1. Interreg Europe Elena Ferrario
Coordinator Projects | Interreg Europe Joint Secretariat
16 March 2017Info Day in Oslo

2. Summary Key programme features Programme state of play
Third call for proposals

3. Key programme features

4. Interreg Europe: what is it?
Objective set in the ETC Regulation - Article 2(3)(a) for interregional cooperation:
“to reinforce the effectiveness of cohesion policy”
“identification and dissemination of good practices with a view to their transfer principally to operational programmes under the Investment for growth and jobs goal but also, where relevant, to cooperation programmes”

5. Interreg Europe: what is it?
Exchange of experience to improve performance of policies for regional development, in particular Structural Funds (SF) programmes
EU Cohesion Policy
Goal 1: Investment for growth & jobs
EUR 340 billion
Goal 2: European Territorial Cooperation
EUR 10.2 billion
Interreg Europe
EUR 359 m

6. Improving performance of policies
What is a policy instrument?
Means of public intervention (policy, strategy or law developed by public authorities)
Example: regional mobility plan
How to improve a policy instrument?
Implement new projects
Change programme governance
Change programme content
May not require funding!

7. Geographic & thematic focus
The only Interreg covering
EU 28 + Norway & Switzerland
A thematic programme

8. Target groups Managing authorities Regional/ local authorities
Learn from each other to improve policies
Agencies, institutes, private non-profits

9. Supported actions
A/ Policy learning platforms B/ Projects

10. A/ Platforms

11. Internal capitalisation
Policy Learning Platforms
facilitate continuous policy learning across EU by creating a community of policy makers & practitioners to improve regional policies
Better exploit projects’ results
Open up the programme results to anyone interested
Internal capitalisation
External
capitalisation

12. Online collaborative tool
Policy Learning Platforms
A service-portfolio provided per priority axis via:
Online collaborative tool
With relevant functionalities
Expert team
Content and coordination role +

13. First thematic content online! articles, news, events

14. Services accessible to all public
Services accessible to all public
Knowledge bank
Networking opportunities
Good practices Database
Policy recommendations,
EU policy news
Thematic studies
Practitioners Database
Matchmaking events
Discussion forums
Partnering events
Services for registered members
Expert helpdesk
Expert support
The 4 services following interest for involvement of the users. These are the seed services to kick off the platforms.
Policy advice
Guidance in the
databases
Analysis data
Updated information
Peer reviews
Benchmarking exercises
Thematic workshops
Capacity building events

15. B/ projects

16. Projects: main features
Definition
Partners from different countries working together on a shared regional policy issue (within the thematic scope of the programme)…..
Objective
….to improve the effectiveness of the policy instruments of the regions involved in the project (in particular their Investment for Growth and Jobs programmes)

17. At least half of EU policy instruments addressed must be SF
Projects’ features
Implementation in 2 phases
Policy exchange of experience (1 to 3 years)
ending with production of 1 action plan per policy instrument addressed
Monitoring of action plan implementation
(2 years) + (possible pilot actions)
Focus on Structural Funds programmes
At least half of EU policy instruments addressed must be SF
Phase 1
Phase 2

18. Projects: partnership requirements
Min: 3 countries to be represented Recommendation: between 5 to 10 partners
Involvement of policy responsible organisations
Directly as partners
Indirectly through letter of support (and through participation in stakeholder groups)
Creation of stakeholder groups
Contribute to success of learning process by involving all relevant organisations
Reduce obstacles to action plan implementation

19. Who is eligible?
Public bodies: main target group e.g. MAs/IBs, local/ regional/ national authorities
Bodies governed by public law (Directive 2004/18/EC)
Private non profit bodies
Co-financing rates
According to legal status or location
85% ERDF
Public or public equivalent from EU
75% ERDF
Private non-profit from EU
50% Norwegian funding
Public, public equivalent and private non-profit from NO
Swiss funding
Public, public equivalent and private non-profit from CH

20. What do we finance? Exchange of experience activities
Seminars, study visits, peer reviews, staff exchanges…
How?

21. Call 1 & 2 results

22. Call results
472 submitted
130 approved
27.5% success
EUR 180 million

23. Programme state of play
Geographical coverage
Partners by legal status
100% partner countries
78%
NUTS 2 regions

24. Partners in approved projects
N° of partners per country
All partner states represented in projects from the two calls

25. Norway in the two calls

26. Projects with Norwegian partners
Innovation and research
Exchange of experiences in monitoring mechanisms (MONITORIS3)
Policies to improve rural areas' innovation systems (P-IRIS)
SME competitiveness
Access to Microfinance for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (ATM for SMEs)
Supporting knowledge capacity in ICT among SME (SKILLS+)
Improving SME internationalisation support policies (Inside Out EU)

27. Projects with Norwegian partners
Low-carbon economy
Sustainable Measures for achieving resilient
transportation in metropolitan regions (SMART-MR)
Environment and resource efficiency
Management of heritage in coastal landscapes (HERICOAST)
Supporting natural and cultural heritage (Green Pilgrimage)

28. THIRD CALL FOR PROPOSALS

29. Deadline for submission
12:00 (CEST time)

30. Thematic scope All investment priorities open
Projects on environment and resource efficiency encouraged

31. Budget available
ERDF left: EUR 147 M

32. Tip 1: Be innovative Most covered topics so far Governance of RIS3
Clusters within RIS3
Internationalisation
Innovation capacity
Circular economy
Urban mobility
Energy efficiency in buildings

33. Tip 2: Explore new topics?

34. Financial
instruments

35. Renewable energy

36. Water management

37. Tip 3: Get newcomers on board

38. Procedure: Online system

39. For more information Interreg Europe community
Application pack (incl. programme manual)
Online application system

40. Thank you!
Questions welcome