BelarusDenmarkEstoniaFinlandGermanyLatviaLithuaniaNorwayPolandRussiaSweden

A Community Initiative

Baltic Sea Region INTERREG III BNeighbourhood Programme

Content of the presentation

1. Programme area2. Programme thematic content3. Programme management4. Programme budget5. Project partnership and management6. Project budget7. Project implementation8. Good practice9. Main challanges

INTERREG III B programmes

Alpine Space Baltic Sea Region North Sea Region

Atlantic Area

Archimed

South West Europe

North West Europe

Westers Mediterranean

CADSES Northern Periphery

Most remote regions (3 programmes)

Transnational cooperation on spatial planning and regional development

Cooperation area:

Denmark Sweden Finland Germany (North – East) Estonia Lithuania Latvia Poland Norway Belarus (North – West) Russia (North – West & Kaliningrad)

Strategic objective:

Strengtheningeconomic, 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.

Priority 1:

Promotion of spatial development approaches and actions for specific territories 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

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

Programme priorities

 

Priority 1: Promotion of spatial development approaches and actions for specific territories 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

 

Measures in Priority 1

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 

Measures in Priority 2

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

Measures in Priority 3

      Transnational studies and strategies

      Preparation of investments

      Transnational exchange of experience

      Training of professional staff

      Workshops, seminars, networking, etc.

Examples of eligible activities:

.... Monitoring Committee

Steering Committee

Municipalities & Regions

NationalSub-committees

S FINDEDK N

Supervising the programme

Information and support

Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein

Joint Secretariat

Selection of projects and funding decisions

Paying Authority

ManagingAuthority

PL LT LV EST RU

BSR INTERREG III B management structure

BYProject’s

Lead Partner

ProjectPartner

ProjectPartner

ProjectPartner

ProjectPartner

day to day programme management

Programme funding

ERDF funds: 149.0 M EURO*Norwegian national: 6.0 M EUROTotal 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

Partnership (minimum requirements)

• partners from three different countries

• two countries should be financial contributors

• one partner from EU

The Lead Partner Principle (example)

full financial and legal responsibility for:

• project management system• submitting Application Form• signing the Subsidy Contract• reporting of the project progress• requesting payments

Lead Partner Principle

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.;

Institutions that could be considered as “Public equivalent bodies”:

• associations;• academic institutions;• research institutes;• foundations;• NGOs and non-profit organizations (community-

based, humanitarian, industrial, cultural, etc.);• development agencies, etc.

Examples of partners that can apply for funding from the BSR INTERREG III B (2)

1. ERDF contributionsup to 75% for Objective 1 regionsup to 50% for other regions

2. National co-funding

Partner’s own funding – eg. public funds at national, regional

or local level

BSR INTERREG III B Project Budget

Project implementation

Joint Secretariat / PA

Lead PartnerLead Partner submits

activity and audited financial report

Paying Authority effects payment to Lead Partner

Project PartnersSubmit activity and

audited financial reports to Lead Partner

Reports Payments

Lead Partner effects payments to Project

Partners

PA - Paying Authority

European Commission

Joint Secretariat / PAsubmit

Payment Request

Europ. Commission effects

payment to PA

Good practice at strategic level

• A joint pool of ERDF funds on a joint bank account without national “sub-accounts”

• Tasks of Managing and Paying Authority carried out by single, competent institution which is not a public authority

• Lead Partner principle (clear responsibilities between MA and project)

• Joint management structures/bodies including a strong joint transnational Joint Technical Secretariat

• National sub-committees responsible for disseminating information at national/regional level

• Work of Monitoring and Steering Committees facilitated by various task forces.

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.

Good practice at operational level

Challenges for project partners Problem: Way out:

“Simple” Objective 1 programmes preferred (infrastructure investments)

Convince decision makers of added value of transnational networking and cooperation

Culture and language barriers Learn English!

High technical and quality requirements of transnational projects

Invest in human resources – training of qualified staff in public administrations

Low awareness about the programme

Increased information activities at national and programme level

Considerable administrative workload

Make use of standardized tools, training, support actions!

Significant competition among projects

… lobby at your decisionmakers….?!

Thank you for your attention!

www.bsrinterreg.net