1. The Baltic Sea Region Programme as a potential funding source for EUSBSR and NDPHS projects NDPHS/CSR meeting in Helsinki-Vantaa, April 2012 Harry Ekestam Finnish ministry of Employment and the Economy Member of the BSR/JPC

2. The Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013 – basic facts
Partner countries and programme funding:
8 member states (208 MEUR ERDF)
Norway (6 MEUR national)
Belarus (8,8 MEUR ENPI)
Russia (no programme funds)
Four priorities:
Fostering innovations
Internal and external accessibility
Baltic Sea as a common resource
Attractive and competitive cities and regions
In each project partners from at least three countries; max duration 3 years; average project budget 3,2 MEUR

3. The Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013 – quick response to the EU Strategy for BSR
From 2009 the EUSBSR became a new reality/challenge in programme implementation
Response/contribution to the EUSBSR:
3 last calls for application ( ) linked to EUSBSR implementation
Flagship projects and other actions consistent with the Strategy given priority, unless they are deficient in quality or inconsistent with the priorities of the programme
Flagship Projects required to include letter of commitment from Priority Area Coordinator (PAC)
Last call (2012) focused on horizontal actions of the EUSBSR Action Plan
Publicity and communication activities
labelling of approved projects contributing to the Strategy
Promotional activities

4. The Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013 – contribution to EUSBSR so far
Programme contribution to EUSBRS in figures (after 4 calls):
nr MEUR (ERDF)
Flagship projects ,4
Part of flagship projects ,3
Part of horizontal actions ,1
Strategic action ,6
Total ,4
Total approved projects ,2
The Programme has played an important role in the start-up phase of EUSBSR implementation (Programme covers the whole region, is thematically relevant, provides a ready-made framework for cooperation)
But, due to its particular scope and limited funding, the Programme is not suitable for all types of EUSBSR projects (e.g. infrastrucure investment)
Also, the Programme has limited financial capacity to meet the needs of all relevant EUSBSR projects; funds now exhausted, no new calls in

5. The Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013 – what about health and social well-being?
”Health and social well-being” is not a specific priority of the programme
However, out of 80 approved projects, five projects under priorities 1 and 4 can be considered to address these issues and four out of them are EUSBSR Flagship projects:
ICT for Health (Pr 1) FP under PA 12
BSHR HealthPort (Pr 1) part of FP under PA 7
Best Agers (Pr 1)
ImPrim (Pr 4) FP under PA 12
PrimCare IT (Pr 4) FP under PA 12

6. Baltic Sea Region Programme 2014-2020 – preparation has started
Multiannual Financial Framework and legislative package for Cohesion policy still under negotiation (> 2012/2013)
Programming of new BSR programme started
Joint Programming Committee (JPC) established (representation from all 11 countries) and held its first meeting on March
JPC will be supported by Programming Task Force (PTF) and the current programme secretariat
Reference Group established (EUSBSR ”managers”, organisations with pan-Baltic relevance); questionnaire survey to RG 17 April – 15 May
Ex-ante evaluator selected (will start analyzing existing pan-Baltic strategies during summer)
Next JPC meetings: 13 June 2012, 28 November 2012
First PTF meeting: 20 September 2012
Ambition: first draft programme in early 2013, final draft programme in late autumn 2013 … and first call of new programme in 2014

7. Baltic Sea Region Programme 2014-2020 – starting points and early views
Expected financial framework: 200 – 300 MEUR ERDF
Draft regulations
Need for thematic concentration (4 out of a menu of 11 thematic objectives linked to Europe 2020)
Macro-regional strategies (= EUSBSR) to be taken into account
National/regional needs/expectations, stakeholders views
Some early national views
No change of programme area
Stronger links to EUSBSR (but should not be sole reference framework)
Yes to thematic concentration, but Commission’s proposal too restrictive
Active involvement of Russia
Simplification
Stronger involvement of norhern parts of the region, regional contact points, clarification of role of investment and private sector, local involvement, consideration of territorial apects

8. Baltic Sea Region Programme 2014-2020 – role of health and social well-being?
Role of ”health and social well-being” issues depends largely on
The flexibility given by the regulations in selecting priority objectives (thematic concentration)
The participating countries’ priorities
The role of ”health and social well-being” issues in the revised EUSBSR Action Plan
How the EUSBSR will be taken into account in the programme
What can NDPHS do?
Non-paper on raising the profile of health and social well-being in post-3013European programmes already sent to BSR Monitoring Committee (~ JPC)
Answer the questionnaire survey, deadline 15 May (and participate actively in the Reference Group)
Take active part in the revision of the EUSBSR Action Plan