Part-financed by the European Union Setting regions in motion by Giedrė Švedienė, Undersecretary Joint Programming Committee/Ministry of the Interior, Lithuania

Setting regions in motion The Baltic Sea Region. Did you know that… programme’s area covers approx. 2.4 million km² - almost half of the EU population of 110 million amounts to 23% of EU average population density is about 46 inhabitants/km (EU 112) aggregated GDP is about 16% of the EU

We did it together 11 states, represented in the Joint Programming Committee, prepared and endorsed the Baltic Sea Region Programme Setting regions in motion

Identity of the new programme a mainstream Structural Funds programme for the Baltic Sea Region (Objective 3 programme on Territorial Cooperation) built on two preceding Community Initiative programmes (Baltic Sea INTERREG IIC & III B NP) addresses issues that call for intervention at transnational level Setting regions in motion

Context of the new programme considerable differences between the West and East common development challenges, e.g.: concentration of knowledge-intensive activities in and around capitals and metropolitan regions, growth in road transport, safety at sea, pollution of Baltic Sea waters, energy efficiency. Setting regions in motion

Strategic objective and priorities 1. Fostering innovations 2. External and internal accessibility 3. Baltic Sea as a common resource 4. Attractive and competitive cities and regions To strengthen the development towards a sustainable, competitive and territorially integrated Baltic Sea Region by connecting potentials over the borders

Eligible area of the programme EU Member States: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden and northern parts of Germany Norway north-west regions of Russia Belarus Setting regions in motion

Who can apply? Public authorities from national, regional and local levels Public equivalent bodies (e.g. research and training institutions, business development institutions and other non-profit organisations) Private (commercial) organisations as additional partners with own financing Within limits, programme funds can be applied for by partners from outside the eligible area. Setting regions in motion

How much money is available? Slightly more than in the present programme MEUR from European Regional Development Fund MEUR from European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (new) - 6 MEUR from Norwegian national funding Total = 236,6 MEUR Plus own co-funding from project partners Setting regions in motion

What do we expect from future projects? principle of transnationality respected integrated territorial approach to distinguish from sector initiatives preparation of investments of transnational relevance emphasis on pre-investment character and pilot investments development of transferable results better visible than in the present programme Setting regions in motion

Programme launch calendar March-April 2007 – national approval procedures May 2007 – submission to the European Commission May 2007, Hamburg – Programme Conference autumn 2007 – approval by the European Commission late 2007/early 2008 – first call for project proposals Setting regions in motion

Part-financed by the European Union Setting regions in motion by Giedrė Švedienė, Undersecretary Joint Programming Committee/Ministry of the Interior, Lithuania