Twinning Project RO/2006/IB/EN/09 WORKSHOP … Project RO/2006/IB/EN ... Twinning Project RO/2006/IB/EN/09 WORKSHOP EUROPEAN FUNDING FOR NATURA 2000 Thursday ... • Optimise the EU…

Marianne Badura, 07.05.09Twinning Project RO/2006/IB/EN/09

Twinning Project RO/2006/IB/EN/09

WORKSHOP

EUROPEAN FUNDING FOR NATURA 2000Thursday, May 7th, 2009

Tulcea, Biosphere Reserve Danube Delta

Expert: Ms Marianne Badura

Contact: [email protected], Phone: +49 8161 144 368


Content of the presentation

• Background of financing mechanisms for Natura 2000including EFRD (ELER)

• Direct funding schemes for nature conservation topics (LIFE+)

• Cross-financing from other European funding sources

• Overview on trans-national European funding schemes available for nature conservation topics

• …


Background and motivation

• NEPA/ REPAs/ LEPAs are interested in implementing nature conservation activities in Romania/ their regions.

• NEPA is interested in becoming a project partner in international/ transnational projects in order to enrich the exchange of experience with other European partners.

• NEPA is interested in becoming a project partner in international/ transnational projects in order to increase the capacity to fulfil its tasks.

Why heading for European funding for nature conservation?


European Biodiversity Action PlanFirst Action Plan 2001 incl. policy

framework at EU level Relaunch in 2006

What goals have to be achieved at European level?


With regard to biodiversity?European Biodiversity Strategy (COM 98/42)

To stop the loss of biodiversity until 2010

Objectives of new EU Action Plan are to:• Reinforce action to halt loss of biodiversity in the EU by

2010• Accelerate progress towards the recovery of habitats and

natural systems in the EU• Optimise the EU’s contribution towards significantly

reducing the rate of biodiversity loss worldwide by 2010

European Natura 2000 network


What trends can be observed at European level?


With regard to sustainable (rural) development?

• Demographic development – in 2008 more people lived in cities than in rural areas of Europe

• Intensification of agriculture and loss of traditional land use in rural and/or less-favoured areas

• Need for more biological farming products throughout Europe

• Diversification in rural areas needed in order to compensate loss of income by ‘normal’ agricultural crops

• …


Funding principles of the EU

No specific EU budget line available for nature conservation

Policy goals in environmental protection and nature conservation must be covered by the implementation of (other) community policies

Nature conservation measures must always be integrative part of other measures – which makes it sometimes more difficult.

Framework regulations for funding must be adapted to national situation by integrating stakeholders from economy and social life into the process of developing the Operational Programmes.

This is a chance to increase the funds available for Natura 2000!


What goals have to be achieved at European level?


With regard to agriculture?

Health Check for the agriculture until 2013more funds for nature conservation, protection of

water resources and climate protection in the 2nd pillar of ELER starting in 2009

Basic strategic and political discussion on EU budget for the next funding period starting in 2014

demand for increased funding for sustainable rural development, biodiversity and nature conservation topics


Basic principles of CAP


GAP – Common Agricultural Policy

Pillar 1Market and price policy

Direct payments to farmersSubsidies to support prices-interventions-quantity quota-export subsidies-market protection-etc.

Pillar 2 (ELER)Support of rural develop-ment

-agro-environmentalschemes-Natura 2000 payments-LFA payments

-etc.

(For details see next slide)

Combinationwith

European Structural

Funds possible

(ESF, EFF, EFRE, etc.)


Rural development policy

Economicdiversification and improvement of quality of life

Environmental protectionand Landscape management bysustainable land use

Competitiveness in agriculture and forestry

Recall the 3 focal topics of EU funding for agriculture and rural areas:


Strengthening of the 2nd pillar/focus of EAFRD/ELER foreseen


Examples for financing of nature conservation measures in ELER:

Focus 1: Competitiveness in agriculture and forestry

Training courses on Natura 2000 aspects for farmers

Investments in agricultural infrastructure, e.g. constructionof shelter for sheep or cattle grazing Natura 2000 areas orspecial mowing equipment

Procedure for re-grouping of agricultural territories in order to achieve large areas accessible for grazing

European Fund for Agriculture and Rural Development (EAFRD/ELER)



Focus 2: Environmental protection and Landscape management bysustainable land use

Agro-environmental funding schemes (adapted to national orLänder conditions)

Compensation payments for restrictions due to Natura 2000

European Fund for Agriculture and Rural Development


Examples for financing of nature conservation measures in ELER focus 1-3:

Focus 3: Economic diversification and improvement of quality of life

Individual consulting of farmers – awareness raising

Management plans and concepts for Natura 2000 sites

Investments for the conservation of natural heritage (e.g. measures for landscape elements, creation of habitats, revitalization of rivers, etc.)

Purchase of land for nature conservation purposes





Focus 4: Leader +(Method to identify the potential for regional development by defining a common and integrated implementation strategy)

Projects to increase regional business and value creation

Local Action Groups (LAG) necessary

Integrated co-operation at regional level – e.g. suitable fordevelopment of (eco-)tourist offers

Selection procedure at national level for LAGs


Possible funding sources for Natura 2000

What project funding sources for Natura 2000 can be considered?

• National Structural funds (SOP Env, ROP)• European funding schemes (INTERREG, LIFE+, etc.)• World Bank Funding / GEF• Norwegian Grants• Bilateral funding from other countries• …


Project framework

What is needed to be considered for project funding?

• A good project idea• A sound and well-build project concept• A powerful project consortium (for transnational projects) with

reliable partners• A stable co-financing • Well-functioning mechanisms for the absorption of project

means in the staff capacity of NEPA/ REPAs/ LEPAs• A sound mechanism for reporting and financial controlling


General principles for (EU) project development

Define your specific potential: - NEPA represents the national level of topics.- NEPA covers the whole range of environmental topics.- REPA XY covers a special regional need / measure.

Derive your potential project ideas from your daily work:- Which tasks have to be fulfilled in the next year / next 2 years / next 5 years ?- Which of them could be supported by transnational funding?

Install a continuous „project radar“ in your brain.

Regular brainstorming on project ideas per department is recommended.


Basic information for project ideas

Responsible department / person:

Partnership:

Budget estimation:

Durability of the project results:

Components of the project:

Expected outputs and results of the project:

Objectives of the Project:

-Problem Description - Issue addressed

-Brief History of the project:

Description of the project:

Usea S

tanda

rd tem

plate

forpro

ject id

eas!


Typical hurdles for project development

Long period of development of the idea towards a good concepton structural and thematic level

The work on a project idea should be independent of a specificcall.

Make sure there is sufficient support + teamwork within NEPA on the idea in order to achieve maximum benefit.


Presentation of the

EU funding programmes

2007 - 2013


Interreg IVB South Eastern European Space

• Calls for investment preparation projects in a European wide context.

• Programme area (see map below), it is allowed to integrate partners outside of the programme area for up to 20% of the total project budget

• Funding rate: 75 % (up to 80% in Eastern Europe) + 18% from State budget in RO – rest of 2% for applicant to cover

• A project budget between 1 an 3 Mio EURO is recommended.

• Public bodies and institutions, and private partners are eligible.


South East European Space (SEES)


Romania can take part up to 20% of a project budget.

Central European Space (CEUS)


What is important:

Improved Strategic Approach: Contribution to the implementation of the LISBON – Strategy for Growth and Employment and the GÖTEBORG – Strategy for Sustainable Development

What is strategic?A project is regarded strategic if it demonstrates the following features: - its geografical area or area of influence encompasses the whole SEES - it refers not to a single standing local or regional case, but to a problemessential for the stable development of the whole SEES- it has strong political backup at the national level, which takes responsibility forendorsement of the policy recommendations

INTERREG IV – Strand B


4 thematic priorities (derived from the Structural Funds Regulations)

INNOVATION

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND PREVENTION OF RISKS

ACCESSIBILITY

SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Interreg IVB South Eastern European Space

Note: 2-step application procedure with Expression of Interest (1st step) and Application Form (2nd step after invitation)


• Calls for networking projects in a European wide context

• All European regions can participate

• A project budget between 1 an 3 Mio EURO is recommended

• Public bodies and institutions are eligible partners, but no commercial company

• Funding rate: 75 % (up to 80% in Eastern Europe)

• Difficult to get approved as evaluation criteria are very restrictive due to big competition.

Interreg IVC


LIFE+

The programme covers 3 sub-domains:

1. Nature and biodiversity

2. Environmental policy and capacity building

3. Information and communication

Possible Topics of LIFE+

- „Best-practice“ and demonstration measures for the support of nature protection and biodiversity

- Innovative or demonstration measures which support EU Environmentalpolicies (Water, Chemicals, Air pollution, etc)

- Information and communication measures


Correct Name: 7th European Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration

7th Framework Programme

- Most important funding instrument for RTD

- Third biggest financial instrument of the EU (50,5 Billion without EURATOM)

- Allows not „only research“, but also application, demonstration, events, etc.

- non-research organisations can play an important rules as „users“ or„disseminators“

4 Sub-Programmes:Co-operation –32,4 Billion EUROIdeas –7,5 Billion EUROPeople –4,75 Billion EUROCapacities –4,09 Billion EURO


Sub-programme „Co-operation“ – Core of 7th FPThematic priorities II

5. Energy (2,350)

6. Environment (including Climate Change) (1,890)

7. Transport including Air transport (4,160)

8. Social-, Economic and societal science (0,623)

9. Security (1,400)

10. Space (1,430)

(All measures include cross-border or transnational co-operation.)

7th Framework Programme


Three types of programmes

- Country or Multi-country-programmes

- Cross-border Co-operation (ENPI CBC)

- Thematic Programmes

Opportunities under ENPI (European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument)

ENPI CBC Objectives: - Sustainable economic and social development in border areas

- Co-operation in the thematic areas environement, public health, prevention and fight against organised crime

- Neigbourhood-actions (people-to-people actions) on local level

Available funds: approx. 1,2 Billion EURO


1. Definition of thematic priorities in NEPA/ REPAs/ LEPAs2. Information of staff to develop project ideas and routines for

collecting3. Check of framework conditions for project implementation4. Setting up of appropriate management routines for project

development5. Receiving and integrating key-advice6. Systematic evaluation of project ideas7. Search for upcoming project consortia where NEPA/ REPAs/ LEPAs

can enter as PP

Challenges to be met in order to developa funding strategy for the objectives of NEPA

………thank you very much for your attention!

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Twinning Project RO/2006/IB/EN/09 WORKSHOP … Project RO/2006/IB/EN ... Twinning Project RO/2006/IB/EN/09 WORKSHOP EUROPEAN FUNDING FOR NATURA 2000 Thursday ... • Optimise the EU…