Interreg Programme for Sustainable Development in Baltic Sea Region

1. BSR INTERREG III B Programme • by Mattias ALISCH • BSR INTERREG III B Joint Secretariat • INTERREG INFO DAYS • Latvia, 1-5 December 2003 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 Next call for applications

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 • North - East Germany • Estonia • Lithuania • Latvia • Poland • Norway • North – West Belarus • North – West Russia

5. Strategic objective: Strengthening economic, social and spatial cohesion by focusing on disparities between different territories in order to reach an increased level of BSR integration and to form a sustainable part of Europe

6. Geographical focus • EAST - WEST divide • NORTH - SOUTH divide • North - Eastern German Länder integration • Strengthening co-operation with Russia/Kaliningrad • Implementation of Northern Dimension Action Plan • Incorporation of Barents Region in transnational schemes • Further development of SWEBALTCOP/Institution building

7. Thematic focus • Actions for strategic spatial development zones (macro-regions) • Concepts for energy and tourism sector • Networking ofurban centres and urban-rural partnerships • Pan-Baltic intermodal transport strate., better access to IT • Baltic green networks and natural/cultural landscapes as • attractive environment for business development • Wise management of natural resources (in particular water) • Integrated management for coastal zones and islands • Institutional building

8. Transnational projects • should have a joint approach, relevant partnership and call fora joint solution for a common problem • should demonstrate that there is asignificant benefit of co-operatingtransnationally

9. Cross-sectorality and vertical co-ordination • Promotion of an integrated multi-sector approach; • Involvement of different levels (national, regional and local)

10. 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 promotion of institution building, strengthening the capacity for spatial development activities

11. Measures in Priority 1 Priority 1:Promotion of spatial development approaches and actions for specificterritories and sectors Measure 1: Supporting joint strategies and implementation actions for macro-regions Measure 2: Promoting sustainable spatial development of specific sectors Measure 3: Strengthening integrated development of coastal zones, islands and other specific areas

12. 1.1 SEAGULL – strategies for macro regions • Expected outcome • long-term development strategy • development programmes for rural areas • tools for regional development and planning • tools for measuring environmental sustainability

13. Measures in Priority 2 Priority 2: Promotion of territorial structures supporting sustainable BSR development Measure 1: Promoting balanced polycentric settlement structures Measure 2: Creating sustainable communication links for improved spatial integration Measure 3: Enhancing good management of cultural and natural heritage and of natural resources

14. 2.2 SEBTRANS -communication link • Expected outcome: • strategies for intermodal transport system; • Preparation of investments; • Expansion of labour markets • Stimulation of business development

15. Priority 3 - Institution building, strengthening the capacity for spatial development activities Improve the capacity of institutions directly and indirectly involved in spatial development activities to: • Deliver Sust. Devel. Policies in all parts of BSR • develop a better integrated BSR • Facilitate accession process • Guarantee local and democratic influence • Improve the capacity of individual actors to work on issues of importance to spatial development • 2. Improve the capacity to interact sectorally and internationally

16. 3.0 ECOFORUM BALTICA Expected outcome:

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

18. 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

19. Programme funding ERDF funds: 120.6 M EURO* Norwegian national: 6.0 M EURO Total programme funding: 126.6 M EURO Committed in 1-4 rounds: 48.0 M EURO Available after 4 rounds: 78.6 M EURO *including the additional funding from the new MS

20. Partnership (minimum requirements) • partners from three different countries • two countries should be financial contributors • one partner from EU • Appropriate size of a project: 0,3 – 2,0 M ERDF • Appropriate duration: 2-3 years

21. Horizontal aims & policies • Spatial planning & regional development • Transnationality • Sustainability • Vertical co-ordination and cross-sectorality

22. The Lead Partner Principle (example)

23. 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

24. 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.;

25. 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.

26. BSR INTERREG III B Project Budget 1. ERDF / Norwegian 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

27. Application rounds • take place in twice a year (Spring and Autumn) • till now four calls for project proposals have already been launched with49projects approved

28. Fifth call for main projects proposals Sixth call is planned to be launched in September 2004.

29. Thank you for your attention!