Benoît Dalbert, Project Officer , Joint Technical Secretariat National Information Day - Sofia

1. Points of attention on interregional cooperation Benoît Dalbert, Project Officer, Joint Technical Secretariat National Information Day - Sofia

2. Points of attention on interregional cooperation • Summary • Background Information on INTERREG • Main Features of INTERREG A, B & C • Final recommendations on INTERREG IVC

3. Points of attention on interregional cooperation • Background Information on INTERREG

4. 1. Background Information on INTERREG • INTERREG Philosophy • Establishing links between regions sharing a common interest • Raising awareness among EU citizens • Preparing a ‘Europe without borders’

5. 1. Background Information on INTERREG European Territorial Cooperation 2007-2013 • INTERREG = New Objective 3 of EU Cohesion Policy • Budget 2007-2013: € 8.7 billion, i.e. 2.5% of EU Cohesion Policy • Cross-border cooperation: € 6.5 billion (74%) • Transnational cooperation: € 1.8 billion (18%) • Interregional cooperation: € 445 million (5%) • Stronger focus on the renewed Lisbon Strategy • Making Europe a more attractive place to invest and work • Investing more in knowledge and innovation - engines of sustainable growth • Creating more and better jobs

6. Points of attention on interregional cooperation 2. Main Features of INTERREG A, B & C

7. 2. Main Features of INTERREG A, B & C • INTERREG A: Cross-BorderCooperation

8. 2. Main Features of INTERREG A, B & C INTERREG A: Cross-BorderCooperation ‘Filling the gaps’ • Aim: Bringing adjacent cross-border regions closer together through the development of joint projects • Wide range of issues covered: • Encouraging entrepreneurship, especially the development of SMEs, tourism, culture and cross-border trade • Improving joint management of natural resources • Supporting links between urban and rural areas • Improving access to transport and communication networks • Developing joint use of infrastructure • Administrative, employment and equal opportunities work

9. 2. Main Features of INTERREG A, B & C • INTERREG B: TransnationalCooperation

10. 2. Main Features of INTERREG A, B & C INTERREG B: TransnationalCooperation ‘Extra European dimension to regional development’ • Aim: Promoting a better territorial integration within the EU (spatial planning with reference to ESDP) • Themes covered include: • Innovation, especially international networks of universities, research institutions and SMEs • Environment, especially water resources, rivers, lakes, sea (flood management) • Accessibility, including telecommunications, and in particular the completion of networks (communication corridors) • Sustainable urban development, especially polycentric development

11. 2. Main Features of INTERREG A, B & C • INTERREG C: InterregionalCooperation

12. 2. Main Features of INTERREG A, B & C INTERREG C: InterregionalCooperation ‘Improving the effectiveness of regional policies’ • INTERREG IVC = ‘capitalisation’ programme • Capitalisation: process of collecting, analysing, disseminating and • transferring good practices in a certain domain of regional policy • Programme’s thematic priorities: • Innovation and the knowledge economy • Environment and risk prevention

13. Points of attention on interregional cooperation 3. Final recommendations on INTERREG IVC

14. 3. Final recommendations on INTERREG IVC To always keep in mind the programme’s rationale! Key elements derives from this programme’s rationale: • Interregional cooperation ≠ cross-border cooperation ≠ transnational cooperation • Local & regional authorities = ‘natural’ target group of IVC Other bodies may be involved only if their link with regional and local policies is clearly demonstrated • Exchange of experiences = core activities of all IVC projects Pilot actions / experimentations possible but only under very strict conditions

15. Thank you very much for your attention!