THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TRANSPARENCY PRINCIPLE IN THE INTERREG III B SOUTH WEST EUROPE PROGRAMME: ADVANTAGES AND TOOLS Isabelle ROGER Communication manager – Joint Secretariat INTERREG III B South West Europe

A brief presentation of the INTERREG III B South West Europe programme 64 million Inhabitants 780,000 km 2 33 regions and autonomous cities of Spain France Portugal United Kingdom (Gibraltar) Total budget of the Programme: 111 millions ERDF: 67 millions 3 calls for proposals 320 applicants 86 approved projects More than 500 beneficiaries

The advantages of the transparency principle implementation The implementation of the transparency principle has been part of the communication strategy: it has been the best way to promote the existence of the cooperation programme within the space recently formed The « right to know » for all potential beneficiaries and the general public

The context Since 2000, the SUDOE Programme has published lists of beneficiaries whatever the phase development of the Programme and projects. The implementation: 3 phases, 3 examples When the applicants were introduced When the projects were approved When communicating results from projects

Project Name and title The transparency during the call for proposal The list of applicants has always been published on the SUDOE website according to this model: Lead partner Partners

The transparency with the approved projects After each call of proposals and Steering Committee, the SUDOE website proposed a description of each approved projects

The transparency with the approved projects In the three volumes edited to diffuse the Programme approved projects, the list of beneficiaries has always been indicated

The diffusion of results obtained from projects In the SUDOE Newsletter, when results of approved projects are mentioned, the list of partners is always indicated. Therefore Diputación of Badajoz, Diputación Provincial of Castellón, Empresa De Desenvolvimento e Infra-estructuras Of Akqueva, Asociación de Productores Forestales of Peninsula de Setubal and Commitee 21 – French Committee for Environment and sustainable Development Red-cities 21

Dont forget transparency regarding communication tools which always present a list of Programme managers The diffusion tools edited by the Programme always present a list of the Programme Managers: Management Authorithy Member States Joint Secretariat

CONCLUSION Its easy to do! For better diffusion and higher understanding, a location map of beneficiaries is always included with the list Programme details are always available in all three languages: it facilitates participation and increases everyones interest A higher diffusion of the Programmes: when a reader sees the name of a potential similar beneficiary, he/she will ask himself why not me? Better knowledge of the cooperation area: the acronym SUDOE is now used by the vast majority of beneficiaries THE METODOLOGYTHE ADVANTAGES