European Regional Development Fund 2007 - 2013 Objective 3: European Territorial Cooperation INTERREG IVA Cross-border cooperation France-England-Flanders-Netherlands 2 SEAS OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME EN This operational programme was drafted with co-funding from the European Regional Development Fund through the England-France Interreg IIIA programme. 2 seas Operational Programme INTERREG IVA – Revised Version – December 2011 - 1 / 108 Table of contents Programme summary ................................................................................... 4 Chapter 1. Programme context .................................................................... 5 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 5 1.2 European Policy context ................................................................................................. 5 1.2 National Strategic Reference Frameworks ........................................................................ 8 1.4 General developments and trends ................................................................................... 9 1.5 Description of the programme area ............................................................................... 10 1.6 Description of the programming process ........................................................................ 13 Chapter 2. Analysis of the programme area and lessons from previous experiences ................................................................................................. 16 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 16 2.2 Socio-economic diagnosis ............................................................................................. 16 2.3 Lessons from previous experiences ............................................................................... 33 2.4 SWOT analysis ............................................................................................................. 38 2.5 Perspectives and challenges of the programme area ...................................................... 44 Chapter 3. Programme strategy ................................................................. 46 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 46 3.2 Development vision for the programme area ................................................................ 46 3.3 Strategic orientation of the programme ........................................................................ 46 3.4 Objectives .................................................................................................................. 48 3.5 Identification of programme priorities ........................................................................... 49 3.6 Types of cooperation projects ....................................................................................... 49 3.7 Findings of the ex-ante evaluation ................................................................................. 50 Chapter 4. Priority Axes .............................................................................. 51 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 51 4.2 General issues ............................................................................................................. 51 4.3 Priority 1: Creating an economically competitive, attractive and accessible area ............... 52 4.4 Priority 2: Promoting and enhancing a safe and healthy environment .............................. 54 4.5 Priority 3 : Improving quality of life ............................................................................... 56 4.6 Priority 4: Common Priority with the France (Channel) - England programme .................. 59 4.7 Priority 5 : Technical Assistance .................................................................................... 61 4.8 Indicators .................................................................................................................... 61 Chapter 5. Organisation and implementation ............................................ 63 5.1 INTERREG IIIA to INTERREG IVA: towards a reinforcement of the system of implementation . 63 5.2 The authorities responsible for the 2 seas INTERREG IV A programme .................................. 63 5.3 Technical Assistance ........................................................................................................... 65 5.4 Decision and Programming Authorities ................................................................................. 68 5.5. Programme functioning modalities ...................................................................................... 70 5.6 Programme procedures and tools ........................................................................................ 74 Chapter 6. Financing plan ........................................................................... 79 6.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 79 6.2 ERDF contribution per year ........................................................................................... 79 6.3 Detailed financial plan per priority and ERDF intervention rate ........................................ 80 2 seas Operational Programme INTERREG IVA – Revised Version – December 2011 - 2 / 108 Chapter 7. Coherence and complementarity with other EU programmes . 81 7.1 Coherence and complementarity with EU policies ........................................................... 81 7.2 Coherence and complementarity with other Structural Funds programmes ...................... 81 7.3 Coherence and complementarity with other EU programmes and funds. .......................... 83 7.4. Coordination mechanisms between the programmes co-financed by the different European funds 83 Annex A : List of NUTS III eligible and adjacent areas ................................................................ 84 Annex B : Sources of information and statistics .......................................................................... 87 Annex C : Consulted stakeholders ............................................................................................. 90 Annex D : Indicators ................................................................................................................ 93 Annex E: Summary of the ex-ante evaluation and SEA ............................................................... 99 Annex F : Indicative breakdown of ERDF contribution .............................................................. 105 2 seas Operational Programme INTERREG IVA – Revised Version – December 2011 - 3 / 108 Programme summary The 2 Seas cross-border cooperation (CBC) programme enables cooperation between regional and local actors from different territories in 4 Member States. This takes the form of projects in which these authorities are invited to develop the competitiveness and sustainable growth potential of the programme area’s maritime and non maritime assets through building and advancing partnerships of cross border cooperation. In line with the Community Strategic Guidelines for Cohesion Policy 2007-2013, the programme aims to contribute to the Union's strategy for growth and jobs. The programme is structured around three thematic priorities plus one common priority with the Channel France-England OP : Priority 1 aims at supporting an economically competitive, attractive and accessible area, focusing mainly on the sub-themes common economic activities, including the maritime economy, innovation and research, sustainable tourism, entrepreneurship, employment and human capital and accessibility. Priority 2 aims at promoting and enhancing a safe and healthy environment, focusing mainly on integrated coastal zone management, maritime resource management and the management of estuaries, natural, technological and human risks, energy efficiency and renewable energies, nature and landscape, including natural heritage, water management, waste management and sustainable use of resources. Priority 3 aims at improving quality of life, focusing mainly on social inclusion and well-being of different groups in society, services to the population, including mobility and health care facilities, education, training and lifelong learning, the common heritage and cultural assets, as well as active recreation. Priority 4 aims at promoting joints actions with the actors eligible in the Channel France- England OP, focusing mainly on issues of common interest notably related to the maritime dimension from a cross-border perspective, the exchange of good practice and networking activities between projects implemented under both OPs. This Operational Programme supports two different types of cooperation projects in order to address the different needs and challenges of the target groups in the programme area: Firstly, it supports regular Cross-border cooperation projects that bring together actors from different countries in the programme zone, working together to develop or solve a shared cross-border issue (bottom- up approach). Secondly, it supports Strategic cross-border cooperation projects identified by the programme bodies, such as the programme Monitoring Committee and the national and regional level actors represented in