1. Belarus Denmark Estonia Finland Germany Latvia Lithuania Norway Poland Russia Sweden Belarus Denmark Estonia Finland Germany Latvia Lithuania Norway Poland Russia Sweden Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013 Transnational Co-operation Programme under the European Territorial Co-operation Objective Prepared by the Joint Secretariat

2. The eligible area of the programme EU Member States Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden (whole country), Germany (parts of the country) Norway (whole country) Russia (parts of the country) Belarus (whole country) NEW! Partners from other EU and non-EU areas may join individual projects and benefit from the programme funds (under certain conditions)

3. Who can apply? Public authorities from national, regional and local levels Public equivalent bodies (e.g. research and training institutions, business development institutions and other non-profit organisations) Private sector involvement as additional partners with own financing Lead Partner principle to be further applied

4. Budget of the programme Higher than the size of the present programme Will be composed of: –European Regional Development Fund (ERDF): approx. 208 MEUR –European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI): approx. 22.6 MEUR (NEW!) –Norwegian national funding: approx. 6 MEUR –Respective obligatory own co-funding from national/regional/local level

5. Co-financing rate The programme funds will cover: –up to 75 % of eligible project costs generated by partners from Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Finland –up to 85 % of eligible project costs generated by partners from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland –up to 50 % of eligible project costs generated by partners from Norway –up to 90 % of eligible project costs generated by partners from Russia and Belarus

6. ENPI component (NEW!) Participation of partners involved in the activities which are for the benefit of the Russian or Belarusian territory covered by the programme will be financed from the ENPI fund Partners using the ENPI funds will have to follow the rules that apply for EU external funding (PRAG rules) ENPI component under preparation towards an integrated ERDF/ENPI programme

7. Implementation structure of the programme Single Managing Authority (MA) Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany Single Certifying Authority (CA) Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany Single Audit Authority (AA) ???, Germany Joint Technical Secretariat (JTS) Main office: Rostock, Germany Branch office: Riga, Latvia Group of Auditors (1 representative per Member State; chaired by AA) Assis- tance Monitoring and Steering Committee (MSC ) Lead beneficiary Assistance Bene- ficiary Bene- ficiary Bene- ficiary Assistance First level controller(s) (set up by Member States) European Commission (EC) Agreement Payments Verification Assistance … 8 EU Member States + Belarus, Norway and Russia Represen- tatives Agreements

8. Identity of the new programme It is a mainstream Structural Funds programme for the Baltic Sea Region (Objective 3 programme on Territorial Cooperation); no longer a Community Initiative although it is a continuation of the BSR IR3B programme It addresses the Lisbon and Gothenburg strategies and develops on the Baltic Sea Region specificity It addresses only issues which call for intervention at the transnational level It has a geographical, thematic and quality focus It combines three development aspects of the BSR: (1) territorial cohesion (2) socio-economic competitiveness (3) sustainable management of the natural resources

9. Strategic objective and priorities of the programme OBJECTIVE: To strengthen the development towards a sustainable, competitive and territorially integrated Baltic Sea Region by connecting potentials over the administrative borders 1. FOSTERING OF INNOVATIONS ACROSS THE BSR 2. IMPROVING OF EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL ACCESSIBILITY OF THE BSR 3. MANAGEMENT OF THE BALTIC SEA AS A COMMON RESOURCE 4. PROMOTING OF ATTRACTIVE AND COMPETITIVE CITIES AND REGIONS mitigation of barriers seeding anddiffusion risk mitigation&resourcemanagement networking & pan-Baltic products EFFECTS: Accelerated functional integration and internal convergence Increased investment attractiveness Higher regional productivity Better quality of the environment Recognition of the BSR as a global player

10. Priority 1: Fostering of innovations across the BSR Directions of support: Supporting of the innovation sources Facilitating transnational technology transfer and dissemination of knowledge, in particular for SMEs Strengthening the societal foundations and public participation in generation and absorption of new knowledge

11. Priority 2: Improving external and internal accessibility of the BSR Directions of support: Promotion of transport and ICT measures enhancing accessibility and sustainable socio-economic growth Actions stimulating further integration within existing transnational development zones and creation of new ones

12. Priority 3: Management of the Baltic Sea as a common resource Directions of support: Water management with special attention to challenges caused by increasing economic activities and climate changes Enhancement of Maritime Safety Economic management of open sea areas and sustainable use of marine resources Integrated development of off-shore and coastal areas

13. Priority 4: Promoting of attractive and competitive cities and regions Directions of support: Strengthening metropolitan regions, cities and urban areas as engines of economic development Strategic support for integrated BSR development and socio-economic and territorial cohesion Strengthening social conditions and impacts of regional and city development (NEW! – ENPI)

14. Character of future projects Projects have to address topics identified under the priorities of the programme Principle of transnationality to be respected, i.a. projects should demonstrate potential for the whole BSR Emphasis on strategic relevance of projects, preparation of future investments, capitalisation of project results Learning experience and model solutions to be produced Transfer of project results to be better visible than in the present programme

15. Indicators System (NEW!) introduced in the Programme 15 The system of indicators is based on a set of expected results defined for each priority and accompanied by respective outputs Programme targets are expressed as a minimum expected number of projects contributing to the given result The system of indicators operates at two levels: -at the programme level results indicators are the numbers of project addressing the given result, -at the project level result indicators are defined and quantified by the projects themselves

16. Feature of the programme: strategic projects A project is regarded strategic if: it refers to a problem and develops solutions essential for the stable development of the whole BSR, and its geographical area or area of influence encompasses the whole or large parts of the BSR, and it contains an investment stage, and it has a strong political backup at the national level, which takes responsibility for endorsement of the policy recommendations or implementation of transnationally prepared investments Examples of strategic projects are given under each priority

17. Feature of the programme: principle of transnationality Projects are requested to: ensure joint project development, management, financing and implementation by partners from at least 3 countries from the programme area (out of minimum 3 financial partners at least 2 come from EU Member States inside the BSR), and address topics of importance for or having impact on the BSR development, and develop model solutions and learning experience in a transnational context, i.e. through a common process of involving actors of various countries, or provide development proposals (strategies, programmes, concepts) for a contiguous transnational territory (e.g. transport corridor-related development zone)

18. Feature of the programme: quality requirements contribution to sustainable development added value competence raising durability preparation of investments transferability of results

19. Launching of the programme Open calls for application launched on a regular basis Max. two calls per year Calls open and advertised for approx. 3-4 months Considered schedule for the 1st call: still discussed! –Programme info days: –Opening of the 1st call: –Thematic workshops, lead applicant seminars, project consultations: –Closure of the call: –Decisions on projects: