Belarus Denmark Estonia Finland Germany Latvia Lithuania Norway Poland Russia Sweden Transnationality and locally implemented pilot actions in the BSR INTERREG III B NP by Eeva Rantama BSR INTERREG III B Joint Secretariat 3 rd Quality Workshop Transnational value of local pilot actions Thursday, 10 th of November 2005 Riga, Latvia

Transnationality in the BSR INTERREG III B NP The main idea of the BSR INTERREG III B NP is to support transnational co-operation that aims at sustainable development of the Baltic Sea Region CIP The thematic focus of the programme on issues, which call for transnational co-operation (through joint implementation actions). Such as… –Development concepts and concrete pilot actions for strategic development zones (macro regions) –Spatial development concepts for energy and tourism sector

Transnationality in the BSR INTERREG III B NP -Strategic networking of major urban centres and urban-rural partnerships –Pan-Baltic inter-modal transport strategies and better access to information society –Baltic green networks and corridors/natural and cultural landscapes as attractive environment for business development –Wise management of natural resources of BSR –Integrated management for coastal zones and islands –Institutional building together with CEEC and NIS countries

Transnationality in the BSR INTERREG III B NP The set-up of each project (rationale, activities, partnership, budget, management structure etc.) must reflect a high level of transnationality => Joint solving of a common problem that leads to common results while involving actors from different countries e. g. Cities and regions located on the BSR coastal areas face declining environmental quality due to economic activities, and are jointly exploring potential solutions for the whole BSR or certain parts of it

Transnationality in the BSR INTERREG III B NP Requirements on the projects All activities in the projects should be result or part of transnational investigations or concepts and cannot be chosen only from national or regional context The development of the project idea is driven by a transnational consortium and The project activities are a result of co-operation arrangements

Transnationality in the BSR INTERREG III B NP Requirements on the projects The results of the project have impact across borders The outputs of the project, even if anchored in one place, are transferable to other partners regions Joint implementation will be preferred to networking and exchange of experience

Transnationality in the BSR INTERREG III B NP Benefits Building on already existing experience (e. g. solving a problem with the solution tested and verified somewhere else) Creating tangible solutions to common problems Better understanding of neighbours leading to better cohesion of the BSR in the different fields Creation a Baltic Sea wide region of co-operating nations and their regions intertwined across borders

Steps to genuine transnational territorial cooperation (NWE programme) Transnational management of a transnational issue Resource pooling Transfer of know-how Exchange of experience

Transnationality in the BSR INTERREG III B NP Transnational investments CIP: Small-scale infrastructure investments should demonstrate the implementation of transnational investigations and spatial development concepts Definition A transnational investment is an investment made as a result or within the framework of transnational cooperation…

Transnationality in the BSR INTERREG III B NP Transnational investments …It either… –has a territorial dimension –establishes functional relations between locations not necessary adjacent to each other –or has a model character (verified through demonstration, transferability) Trans-border dimension or impact Involves partners from at least two countries as well as several levels of decision-making, planning, administration or financing

Transnationality in the BSR INTERREG III B NP Transnational investments Examples: Information and innovation centres of transnational importance Large computerised systems and ICT networks Thematic tourist routes (e. g. sign posting) Pilot demonstration on improvement of damaged urban land Pilot demonstration on park+ride facilities

Pilot actions of transnational value Have a model character of solving problems with transnational relevance Are demonstration activities of innovations The method and/or the results are (at least partly) transferable to other regions

Pilot actions of transnational value Should be carried out… within transnational working arrangements with a view to its innovative character (e. g. not an ordinary infrastructure that commonly exists) benefiting other partners through cross-fertilisation or transfer of knowledge at certain/all stages (joint design, joint management/testing, demonstration of effects and shared use of the final output)

Weaknesses in the current pilot actions Some of the pilot actions are: A selection of local projects only linked with each other by the need for EU funding, which could have been funded by national, regional or local money without the need for INTERREG support Activities or investments that have been planned before the start of a transnational project in a national, regional or local context Activities or investments only related to each other through a vague thematic relationship.

Weaknesses in the current pilot actions …Some of the pilot actions are: A series of individual pilots/investments for which there is only an ex-post exchange of experience and no joint implementation or cross-fertilisation.