Appendix 9 Environmental Indicators Achieved in 2010
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1. Identification OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME Objective concerned European Territorial Co-operation Programme Eligible area concerned Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, the Flemish Region of Belgium, the UK and Norway. Programming period 2007 – 2013 Programme number (CCI No) 2007CB163PO055 Programme title North Sea Region Programme 2007-2013 ANNUAL IMPLEMENTATION Reporting year REPORT 2010 Date of approval of the annual report by the monitoring committee 30 June 2011 3 Table of Contents 1. Identification .................................................................................................................3 Executive Summary.............................................................................................................5 2. Overview of the Implementation of the Operational Programme ..................................7 2.1 Achievements and Analysis of the Progress ..............................................................7 2.1.1 Information on the physical progress of the Operational Programme................12 2.1.2 Qualitative analysis............................................................................................16 2.1.3 Financial information..........................................................................................20 2.1.4 Information about the breakdown of funds.........................................................26 2.1.5 Assistance repaid or re-used .............................................................................27 2.2 Information about compliance with Community law .................................................29 2.3 Significant problems encountered and measures taken to overcome them .............29 2.4 Changes in the context of the operational programme implementation....................30 2.5 Substantial modification under Article 57 of Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006............30 2.6 Complementarity with other instruments ..................................................................30 2.7 Monitoring and Evaluation........................................................................................32 3. Implementation by Priority ..........................................................................................44 3.1 Priority 1 ...................................................................................................................46 3.1.1 Achievement of targets and analysis of the progress ........................................47 3.2 Priority 2 ...................................................................................................................52 3.2.1 Achievements of targets and analysis of the progress.......................................52 3.3 Priority 3 ...................................................................................................................57 3.3.1 Achievements of targets and analysis of the progress.......................................58 3.4 Priority 4 ...................................................................................................................62 3.4.1 Achievements of targets and analysis of the progress.......................................63 4. Technical Assistance..................................................................................................68 5. Information and Publicity ............................................................................................72 6. Mid-term assessment of communications...................................................................82 Appendices........................................................................................................................88 4 Executive Summary 2010 was the fourth year of operation of the North Sea Region Programme and the programme is now half-way through the structural funds period 2007 – 2013. Whilst new projects are still being approved, the majority of the available funding has now been allocated and the remaining funds are expected to be allocated within the foreseeable future. This current period is perhaps the most exiting part of the programme delivery. The overall course of the programme has been set for quite some time and most of the projects in the programme are well into their main operational phase - some are even approaching completion. At this stage, project results are emerging with increasing speed and important lessons have been learned. It is, in other words, time to reap the benefits created by the projects. In recognition of this, the Programme Monitoring Committee launched its Cluster Initiative. The overall purpose of the cluster initiative is to facilitate cooperation between existing projects with a view to improve project results, increase awareness of the results and facilitate the take-up of the results. In other words, the underlying idea behind the cluster initiative is to improve the value-for-money ratio of the projects in the programme. 2010 was dedicated to the preparation of the cluster initiatives and the first cluster projects are expected to be approved by the Programme Steering Committee in 2011. Since the official launch of the programme in 2007, important progress has been made towards achieving the policy goals of the programme. The North Sea Region Programme has managed to continue and further develop the strong track record of transnational territorial cooperation programmes in the North Sea region. However, as we all know, the proof of the pie is in the eating and despite all achievements and progress made there is always room for learning and room for improvement. The on-going evaluation process, which was launched in 2010, will assist both the programme and the programme 5 stakeholders in identifying the points where action is needed with a view to maximising the effect of the programme. After a process stretching over a period of almost 3 years, the compliance assessment process was finally completed in the beginning of 2010. The process of preparing all the underlying documents of the Article 71 description – which is the subject of the compliance assessment – was a significant challenge to the programme and the programme stakeholders. Despite the challenges, the process generated important learning points for all stakeholders involved. 2010 has shown that mutual trust and good co-operation between the programme stakeholders is of paramount importance for a good and speedy preparatory process and subsequent delivery of the programme. Only by bearing this in mind can a high degree of mutual ownership to the programme amongst stakeholders on all levels be achieved. The high degree of ownership is of invaluable importance for the delivery of the overall aim of the programme, which is: “To make the North Sea Region a better place to live, work and invest in”. 6 2. Overview of the Implementation of the Operational Programme 2.1 Achievements and Analysis of the Progress The fifth call for applications Under the 5th call for applications which was open from 1 March to 7 April 2010, 26 project applications (including 9 applications for extensions) were submitted. For Priority 1 seven applications and two extensions were submitted, for Priority 2 no applications and four extensions, for Priority 3 nine applications and one extension and for Priority 4 one application and one extension. In total, 7 full applications and eight applications for extensions were approved in the fifth call bringing the total number of projects approved through the programme to 46: 2 projects in the first call for applications (SC1), 15 in the second call for applications (SC2), 11 projects in the third call for applications (SC3), 11 projects in the fourth call (SC4) and 7 projects in the fifth call (SC5). These 46 projects were chosen as they clearly reflect the IVB spirit and therefore the quality requirements of the programme. This process was supported by the continuous communication to programme stakeholders regarding the key attributes that the IVB programme is looking for. Based on the assessment procedure for applications and the project selection criteria approved by the Programme’s Monitoring Committee, which include 11 core selection criteria about the programme, the partnership, policies, outputs, indicators and legislative requirements and 9 priority considerations about the approach, transnationality and knowledge transfer, project applications were assessed. In line with quality considerations for the programme, these criteria prescribe high standards for the new projects. 7 In general, the overall quality of the applications submitted in the 5th call was high. This applies for the “normal” applications as well as the applications for extensions. Most applicants displayed a good understanding of the requirements of the programme in terms of a balance between a relevant partnership and a good geographical coverage, relevant activities and results which fit the scope of the programme, a genuine transnational approach and potentials for long term perspectives. It is worth mentioning that a high number of private sector beneficiaries were included in the applications, which has had an impact towards more concrete outputs and a stronger orientation towards implementation. Cluster projects Based on discussions with key stakeholders, the North Sea Region programme has decided to approach the issue of strategic projects through a clustering approach. The main background to this decision was a realisation that all projects in the programme should represent the highest possible quality and directly address the main