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Interreg Baltic Sea Region ready for take off
Interreg Baltic Sea Region has launched its first call for applications for Priority 1 “Capacity for innovation”, Priority 2 “Management of natural resources” and Priority 3 “Sustainable transport”.
The step 1 (Concept Note) of the call is open from 2 December 2014 until 2 February 2015. You will find all relevant documents, further details and instructions at interreg-baltic.eu/how-to-apply/1st-call-for-applications.html.
In step 1 applicants are asked to fill in the concept note form. The concept note has to be submitted not later than 2 February 2015.
Impressions from the Programme Conference in Warsaw, 26-27 November
"Interreg is there when you want to do something new and innovative, and something you cannot do on your own", stated Olli Keinänen, City of Helsinki, during the stakeholder panel at the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme conference, 26-27 Nov. The fully booked event was attended by more than 500 delegates and was held at the recently opened Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Poland's capital Warsaw. The conference looked back at successful examples of cooperation and discussed expectations for the future. Speakers covered themes for cooperation and features of the new Programme, and explained how and when to apply as well as where to get help. Conference participants had opportunities and time to network and share their ideas.
Presentations, photos, agenda and a list of participants are available at interreg-baltic.eu/BSRconference2014.html.
Most of the participants came to find out about the new programme' topics, and about the opportunities for applying for programme co-funding for their project ideas. There was good news from Teresa Marcinów, the Polish chairperson of the programme 's committee during 2014: "The first call for applications will indeed be launched very soon, already on 2 December", she announced.
"Transnational cooperation deserves a special place in European regional policy", declared Dorota Pyć, deputy minister at the Polish Ministry of Infrastructure and Development when opening the conference, "as it is the only reasonable way to address issues that cannot be sufficiently tackled by regional and local authorities on their own." She also pointed out that experience gained by working in transnational partnerships would help these authorities implement the much larger national pogrammes.
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 Ms Dorota Pyć, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Development, Poland
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 Mr Olli Keinänen, City of Helsinki, Finland
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 Ms Teresa Marcinów, Ministry of Infrastructure and Development, Poland
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Lena Andersson Pench, director for territorial cooperation and macro-regions at the European Commission's Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy since August this year, emphasised the Baltic Sea region's role as a forerunner in the Union for the successful implementation of macro-regional strategies. The Commission had high expectations of this region as there were several other areas with their strategies to follow. She acknowledged the programme's merits as being first and a useful tool for financing flagship projects but said it was clear that more and other sources would be needed.
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Referring to the new programming period, Director Andersson Pench stressed the need for both concentration on fewer topics relevant for the region, and stronger orientation towards results. "We must be able to evaluate the impact of European fund investments in all programmes, Interreg and mainstream programmes."
Lena Andersson Pench pointed out that more partners from non-profit organisations, as well as from the private sector, should be attracted to participate in transnational projects while involving the partner countries of Norway, Russia and Belarus was also important. In this respect, she referred to the high standards of programme management. "The Baltic Sea Region Programme's management is a quality label and known for that in the Interreg world", she concluded.
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 Ms Lena Andersson Pench, Director, Territorial Co-operation, Macro-regions and North-West Europe, DG Regional and Urban Policy, European Commission
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 Mr Erk Westermann-Lammers, Chairman of the Executive Board, Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein, Managing Authority
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Erk Westermann-Lammers, CEO of Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein IB.SH, said that it was now the fourth time since 1997 that IB.SH had been selected as joint managing authority of the programme. Programme countries and project partners seemed to be satisfied with IB.SH services which made him proud and happy. "We will do our best to continue being an objective partner not influenced by own economic or political interests", he promised.
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Representatives of the Interreg Baltic Sea Region programming committee talked about the new programme features. A strong focus had been put on innovation, both technological and non-technological innovation as there was still great potential in the region, something highlighted by Kadri Jushkin of the Estonian Ministry of the Interior. Bjarke Wiehe Bøtcher, coordinating maritime safety and security for the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region noted with satisfaction that the Strategy had become an integral part of the new programme, and also included a facility to support the work of the priority area coordinators.
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 Ms Kadri Jushkin, Ministry of the Interior, Estonia
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 Mr Bjarke Wiehe Bøtcher, Danish Maritime Authority, PAC Maritime Safety and Security
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 Ms Ann Irene Saeternes, Eastern Norway County Network, Norway
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The draft programme document is still at the European Commission for final scrutiny. "Our ambition is to get the programme ready for approval this year" emphasized Lena Andersson Pench. The programme can be started anyway. As a first step, project owners can submit a concept note. If the concept note is selected by the committee, project owners will be invited to submit a fully-fledged application later in 2015. For more information please check the How to apply section.
Representatives of three successful projects of the current period 2007-2013, BaltSeaPlan, Scandria and Stardust explained the results and achievements of their work. BaltSeaPlan partners helped countries around the Baltic Sea in setting up legal framework for maritime spatial planning and helped to design maritime spatial plans. SCANDRIA increased efficiency and sustainability of the transport systems along the Scandinavian-Adriatic corridor. StarDust engaged more than 850 SME in match-making events and user-driven innovation camps.
At the thematic corners “Capacity for innovation”, “Management of natural resources”, “Sustainable transport” and “EU Strategy support” participants met others interested in similar topics, where they networked and exchanged project ideas, as well as discussed questions with the Joint Secretariat team.
Moreover, more than 50 project ideas submitted by the participants were on display at these thematic corners.
The Joint Secretariat and Managing Authority team provided a more detailed outlook into the themes and procedures of the Interreg Baltic Sea Region. The interventions covered the main facts about the Programme, the themes for cooperation, the planning project budget and communication, as well as the application procedure and timeline. Applicants learned about the content of the priorities and issues that would be important when preparing a concept note. The main message to the applicants is: involve end users and target groups from the beginning!
In closing the conference, speakers shared their experiences and gave advice to future applicants. A project needs personal leadership, it is a network that has to be cherished. Starting or joining a project is a journey that will bring many achievements, challenges and new friends. Before you start this journey, it is important to decide where you want to go.
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 Ms Kaarina Williams, Ministry of Justice, Cultural and European Affairs Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
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 Mr Wiktor Szydarowski, TransBaltic and BSR TransGovernance projects
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 Ms Susanne Scherrer, Director, Managing Authority/Joint Secretariat, Interreg Baltic Sea Region
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During the evening reception, the Director of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Mr Zygmunt Stepinski gave a short introduction to the museum, explained its purpose and the exhibits. Participants enjoyed traditional Jewish food. Andruszczenko Trio performed instrumental Jewish and Klezmer music and thus enriched the unique atmosphere of the venue.
Lead Applicant seminar in Riga: more than 150 project developers learned about the first call for applications
“Having started out as a funding mechanism for spatial planning, Interreg Baltic Sea Region today is an important instrument for implementing joint policies, in particular the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region”, stated Susanne Scherrer, Director of the Managing Authority and Joint Secretariat of the Programme when opening the lead applicant seminar in Riga on 3 December. The Joint Secretariat team introduced the main features of Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme and the themes for cooperation: “innovation”, “natural resources” and “transport”. The project budgeting and communication were covered as well as how and when to apply. The speakers highlighted that, to be successful, project developers have to know their target groups and involve them in project planning.
Presentations from the seminar are available at interreg-baltic.eu/event-detail/event/lead-applicant-seminar-interreg-baltic-sea-region.html.
The day after the seminar around 50 project developers joined the individual project consultations with the Joint Secretariat. The main messages during consultations were: be specific when presenting the challenges and potentials, and think of the result (change in the region). The finance colleagues helped with the financial rules and gave tips on how to plan a project budget.
The Joint Secretariat will continue supporting potential applicants in developing their ideas. For more information on how to get help go to interreg-baltic.eu/faq.html#/faq1.
News
1st call for applications is open (priorities 1-3)
Interreg Baltic Sea Region is launching its first call for applications for Priority 1 “Capacity for innovation”, Priority 2 “Management of natural resources” and Priority 3 “Sustainable transport”.
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Call for PACs/HALs support is open
1st call for support to Priority Area Coordinators and Horizontal Action Leaders of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region is open (priority 4)
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Job vacancies at the Interreg Joint Secretariat in Rostock, Germany
We are looking for a project officer and a finance officer at the Joint Secretariat (JS) of the Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme – closure date: 12 January 2015.
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