,3 Brussels, 11 May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ollowing the adoption, Michel BARNIER, Commissioner responsible for regional policy stated: "INTERREG III is an essential part of the European Union s strategy for improving territorial cohesion. This Initiative will bring people and collectivities closer together across Europe and will be particularly important in preparing for the enlargement of the Union. " Mr BARNIER also welcomed the positive contribution from the European Parliament during the consultation process. The Commission took particular note of the Parliament s comments regarding the need for more flexibility regarding the actions under the transnational strand, the importance of better co-ordination with the external financing instruments, and the need for particular attention to be paid to the outermost regions. %DFNJURXQG The INTERREG Initiative was introduced in 1990 to develop cross-border cooperation and help areas on the internal and external borders of the Union to overcome the problems arising from their isolation. The new INTERREG III Initiative for 2000-2006 provides further support for that goal while also supporting interregional and transnational co-operation. The importance of these types of cooperation is now even greater with the impending enlargement of the European Union, which will increase the number of internal borders and move its external frontiers further east. The main challenge for INTERREG III is to build on the positive experiences of cooperation already undertaken and extend this successful co-operation to the whole Union and to relations with neighbouring countries.
7KH6WUDQGV The guiding principle behind INTERREG III is that national borders should not be a barrier to the balanced and harmonious development of Europe. To this end, three different types of co-operation will be supported through INTERREG III. They are: - 6WUDQG$FURVVERUGHUFRRSHUDWLRQbetween contiguous border communities aiming to develop cross-border economic and social centres and joint spatial development approaches. This type of co-operation is focused on the local dimension at the internal and external borders of the Union; - 6WUDQG % WUDQVQDWLRQDO FRRSHUDWLRQ between local, regional and national authorities with a view to promoting wider European integration and sustainable and balanced development in the European Union and better integration with neighbouring countries. Some 13 programmes will cover the whole of Europe, encouraging a more strategic approach to spatial development issues; and - 6WUDQG&LQWHUUHJLRQDOFRRSHUDWLRQto improve the effectiveness of regional development tools through the creation of networks, especially for the less favoured regions and those regions suffering from industrial decline. This strand will focus on non-contiguous co-operation. Further information and maps are provided in Annex 1. 7KH,QWHUUHJ3URJUDPPHVIRU The guidelines for INTERREG III are based on the experience of the 1994-1999 period and seek to build on the results already achieved by ensuring that the regions and territories involved co-ordinate their efforts and engage in real co-operation. This means that they must employ joint strategies and programmes. Regions and territories must also create joint administrative structures for the preparation and promotion of these programmes, the selection of operations, general management, co-ordination and monitoring the implementation of programming. INTERREG III programmes must involve not only institutions but also socioeconomic actors, non-governmental organisations and further education institutions. Finally, the programmes established must complement the measures developed under Objectives 1, 2 and 3 of the Structural Funds and must also be co-ordinated with the instruments of the Union s external policy (including PHARE, TACIS, MEDA).,17(55(*,,,DQGWKH$GULDWLF The Commission is especially aware of the political situation in the Adriatic region and is monitoring the situation closely. The Commission has made a special statement annexed to the INTERREG III guidelines which states When the political conditions to encourage co-operation under INTERREG III between the Italian regions and those of the third countries of the Adriatic are met, the Commission will examine the most suitable methods of encouraging this co-operation with the other co-operation instruments. )LQDQFLQJ The total contribution of the ERDF to INTERREG for 2000-2006 has been set at EURO 4 875 million at 1999 prices. Co-financing is available at up to 75% of the total cost of projects and programmes in Objective 1 regions and up to 50% elsewhere. 2
The Commission has also adopted today the indicative financial allocation per Member State for INTERREG III. These allocations (see Annex 2) have been calculated on the basis of objective criteria. Member States should allocate, on an indicative basis, at least 50% of their total INTERREG III indicative allocation to cross-border co-operation (strand A). The Commission invites the Member States and the designated regional authorities to submit detailed proposals within six months from the date of publication of the final notice in the 2IILFLDO-RXUQDORIWKH(XURSHDQ&RPPXQLWLHV. For more information, please see http://inforegio.cec.eu.int 3
ANNEX 1,17(55(*,,,±)XUWKHULQIRUPDWLRQ 675$1'$&5266%25'(5&223(5$7,21 '(),1,7,21 Cross-border co-operation (strand A) between neighbouring countries is intended to develop cross-border economic and social centres by promoting joint strategies for sustainable territorial development. (/,*,%/($5($6 - All NUTS III areas on the internal and external land frontiers of the European Union. Adjacent areas may also be included in the cross-border co-operation programme for a NUTS III region. - Some coastal areas. 675$1'%75$161$7,21$/&223(5$7,21 '(),1,7,21 Transnational co-operation among national, regional and local authorities is intended to achieve a greater degree of territorial integration by promoting broad groupings of European regions which can engage in the sustainable, harmonious and balanced development of the European Union and achieve greater territorial integration with the applicant countries and other neighbours. Particular attention is paid to the most remote regions and to islands. Strand B also offers the possibility of promoting cooperation among groups of regions which have similar disadvantages, such as mountainous areas. NUTS: "Nomenclature des Unités Territoriales Statistiques" the system for breaking down the Community territory 4
(/,*,%/($5($6 The whole of the European Union and neighbouring regions are eligible for transnational co-operation. For the purposes of drawing up the programmes, regions have been grouped on the basis of the existing programmes for spatial planning under Interreg II C and Article 10 of the ERDF Regulation : - Western Mediterranean - The Alps - South-west Europe - North-west Europe - North Sea - Baltic Sea - Northern Periphery - Central, Adriatic, Danube and South-East Europe - Archimed, the whole of Greece and four regions of Italy: Sicily, Calabria, Puglia and Basilicata - The Atlantic arc - The outermost regions: the Canary Islands, the French overseas departments, the Azores and Madeira. 675$1'&,17(55(*,21$/&223(5$7,21 '(),1,7,21 The aim of interregional co-operation is to support networking as a means of making the various policies and instruments for regional development more effective, particularly in those regions whose development is lagging behind and those areas engaged in conversion. Strand C of the new phase of Interreg incorporates the RECITE and ECOS-Ouverture programmes established under the former Article 10 of the ERDF Regulation in 1994-1999. (/,*,%/($5($6 The whole of the European Union is eligible. In addition to large-scale assistance, in 1994-1999 the ERDF financed studies and pilot projects under Article 10 of the ERDF Regulation. 5
INTERREG IIIB AREAS
ANNEX 2,17(55(*,,,,QGLFDWLYHDOORFDWLRQRIWKHFRPPLWPHQWDSSURSULDWLRQVDYDLODEOHDPRQJWKH 0HPEHU6WDWHV LQPLOOLRQHXUR±SULFH 0(0%(5 67$7( B 104 DK 34 DE 737 GR 568 E 900 F 397 IRL 84 I 426 L 7 NL 349 A 183 P 394 FIN 129 S 154 UK 362 Networks 47,1',&$7,9( $//2&$7,21 (85