FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
NATURA2000
INTERREG 2014-2020
Content
1)Introduction
1) EU budget and Cohesion Policy
2) Interreg within Cohesion Policy
3) Role of Flanders Enterprise
2) Programmes and budgets
3) Interreg in practice
4) Opportunities for Natura2000
1.1 EU budget and cohesion policy 20142020
(Source http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news)
1.2 Interreg within cohesion policy 20142020
EU2020 = Smart, sustainable and inclusive growth as
common goal for Cohesion Policy
1C(ommon)S(trategic)F(ramework) for integrated use of ESF, ERDF,
European Territorial Cooperation, Agricultural Fund,
Fisheries…towards these goals
Interreg is part of the ERDF
ERDF to achieve economic, social and territorial
cohesion…by the development and structural adaptation of
regional economies
1.2 Interreg, within Cohesion Policy
ERDF 2014-2020 to focus on “investing in growth” within EU2020
agenda
– Research and innovation
– ICT
– Competitiveness of SME’s
– Low Carbon Economy
European Territorial Cooperation (ETC)/Interreg
• Is both an instrument and an objective…
• To tackle issues that require a cross-border, integrated en
coordinated intervention by multiple actors, sectors and governance
levels within ERDF themes
Interreg A, B and C…
• Resp. programmes in the strict border areas, with multiple
neighouring countries or all the EU-28
1.3 Role of Enterprise Flanders
• Coordinator and “national authority for the ERDF in Flanders
• (Co)decision maker in Monitoring and project selection
committees
• Monitors (efficient) execution of programmes and use of ERDF
means
• Supports project applicants and approved project promotors
(either directly, either via indirectly via contact points and
programme secretariats)
• Potential cofinancer of projects that contribute to the economic
policy of the Flemish Gvt
2) Programmes and budgets (current)
Vlaanderen-Nederland
Frankrijk-Wallonië-Vlaanderen
Maas-Rijn
Twee Zeeën
Noordzee Regio
Interreg IVC, Urbact, Interact
Noordwest Europa
2) Programmes and budgets (2014-2020)
• Minimally same ERDF budget as today
• General increase of 25% of ERDF budgets
expected
3) In practice
• Project applications: via calls for proposals (on Progr
websites and Agentschap Ondernemen website); (oneline)
submission to Programme Secretariats (JTS)
• Project promotors: mainly public and public/private not for
profit actors; for profit actors welcome depending on progr but
state aid rules apply)
• ERDF rate: max 50 %; remaining 50% to be cofinanced by
applicants (public, public similar or private funding according to
programme)
• Decision by Monitoring or Steering Committee (national and
regional representatives)
3) In practice
Types of activities funded
• Strict cooperation activities: staff costs,
meetings, travel and accommodation, conferences,
communication…
• Investment activities: pilot infrastructure, building
and refurbishment(s), costs related to designing and
running investments, external expertise…
4) Opportunities for Natura2000 related projects
General
• ETC ≠ environmental protection or development programmes
• ETC to focus mainly on “growth” agenda and realizing “transition” (cfr.
also VIA/Pact2020 definition) to smarter + more sustainable and
inclusive regional economies
• “Environment” and related themes to be considered according to their
potential to contribute to structural/systemic change in regional
economies
• Specificities of programme areas and ongoing negotation process
between countries/regions involved also play an important role
• Thematic concentration and result orientation
4) Opportunities for Natura2000 related projects
• All Operational Programmes
– will include horizontal principles regarding environmental
performance of the OP
– or apply evaluation criteria on environmental impacts for all
projects
• But generally financing opportunities will remain limited compared to
the overall budget available
• A number of programmes dedicate a specific programme objective
around Natura 2000 or natural heritage/ressources (FL-NL, FWFL, NSR,
EMR(?), IVC)
• Some have more general environmental programme objectives with
possibility to contribute by Natura2000 (2 Seas, NWE)
4) Opportunities for Natura2000 related projects
Possible aims/activities/results (non exhaustive)
•
Improved cross-border management and exploitation of natural heritage (incl
public-private cooperation models);
•
Develop new methods and deploy new technologies for environmental
management.
•
Better exploit commercial potentials of environmental activity (incl. export of
technologies to ‘leapfrog’ environmentally damaging practices to emerging
economies)
•
Investment in cross-border green infrastructure and vulnerable ecosystems
•
Increased added value of regional economic activity based on cross-border
natural assets;
•
Increased resilience of cross-border regional ecosystems and biodiversity….
4) Opportunities for Natura2000 related projects
Timing of new programmes
• Most programmes submitted to European Commission (EC)
between 02/2014 and 06/2014
• +/- 6 months for EC to decide on operational programmes
• Informal launch events between submission and approval
• First calls probably as of 09/2014 for most advanced
programmes
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
QUESTIONS?
David Grzegorzewski
Directeur
Agentschap Ondernemen Entiteit Europa Economie
T +32 (0)2 553 39 96
david.grzegorzewski@agentschapondernemen.be
www.agentschapondernemen.be
www.efro.be