Decision on third call for INTERREG IVC: Call for Capitalisation projects to launch end 2009, Regional Initiative projects after second call analysis

The INTERREG IVC Monitoring Committee has decided on the perspective for a third call for projects, at the fourth programme Monitoring Committee meeting in Prague, 14-15 May.

Third call in two steps

A two-step package has been agreed upon, with differing dates for Capitalisation projects and Regional Initiative projects (RIP). A call for Capitalisation projects only will be opened at the end of 2009 while a call for Regional Initiative projects will be launched following an analysis at programme level of the approved projects from the first and second calls.

Last chance for Capitalisation!

Capitalisation projects are specifically aimed at preparing the transfer of good practices into regional operational programmes, and are required to have an impact in the current funding period 2007-2013. Given the timescale of a Capitalisation project (2 years), it's clear that this type of project needs to be in operation from 2010 at the latest, in order to have the opportunity to impact before the end of the period. Compared to Regional Initiative projects: the classic type of interregional cooperation there are relatively few Capitalisation projects. A specific call for Capitalisation projects only will therefore be launched by the end of 2009. Further details on the conditions of this call including a maximum budget allocation will be decided in October 2009, during the next Monitoring Committee meeting in Sweden.

RIPs still alive for 2010

This decision is coupled with the need to fully analyse the geographical and thematic spread of running projects before launching a further call for Regional Initiative projects. This can only be considered once the decision has been made on projects approved under the second call, scheduled for end October 2009. The programme is committed to launching a further call for Regional Initiative projects, but the conditions of this call will not be fixed until this analysis can be carried out.

Preparation

A series of seminars and information events will be organised by the Joint Technical Secretariat, and the Information Points, in 2009-2010 to prepare applicants in understanding the characteristics of the call, once decided by the Monitoring Committee. A dedicated Capitalisation event will be organised under the chairmanship of the Swedish presidency of the EU in December 2009.