreg4a-2mers.eu • Contacts • Thank you! Dries DebruyneProvincie West-Vlaanderen Koning Leopold III-laan 418200   Sint-AndriesBELGÏE Telefoon: +32 (0)50 40 33 73@ dries.debruyne@west-vlaanderen.be Nienke EnsingProvince Zeeland Abdij 64331 BK MIDDELBURGNEDERLAND Telefoon: +31 (0)118631096 @ j.ensing@zeeland.nl Marie-Pierre Richard Conseil régional Direction Europe 51 bd Président Hoover 59000 LILLE FRANCE Tél: 03 28 82 70 79 e-mail: mp.richard@cr-npdc.fr Amandine Dupont Hôtel du Département 39 rue d’Amiens 62000 ARRAS FRANCE Tél : 03 21 21 92 05 (Secrétariat) e-mail: dupont.amandine@cg62.fr Séverine Ernest Maison du Département Route de la Trésorerie BP 20 62126 WIMILLE FRANCE Tél: 03 21 91 06 04 e-mail: ernest.severine@cg62.fr