Smart, Sustainable And Inclusive Growth | Transnational EU Projects by East of Scotland Local Authorities 2007-2012 Smart, Sustainable And Inclusive Growth | Transnational EU Projects by East of Scotland Local Authorities 2007-2012 S MA RTS USTA INABL EINCLUS IVEGROWTH 2 Smart, Sustainable And Inclusive Growth | Transnational EU Projects by East of Scotland Local Authorities 2007-2012 Forward I am new to my position as Chair of ESEC and learning about the breadth of European Union (EU) related activity which currently takes place in Scotland has been hugely interesting. However, for many people, one of the most tangible aspects of how the EU influences them is through the placards and signs advertising that a project was part funded by European funding. Over the years the number of physical infrastructure projects funded with EU funds has diminished in Scotland, as our regional funds have reduced and focused on less resource intensive areas, such as business support and employability services. What we wanted to achieve with this publication is to highlight another realm of EU project activity which local government also participates in – transnational EU projects – and which even less people are aware of. Transnational EU funding usually involves working with partners from at least two other Member States (or associated areas) on a topic of shared interest. Bi-lateral cooperation is possible under the Lifelong Learning Programmes. By their very nature, it takes more time to develop strong partnerships transnationally than it does regionally, often for smaller financial reward. They also come up against the complication of managing multiple partners and sometimes working to different national rules in terms of audit and compliance. Therefore it is often the case that these funds have earned a reputation as not being for the faint hearted. Part of this exercise is to show case the valuable breadth of project activity currently taking place by our members through this report but also in understanding this breadth be better placed to make recommendations to improve the management and administration systems for future EU programmes in our on-going work. What this ‘project collective’ has done for me is highlight that we have so much to learn from collaboration with other regions of Europe as well as a lot to offer. Mutual learning, best-practice, collaboration, capacity-building and partnership working are practices integral to EU transnational projects. Working in such a manner, is not the easiest road to take to progress your agenda, but when done well it can be hugely rewarding in terms of learning from others mistakes as well as successes. It can also result in your organisation saving money as a direct result of those lessons. For these reasons we hope this document will add some additional profile for these important projects and also encourage more organisations to ‘think transnational’. ESEC has gently been encouraging its members to do so for a number of years, though there are many organisations in Scotland who still frown upon any kind of work that requires international travel. Our desire is that organisations move on from associating international work with travel alone and really look behind at some of the work being carried out. We also need to look to those most active in the field, such as Aberdeen City Council, who since 2007 till the time of publication, have drawn down €12.3m in transnational EU funding support. We decided to frame this document around the EU’s strategic economic development priorities of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Whilst many projects contribute to all three growth priorities we have attempted to list the projects by its lead theme. What has struck me from this exercise is the heavy dominance of sustainable growth projects from the east of Scotland local authorities in terms of financial draw down. It is logical that we have looked to other regions to see how they have developed this agenda as we drive this agenda forward ourselves. How to achieve the EU’s 2020 targets for energy efficiency and renewables is on the minds of all regions. The popularity of this theme is also perhaps indicative that at the start of the programming period there were very few domestic funds orientated towards this agenda. This is also an excellent example where the policy agenda has actually been influenced by transnational project activities. This booklet highlights how local authorities in the East of Scotland are sharing best practice and gaining a wealth of knowledge from across the EU to make an active contribution to the Europe 2020 objectives of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. We can demonstrate that they are doing so now by being involved in 164 projects working with 351 partners (125 NUTS 3 regions) across the EU. Cllr Mairi Evans, Chair of ESEC 3 Smart, Sustainable And Inclusive Growth | Transnational EU Projects by East of Scotland Local Authorities 2007-2012 Contents Foreword 2-3 Executive Summary 6 Introduction 7-8 Summary of local authorities activities 9-10 Sustainable Growth Improving Environmental Conditions in Suburban Areas INTERREG IVC Programme 12 North Sea Sustainable Energy Planning North Sea Programme 13 CARE-North North Sea Programme 14 Sustainable Urban and Rural Fringes North Sea Programme 15 Build with CaRe (Carbon Reduction) North Sea Programme 16 HyTrEc (Hydrogen Transport Economy) North Sea Programme 17 Aquarius North Sea Programme 18 Cruise Gateway North Sea Programme 19 Green Corridor in the North Sea Programme North Sea Programme 20 Sustainable Coastal Development in Practice North Sea Programme 21 Innovative Management for Europe's Changing Coastal Resource North West Europe Programme 22 MUSIC - Mitigation in Urban areas: Solutions for Innovative Cities North West Europe Programme 23 Energy efficiency in City Logistics Services for small and mid-sized European Historic Towns Intelligent Energy Europe Programme 24 HIGH V.LO-CITY (Hydrogen Buses) Framework 7 25 LOWCAP North Sea Programme 26 Fishing for Tourists LEADER Programme 27 Linking with Finland LEADER Programme 28 Sweden 2011 Leonardo Programme 29 Smart Growth CCIC – Complex Challenges, Innovative Cities' INTERREG IVC Programme 31 StratMos North Sea Programme 32 North Sea Screen Partnership North Sea Programme 33 LICI - Lively Cities North West Europe Programme 34 EU Broadband Study Visit LEADER Programme 35 Pitlochry - Bled Learning Journey LEADER Programme 36 Cairngorms National Park Junior Ranger Project LEADER Programme 37 Eco Schools’ Net Comenius Regio Partnership 38 InCompass INTERREG IVC Programme 39 Young SMEs INTERREG IVC Programme 40 4 Smart, Sustainable And Inclusive Growth | Transnational EU Projects by East of Scotland Local Authorities 2007-2012 Inclusive Growth New and Motivating Approach to Lifelong Learning Grundtvig Programme 42 Exploring 'Science As Culture' Through The European Science Museums Grundtvig Programme 43 Intercultural Patchwork and Contact Seminar Grundtvig Programme 44 Roots and Wings Grundtvig Programme 45 Europe at Work - Managing Cultural Diversity in the European Workplace Grundtvig Programme 46 European Supported Employment Toolkit Leonardo Programme 47 Environmental education - the realization of the issue outside the classroom; different kinds of classes in the open air Transversal Programme 48 Delivery of sporting activities through partnerships and sustainable organisations Transversal Programme 49 To explore the use of local surroundings to motivate and enhance the teaching of Environmental Education Transversal Programme 50 Education and its tools Transversal Programme 51 Health & Wellbeing - School Study Visit to Poland Transversal Programme 52 Exploring healthy lifestyles for youths in Germany and Scotland; E: Health / German and Scottish young people enjoying healthy lifestyles Youth In Action Programme 53 Particip8 in Europe Project Youth In Action Programme 54 Spinach for Popeye-Congress 2009 Youth In Action Programme 55 Youth Participation, Active Citizenship, Youth Democracy Youth In Action Programme 56 Active Citizens Through Sport Youth In Action Programme 57 Skill Sharing in Renewable Energy Comenius Regio 58 Cultural Awareness and Skill Sharing (CASS) Comenius Regio 59 Brittany/Scotland 2009-11 Comenius Regio 60 Aberdeen City Council & Comenius Comenius 61 Aberdeenshire Council & Comenius Comenius 62 Angus Council & Comenius Comenius 63 Dundee City Council & Comenius Comenius 64 Falkirk Council & Comenius Comenius 65 Fife Council & Comenius Comenius 66 Moray Council & Comenius Comenius 67 Perth & Kinross Council & Comenius Comenius 68 Stirling Council & Comenius Comenius 69 ESEC Members Contact List 70-71 Map of members partnerships 72 Appendix – List of partner organisations 73 5 Smart, Sustainable And Inclusive Growth | Transnational EU Projects by East of Scotland Local Authorities 2007-2012 Executive Summary 6 Smart, Sustainable And Inclusive Growth | Transnational EU Projects by East of Scotland Local Authorities 2007-2012 Introduction The European Union (EU) developed its ten year growth strategy in 2010 which was designed to outline the key societal challenges which Europe faces today as well as respond to the global economic downturn. This framework document is referred to as Europe 2020 and it aims to create the conditions for a more competitive economy and to coordinate policy actions across EU Member States, by involving a greater range of stakeholders at various levels, from the EU institutions and national governments to local