Interreg

Funding opportunities for cultural

and tourism oriented projects

Programme Contact Points Luxembourg:

Marc Weiler Interreg Grande Région

Nicole Skirde-Vural Interreg North-West Europe &

Interreg Europe

Luxembourg, 22.09.2016

European Institute for Cultural Routes

What is Interreg?

2

Interreg = European Territorial Cooperation Programmes (ETC), part of the Structural Funds (since more than 25 years).

What for? for a more cohesive and competitive Europe - overcome borders as barriers for development - contribute to the reduction of disparities and contribute to economic, social and territorial cohesion - contribute to the implementation of the EU2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

How? By offering European regions support to learn from each other and to jointly develop solutions. Topics? Themes and topics connected with smart, sustainable, inclusive growth (11 Thematic Objectives), depending on the needs of the cooperation area.

Interreg 2014-2020 –

106 Interreg programmes in total

3

88 crossborder

programmes

15 transnational

programmes

4

Interregional/

network

programmes:

Interreg Europe

INTERACT

ESPON

URBACT

Interreg-programmes – 2 examples

1. Example Crossborder Cooperation:

Greater Region programme

2. Example Interregional Cooperation:

Interreg Europe

Opportunities within cross-border cooperations:

Interreg “Grande Région” 2014-2020

Aim: To reduce disparities between the Greater Region’s

territorial entities

Target group: Public authorities, associations, EGTC,

NGOs, enterprises etc.

4 thematic priorities:

- Labor market and education

- Environment, culture and tourism

- Living conditions

- Research and competitiveness

Greater Region Cooperation Area:

11 territorial entities from 4 different countries

Budget

2014-2020 to co-finance projects: €139 m ERDF

Co-financing rate: up to 60%

Interreg Grande Région 2014-2020:

Cultural and tourism projects

SO 4: To strengthen the cultural and tourist

revaluation of the Greater Region’s heritage

Examples of project topics:

To develop and coordinate an innovative and inclusive touristic offer

Professionalization, cooperation and connection of cultural and touristic agents

Joint use of cultural and touristic infrastructure

Conception and performance of cultural events

Project example: “Land of Memory”

→ Connection of memorials and creation of a joint

touristic and cultural offer

Project partners:

Idelux (BE - lead partner)

Local associations for tourism (f.ex. ORTAL)

Nature park (Obersauer)

Municipalities and territorial entities

(Département Meuse)

Total: 9.900.000 €

ERDF: 5.400.000 €

Duration: 5 years

Programme procedures

Two step-procedure in order to apply for project funding

(Duration of the application procedure between 6 and 7 months)

Selection criteria: To comply with the Specific Objective and to constitute a

meaningful cross-border cooperation

(Encompassing at least 2 project partners originating from 2 different

member states)

Additional evaluation criteria: Innovative and sustainable

Next call for proposals: 05.12.2016 - 13.01.2017

For further information: marc.weiler@mat.etat.lu

Other Interreg

cross-border programmes

Nicole Skirde-Vural

Contact Point Luxembourg

Interreg Europe

CpInterreg.europenwe@mat.etat.lu

2. Interregional cooperation

Example: Interreg Europe

Project example

CERTESS (2012 – 2014)

European Cultural Routes Transfering Experiences, sharing Solutions

Lead Partner: European Institute of Cultural Routes

Aim: set up a common methodological framework on how to develop,

manage and enhance European Cultural Routes (ECRs) promoting

sustainable cultural tourism

How: by combining the use of documented good practices and identified

governance instruments to formulate Route Implementation Plans

Outputs: 41 Good Practices documented

84 Governance Instruments identified and documented

11 Route Implementation Plans elaborated

1 Toolkit for designing, planning, implementing, managing and

monitoring a European Cultural Route

http://certess.culture-routes.lu/

Projects example

CERTESS (2012 – 2014)

Interreg Europe 2014-2020

Rationale

Exchange of experience

to improve

performance

of policies for regional development,

in particular Structural Funds programmes

Thematic focus

Culture and tourism to be

tackled either

• From an economic

perspective (cultural

industries, tourism sector)

or

• Environmental angle

(preservation of cultural

heritage, sustainable

tourism)

Examples of approved projects 2014-2020

Adopt digitization policies to

natural and cultural heritage

Mobilisation of structured

biodiversity data to guide decision

making in regional development

policies

Improving culture and heritage

policies with a focus on eco-cultural

tourism

Geographical focus

Project features:

• Mix of more and less

developed regions

(Reference GDP)

• 5-10 project partners

• Duration 3-5 years

• 1-2 M€ European co-

funding per project

• European Co-funding:

75% or 85%

Cooperation Area:

28 EU Member States + CH + NO

Who is eligible as project partner?

– Public bodies (main target group)

(e.g. local, regional, national authorities)

– Bodies governed by public law (Directive

2004/18/EC)

– Private non-profit making bodies (NEW!)

for example, chambers of commerce, cluster

representatives, trade unions, employers’

associations, NGOs

‘Interregional learning’

Interregional Exchange of Experience e.g. seminars, workshops, site visits, staff exchange, peer review

1 Action Plan per Region

Monitoring of the implemention of the action plan

Phase 1

Phase 2

measures to be implemented

timeframe

work steps

responsible players

costs and funding resources (if applicable)

Projects structure

Platform features by theme:

4 thematic Platforms

• Knowledge and Education Centre

• Networking and partnering opportunities

• Expert policy helpdesk upon request

• Expert support for policy change upon request

Policy Learning Platform

Next Call for proposals

1st semester 2017 (tbc)

Policy Learning Platform

Opening 1st Semester 2017

Any questions?

Further information:

Interreg Grande Région: www.interreg-gr.eu/

Interreg Europe: www.interregeurope.eu

European Commission:

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/policy/cooperation/european-territorial/