CENTRAL EUROPE PROGRAMME Launch of the 3 rd Call for Proposals

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1 CENTRAL EUROPE PROGRAMME National Info Day Venice, 31 March 2010 CENTRAL EUROPE PROGRAMME Launch of the 3 rd Call for Proposals Barbara Di Piazza JTS CENTRAL EUROPE PROGRAMME CENTRAL EUROPE PROGRAMME AREA 8 EU countries 1 third country Surface: Around 1,050,000 km² Population: Around 148 million citizens CENTRAL EUROPE PROGRAMME AREA CENTRAL EUROPE ALPINE SPACE INTERR. COOP IVC MED SOUTH EAST EUROPE

2 CENTRAL EUROPE PROGRAMME AREA Programme 8 EU countries Goals Strengthening 1 untry territorial cohesion Promoting Surface: internal Around integration 1,050,000 km² Enhancing competitiveness Population: of Around Central 148 Europe million citizens 4 Programme Priorities 1. Innovation 2. Accessibility 3. Environment 4. Competitiveness and attractiveness of cities and regions PROGRAMME STATE OF THE ART 2 Calls for Proposals already launched and projects selected and approved for funding 66 projects approved 1 st Call: 29 projects 2 nd Call: 37 projects ~ 60% of the total ERDF Programme budget already allocated (around 139 Mio ERDF funds) APPROVED PROJECTS

3 ALLOCATION OF ERDF PER PROGRAMME PRIORITY APPROVED PROJECTS ACCORDING TO AOI LESS REPRESENTED AREAS OF INTERVENTION Priority 1 AoI 1.3: Fostering knowledge development Priority 2 AoI 2.2: Developing multimodal logistics cooperation AoI 2.4: Promoting information and Communication technologies and alternative solutions for enhancing access Priority 3 AoI 3.4: Supporting environmentally friendly technologies and activities Priority 4 AoI 4.2: Addressing the territorial effects of demographic and social change on urban and regional development

4 ITALIAN REGIONS INVOLVED IN CENTRAL EUROPE PROJECTS Region P1 P2 P3 P4 total Valle d Aosta Piemonte Liguria Lombardia Alto Adige Trentino Friuli Venezia Giulia Veneto Emilia-Romagna CENTRAL EUROPE AND YEAR 2010 Launch of the 3 rd standard call: Open: 15 March 2010 Closure: 7 May 2010 Indicative allocation of ERDF funds: around 60 MEUR Open to all Priorities and all Areas of Intervention Application Package 3 rd Call available on RESTRICTED CALL FOR STRATEGIC PROJECTS Indicative ERDF funds allocation: MEUR Strategic projects will be identified through the implementation of a different methodology and approach compared to the standard call: Top-down approach pre-identification of topics and project concepts Stricter steering of partnership development

5 STANDARD VS. STRATEGIC CALL Standard call (bottom up): Monitoring Committee decision for funding Project proposal assessment Presentation of a project proposal Identification of suitable partners by the project Identification of the needs at local level Restricted call (top down): Identification of Programme area relevant needs and topics Pre-definition of project concepts Steering of partnership development at Programme level suitable to implement the identified project concepts MC decision for funding of the pre-defined projects STRATEGIC PROJECTS THE PROCESS MC decides on topics, project concepts and criteria for the partners selection Identification of ideal partners at national level suitable to implement the identified project concepts Definition of the partnership and elaboration of the project proposal (filling-in of the Application Form) Targeted guidance offered by the JTS and CPs Submission of the project proposal to the MA/JTS MC approval for funding STRATEGIC PROJECTS IDENTIFIED TOPICS Priority 1 Strengthening the clustering of innovative strategic industrial sectors in key competence areas of transnational relevance as biotechnology, nanotechnology, creative industries, etc Promoting enterprises innovation in CENTRAL EUROPE in energy and environmental technologies sectors Priority 2 Optimizing European transport corridors, and their connections to national and regional networks, promoting intermodality and interoperability of transport systems for sustainable, energy efficient and competitive transport modes (also with the application of ICT solutions for transport management) Priority 3 Implementing common policies, strategies and practical actions for increasing the share of renewable energy resources (wind, water, solar energy, geo-thermal) and improving energy efficiency in order to mitigate air pollution and climate change - with special reference to metropolitan areas and energy efficiency of buildings Priority 4 Promoting actions tackling demographic changes and impacts on the development of urban and rural areas, also by strengthening the existing social and technical infrastructures

6 STRATEGIC PROJECTS CHARACTERISTICS At least 4 strategic projects will be selected (at least 1 per Priority) Max duration: 36 months Directly report to the Monitoring Committee (e.g.: twice during the project life-time) Benefit from a special targeted promotion (e.g.: dedicated knowledge management measures and capitalization actions) Further technical information will be provided in Spring STRATEGIC PROJECTS INDICATIVE TIMELINE Indicative timeline MC decides on project concepts and criteria for the selection of partners Identification of ideal partners at national level (launch of the expression of interest) April 2010 May 2010 Submission of the project proposal Mid July 2010 Definition of the partnership and elaboration of the project proposal June MC approval for funding September 2010 STRATEGIC PROJECTS Launch of the standard and restricted call will not be simultaneous; Pay attention to the still available funds in the Programme priorities; Involvement in strategic projects is not open to all but only to a limited number of partners meeting specific criteria; Time enough to start generating good cooperation projects even before the official launch of the calls.

7 Standard call projects characteristics WHICH INSTITUTIONS CAN PARTICIPATE IN CE PROJECTS? National, regional and local public authorities; Public equivalent bodies; Private institutions, including private companies having legal personalities*; International organizations. * Companies having both, in their business activities and within the project, as main scope the provision of project coordination, management, communication or knowledge management services (Work packages 0, 1 and 2) should not be involved as project partners. PARTNERSHIP REQUIREMENTS Minimum partnership requirements: At least three financing partners, From at least three countries and Being at least two of the partners located in EU CENTRAL EUROPE regions Even if larger partnership will not be excluded, the recommended maximum number of partners is from 8 up to 12 according to the chosen Type of Action. Note: Associated institutions acting as observers and without financial contribution can be involved in the project.

8 PARTNERSHIP REQUIREMENTS Location of partners: Partners must be located in the EU CENTRAL EUROPE area (basic principle) Exception IT and DE national public or public equivalent bodies partners competent in their scope of action for certain parts of the eligible area but located outside it (e.g.: ministries). These institutions are to all effects assimilated to partners located in the CENTRAL EUROPE area Additionally, partners can also be: EU partners outside the CENTRAL EUROPE area: o can also participate to the Programme on condition that occurred expenditure is or the benefit of the regions of the CENTRAL EUROPE EU cooperation area o their financial involvement may not exceed 20% of the total ERDF contribution to the project Third country partners: o Use of their own funds (no ERDF contribution) LEAD APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS Located in the EU CENTRAL EUROPE area (or being considered as an assimilated partner); Be national, regional and local public authorities or public equivalent bodies; Private institutions but only for projects proposals submitted under Priority 1; International organizations acting under national law. INVOLVEMENT OF PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS AS LEAD APPLICANTS The financial capacity of the private Lead Applicants in Priority 1 projects and its capacity to manage the project budget must be demonstrated : a) Additional documents to be submitted, including the filling-in of a Simplified Financial Statement; b) Additional check on their financial capacity will be performed (criteria as defined in the Application Manual); c) In case of approval, the private Lead Partner will be asked to provide, before the signature of the subsidy contract, proof that a financial guarantee is in force. Costs of the financial guarantee are not eligible. Please note that in case the Lead Applicant within Priority 1 declares being a Public Equivalent Body, but after the checks on legal status results being a private institution, the project proposal will be considered as not eligible. Get in touch with your Contact Point beforehand!

9 RATE OF ASSISTANCE Partners location Rate of assistance (ERDF) Austria, Germany, Italy Up to 75% Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia In EU but outside the EU CENTRAL EUROPE area Non in EU Up to 85% Up to 75% No ERDF contribution LOCATION OF ACTIVITIES (1/2) General principles: A)Activities must be implemented within the EU CENTRAL EUROPE area. Expenditure is ERDF co-financed. Exception: management/coordination activities performed by Assimilated Partners. B) Activities can be implemented in EU but outside the EU CENTRAL EUROPE area (up to 20% of the total ERDF project contribution). Expenditure is ERDF co-financed. Activities are for the benefit of regions of the EU CENTRAL EUROPE area. LOCATION OF ACTIVITIES (2/2) C)Activities can be implemented in Third Countries but for the benefit of the regions of the EU CENTRAL EUROPE area. Expenditure is ERDF co-financed on condition that is spent under the responsibility of a EU CENTRAL EUROPE partner or assimilated to it. Expenditure is up to 10% of the total ERDF project contribution.

10 PROJECT SIZE, DURATION AND FUNDING Indicative project size: 1-5 million EUR total eligible budget (in exceptional cases also smaller or larger projects can be funded) Indicative project duration: Between months (max 48 months) EXPECTED PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS (1/3) Respect of EU policies: Equal opportunities Protection and improvement of the environment Public procurement rules State Aid (it is not the legal status of the partner but the nature of the activities that it intends to implement that determines whether the State Aid discipline is applicable or not) EXPECTED PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS (2/3) Affect a clearly defined transnational geographical area; Common issue of interest (transnational thematic focus and partnership); Coherent approach; Effective management (including communication strategy, knowledge creation and transfer); Strive for concrete and visible outputs and results and actual implementation; Clear added value; Knowledge base approach; Consider environmental sustainability as an overarching principle (all projects).

11 EXPECTED PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS (3/3) CENTRAL EUROPE will not support: Projects not addressing an issue of transnational relevance or that can be funded under one single cross-border programme; Project fundable under other Structural Funds programmes (e.g.: Leader ); Pure research and technology development without clear links to other actors; Mere continuation of past co-operation project without clear added value; Mere networking and exchange of experience. BUDGETING PRINCIPLES (1/2) The three E principle Principle of economy: resources [ ] shall be made available in due time, in appropriate quantity and quality and at the best price. Principle of efficiency: best relationship between resources employed and results achieved. Principle of effectiveness: attaining the specific objectives set and achieving the intended results. Sound financial management BUDGETING PRINCIPLES (2/2) Budget based on real costs Project Budget in Application Form WP1 WP2 WP... Total cost Cost per Action and WP LP Activities PP2 Activities PP3 Activities PP... Activities Cost of single Outputs

12 and not on artificial shares! LP Share PP2 Share PP3 Share PP Share Share of money WP1 WP2 WP Cost per Action and WP Project Budget in application form Total Cost PRACTICAL HINTS Summary of requirements of a good budget Budget must be based on real costs. Budget must refer only to eligible expenditure (including the national co-financing). Budget has to be transparent, with a clear distribution into budget lines, reporting periods and partners. Budget has to be closely linked to the work plan. Project-relation and project-relevance of all costs has to be clearly demonstrated. THE EVALUATION PROCESS (1/2) If the project proposal does not pass this step, the further steps do not take place and the project is rejected. If the project proposal does not pass this step, the further steps do not take place and the project is rejected. Results validated by the MC

13 THE EVALUATION PROCESS (2/2) Communication to Lead Applicants Notification of receipt Notification of results to all Lead Applicants Notification of results to all Lead Applicants APPLICATION PACKAGE What has to be submitted? APPLICATION FORM 3rd Call + ANNEXES 3rd Call Do not submit additional documents! SOURCES OF INFORMATION Operational Programme (OP) Application Manual 3rd Call Instructions for Applicants - How to complete the AF Implementation Manual Audit and Control Guidelines FAQs Lead Applicant Briefings Bratislava: April 2010

14 CE PROGRAMME WEB SITE Thematically structured in line with the 4 programme priorities Daily updated news Country specific information and targeted information per region Permanently updated calendar of events Document Centre How to implement - Section Tools and FAQs Discussion forum Thank you for your attention! info@central2013.eu