The Baltic Sea Region INTERREG III B Neighbourhood Programme

http://www.bsrinterreg.net 
 

The Baltic Sea Region (BSR) INTERREG III B Neighbourhood Programme belongs to one of the three different strands of the European Community Initiative INTERREG III. The programme is part-financed from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) covering the period 2000-2006. Strand B of the INTERREG Initiative supports transnational co-operation to enhance balanced and sustainable development of the European territory.

On 1st July 2003 the European Commission introduced the concept of the Neighbourhood Programme (NP) for the period 2004-2006, Paving the Way for a New Neighbourhood Instrument. The concept of the NP is to support the cross-border and transnational cooperation along the external borders of the EU in the framework of existing INTERREG programmes. All INTERREG programmes bordering Tacis countries will operate as NPs with fixed financial allocations from Tacis programme (for partners from the Tacis countries).

The eligible area in the BSR is defined as follows:

	Denmark
	Sweden
	Finland
	German (North-East)
	Estonia
	Lithuania
	Latvia
	Poland
	Norway
	Belarus (Minsk, Grodno, Brest and Vitebsk oblast)
	Russia (St Petersburg and surrounding Leningrad Oblast, Karelian Republic, the Oblasts of Kaliningrad, Murmansk, Novgorod and Pskov. For projects concerning the Barents Region, also co-operation with Archangelsk Oblast and Nenzen Okrug is envisaged)

For the first time the 8th call for proposals was opened in the framework of the Neighbourhood programme, which means that programme's external funding (Tacis) was made available for Russian and Belarusian partners under all available programme measures including the measure 3.2. on bilateral maritime cooperation. The call was opened on 25 July and closed on 23 September 2005. In addition, a possibility was offered to all programme projects that were approved in 6th and 7th round and that were willing to involve Russian and Belarusian partners in their activities to apply for external funding (Tacis).

Priority 1:       

Promotion of spatial development approaches and actions for specific territories and sectors

	Measure 1.1: Supporting joint strategies and implementation actions for macro-regions
	Measure 1.2: Promoting sustainable spatial development of specific sectors
	Measure 1.3: Strengthening integrated development of coastal zones, islands and other specific areas

Priority 2:      

Promotion of territorial structures supporting sustainable BSR development

	Measure 2.1: Promoting balanced polycentric settlement structures
	Measure 2.2: Creating sustainable communication links for improved spatial integration
	Measure 2.3: Enhancing good management of cultural and natural heritage and of natural resources

Priority 3:      

Transnational and bilateral institution and capacity building in the Baltic Sea Region

	Measure 3.1: Promotion of transnational institution and capacity building
	Measure 3.2: Bilateral maritime cooperation across the Baltic Sea

The total ERDF-budget amounts to EUR 149 million. This amount will be matched with co-financing from national project partners of the EU Member States. The general ERDF-funding rate for project partners will be up to 50% of the total eligible partner budget. To encourage participation of project partners from Objective 1 areas (East German Leader, parts of Sweden and Finland, whole of Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) in truly transnational projects, the ERDF assistance for these project partners can be increased to up to 75%. In addition, private funds are welcome to top up project budgets. The contribution from Norway, and from the EU Phare (until 2004) and Tacis programmes also plays an essential role in financing actions.

BSR INTERREG III B
Joint Secretariat Rostock
Grubenstrasse 20
18055 Rostock
Germany
Tel: +49 381 45484 5281
Fax: +49 381 45484 5282
E-mail: info@bsrinterreg.net
 

St. Petersburg Liaison Оffice

European Commission Delegation to Russia

191186 Russia, St-Petersburg,

Mal. Konushennaya St., 1/3 - A, office B 13 -a

Tel.: +7 (812) 103 54 60

Fax: +7 (812) 103 54 64

E-mail: Anastasia.MOSKVINA@cec.eu.int

http: www.eur.ru

BSR INTERREG III B
Joint Secretariat Riga
Elizabetes iela 19
1010 Riga
Latvia
Tel: +371 735 7368
Fax: +371 735 7372
E-mail: info@bsrinterreg3a.net