Informal Water Directors Meeting Dublin, 22nd June 2004 INTERREG III and water management European Territorial Co-operation Mario Rodrigues DG Regional Policy mario.rodrigues@cec.eu.int

22/06/2004 INTERREG III A Community Initiative on transeuropean co-operation across the entire EU-territory and neighbouring countries for the period 2000-2006 what is INTERREG

Average Annual Expenditure: 100.4 billion EURO 22/06/2004 EU BUDGET 2000-2006 Pre-accession Enlargement 3.1% 8.3% Agricultural Policy what is INTERREG 42.4% 30.3% Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund Average Annual Expenditure: 100.4 billion EURO

Structural Funds BUDGET 2000-2006 22/06/2004 Structural Funds BUDGET 2000-2006 what is INTERREG

Budget 2000 - 2006 INTERREG 5.2 billion euro LEADER 2.0 - - 22/06/2004 Budget 2000 - 2006 INTERREG 5.2 billion euro LEADER 2.0 - - EQUAL 2.8 - - URBAN 0.7 - - TOTAL 10.7 - - what is INTERREG

22/06/2004 INTERREG III Rationale “National borders should not be a barrier to European balanced development and integration” what is INTERREG

2000-2006: 5.2 billion € INTERREG III: 1994-1999: 3.6 billion € 22/06/2004 INTERREG III: 1994-1999: 3.6 billion € 2000-2006: 5.2 billion € III A: cross-border co-operation (67%) III B: transnational co-operation (27%) III C: interregional co-operation (6%) what is INTERREG

Strand A: Cross-border co-operation 53 programmes 22/06/2004 Strand A: Cross-border co-operation 53 programmes what is INTERREG

STRAND B: Transnational Co-operation 13 programmes 22/06/2004 STRAND B: Transnational Co-operation 13 programmes what is INTERREG

STRAND C: inter-regional Co-operation 4 programmes 22/06/2004 STRAND C: inter-regional Co-operation 4 programmes what is INTERREG

INTERREG III Transnational cooperation 22/06/2004 INTERREG III Transnational cooperation Principles: genuine cross border / transnational strategies joint co-operation structures for programme management “partnership” between national, regional, local cross-sector aproach mix of “top-down” and “bottom-up” complementarity and co-ordination with other EU policies and programmes co-ordination with external policy instruments (PHARE, MEDA, TACIS, EDF, CURDS) what is transnational cooperation

Sector - territorial / national - regional - local / public - private 22/06/2004 INTERREG III Top down Process what is transnational cooperation Sector - territorial / national - regional - local / public - private Bottom up

INTERREG III Transnational co-operation 22/06/2004 INTERREG III Transnational co-operation The thematic priorities: transnational spatial development strategies co-operation among cities and between rural and urban areas development of efficient and sustainable transport and communications systems, TEN missing links and corridors promotion of the environment and wise management of natural resources, in particular water resources, risk prevention promotion and enhancement of cultural heritage maritime and insular co-operation (maritime safety) R&TD co-operation what is transnational cooperation

INTERREG III Transnational co-operation 22/06/2004 INTERREG III Transnational co-operation Water management: Water management (including prevention of drought and flooding) has been one of the objectives of transnational cooperation; It started in 1997 with Interreg II C Programme "IRMA" (Interreg Rhein-Maas Activities) was a huge success, bringing together authorities and partners from FR, DE, NL, BE, LUX and CH to find common solutions. http://www.irma-programme.org/ what is transnational cooperation

INTERREG III Water management: 22/06/2004 INTERREG III Water management: After floods in central Europe and in certain Member States affected millions of European citizens and the economy, in particular in 2002, water became a very sensitive subject of political debate in the EU Unregulated human and economic activities can directly or indirectly affect the natural flow of riverbeds, the quality of ground and surface water and the water cycles that replenish this precious resource. Natural and built environments are becoming more vulnerable to natural hazards such as floods and droughts. The scale of the impact of these hazards often exceeds regional and national borders. This scale requires a new, transnational approach and the implementation of coordinated, preventive actions. Cross-border and transnation co-operation is necessary to deal with water issues that concern different countries what is transnational cooperation

Transnational river catchment areas 22/06/2004 Transnational river catchment areas what is transnational cooperation

INTERREG III Water management in 2000-2006: 22/06/2004 INTERREG III Water management in 2000-2006: Several INTERREG III programmes already include "water management" issues as their priorities for co-operation. In May, several Interreg programmes (North Sea, Baltic Sea, CADSES and North West Europe) came together and organised a joint seminar to debate water related issues and exchange experiences - the first INTERREG III B Water Forum This event attracted 41 transnational projects from 13 European countries, representing European funding of more than € 129 million. Over two days project representatives and interested professionals discussed issues of relevance to water management under three workshop groups: Coastal Areas Management and Protection; River Catchment Areas; and Water Quality. Participants outlined future trends and opportunities for cooperation across borders Proposals were made on how to improve co-operation and management of programmes in the coming period after 2006. what is transnational cooperation

INTERREG III The immediate future 2004 -2006 22/06/2004 INTERREG III The immediate future 2004 -2006 Present effort is to integrate the new MS: 10 new EU countries 9 new internal borders 15 new external borders Amending existing programmes Approving new programmes what is INTERREG

22/06/2004 3rd Cohesion report 3rd report (Feb. 2004) presented proposals for a reform of cohesion policy after 2006 "European territorial co-operation" becomes one of three priorities of Regional Policy. INTERREG will no longer be a Community initiative. Cohesion policy will be 34% of EU budget (€ 336 billion for the period 2007-2013, at 2004 prices) Budget for territorial cooperation will be around 4% of the total EU cofinancing rating could go up to 75% of total cost The future of INTERREG

Proposed timetable 10+11 May 2004: European Cohesion Forum, Brussels 22/06/2004 Proposed timetable 10+11 May 2004: European Cohesion Forum, Brussels July 2004: Commission adopts the legislative package (Stuctural Funds regulations) Until end 2005: Decision by Council and EU Parliament 2006: Preparation of cooperation programmes for period 2007-2013 Jan 2007: Implementation begins The future of INTERREG

22/06/2004 Commission is working on ways to improve implementation of future programmes Simplifying implementation system Procedures as simple and transparent as possible Legal instrument to manage cross-border programmes and operations Streamline content of programmes and priorities for co-operation Develop concrete projects, demonstrating value for money and a clear Community value added Optimise definition of transnational cooperation areas The future of INTERREG

22/06/2004 Commission is encouraging programme partners and in particular National authorities: to develop a more strategic approach to cooperation to identify key cooperation areas and concrete projects of transnational interest to identify key investments to work on transnational partnerships to foresee cofinancing for Community programmes in their national budgets to be ready to go in the beginning of 2007 The future of INTERREG