News from Interreg

Two programmes - one direction
The BSR INTERREG IIIB programme and the INTERREG IIIC North programme are supporting transnational and interregional co-operation in the northern part of Europe and beyond. With the EU enlargement both programmes face new challenges. The integration of the new Member States increases the number of actors on programme as well as on project level and thus, brings new experiences, opinions and knowledge into the programmes.

Equal representation
In both programmes, Monitoring and Steering Committee representatives from the new EU Member States, Belarus and Russia have a status equal to representatives from the old EU Member States and this has been the case since 2001. Also in the area of Financial Control officials from the new Member States are permanent participants of meetings and task forces. In this respect the programmes are ahead of EU Enlargement.

Two new INTERREG mA priorities
The BSR INTERREG III B programme is facing additional challenges. With the EU enlargement two INTERREG IIIA priorities have been established in the Eastern BSR (Estonia-Latvia-Russia and Latvia-Lithuania-Belarus). These IIIA priorities are integrated into the management structure of the BSR INTERREG III B programme.

Enlargement of staff in Joint Secretariats
The Joint Secretariat of the BSR INTERREG III B programme and the Joint Technical Secretariat of the INTERREG IIIC North programme have a common office in Rostock, Germany. An office of the BSR INTERREG III B programme secretariat is situated in Karlskrona, Sweden. In 2004 an additional office will be established in Riga, in order to manage the new INTERREG IIIA priorities and to expand the activities to the new Member States, Belarus and Russia. The future office in Riga will have additional 3-4 international staff members.

Info-activities: looking and acting eastwards
In autumn/winter 2003 the Joint Secretariats carried out a series of joint information activities in order to promote the two programmes in the new Member States. Organised in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, the various info seminars were attended by participants from local, regional and national level. Information on funding opportunities were disseminated and many new project ideas from the new Member States were discussed.

Perspectives
Altogether 2004 will be an interesting and challenging year for both programmes. The implementation of the New Neighbourhood Initiative, the new INTERREG IIIA priorities and all other tasks related to EU enlargement will widen the experiences with transnational and interregional co-operation in an enlarged Europe. Another additional challenge for the INTERREG IIIC Joint Technical Secretariat will be the management of the INTERACT Point "INTERREG IIIC Coordination".