FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES NATURA2000 INTERREG

Content 1)Introduction 1) EU budget and Cohesion Policy 2) Interreg within Cohesion Policy 3) Role of Flanders Enterprise 2) Programmes and budgets 3) Interreg in practice 4) Opportunities for Natura2000

1.1 EU budget and cohesion policy (Source

1.2 Interreg within cohesion policy EU2020 = Smart, sustainable and inclusive growth as common goal for Cohesion Policy 1C (ommon) S (trategic) F (ramework) for integrated use of ESF, ERDF, European Territorial Cooperation, Agricultural Fund, Fisheries…towards these goals Interreg is part of the ERDF ERDF to achieve economic, social and territorial cohesion…by the development and structural adaptation of regional economies

1.2 Interreg, within Cohesion Policy ERDF to focus on “investing in growth” within EU2020 agenda –Research and innovation –ICT –Competitiveness of SME’s –Low Carbon Economy European Territorial Cooperation (ETC)/Interreg Is both an instrument and an objective… To tackle issues that require a cross-border, integrated en coordinated intervention by multiple actors, sectors and governance levels within ERDF themes Interreg A, B and C… Resp. programmes in the strict border areas, with multiple neighouring countries or all the EU-28

1.3 Role of Enterprise Flanders Coordinator and “national authority for the ERDF in Flanders (Co)decision maker in Monitoring and project selection committees Monitors (efficient) execution of programmes and use of ERDF means Supports project applicants and approved project promotors (either directly, either via indirectly via contact points and programme secretariats) Potential cofinancer of projects that contribute to the economic policy of the Flemish Gvt

2) Programmes and budgets (current)

Vlaanderen-NederlandMaas-Rijn Frankrijk-Wallonië-VlaanderenTwee Zeeën

Noordzee Regio Noordwest Europa Interreg IVC, Urbact, Interact

2) Programmes and budgets ( ) Minimally same ERDF budget as today General increase of 25% of ERDF budgets expected

3) In practice Project applications: via calls for proposals (on Progr websites and Agentschap Ondernemen website); (oneline) submission to Programme Secretariats (JTS) Project promotors: mainly public and public/private not for profit actors; for profit actors welcome depending on progr but state aid rules apply) ERDF rate: max 50 %; remaining 50% to be cofinanced by applicants (public, public similar or private funding according to programme) Decision by Monitoring or Steering Committee (national and regional representatives)

3) In practice Types of activities funded Strict cooperation activities: staff costs, meetings, travel and accommodation, conferences, communication… Investment activities: pilot infrastructure, building and refurbishment(s), costs related to designing and running investments, external expertise…

4) Opportunities for Natura2000 related projects General ETC ≠ environmental protection or development programmes ETC to focus mainly on “growth” agenda and realizing “transition” (cfr. also VIA/Pact2020 definition) to smarter + more sustainable and inclusive regional economies “Environment” and related themes to be considered according to their potential to contribute to structural/systemic change in regional economies Specificities of programme areas and ongoing negotation process between countries/regions involved also play an important role Thematic concentration and result orientation

4) Opportunities for Natura2000 related projects All Operational Programmes –will include horizontal principles regarding environmental performance of the OP –or apply evaluation criteria on environmental impacts for all projects But generally financing opportunities will remain limited compared to the overall budget available A number of programmes dedicate a specific programme objective around Natura 2000 or natural heritage/ressources (FL-NL, FWFL, NSR, EMR(?), IVC) Some have more general environmental programme objectives with possibility to contribute by Natura2000 (2 Seas, NWE)

4) Opportunities for Natura2000 related projects Possible aims/activities/results (non exhaustive) Improved cross-border management and exploitation of natural heritage (incl public-private cooperation models); Develop new methods and deploy new technologies for environmental management. Better exploit commercial potentials of environmental activity (incl. export of technologies to ‘leapfrog’ environmentally damaging practices to emerging economies) Investment in cross-border green infrastructure and vulnerable ecosystems Increased added value of regional economic activity based on cross-border natural assets; Increased resilience of cross-border regional ecosystems and biodiversity….

4) Opportunities for Natura2000 related projects Timing of new programmes Most programmes submitted to European Commission (EC) between 02/2014 and 06/2014 +/- 6 months for EC to decide on operational programmes Informal launch events between submission and approval First calls probably as of 09/2014 for most advanced programmes

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! QUESTIONS? David Grzegorzewski Directeur Agentschap Ondernemen Entiteit Europa Economie T +32 (0)