19 June 2015, Sofia

Sharing solutions for better regional policies

From INTERREG IVCto INTERREG EUROPE

INTERREG EUROPE National Contact Point

DG Territorial Cooperation Management

Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works

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‘Learning by sharing’

Local / regional authorities exchange the experience with others in Europe facing similar challengesin order to improve their practices / policies

INTERREG IVC (2007-2013)

Public authorities Bodies governed by public law

EU 27NorwaySwitzerland

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Main achievements (as of 2014)

90% of EU NUTS 2 regions covered

Objective:

EU wide exchange of experience / capacity building

7,935staff with increased capacity

467‘spin-off

activities’

Objective:

Identification / sharing / transfer of good practices

6,475good practices

identified

554successfully transferred

Overall objective: Improvement of regional and local policies

1,943policies

addressed

460policies

improved

See illustrations of results in the programme Annual Report!

INTERREG IVC

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7.3 minhabitants

1.42 %IVC population

517 partnersin 400 project applications with 4 BG lead partners

25% approved(vs. 15% programme

average approval rate)62 projects = 74 partners

1 lead partner30.4 % of total projects

1st Call 2nd Call 3rd Call 4th Call

149

187

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168

BG partners in applications by call

Bulgaria in INTERREG IVC

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Project Policy improved

EuroPROC Bulgarian Public Procurement Law

I-SPEED National Law on Tourism; 3 community programmes for tourism development for Shumen, Gabrovo and Vratsa

INOLINK Integrated Plan for Reconstruction and Urban Development of Varna.

MMOVE Razlog Municipal Development Plan 2007-2013 (e.g. on bicycle paths)

PIMMS TRANSFER Sofia Municipality - parking policy (payment by SMS), reducing urban traffic in the city centre

PRoMPt New Forest Law takes reforestation recommendations into account

REGIOCLIMA 3rd Bulgarian National Action Plan for Climate Change 2013-2020

RSCRegional Climate Confident Index included in the Bulgarian monitoring system of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works

SUGAR Municipality of Vratsa urban freight transport policy

Examples of policies improvedBulgaria in INTERREG

IVC

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“In the beginning, the ESF ‘Development’ programme was designed only to tackle unemployment after mass redundancies in enterprises. The foreseen budget was EUR 75 million. Thanks to ESF6 CIA, we were able to redesign the programme and include preferential treatment to people age 50+. It helped a lot, as it gave us a good idea how people in these target groups could be included in trainings.”

Vasil Asenov, Bulgarian Ministry of Labour and Social Policy

Project IVC ERDF spent Leverage effect Earmarked mainstream funds

ESF6 CIA EUR 935,661 x 55 EUR 51,300,300

Bulgaria in INTERREG IVCExamples of policies improved

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The INTERREG IVC story: an online report showcasing seven years of interregional cooperation

http://report.interreg4c.eu

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INTERREG IVC Good Practice Database

http://www.interreg4c.eu/good-practices/

Inspiration for you at a click of a mouse!

1268

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INTERREG IVC

Thematic programme capitalisation

12 sets of reports, brochures &

policy papers

Find out lessons learnt and

suggestions for the future

All available at: www.interreg4c.eu/capitalisation/

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Download the full reports from: www.interreg4c.eu/capitalisation

Capitalisation reports

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• Vast majority of projects successful

Richness & variety of the achievements

• Results take time

• No magic recipe but key success factors:

o Addressing a real need shared by the partners

o Involvement of the policy makers

o Quality of the interregional learning process

INTERREG IVC Achievements Conclusions

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Interregional cooperation programme

INTERREG EUROPE 2014-2020

approved by EC on 11.06.2015

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€INTERREG EUROPE

EUR 359 m

EU Cohesion policy

Policy learning among public authorities to improve performance of policies & programmes for regional development,

in particular Structural Funds programmes

Goal 1: Investment for growth & jobs (G&J)

EUR 340 billion

Goal 2: European Territorial Cooperation (ETC)

EUR 10.2 billion

INTERREG EUROPE

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EU28 + Norway &

Switzerland

Eligible area

INTERREG EUROPE

Managing

AuthorityConseil Régional

Nord - Pas de

Calais

France

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Thematic focus4 priority axes

…S3

innovation infrastructure

innovation chains…

…energy efficiency

renewable energies

sustainable transport…

…creation,

development,

growth of SMEs…

…natural heritage

cultural heritage

resources efficiency…

Research and innovation

SME competitiveness

Low-carbon economy

Environment and resource efficiency

INTERREG EUROPE

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2 actions supported

Policy Learning

Platforms

Interregional Cooperation

Projects

INTERREG EUROPE

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Budget per action

Programme total ERDF budget: MEUR 359

o ERDF budget for platforms: MEUR 15.3 (max)

o ERDF budget for projects: MEUR 322.4 equally

shared over 4 priority axes (MEUR 84)

INTERREG EUROPE

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Online collaborative tool + Expert team

A. Policy Learning Platforms

A service provided per theme via:

Research andinnovation

SME competitiveness

Low-carbon economy

Environment andresource efficiency

What is it?

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Objective: To contribute to policy learning across EU in particular on Structural Funds implementation

Better exploiting projects’ results

Opening up programme results to anyone interested

INTERREG IVC capitalisation

S3 platformSeville

Origin

Objective

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Example of services• Advise regional stakeholders and running projects

• Organise and facilitate peer reviews among regions

• Organise and facilitate thematic workshops

• Analyse and disseminate the content of projects through dedicated events & publications

• Facilitate knowledge sharing and networking among regions on the collaborative tool

• Assist/support programme stakeholders in the creation of interregional smart specialisation partnerships for building critical mass and developing joint roadmaps for their industries

A. Policy Learning Platforms

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Examples of possible policy learning platform actions

The Competitiveness of SMEs platform

Publication of recommendations for regional SME development programmes based on an analysis of successful experiences from different projects and from Growth and Jobs programmes.

Seminars for regional authorities on the design of SME-friendly policies, including the design of public procurement processes and the reduction of administrative burdens and barriers facing SMEs.

Peer reviews among regional development agencies and education institutes on the subject of regional entrepreneurship development programmes in different European regions.

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Users

Two access levels

Public information for all users

Restricted area for registered users for extra services

Other stakeholders relevant to the topics

Bodies involved in policy implementation relevant to the four programme themes

Bodies involved in management and implementationof Growth & Jobs and European Territorial Cooperation

programmes

A. Policy Learning Platforms

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Implementation

Sub-contracting arrangement

Through procurement procedure

Launched in the course of 2016

Target groups

Stakeholders involved in the implementation of Growth & Jobs or cooperation programmes

Other stakeholders relevant to the topics

A. Policy Learning Platforms

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Objective

….to improve the effectiveness of the policies of the regions

involved in the project (in particular their Investment for Growth

and Jobs goal programmes)

Partners from different countries working together on a shared

regional policy issue (within the thematic fields of the programme)

…

Project main features

Definition

B. Interregional Cooperation Projects

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1. Improving Structural Funds

2. Public administrations as main target group

3. Mobilising stakeholders

4. Capturing results

All features derive from the result oriented approach

Four features of INTERREG EUROPE projects

B. Interregional Cooperation Projects

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Improving Structural Funds Why? rationale

Objective set in the ETC Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013 - Article 2(3)(a) for interregional cooperation:

‘to reinforce the effectiveness of cohesion policy’

‘identification and dissemination of good practices with a view to their transfer principally to operational programmes under the Investment for growth and jobs goal but also, where relevant to cooperation programmes’

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• Support new projects

• Change programme governance

• Change programme structure

How do you improve policies?

Improving Structural Funds

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Why? Rationale

INTERREG EUROPE:

dedicated to improving policy instruments

Public administrations: organisations responsible for policy design and implementation

Public administrations:

core target group of INTERREG EUROPE

Public administrations as main target groups

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Participation of public administration: pre requisite

e.g. When Structural Funds programme addressed, Managing Authorities (MA) / Intermediate Bodies (IB)

should be involved

If organisation responsible for the policy instrument addressed is not a partner, it should provide a letter of support:

a commitment to fully support and closely follow the project implementation

How is it reflected at project level?

Public administrations as main target groups

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Who should get involved?

Find tried and tested measures to implement in your programme

Share and implement good practices coming from across Europe

Get involved with your policymaker and contribute to better policy implementation

Managing Authorities

Regional/local authorities

Agencies, institutes, private non-profit

bodies

B. Interregional Cooperation Projects

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Project partnership: from at least 3 countries, of which at least 2 partners from EU Member States

• Public bodies (the main target group)(e.g. local, regional, national authorities)

• Bodies governed by public law(Directive 2004/18/EC)

• Private non profit bodies

B. Interregional Cooperation Projects

Confirmation of the eligibility status: National contact points (NCP)NCP in Bulgaria

DG Territorial Cooperation Management, MRDPW

Who is eligible?

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B. Interregional Cooperation Projects

Policy exchange of experience (1 to 3 years)ending with production of 1 action plan per region

Monitoring of action plan implementation (2 years)+ possible pilot actions

Phase 1

Phase 2

1. Implementation in 2 phases

2. Creation of local ‘stakeholder groups’ - one per policy instrument addressed

+ involve all organisations linked to policy process+ reduce administrative/legal obstacles

Maximum duration: 5 years

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Stakeholder groups

Creation of stakeholder groups:

- 1 group per partner region

- Members: • organisations competent in the field tackled by the

project (e.g. for innovation: research centres, universities, agencies, SMEs)

• body in charge of policy instrument addressed (in case this body is not a partner)

- Involved in the interregional learning process

B. Interregional Cooperation Projects

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Mobilising stakeholders

Why? Rationale

3. Regional stakeholders learning

2. Organisational learning 4. External /

EU level learning

1. Individual learning

4 levels of learning in interregional cooperation

Key success factor to interregional learning: to go beyond individual / organisational learning

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ERDFCo-financing

rates

National co-financing in

Bulgaria

According to legal status or location

85% ERDF 15% state co-financing by MRDPW

Public or public equivalent from EU

75% ERDF 15% state co-financing by MRDPW10% own co-financing

Private non-profit from EU

50% Norwegian funding

Public, public equivalent and private non-profit from Norway

Swiss funding Public, public equivalent and private non-profit from Switzerland

B. Interregional Cooperation Projects

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2 interrelated actions

Policy Learning Platforms

Open to all regions

Interregional cooperation projects

Enrich Contribute

Project 1 Project 2 Project 3

Capturing results

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INTERREG IVC INTERREG EUROPE

RationaleRegional development

policies

Regional development policies, principally SF

programmes

Area EU-27, NO+CH EU-28, NO+CH

EligibilityPublic & public law

bodiesNo private

Public & public law bodies

Private non-profit bodies

Co-financing 75%-85% (country)85% public or equivalent

75% private non-profit

Actions1-phase project

+ CAP2-phase project

+ PLP

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Next step

• Open on 22 June 2015 and closes on 31 July 2015

• No thematic restrictions: call open to all Investment priorities

• No specific requirement in terms of geographical coverage

• One third ERDF budget available: EUR 28 million per priority axis

• Application procedure: on-line system www.iOLF.euhard copies to Joint Secretariat by 31 July 2015

• Provisional timing: 2nd call – December 2015 or beginning of 2016

1st call for proposals

for Interregional Cooperation Projects

INTERREG EUROPE

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Support to project applicants

Tools

PARTNER SEARCH TOOL

PROJECT IDEA DATABASE

PROGRAMME FEEDBACK

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Partner search

http://www.interreg4c.eu/nc/people/register

Join our community ≈ 950 people

and growing

Search for potential partners

PARTNER SEARCH TOOL

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PROJECT IDEA DATABASE

http://www.interreg4c.eu/nc/project/search

- Share you own project idea

- 4 colours = 4 themes

- Contact to idea owner (click on +)

After joining INTERREG EUROPE

community

- Partners involved and partners

searched for are indicated

! Ideas are NOT validated by JS !

Project ideas

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SOCIAL MEDIA

Partner search & project idea sharingalso via our social media channels

twitter.com/interregeuropewww.facebook.com/interregeurope

LinkedIn groups

• on partner search & project ideas

• 4 thematic sub-groups

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PROGRAMME FEEDBACK

Need our feedback on your project idea?

http://www.interreg4c.eu/interreg-europe/project-assistance-form/

• Go to our website

• Get the project idea feedback form

• Send it filled in back to us by email

• Get our comments and answers to your questions

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interreg4c.eu/interreg-europe

interregeurope.eu

facebook.com/interregeurope

twitter.com/interregeurope

changing-regions.eu

For more information, please, follow us on:

mrrb.government.bg

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National Contact Point

Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works"Territorial Cooperation Management" Directorate General

mrrb.government.bg

Marius Mladenov Mmladenov@mrrb.government.bgDesislava Mihaylova DMihaylova@mrrb.government.bg

+359 294 05 697Irina Rangelova IRangelova@mrrb.government.bg

+359 294 05 596Gergana Ivanova G.ivanova@mrrb.government.bg

Nely Ivanova NIvanova@mrrb.government.bg+359 294 05 277

Liza Kamenova LKamenova@mrrb.government.bg

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Thank you for your attention!