European Territorial Cooperation (INTERREG) Eva Benková, Barbora Wienerová Management of EU Programms and Projects Mrg. Gabriela Plaschová, PhD.

What is territorial cooperation?  The third Structural Funds Objective.  the funding period  substitute the current EC Initiative INTERREG  financial support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

Aims of the ETC  stimulate the cooperation between the member states of the EU  strengthen economic and social cohesion throughout the EU  integrate remote regions and those which share external borders with the candidate countries

Structure  Cross-border cooperation (INTERREG IVA) - d eveloping small and medium-sized enterprises, environmental protection,improving transport, information and communication networks/services  Transnational cooperation (INTERREG IVB) - cooperation between towns or urban areas and rural areas, effective transport systems, protection of the environment and natural resources  Interregional cooperation (INTERREG IVC) - improve the effectiveness of regional development policies and instruments

INTERREG IVC  The first call for proposal - 21 September 2007  The deadline - 15 January 2008  funding for all regions of Europe +Switzerland and Norway  Priority 1: Innovation and the knowledge economy -innovation, research and technology development; employment, human capital and education.  Priority 2: Environment and risk prevention -natural and technological risks; water and waste management; biodiversity and preservation of natural heritage

The Budget  8,723 mld. eur (2,5% of regional policy budget):  6,44 bil. eur for cross-border cooperation: 77,61%,  1,83 bil. eur for transnational: 18%  445 mil. for interregional: 3,8%.

Allocation of cross-border and transnational funds

Table: Allocation of funds in Slovakia 206,7Total for territorial cooperation 7,5ERDF/ ENPIHungaryProgram of territorial cooperation SK-H-RO 71,5ERDFHungaryProgram of territorial cooperation SK-H 71,5ERDFPolandProgram of territorial cooperation SK-PL 20ERDFAustriaProgram of territorial cooperation SK-A 36,2ERDFSlovakiaProgram of territorial cooperation SR-CZ Amount of money available for Slovakia in mil. eur Fund Governing body / residence of common technical secretariat Operational program

Eligible regions in Slovakia ● European Comission decision from 31 st October 2006 (2006/769/EC) ● All Slovak regions are eligible

Concrete project

Project to promote cross-border cooperation  Ministry of construction and regional development  Deadline until 14:00  Aims: Project development Activities which support finding partners

Project to promote cross-border cooperation (2)  Eligible aplicants: Must be from slovak part of euroregions  Maximal financial contribution Sk  Minimal level of cofinancing 10%  Money transfer: 70% signing of treaty, 30% after approval of continuous report by the Ministry

Conclusion  Positive Aimed to help to surmount difficulties caused by creation of borders Supports decentralized activities Utilizes experiences from previous Interreg programms  Negative Constitutes small part of the EU budget Is it effective?

References and useful links   rozvoj/zoznam_liniek/europska-uzemna-spolupraca     lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/sk/oj/2006/l_247/l_ sk pdf  uzemna-spolupraca-a-jej-programy-v-sr  lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/sk/oj/2006/l_312/l_ sk pdf  na-projekty-pre-zintenzivnenie-cezhranicnej-spoluprace na-projekty-pre-zintenzivnenie-cezhranicnej-spoluprace 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION What would you like to know more about European territorial cooperation?