1 FROM INTERREG III TO EUROPEAN TERRITORIAL CO- OPERATION State of Play January 2007.

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FROM INTERREG IIITO

EUROPEAN TERRITORIAL CO-OPERATION

State of Play January 2007

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What do we mean by “territorial cooperation” ?

• Cooperation between MS based on geographical features: borders, sea basins, periphery, etc

• Structural Funds support for activities which decrease the negative impacts of borders or enhances cooperation and integration among partners who share a “common space”

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History

• First INTERREG Community Initiative launched in 1990

• Second programming period 1994-1999 – INTERREG II (merging REGEN & INTERREG)

• Third programming period 2000-2006 – INTERREG III (still on-going – 3 strands)

• NOW – fourth period but with INTERREG as a full Structural Fund Objective – European Territorial Cooperation (same 3 strands kept)

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Main new features Main new features 2007-132007-13

• Objective in its own right (before Community Objective in its own right (before Community Initiative Programme) – more visibility Initiative Programme) – more visibility

• Improved legal basis (Specific provisions for Improved legal basis (Specific provisions for co-operation, EGTC)co-operation, EGTC)

• Clear focus on Lisbon and GClear focus on Lisbon and Göteborg (more öteborg (more focused programmes expected – cross cutting focused programmes expected – cross cutting themes linked to innovation and environment)themes linked to innovation and environment)

• 75% EU co-financing for all regions 75% EU co-financing for all regions (in some cases up to 85%)(in some cases up to 85%)

• Total budget of €7.75 billion, 2007-13Total budget of €7.75 billion, 2007-13

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How is it organised ?

• 3 strands:

1. Cross-border cooperation for direct cooperation between areas separated by a border

2. Transnational cooperation for activities improving integration within a specific space (e.g. North Sea, Northern Periphery)

3. Interregional cooperation to exchange experience and good practice in regional development policies

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Cross-border cooperation

• 2007-13 sees the arrival of “maritime cross-border cooperation” – > new programmes appear (e.g. Central Baltic, South Baltic, Channel)

• Bulgaria and Romania included from the start as Member States

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What do cross-border programmes do 2007-13 ?

Essentially local in nature :• Entrepreneurship and SMEs, cross-border trade, tourism and

culture• Protection and joint management of the environment • Better access to transport• Information and communication networks• Water, waste management and energy management

systems• Joint use of health, culture and education infrastructure• Judicial and administrative co-operation

Particularly important to contribute to Lisbon and Göteborg while

working on erasing the negative effects of borders

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Transnational cooperation

• 13 transnational programmes, but 13 transnational programmes, but slightly different geography to slightly different geography to previous period:previous period:

1. Inclusion of Bulgaria and Romania2. Atlantic Area becomes Atlantic Coast with a

narrower scope and geography3. 2 Mediterranean programmes merged into one4. CADSES split into 2 (Central Europe and South-

East Europe)

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2007-13

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What do they do (2007-13) ?

Focus of trans-national programmes on :– Innovation, RTD, enterprises– Environment : water management,

environmental protection and risk prevention (including maritime safety)

– improved accessibility, transport, information and communication networks

– sustainable urban development

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What is new in transnational cooperation?

• Higher profile programmes• Concrete projects with some investments• Networking, plans and studies acceptable

only if they prepare for concrete projects • Some strategic projects, involving both

regional and national authorities - may be inserted into the Programming document

• Not only open calls but also focused/thematic calls for projects

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Four interregional network programmes covering the

whole EU• Interreg IV C – exchange of

experience to improve the effectiveness of regional policy

• Urbact II – support to networks of cities• Interact II – support for

implementation of Interreg progammes• ESPON – European Spatial Planning

Observatory Network

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Interreg IV C 2007-13

– Single programme covering EU-27 + Norway + Switzerland (no more zoning as in 2000-06)

– A vehicle for Regions for Economic Change– Fast Track to optimise the transfer of

experience and knowledge between regions– Networks between regional actors across

Europe and across different objectives of Structural Policy to identify and transfer good practice

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External Borders of the EU

• New Policy context – Neighbourhood & further enlargement

• Co-operation on borders with third countries financed through ENPI (European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument)

• Co-operation on borders with (potential) candidate countries financed through IPA (Instrument for Pre-Accession)

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IPA borders

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European Grouping of Territorial

Co-operation (EGTC)

• Creation of a new legal instrument at EU level with legal personality (binding Regulation, not a Directive)

• Member States free to delegate management of an ETC programme to an EGTC

• Regional/local partners free to run ETC projects as an EGTC

• Other existing instruments remain possible

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How to set up an EGTC?

• Who can be a member? Art. 3a)Member States (especially those without regions)b)regional authoritiesc) local authoritiesd)bodies governed by public law

Art. 1(9), 2nd sub§ of Dir 2004/18/EC+ associations consisting of such bodies

• at least two Member States (third countries?)

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EGTC actions (1)

– What can EGTC do?– Carry out TASKS given by its members Art.7(1)– Act within confines of tasks given Art. 7(2)– limited to co-operation in cohesion field Art. 7(3)– ONE member may be empowered to execute the

EGTC's tasks Art. 7(5)• What can EGTC NOT do?– Exercise of powers conferred by public law to safeguard

general interest of State Art. 7(4):Police, Regulatory powers, Justice, Foreign policy

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EGTC actions (2)

• What can EGTC do?1. Primarily implement cooperation programmes

(EGTC signs grant letters as managing authority)(EGTC could be intermediate body for interregional priority axis)

2. co-operation projects (ERDF, ESF, CF)(EGTC is the lead or another beneficiary)

3. "Other" cooperation actions with EU funding4. "Other" cooperation actions without EU funding• Ad 4.: Actions outside EU funding can be restricted by

Member States to Art.6 ERDF-like actions Art. 7(3)

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Useful websites

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/interreg3/

abc/abc_en.htm