1. Expert Group on the Birds and Habitats Directives
Financing Natura 2000
Expert Group on the Birds and Habitats Directives
Brussels, 15 October 2014

2. Where we are: OPs: LIFE:
Cohesion OPs: 205 DG REGIO-led OPs, 200 submitted (3 adopted), 5 to be submitted;
RDPs: 111 RDP submitted (ISC: 89 negative, 22 favourable with comments);
MARE: 2 (LT, MT);
LIFE:
Traditional projects;
IPs: concept notes (10/10/2014), final applications April 2014 (expected 3-4 nature IPs); 3 technical assistance (TAs) projects.

3. How succesful we are: Cohesion OPs: RPDs: EMFF OPs: LIFE
IP 6d (biodiv and N2000) often present in the OPs for MS/regions not bound by concentration (different quality); concentration MS/regions situation difficult
RPDs:
all RDPs include measures for N2000 (different ambition and quality)
EMFF OPs:
too early
LIFE
Traditional projects
Integrated projects
NCFF

4. Integration in practice:
Programming in progress
Implementation should start now
Learn from experience:
Financing Handbook
Court of Auditors report
Stakeholders' input
Ex-post evaluations

5. Financing Natura 2000 Handbook
Practical tips for successful uptake of funds
Criteria for project selection
Ensure presence in selection committees
Develop suitable indicators
Training and capacity building for beneficiaries
Try to tap into non-biodiversity targeted investment priorities
Share examples of best practices
Examples of successful projects

6. ECA special report: ERDF and biodiversity
ERDF opportunities not fully exploited;
Better monitoring and indicators required;
Preparatory actions need to be followed by on-site measures;
Better coordination between different funds required;
32 projects analysed;
Valuable lessons.

7. Stakeholders' perspective: SURF for Nature
Interreg IVc project;
Evaluation of the ERDF OPs;
Identification of best practice;
Catalogue of successful projects;
Specific tips and recommendations;
Network of beneficiaries and institutions;
Publications.

8. Next steps: Programming in progress: Wider reflection on: Case studies
Soon taking stock (allocations, qualitative assessment)
PAF: integration of priorities and measures
Wider reflection on:
What has worked/what has not worked?
Why?
What and how can be improved?
approach
format
quality
Case studies
How to structure this debate?

9. For more information, please consult:
Contact:
Przemyslaw.
For more information, please consult: 9 9