Interreg III
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Interreg III is a Community initiative which aims to stimulate interregional cooperation in the European Union between 2000-06. It is financed under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The Interreg initiative is designed to strengthen economic and social cohesion throughout the European Union, by fostering the balanced development of the continent through cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation. Special emphasis has been placed on integrating remote regions and those which share external borders with the candidate countries.
Interreg III is made up of three strands and has a total budget of 4,9 billion euro (1999 prices).
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[edit] Strand A : cross-border cooperation
Cross-border cooperation between adjacent regions aims to develop cross-border social and economic centres through common development strategies. Priorities for action in strand A are:
- Promotion of urban, rural and coastal development
- Strengthening the spirit of enterprise
- Developing small and medium-sized enterprises, including those in the tourism sector
- Developing local employment initiatives
- Assistance for labour market integration and social inclusion
- Initiatives for encouraging shared use of human resources, and facilities for research and development, education, culture, communication, health and civil protection
- Measures for environmental protection, improving energy efficiency and renewable energy sources
- Improving transport, information and communication networks and services, water and energy systems
- Increasing cooperation in legal and administrative areas
- Increasing human and institutional potential for cross-border cooperation
[edit] Examples of Interreg IIIA projects
[edit] Strand B : transnational cooperation
Transnational cooperation involving national, regional and local authorities aims to promote better integration within the Union through the formation of large groups of European regions. Proposals for transnational cooperation must take account of :
- Experience from Interreg IIC ;
- Priorities for Community policies, especially trans-European transport networks ;
- Recommendations made in the European Spatial Development Plan (ESDP).
Within this context, the priorities for action are as follows:
- Drawing up regional development strategies at transnational level, including cooperation between towns or urban areas and rural areas
- Promoting effective and sustainable transport systems, together with better access to the information society. The aim here is to facilitate communication between island or peripheral regions.
- Promoting protection of the environment and natural resources, particularly water resources.
In the specific case of ultra-peripheral regions, transnational cooperation encourages the following initiatives:
- Economic integration and improved cooperation between these regions and regions in other Member States
- Improved links with the countries of their wider geographic area (Caribbean, Latin America, Atlantic Ocean, North West Africa and the Indian Ocean)
[edit] Examples of Interreg IIIB projects
[edit] Strand C : interregional cooperation
Interregional cooperation aims to improve the effectiveness of regional development policies and instruments through large-scale information exchange and sharing of experience (networks). Priorities for action in strand C are:
- Exchanges of experience and good practice between Member States and with third countries concerning cross-border and transnational cooperation under Strands A and B of INTERREG III
- Cooperation initiatives in sectors such as research, technology development, enterprise, the information society, tourism, culture or the environment.
