1. CENTRAL EUROPE PROGRAMME 2007-2013
CZ Info Day on Call for Strategic Projects
Prague, 4 August 2010
Approach of the CENTRAL EUROPE Programme to the Strategic Projects and project concepts
Monika SCHÖNERKLEE-GRASSER
JTS CENTRAL EUROPE Programme

2. CENTRAL EUROPE PROGRAMME 2007-2013
Content
The CENTRAL EUROPE Programme
Approach to strategic projects
Project concepts
Partner requirements and selection

3. 1. The CENTRAL EUROPE Programme
8 EU countries
1 third country
Surface:
Around 1,050,000 km²
Population:
Around 148 million citizens
4 Programme Priorities:
Innovation
Accessibility
Environment
Competitiveness and attractiveness of cities and regions

4. 1. The CENTRAL EUROPE Programme
State of the art of the Programme
3 Calls for Proposals already launched and 66 projects approved for funding:
1st Call: 29 projects
2nd Call: 37 projects
3rd Call: currently under assessment (136 applications received)
~ 60% of the total ERDF Programme budget already allocated (around 139 M€ ERDF)
Expected allocation of around 60 M€ ERDF for the 3rd Call

5. 1. The CENTRAL EUROPE Programme
Provisional allocation of funds

6. 2. Approach to strategic projects
The top-down approach
Indicative ERDF funds allocation: up to 20 M€
Strategic projects will be identified through the implementation of a different methodology and approach compared to the standard call:
Pre-identification of partners at national level
Pre-identification of topics
and project concepts
Top-down approach

7. 2. Approach to strategic projects
1st key element: Contents/topics of the Strategic Projects
Project contents are pre-identified by the Member States in order to solve problems of strategic relevance within the CE Programme area (and beyond):
Common problems (analysis)
Identification of strategic topics
Definition of strategic concepts
Implementation of strategic projects

8. 2. Approach to strategic projects
2nd key element: Partners
Project partners are pre-selected at national level, in order to identify the most suitable and ideal partners for the strategic projects:
Relevant and competent for the development, implementation and dissemination of planned outputs and results;
Able to reach the relevant stakeholders addressed by the project in order to ensure the durability of the planned results.

9. 2. Approach to strategic projects
STRATEGIC PROJECTS - the process
Project topics (2nd half 2009)
Project concepts (spring 2010)
Step 1:Identification of partners (Call for EoI: July 12–September 17, 2010)
MC approval of pre-selected partners (October 2010)
Step 2: Submission of Proposals (November 2010)
MC approval of projects (Early 2011)

10. 3. Strategic project concepts
The 7 project concepts (Annex 1 of the Call Announcement)
Priority
Concepts 1
1. Boosting innovation through new cluster concepts in support of emerging issues and cross-sectoral themes 2
2. Upgrading of Inland Waterway and Sea Ports (INWAPO)
3. Railway Hub Cities and TEN-T network (RAILHUC) 3
4. Introduction of Regional Energy Concepts
5. Demonstration of Energy Efficiency and Utilisation of Renewable Energy Sources through Public Buildings 4
Innovative housing and care solutions for the elderly and vulnerable persons in Central European cities
Improved governance and management of infrastructures and services in regions and cities affected by demographic change

11. 3. Strategic project concepts
Structure of the project concepts (chapters)
Transnational relevance to the Programme and to all the 8 EU Member States participating in the CENTRAL EUROPE Programme
Objectives and scope
Technical content/short work plan overview to be developed within 36 months
Profile of the ideal partners to be involved in the project (provision of the characteristics of the partners, institutional role, competencies, internal capacity, know-how, etc)
Presence of transnational investments (not compulsory)
Identification of the main outputs and results
Sustainability in the CENTRAL EUROPE area
Indicative total budget for the implementation of the project proposal

12. 3. Project concepts
Objectives and scope of the concepts are in line with Programme objectives at the level of the relevant Priorities;
Work plans have to be fully developed during the application process;
Outputs and results as indicated refer to the main expected project outcomes and are regarded as minimum requirements to be reached, additional outputs/results can also be foreseen;
The proposed budgets are indicative and have to be further defined/developed on a “real cost” basis during the application process.
Partner characteristics/requirements (see chapter 4 of each project concept) are binding!

13. 4. Partner Requirements and Selection
Eligible financing partners:
Located in the entire CE Programme area
National, regional and local public authorities
Public equivalent bodies
Private institutions
Associated institutions:
Located both in the entire EU area and in Third countries + International organisations
Participation of at least one institution/body from each of the 8 EU CENTRAL EUROPE countries in each project
Financing partners shall come from at least 6 CENTRAL EUROPE countries
Same institution or the same department/functional unit can participate in maximum 2 Strategic Projects

14. 4. Partner Requirements and Selection
Assessment of partners at national level in accordance with
Partner characteristics included in each project concept (Annex 1)
Partner quality criteria
Representativeness
Transnational dimension
Capacity of awareness raising and spreading of achievements
Partnership development will start only after MC decision on partner selection

15. 4. Partner Requirements and Selection
Submission of EOI:
Fully filled in (English)
Signed by duly authorised person
Sent to National Contact points
(in case of int. organisations and partners outside the Programme area to be sent to JTS)
Deadline for receipt of EoI:
17 September 2010, 12:00 a.m.

16. CENTRAL EUROPE PROGRAMME 2007-2013
Sources of information
Main Programme documents
Operational Programme
Application Manual 3rd call
Application package - Step 1
Announcement of the restricted call for Strategic Projects (including annexes);
Expression of Interest

17. CENTRAL EUROPE PROGRAMME 2007-2013
THANK YOU!