Belarus Denmark Estonia Finland Germany Latvia Lithuania Norway Poland Russia Sweden

1. A Community Initiative Baltic Sea RegionINTERREG III B NeighbourhoodProgramme Belarus Denmark Estonia Finland Germany Latvia Lithuania Norway Poland Russia Sweden

2. Content of the presentation Programme area Programme thematic content Programme management Programme budget Project partnership and management Project budget Project implementation Good practice Main challanges

3. Alpine Space Baltic Sea Region Archimed North West Europe North Sea Region CADSES Atlantic Area Westers Mediterranean South West Europe Northern Periphery Most remote regions (3 programmes) INTERREG III B programmes Transnational cooperation on spatial planning and regional development

4. Cooperation area: • Denmark • Sweden • Finland • Germany (North – East) • Estonia • Lithuania • Latvia • Poland • Norway • Belarus (North – West) • Russia (North – West & Kaliningrad)

5. Strategic objective: Strengthening economic, social and spatial cohesion by promoting transnational economic relationships in order to reach an increased level of BSR integration and to form a region with sustainable growth prospects.

6. Programme priorities Priority 1: Promotion of spatial development approaches and actions for specificterritories and sectors Priority 2: Promotion of territorial structures supporting sustainable BSR development Priority 3: Transnational and bilateral institution and capacity building in the Baltic Sea Region

7. Programme priorities • Priority 4 – border regions (committed) • Priority 5: • Cross-border (INTERREG III A) priority • Estonia-Latvia-Russia (North) • Priority 6: • Cross-border (INTERREG III A) priority • Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus (South) • Priority 7: • Technical Assistance

8. Measures in Priority 1 Priority 1:Promotion of spatial development approaches and actions for specificterritories and sectors Measure 1.1: Supporting joint strategies and implementation actions for macro-regions Measure 1.2: Promoting sustainable spatial development of specific sectors Measure 1.3: Strengthening integrated development of coastal zones, islands and other specific areas

9. Measures in Priority 2 Priority 2: Promotion of territorial structures supporting sustainable BSR development Measure 2.1: Promoting balanced polycentric settlement structures Measure 2.2: Creating sustainable communication links for improved spatial integration Measure 2.3: Enhancing good management of cultural and natural heritage and of natural resources

10. Measures in Priority 3 Priority 3: Transnational and bilateral institution and capacity building in the Baltic Sea Region Measure 3.1: Promotion of transnational institution and capacity building Measure 3.2: Bilateral maritime cooperation across the Baltic Sea

11. ØTransnational studies and strategiesØPreparation of investmentsØTransnational exchange of experienceØTraining of professional staffØWorkshops, seminars, networking, etc. Examples of eligible activities:

12. BSR INTERREG III B management structure Monitoring Committee .... Supervising the programme Steering Committee Selection of projects and funding decisions NationalSub-committees Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein Joint Secretariat ManagingAuthority Paying Authority DK DE S FIN N PL LT LV EST RU day to day programme management BY Information and support Project’s Lead Partner Municipalities & Regions ProjectPartner ProjectPartner ProjectPartner ProjectPartner

13. Programme funding ERDF funds: 149.0 M EURO* Norwegian national: 6.0 M EURO Total programme funding: 155.0 M EURO All ERDF available for III B priorities was committed in 1-8 rounds *including the additional funding from the new MS and IIIA priorities

14. Partnership (minimum requirements) • partners from three different countries • two countries should be financial contributors • one partner from EU

15. The Lead Partner Principle (example)

16. full financial and legal responsibility for: Lead Partner Principle • project management system • submitting Application Form • signing the Subsidy Contract • reporting of the project progress • requesting payments

17. Examples of partners that can apply for funding from the BSR INTERREG III B National, regional and local public authorities: • Ministries; • regional councils; • municipalities, etc.;

18. Institutions that could be considered as “Public equivalent bodies”: Examples of partners that can apply for funding from the BSR INTERREG III B (2) • associations; • academic institutions; • research institutes; • foundations; • NGOs and non-profit organizations (community-based, humanitarian, industrial, cultural, etc.); • development agencies, etc.

19. BSR INTERREG III B Project Budget 1. ERDF contributions up to 75% for Objective 1 regions up to 50% for other regions 2. National co-funding Partner’s own funding – eg. public funds at national, regional or local level

20. Joint Secretariat / PA submit Payment Request Europ. Commission effects payment to PA Paying Authority effects payment to Lead Partner Lead Partner submits activity and audited financial report Submitactivity and audited financial reportsto Lead Partner Lead Partner effects payments to Project Partners Project implementation European Commission Joint Secretariat / PA Lead Partner Project Partners PA - Paying Authority Reports Payments

21. Good practice at strategic level • A joint pool of ERDF fundson a joint bank account without national “sub-accounts” • Tasks of Managing and Paying Authority carried outbysingle, competent institutionwhich isnotapublic authority • Lead Partner principle(clear responsibilities between MA and project) • Joint management structures/bodies includingastrong joint transnational Joint Technical Secretariat • National sub-committeesresponsible for disseminating information at national/regional level • Work of Monitoring and Steering Committees facilitated by varioustask forces.

22. Good practice at operational level General tools: • English as official programme language • An up-to-date website as most important info tool • Project database Related to project life cycle: • Pro-active project development - Seed Money, Partner Search Forum, Information Seminars, Individual Consultations • Application, assessment and approval –Joint and transparent decision making (unanimous decisions, clear documentation of assessment and approval) • Pro-active project implementation - Lead Partner Seminar, Seminars for financial managers and auditors, Quality Workshops, Publicity and communication training etc.

23. Challenges for project partners

24. Thank you for your attention!www.bsrinterreg.net