The Perspectives and Challenges of Transnational Cooperation in the next European Funding Period Fontwell Park, 17 October 2006 Julia ERIPRET, project development officer INTERREG IIIB NWE, Lille

INTERREG IIIB NWE 500 Project ideas 8 calls for proposals 99 projects approved 750 partners formally involved M€ ERDF committed 6 M€ to be committed ( PSC9 ) First projects finalised

INTERREG IIIB NWE - EMDI EMDI = Espace Manche Development Initiative Approved at PSC5 in June 2004 (+extension approved at PSC7) Priority 5 “ Enhancing the maritime functions of NWE and promoting territorial integration across seas of NWE ” Measure 5.2 “Facilitating co-operation across and between maritime and inland regions ” Budget : 1 M€ ERDF

Situation October 2006: Total amounts for Member States are known (objective 3) Discussion on allocation to programme areas in each Member State is coming to an end New Objective 3 Framework for transnational Cooperation

Good news: The geographic eligible area of the NWE Programme remains unchanged Important thematic fields continue to be relevant within transnational cooperation The total ERDF budget should be identical to the current budget (~330M) What’s new? Emphasis on Lisbon/Gothenburg goals Development corridors New Objective 3-NWE

“The Objective 3 North West Europe Programme, through an innovative and integrated approach of transnational cooperation on territorial issues and by building on NWE's territorial potentials, aims to achieve a more cohesive, balanced and sustainable development of the NWE area, and thus to contribute to the overall competitiveness of the Community territory in a globalised world.” New Transnational Programme NWE Overall aim

Priority 1: Developing the NWE knowledge-based economy by capitalising on our capacity for innovation in all sectors Priority 2: Managing our natural resources efficiently Priority 3: Improving connectivity in NWE by promoting intelligent and sustainable transport solutions Priority 4: Promoting sustainable and dynamic communities at transnational level New Transnational Programme NWE Priorities

3 Strategic orientations for the Channel area: Strengthening the cohesion of the Channel area Taking advantage of and strengthening the territorial position of the Channel area in Europe Contributing to safe navigation in the Channel area The Channel area: strategic orientations

Priority 2: Managing our natural resources efficiently The overall aim of the priority is to Promote an innovative and sustainable approach to natural resource management, risk management and the enhancement of the natural environment.

Priority 2: Managing our natural resources efficiently Objective 1: To promote an innovative and sustainable approach to natural resource management, including water, biodiversity and energy, and to minimise greenhouse gas emissions Objective 2: To promote an innovative approach to risk management, in particular water management (impacts of sea level rise on coastal areas and flood risk; the marine environment) in the context of climate change Objective 3: To promote a transnational and spatial approach to improving the quality of soil, water and air

Priority 2: Possible actions Objective 1: Integrated transnational approaches to the management of trans-boundary river basins, coastal zones, seas, fresh water resources, forests and natural landscapes of transnational significance Joint strategic actions and concepts for offshore and onshore planning to protect and enhance the maritime environment and coastal zones, e.g. through common standards, harmonisation of data and information and common principles for use Objective 2: Coordinated actions to increase maritime safety and the protection of the marine environment (e.g. from technological hazards such as oil spills, a harmonised approach to dealing with ships in distress and accidents), for instance through contingency planning for marine pollution at sea and in coastal regions Objective 3: Transnational actions aimed at improving the marine environment and integrating maritime activities with territorial development objectives of the NWE region (e.g. by developing a common maritime spatial planning concept for the English Channel and the Irish Sea).

Priority 4: Sustainable and dynamic communities The overall aim of the priority is to: Strengthen the balance and sustainability of NWE's settlement structure through improved transnational governance for urban networking, urban-rural, inter-rural and shore-hinterland partnerships, thus contributing to sustainable growth and jobs in the cooperation area.

Priority 4: Objectives Objective 1: to strengthen urban nodes and networks at transnational level by promoting social and economic development through cooperation between cities and towns, thus contributing to the competitiveness of NWE overall Objective 2: to improve the transnational performance of natural environment and cultural heritage and to strengthen urban-rural relationships18 that contribute to a balanced and competitive development of the NWE territory overall Objective 3: to promote a transnational response to the spatial impacts of demographic change and migration on the NWE territory, and the implications for education and the labour market (supply and demand of skills across the territory)

Priority 4: Possible actions Objective 1: actions aimed at improving the governance and institutional context for strategic urban networking, including better integration of sector and spatial policies and harmonization of institutional approaches Objective 2: elaboration, testing and dissemination of models and tools for efficient urban-rural partnerships, e.g. as regards integrated territorial responses to different challenges from demographic change in urban and rural areas, or from long distance commuter linkages Objective 3: transnational actions for improving the accessibility of, and access to, services like ICT for rural and urban areas affected by ageing and depopulation.

New Transnational Programme NWE Strategic Initiatives on transnational corridors The Member States involved in the NWE Programme will particularly encourage a number of initiatives for transnational action which are of particular strategic relevance for achieving the NWE Programme aim and priority objectives, and which are linked to major issues in the SWOT analysis. These strategic initiatives are expected to be primarily developed along potential transnational ‘development corridors or zones’ in NWE in order to align the economic potential along existing and planned multiple transport axes.

Since January: regular preparation meetings of the Member States so far (seven “IWP”) July: 1st draft Operational Programme to EC August/September: Public consultation process including Environmental Report (SEA) November: final draft Operational Programme to EC Approval early 2007 => first call early summer NWE conference envisaged for March 2007 Draft OP on website in 4 languageswww.nweurope.org Project development (assistance): please contact the Joint Technical Secretariat in Lille and the Contact Points New Transnational Programme NWE What will happen?