Joint Programme for Cross-border Co-operation between Southern Finland Coastal Zone and

Estonia in 2001-2006

What is new compared with Interreg IIA in Southern Finland Coastal Zone (1995-1999)?

• emphases on cross-border effects and equal partnership

• Estonia as a programme area• Joint Programme Document of Southern Finland

Coastal Zone Interreg IIIA / Estonia Phare CBC providing a common framework for the two programme instruments

• Phare CBC programme instrument is developing• Regional Council of Southwest Finland as

management and paying authority of the Interreg programme

SFCZ Interreg IIA and IIIA

Interreg IIA • programme period 1995-99• 148 projects• total funding app. € 21.9 million and EU funding

(ERDF, ESF, EAGGF) € 6.1 million

Interreg IIIA • programme period 2001-06• total funding app. € 31.4 million whereof EU funding

(ERDF) € 14.1 million • indicative allocations for corresponding Phare CBC

funding in Estonia

What is characteristic for the programme area?• maritime border and external border of EU• Estonia as an EU candidate country; expected cross-

border effects of free movement of people, goods, services and capital

• common neighbour, Russia• traditions in contacts and interaction across the gulf• two capitals, Helsinki and Tallinn, and dense connections

there between (app. 6 million travels per year)• gap in living standards• prospects of information society• location in relation to Scandinavian, Russian and Baltic

Sea markets

Vision:

The programme area is part of the strengthening Baltic Sea economic region, and gains from its location on the internal border of EU. The programme area is characterised with balanced economic development that reflects to the well-being of people and environment. There is a well-functioning co-operation on different levels and sectors of activities within the programme area.

Strategy:

The common vision is approached by the strategy of assisting Estonia integrating to EU, encouraging and strengthening networks and co-operation links within the programme area, creating good preconditions for balanced regional development, employment and competitiveness, as well as protecting and improving the ecological bases of activities, the common environment.

Priority 1. Interaction and Networks (26%)1.1 Networks of Local and Regional Administration1.2 Social Interaction and Contacts within Local and Regional Level

Priority 2. Employment and Competitiveness (38%)2.1 Expertise and Know-how2.2 Operative Environment of Enterprises2.3 Tourism2.4 Transport, Communication and Development of Interlinked

Services

Priority 3. Common Environment (28%)3.1 Co-operation in Environment Protection and Monitoring3.2 Co-operation in Improving Environment

Joint Co-operation Programme

Priority 1. Interaction and Networks

Objective of this priority is to create and strengthen the co-operation contacts and networks on different levels and sectors of activity. Networks across the border are a prerequisite for realising a balanced development in the programme area.

Networks of Local and Regional Administration Social Interaction and Contacts within Local and Regional

Level

Priority 2. Employment and Competitiveness

Objective of this priority is to strengthen the programme area as a market area and improve the preconditions for employment and competitiveness.

Expertise and Know-how Operative Environment of Enterprises Tourism Transport, Communication and Development of

Interlinked Services

Priority 3. Common Environment

Objective of this priority is to protect and improve the common environment: to secure the ecological bases of the programme area and preserve its valuable cultural environment.

Co-operation in Environment Protection and Monitoring

Co-operation in Improving Environment

Southern Finland Coastal Zone Interreg IIIA financing 2001-2006 (€ million)

Priority EU State MunicipalPublic

funding total

(%)Private funding Total

1. Interaction and Networks

3.7 2.9 0.7 7.3 26 % 0.5 7.8

2. Employment and Competitiveness

5.4 4.3 1.1 10.7 38 % 1.5 12.3

3. Common Environment

3.9 3.2 0.8 7.9 28 % 1.2 9.1

Technical Assistance 1.1 1.1 2.2 8 % 2.2

TOTAL 14.1 11.5 2.6 28.2 3.2 31.4

National co-financing in Interreg IIIA:

• Regional Councils (Min.Interior),• State Provincial Offices, Dpt. for Education and

Culture (Min.Education),• Employment and Economic Development Centres

(Min.Trade and Industry, Min.Labour, Min.Agriculture and Forestry),

• Regional Environment Centres (Min.Environment), • Finnish Maritime Administration (Min.Transport and

Communications) • Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (Min.Social

Affairs and Health).

Also local participation (municipalities) is national co-financing.

Eligible organisations

• municipalities and intermunicipal corporations• authorities• NGOs• private enterprises • education and training units• research and development units

Eligible organisations for financing from Interreg IIIA program are, for example:

APPLICANT/ PROJECT

STEERING COMMITTEE

SECRETARIAT

MANAGINGAUTHORITY

(EU- FINANCING)

AUTHORITY GRANTING NATIONAL FINANCING

project application

opinion

judicialdecision

project application

opinion

judicialdecision

Decision-making Process in Interreg IIIA

APPLICANT/ PROJECT

PAYING AUTHORITY

AUTHORITY GRANTING NATIONAL FINANCING

payment application

EU financing national financing

EU/ Commission Ministries

EU financing national financingEU financing national financing

Payment Process in Interreg IIIA

Programme’s operating principles are:

1. to create and develop networks of co-operation within the programme area

2. to improve project planning and management know-how 3. to exchange information and expertise between the

border regions4. to fulfil the principles of sustainable development5. to base on economically sound and viable bases 6. to have long-term effects and to create bases for long-

term co-operation 7. to create positive environmental impacts8. to support accession of Estonia to the EU

SFCZ Interreg IIIA Programme Secretariat Regional Council of Southwest Finland, Turku, Finland

Phare CBC Programme OfficersTallinn, Estonia

Programme Technical Secretariat

Chief Desk Officer Ms. Kaja HinnoDepartment of Regional Development, Ministry of Internal Affairstel. +372 6125 104kajah@sisemin.gov.ee

Phare Expert Ms. Ghita PookEnterprise Estonia, ERDAtel. +372 6125 143Ghita.Pook@eas.ee

Secretary General Ms. Päivi Pelli tel. +358 2 2100 983 paivi.pelli@varsinais-suomi.fi

Project Secretary Ms. Kristiina Mauriala tel. +358 2 2100 967 kristiina.mauriala@varsinais-suomi.fi

Southern Finland Coastal Zone Interreg IIIA:

http://www.varsinais-suomi.fi/etela-suomi_interreg

Estonia Phare CBC Small Project Fund (SPF):

http://www.erda.ee