Community Initiative Programme 18-09-2001 Interreg IIIB North Sea Region Community Initiative concerning trans-European co-operation intended to encourage harmonious and balanced sustainable development of the European territory * NUTS 3 List of Responsible Ministries in Each Country ........................................................................ iii Preface ......................................................................................................................................... iv Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 The Transnational Development Context of the North Sea Region........................................ 1 1.2 Consultation Process ............................................................................................................ 1 1.3 The Use of Indicative Commission Guidance ........................................................................ 4 1.4 Central Aims of the Community Initiative Programme............................................................ 4 1.5 Consistency with Community Policies ................................................................................... 6 1.6 Complementarity with Community Programmes.................................................................... 8 1.7 Key Characteristics of the North Sea Region ........................................................................ 9 1.8 Key Lessons Learnt from Interreg IIC North Sea Programme................................................ 9 1.9 NORVISION – A Spatial Perspective for the North Sea Region .......................................... 10 Chapter 2: Analysis of the North Sea Region ........................................................................... 13 2.1 Delimitation of the Eligible Area........................................................................................... 13 2.1.1 Demography and Settlement Structure ......................................................................... 15 2.1.2 Economy and Labour Market........................................................................................ 15 2.1.3 Present Economic Situation.......................................................................................... 16 2.2 Spatial Situation and Trends ............................................................................................... 20 2.2.1 The Urban System........................................................................................................ 20 2.2.2 Rural Areas................................................................................................................... 21 2.2.3 Maritime Areas ............................................................................................................. 22 2.2.4 Transport and the Information Society .......................................................................... 22 2.2.5 Natural Resources and Cultural Heritage...................................................................... 26 2.3 The SWOT Analysis............................................................................................................ 31 Chapter 3: The Joint Transnational Strategy............................................................................ 39 3.1 Rationale............................................................................................................................. 39 3.2 The Mission of the North Sea Programme........................................................................... 39 3.3 North Sea Region IIIB Programme Strategy........................................................................ 40 3.4 The Key Strategic Issues .................................................................................................... 40 Chapter 4: Priorities and Measures........................................................................................... 44 4.0 Targets at Programme Level. .............................................................................................. 44 4.1 PRIORITY 1 ........................................................................................................................ 45 Transnational Spatial Development Strategies and Actions for Urban, Rural and Maritime Systems in the North Sea Region.......................................................................................... 45 4.2 PRIORITY 2 ........................................................................................................................ 51 Efficient and Sustainable Transport and Communications and Improved Access to the Information Society................................................................................................................ 51 4.3 PRIORITY 3 ........................................................................................................................ 58 Sustainable Management and Development of the Environment, Natural Resources and Cultural Heritage.................................................................................................................... 58 4.4 PRIORITY 4 ........................................................................................................................ 63 Water Management ............................................................................................................... 63 4.5 PRIORITY 5 ........................................................................................................................ 67 Technical Assistance ............................................................................................................. 67 Chapter 5: Summary of the Ex-ante Evaluation written by Nordregio .................................... 68 5.1 Strengths, Weaknesses and Potential of the Area............................................................... 68 5.2 Appraisal of Added Value of Interventions........................................................................... 69 5.3 Appraisal of Implementation Procedures............................................................................. 71 5.4 Appraisal of the Consistency of the Programme.................................................................. 71 5.5 The status of the North Sea Environment, and Expected Impacts of the North Sea region Programme ............................................................................................................................... 72 Chapter 6: Indicators.................................................................................................................. 75 6.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 75 i 6.1 Project Indicators ................................................................................................................ 75 6.1.1 Indicators Related to Project Delivery ........................................................................... 75 6.1.2 Indicators Related to the Aims and Objectives of the Projects ...................................... 76 6.1.3 Qualitative Reporting Requirements ............................................................................. 78 6.2 Programme Indicators ......................................................................................................... 78 6.2.1 Context Indicators for IIIB Programmes ........................................................................ 78 6.2.2 Other Programme Indicators......................................................................................... 79 Chapter 7: Administration and Financial Implementation ....................................................... 80 7.0 Administration and Implementation Arrangements .............................................................. 80 7.1 The Programme Administrative Structure ........................................................................... 82 7.1.1 Monitoring Committee................................................................................................... 82 7.1.2 Steering Committee ...................................................................................................... 83 7.2 Management and Financial Administration.......................................................................... 84 7.2.1 The Managing Authority................................................................................................ 84 7.2.2 The Paying Authority .................................................................................................... 85 7.2.3 The National Authorities................................................................................................ 86 7.2.4 Joint Technical Secretariat............................................................................................ 86 7.3 Financial Management ........................................................................................................ 87 7.3.1 Financial Management of Projects ................................................................................ 87 7.3.2 Financial Management of the Programme .................................................................... 89 7.4 Financial Control and Audit ................................................................................................. 89 7.5 Grant Rates........................................................................................................................