1. Transnational cooperation in North-West Europe today: a first appraisal Joint Technical Secretariat

3. Outline of JTS presentation The inputs of the INTERREG IIIB NWE Programme « The steep learning curve of transnational cooperation, or: Of the importance of being earnestly transnational » The achievements of the INTERREG IIIB NWE Programme NWE territorial co-operation: what next?

4. The inputs of the INTERREG IIIB NWE Programme

5. Co-operation area  North West Europe (NWE) is one of the 13 areas designated for transnational cooperation on territorial development within the framework of the INTERREG IIIB Initiative  Seven Member States + Switzerland are involved  787,400 km2 representing 20% of the EU land surface  Home of 171 million people – 37% of the EU population

6. Co-operation area

7. NWE Programme Budget  Total Eligible Costs: EUR 656 million  Total ERDF budget: EUR 330 million  Five thematic priorities for the INTERREG IIIB NWE Programme: - Priority 1: attractive and coherent system of cities & towns - Priority 2: external & internal accessibility - Priority 3: water resources & prevention of flood damage - Priority 4: other natural resources & cultural heritage - Priority 5: promoting territorial integration across seas

8. NWE Programme Budget

10. Management Structure  A joint management structure has been set up to manage, co-ordinate and monitor the implementation of the NWE Programme - Managing Authority: Conseil Régional Nord-Pas de Calais - Paying Authority: Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations - Member States and Switzerland are members of the Monitoring and the Steering Committees - Joint Technical Secretariat - Network of Contact Points

11. The JTS and the Contact Points

12. The Project Cycle Project Monitoring and Evaluation Project idea definition Development of Project Application Project Selection Key Actors: Applicants Assisted by: Secretariat; Programme Contact Points Key Actors: Steering Committee Assisted by: Secretariat Key Actors: Partners Assisted by: National Authority; Secretariat Key Actors: Steering Committee; Secretariat; External Evaluators NWE PROGRAMME Community Initiative Programme (CIP ) Programme Evaluation Key Actors: Monitoring Committee; Steering Committee Assisted by: Secretariat; Network of Programme Contact Points (PCPs) Project Implementation

13. Project Partners More than 700 partners… INTERREG IIIB has opened transnational cooperation to a wider spectrum of actors from various sectors.

14. The achievements of the INTERREG IIIB NWE Programme

15. Overview of approved projects 3 years of Programme implementation - facts and figures:  500 project ideas +  6 Calls for Proposals  86 approved projects  10 follow-up from INTERREG IIC  700 formal partners +  305.3 million euros of total approved ERDF

16. Call 1+ Call 2+ Call 3+ Call 4+ Call 5+ Call 6

17. Overview of approved projects

18. Variety of issues addressed Priorities and MeasuresNo. of projects Total ERDF Priority 1: An attractive and coherent system of cities, towns and regions 2582 179 586 ► 1.1 More attractive metropolitan areas in the global and European context 13 ► 1.2 Coherent and polycentric pattern of complementary cities, towns and rural areas, coastal and peripheral regions 12 Priority 2: External and internal accessibility 1762 230 248 ► 2.1 Sustainable mobility management9 ► 2.2 Improved access to the Information Society8 Priority 3: Sustainable management of water resources and prevention of flood damages 1877 040 817 ► 3.1 Land use and water system8 ► 3.2 The prevention of flood damage10

19. Priorities and Measures (continued) No. of projects Total ERDF Priority 4: Sustainable development, prudent management and protection of other natural resources and of cultural heritage 1751 211 453 ► 4.1 Stronger Ecological Infrastructure, Reduced Ecological Footprint 9 ► 4.2 Protection and Creative Enhancement of the Cultural Heritage8 Priority 5: Promoting the maritime potential of NWE and its territorial integration across seas 1032 630 590 ► 5.1 Promote transnational co-operation in the enhancement of maritime functions and in the development of more sustainable links between seaports and their hinterlands 4 ► 5.2 Facilitating co-operation across and between maritime and inland regions 6 Variety of issues addressed

20. Activities financed by ERDF Concrete outputs: soft actions, investments and studies: Soft actions: 45.8% of total eligible budgets Investments: 44.2% of total eligible budgets

21. Where did the investments go to?

22. Activities financed by ERDF Significant breakthrough in terms of cooperation: Beyond exchanges of experience… real transfers of know-how Tackling of transnational issues through resource pooling

23. Projects’ achievements 700 partners, 86 projects, tangible results on the ground and a fruitful cooperation across borders on territorial development issues: … and this is only the beginning!

24. NWE territorial co-operation: what next?

25.  A modest tentative outline of a joint transnational territorial strategy  An interface between co- operation and the ESDP  Strong emphasis on transnational issues  A major inspiration for the drafting of the NWE Community Initiative Programme The NWE Spatial Vision 1998-2001

26. The NWE proactive approach  To generate projects on transnational issues, the involvement of key players is needed  Some of them have hardly or never heard of INTERREG!  NWE thematic seminars were of great help, but much remains to be done

27. «Spatial Vision +»: towards a strategic operational framework  A framework to guide strategic territorial development policy across NWE  A tool to raise awareness among the wide public and build support among politicians  A pragmatic and focused co-operation catalyst: identification of key players to tackle specific transnational issues through key co-operation projects  Three study contracts: final reports expected by May 2005  Lisbon-Gothenburg agenda and impact of the EU enlargement on the NWE territory taken on board

28. 2005-2006: pave the way for territorial co-operation post-2007  Important decisions remain to be taken by the Member States and the European Commission: EU regulations, budgetary means, co-operation areas, operational programmes, etc.  Meanwhile, nothing prevents us from exchanging views about the possible content of future co-operation projects. Some projects should be approved and get started in 2007.  Good implementation of approved projects is no less important; to be harnessed as valuable experience for the future. Scope for some more NWE projects approval.

29. Thank you for your attention!