21 January 2005 - Brindisi (IT) ________ European Territorial Cooperation:

1. 21 January 2005 - Brindisi (IT) ________ European Territorial Cooperation: actual and future instruments ________ Michel LAMBLIN Programme Manager INTERREG IIIC West Joint Technical Secretariat Lille

2. The new Objective 3: European Territorial Co-operation • Objective in its own right • Considerably increased funding • 2.5% in the current period → 3.9% of total Structural Funds • € 5.8 billion → € 13.2 billion

3. Legal basis for co-operation • Regulations will simplify joint implementation • General Structural Funds regulation • ERDF regulation • European Grouping of Cross-border Cooperation

4. The new Objective 3 • Cross border co-operation (47.7%) - previous INTERREG “A” strand • of which 12.1% will be transferred to the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument • Transnational co-operation (47.7%) - previous INTERREG “B” strand • Programmes for networks and exchange of experience (4.5%) – “C”? • Co-financing rate of up to 75% in all Objective 3 cooperation programmes

5. Co-operation also between Objective 1 and 2 Programmes • Interregional co-operation with at least one region in another Member State will be encouraged in all Objective 1 and 2 programmes (in addition to the Objective 3 co-operation programmes) • Co-operation in Objective 1 and 2 programmes will increase cofinancing rate by 10%

6. The new Objective 3: geographical scope and eligible areas • Cross border co-operation: • programme for each border or group of borders (except most external borders) • appropriate grouping at NUTS III level • maritime borders separated by up to 150 km • 20% may be used in adjacent NUTS III region10% may be used outside the EU if of benefit for EU regions • The intention is to cover most external EU borders by the cross border element of the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument to which funds will be transferred from ERDF

7. The new Objective 3: geographical scope and eligible areas • Transnational co-operation: • Commission to adopt eligible transnational areas • Bilateral maritime cooperation explicitly foreseen for borders separated by more than 150 km • 20% may be used outside the programme area10% may be used outside the EU if of benefit for EU regions • Programmes for networks and exchange of experience: • Whole EU-territory

8. Topics for cross-border co-operation programmes • Entrepreneurship and SMEs, tourism, culture and cross-border trade • Protection and joint management of the environment • Better access to transport • Information and communication networks • Water, waste management and energy management systems • Health, culture and education infrastructures • …

9. Topics for transnational co-operation programmes • Focus on strategic projects concerning: • Water and coastal management • Accessibility • Advanced communication and information technologies • Risk prevention: maritime safety, flooding, water pollution… • Research and technological development and networks

10. Projects in cross-border and transnational programmes • Partners from at least two countries • Fulfill at least 2 of the following 4 co-operation criteria: • - joint project development • - joint implementation • - joint project staff • - joint financing

11. Programmes for networks and exchange of experience to have a clearer focus • Innovation, research, technology • SMEs, entrepreneurship, business networks • Environment, biodiversity • Risk prevention • Urban issues • Studies, data collection, analysis of development trends in the Union

12. Projects in programmes for networks and the exchange of experience • At least 3 partners from at least • 3 regions in at least 2 countries • Fulfill all 4 of the following co-operation criteria: • - joint project development • - joint implementation • - joint project staff • - joint financing

13. Programme management • Strengthening joint management structures • Strengthening the Lead Partner principle • Clarifying procedures for financial management and auditing

14. Regulation onEuropean Grouping of Cross-border Cooperation • Will help solve difficulties related to differences in national laws and procedures • Member States, regional and/or local authorities in different countries may conclude an agreement on the basis of this regulation • Joint body with legal status to manage cross-border, transnational and interregional programmes and projects on behalf of the members of the grouping • The members remain financially liable

15. Tentative timetable

16. Discussions and negotiations continue in the Council and the European Parliament The case for co-operation programmes will be strengthened if: • Suggestions for how to improve programme and project financing mechanisms to make programmes more efficient would be welcome • INTERREG programmes and projects are seen to be useful, produce concrete results on important topics and represent good value for money

17. INTERREG IIIC – progress update • interregional cooperation in the past • interregional cooperation at present • - INTERREG IIIC important dates - INTERREG IIIC general characteristics - INTERREG IIIC facts and figures • interregional cooperation in the future - near future - distant future

18. Interregional cooperationthe PastHistorical review

19. Structure of an operation • Duration of the operation: … • Theme: … • Lead Partner: … • Partners: … • Priorities: - … - … • Type of partnership: …

20. The Hanseatic League • Duration of the operation: 5 centuries (1200 - 1700) • Theme: economic and political cooperation • Lead Partner: Lübeck (free imperial city) • Partners: approx. 200 towns (such as Wismar, Rostock, Hambourg, Ryga, Cologne...) and 4 main counters (foreign trading post) in London, Bruges, Bergen and Novgorod. • Priorities: - to secure shipping activities against pirates and brigands - to protect common commercial interests • Type of partnership: each member contributed financially and through military forces but there was neither a legal framework, nor a common council

21. Results: • - 127 Hanse Diets or congresses between 1356 and 1669 • - creating the innovative ship design – Baltic cog (average size of 100 lasts) and innovative facilities of harbours (piers, quays, landing…) • - wide network of secure business and common interests • - origins of cohesion policy – economic cooperation contributed to Northern European integration Lessons learnt: - Exchange of experience & Networking allow for innovation - An effective network expands its positive influence widely in Europe - A well-structured legal framework is often needed (responsibilities, transparency and partner obligations) - A budget for meetings is always preferable

22. Poverty assistance: cooperation between Lille, Ieper and Antwerp • Duration: 2 centuries (1508-1700) • Theme: social affairs • Lead Partner: Lille • Partners: Ieper, Antwerp • Priorities: To cope with the problem of poverty assistance • Type of partnership: Lille used the solutions developed in Antwerp and Ieper • Description of the Antwerp model: Supra-parish model • -4 chaplains in charge of poor people (receiving and redistributing charity gifts, buying and lending basic products) • -2 or 3 people in each parish in charge of collecting for charity on Sundays and holidays

23. Results: Visible results, but poverty continued because of insufficient financial resources, and additional negatives factors (wars, economic recession and plague) • Description of Ieper model: • Prohibition of beggary, except for people recognised • to be in need (those were obliged to carry symbol of • red and yellow Lily flower on their sleeves). • -5 clerks (one per each parish) appointed to discuss the issues at the municipal centralised level; and 4 other persons in each parish appointed to collect and distribute the aid • Placement of all the collected resources in a common fund. • Results: Very satisfactory. • In view of the success of the assistance model in Ieper and Antwerp, Charles Quint decided to generalise this model for the whole Netherlands Lessons learned:Need for continuous monitoring

24. The Present

25. INTERREG IIIC important dates • INTERREG IIIC Communication: May 2001 • Set-up of the four programmes: January / October 2002 • First Call: January 2003 • Second Call: September 2003 • Third Call: April 2004 • Fourth Call: October 2004

26. INTERREG IIIC – General Characteristics • IIIC reduces the time span (years instead of centuries) • IIIC professionalizes cooperation (helpdesk, database, indicators, intensity, evaluation – outputs, results, impacts - ) • IIIC is visible and recognised by all public authorities • IIIC is a tight-knit administration • IIIC is close to the Regions • IIIC is managed by liable and solvent public authorities

27. INTERREG IIIC,as a public devolution system, … Member States + EC º ERDF + regulations Managing Authority ERDF + regulations º … is a modern tool for new governance Lead Partner (public) º ERDF + regulations Lead Participants (RFO only)

28. Facts and Figures

29. Number of applicants per application round

30. Number of partners per application round

31. Number of applicants per EU Member State

32. Partners per EU Member State

33. Applicants from Third countries

34. Third country partners

35. Which Regions / Institutions are interested in cooperating under INTERREG IIIC? • 6 500 institutions (6,491) -> 24 % are regional public authorities-> 28% are local public authorities -> 7 % are national public authorities -> 41 % are public equivalent bodies • 200 different EU Regions(197) -> 48 % are Objective 1 Regions

36. Which Regions/institutions co-operate under INTERREG IIIC? • 2000 institutions (1888) -> 27 % are local public authorities -> 29 % are regional public authorities -> 7 % are national public authorities -> 37 % are public equivalent bodies • 200 different EU Regions (191) -> 46 % are Objective 1 regions

37. Interregional? Regions without joint borders can work together in commonprojects

38. TOP 20 applicant Regions

39. TOP 20 Lead applicant Regions

40. TOP Lead partner Regions

41. TOP Regions

42. Which EURegions aremost activeinINTERREGIIIC ?

43. Number of partners per type of operation

44. Co-operation themes

45. FUTURE • to mainstream interregional cooperation is feasible for existing partnerships, but will it be sufficient to develop cooperation ? • different ways and subsidy rates to support interregional cooperation: simplification ? • an integrated mechanism as IIIC can develop cooperation between Regions and combine a top-down approach for thepromotion of cooperation and a bottom-up emergence ofoperations • interregional partnerships take time to develop; it is important to maintain the trust developed

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