SUSTAINABLE TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE

1. SUSTAINABLE TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE Towards long-term transnational co-operation

2. INTERREG IIIB III B INTERREG Strand B : Transnational cooperation(27%) Strand A : Cross-border cooperation(67%) Strand C : Interregional Cooperation(6%) Third Programming period: 2000-2006 4.875 billion € Previous period (1994-1999): 3.6 billion € INTERREG III(Interregional cooperation), Urban II(Sustainable development of urban areas), Objective I(Development of the least favoured regions), Objective2 (Conversion of regions facing difficulties), • A European Community Initiative of the Regional Policy Directorate, • Financed under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), • to strengthen economic and social cohesion throughout the North West region of Europe, by fostering the balanced development of the continent through transnational cooperation in the field of territorial development.

3. INTERREG III – Strand B Transnational co-operation The 13 zones : Alpine Space Archimed Atlantic Area Baltic Sea Region CADSES (Central, Adriatic, Danubian and South-East Europe) Northern Periphery North Sea Region South West Europe North West Europe Caribbean Space Açores-Madeira-Canarias Réunion Western Mediterranean “Transnational co-operation between national, regional and local authorities aims to promote a higher degree of territorial integration across large groupings of European regions, with a view to achieving sustainable, harmonious and balanced development in the EU and better territorial integration with candidate and other neighbouring countries”

4. North-West Europe Key facts • 787.400 km2 • Home to171 million people, over a quarter of the entire EU population • Population density : one of the highest in Europe • 123 million peoplein densely populated urbanised areas • 180,000 km2 of sparsely populated rural areas

5. INTERREG IIIB NWE Cooperation Area NL : Flevoland, Gelderland, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland LU : Whole country UK : Whole country United Kingdom DE : Baden - Württemberg, part of Bayern (Ober-, Mittel-, Unterfranken and Schwaben), Hessen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland Ireland IR : Whole country Netherlands Belgium Germany BE : Whole country Luxembourg France CH : Aargau, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Glarus, Jura, Luzern, Neuchâtel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Uri, Zug, Zürich FR : Alsace, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre, Champagne-Ardennes, Franche-Comté, Haute-Normandie, Île de France, Lorraine, Nord-Pas de Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie Switzerland

6. INTERREG IIIB NWE Focused Objective “To contribute, through aninnovativeand integrated approach toTransnational co-operation on territorial issues, to a more cohesive, balanced andsustainable development of the European territory,and of the NWE area inparticular.”

7. INTERREG IIIB NWE Programme Priorities (1) • Priority 1: An attractive and coherent system of cities, towns and regions • ► 1.1 More attractive metropolitan areas in the global and European context • ► 1.2 Coherent and polycentric pattern of complementary cities, towns and rural areas, coastal and peripheral regions • Priority 2:External and internal accessibility • ► 2.1 Sustainable mobility management • ► 2.2 Improved access to the Information Society • Priority 3:Sustainable management of water resources and prevention • of flood damages • ► 3.1 Land use and water systems • ► 3.2 The prevention of flood damage

8. INTERREG IIIB NWE Programme Priorities (2) • Priority 4:Sustainable development, prudent management and protection • of other natural resources and of cultural heritage • ► 4.1Stronger Ecological Infrastructure, Reduced Ecological Footprint • ► 4.2Protection and Creative Enhancement of the Cultural Heritage Priority 5:Promoting the maritime potential of NWE and its territorial • integration across seas • ►5.1Promote transnational co-operation in the enhancement of maritime functions • and in the development of more sustainable links between seaports and their • hinterlands • ►5.2 Facilitating co-operation across and between maritime and inland regions

9. 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 INTERREG IIIB NWE Programme Budget • Budget of the NWE Programme: 330m€ (2001-2008) • Average yearly ERDF funding: €55m/year to commit over 6 years • Budget per Measure – No national envelope • CIP includes indicative financial plan: breakdown per priority and measure • Automatic de-commitment of unused resources (n+2 rule)

10. INTERREG IIIB NWE – Project selectionEligibility criteria • The project is “transnational”: in principle, it involves co-operating partners from at least two different countries of the NWE area; • Geographic scope of the project renders it ineligible under INTERREG IIIA (and much wider for study projects); • Tangible and innovative results to the common benefit of all partners; for ‘Action’ projects, a territorial impact must be demonstrated [1]; [1]This condition will not be considered fulfilled if the project consists of a mere exchange of experience, or a series of seminars/events, or the joint production of a working document (guide of good practice, drawing up of a joint strategy without implementation, etc.)

11. INTERREG IIIB NWE – Project selectionEligibility criteria • Positive contribution to sustainable development and to the implementation of at least one policy option of the ESDP • No construction of a large scale heavy infrastructure • Consistent bidding partnership • No receipt of other Community support • Demonstration of solvency of project ‘lead partner’ • Accurate and full filling of all sections of application form • Project completed by 2008 • Demonstration of availability of the project match funding • Compliance with EU legislation • Consistency with national/regional policies

12. INTERREG IIIB NWE – Project selectionSelection criteria • High level of transnational co-operation • High level of cross-sectoral integration • An innovative approach to spatial planning • Transferable results and experience • Good value for money • Leverage of extra investment, in particular from the private sector • Building on existing planning documents / Community Policies/ results from relevant Interreg IIC projects • Lays the ground for large scale investments • High contribution to the objectives, the outputs, the long term impact of the relevant Measure • Sound financial and management structure.

13. « Transnational » vs « Common » Issue A “transnational issue” cannot be tackled satisfactorily without transnational co-operation A “common issue” is faced by several regions or cities, but can be tackled at regional or local level: co-operation schemes may bring about an added value (e.g. transfer of know-how), but are not essential to address the issue itself.

14. 76 Approved Projects

15. INTERREG IIIB NWE Types of project Action Projects:concrete results with impacts that go beyond the life of the Programme. Seminars, exchanges of experience alone will not be supported by the NWE Investment Projects:visible 'hardware' for further lasting activities. • Small-scale infrastructure investment demonstrating concrete, visible and innovative results • Investment in enterprise • Water resource infrastructure related to flooding • No heavy investment (motorways, main roads) Study Projects:covering a geographical area as wide as possible

16. INTERREG IIIB NWE Management structure • One programme, one secretariat, one bank account, one budget. • Monitoring Committee: Representatives of the National and Regional Authorities of the participating Member States and Swiss ConfederationPMC overall strategic management and monitoring of CIP • Steering Committee: also representatives of the participating countries’ authorities • PSC Project selection • Managing Authority (MA):Conseil Régional Nord-Pas de Calais • Paying Authority (PA):Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations • Joint Technical Secretariat (JTS) + Contact Points (CPs) in the Member States

17. INTERREG IIIB NWE Secretariat and Contact Points Role of the Secretariat: • secretariat to the Committees and possible working groups; • programme promotion; • information/technical advice to project developers, including on partner search and co-financing; • project appraisal; assistance in project selection; • notification of approval; • progress monitoring and reporting • financial management: contracting, payments, financial control and reporting Role of the Contact Points: • advise applicants on the requirements and criteria of the NWE programme • Assistance in partner search • Stimulate proactively the development of transnational projects • General promotion/publicity of the programme in co-operation with Secretariat • Follow-up through the project implementation stages.

18. INTERREG IIIB NWE How to apply? • Check whether the Programme priorities match yours • Register your Project Idea and arrange a meeting with the Secretariat (specific advice given on content, finance and management); consult NWE Contact Points locally • Two Calls for Project Proposals each year until 2006 (spring and autumn) • Applicant’s packavailable from the Secretariat and from the programme website: www.nweurope.org (includes the standard Application Form and “Guidelines for Project Promoters”) • Reference documents to prepare project application: CIP and Programme Complement

19. Transnational cooperation is great ! “Being involved in transnational cooperation through the INTERREG IIIB NWE programme has not only helpedus acquire new specific knowledgerelating to developing our regions, it’s also given us the opportunity to learn how things are done elsewhere, and how people’s culturaldifferences can be very enriching in any give exchange.” « I’m part of a European partnership. Personally I’ve made new friends and learned new things. ProfessionallyI’ve made a difference. »

20. If you think you might want to get involved, more information can be found on our website: http://www.nweurope.org Binding North West Europe together