CENTRAL EUROPE: COOPERATING FOR SUCCESS
What is the CENTRAL EUROPE programme?
CENTRAL EUROPE is a European Union programme that encourages cooperation among the countries of Central Europe to improve innovation, accessibility and the environment and to enhance the competitiveness and attractiveness of their cities and regions.
CENTRAL EUROPE invests €231 million to provide funding to transnational cooperation projects involving public and private organisations from Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia.
The programme is financed by the European Regional Development Fund and runs from 2007 to 2013. Interested partnerships are invited to propose their projects following public calls for proposals, which will be widely publicised.
What are the programme priorities?
How does it work? What can be funded?
Which regions are covered?
Who is in charge?
What are the programme priorities?
CENTRAL EUROPE provides funding for cooperation projects covering four thematic areas:
Priority 1: Facilitating innovation across Central Europe
Projects under this priority will aim at improving the climate for innovation in all regions and enabling them to make better use of their innovation potential. They will create favourable framework conditions for innovation and build up capabilities for the effective transfer and application of innovation. They will also foster knowledge development and help people to obtain the qualifications they need for the knowledge-based economy.
This priority includes the following areas of intervention:
- enhancing the framework for innovation;
- establishing the capacity to diffuse and apply innovation;
- fostering knowledge development.
It is important to note, that, apart from being a programme priority in its own right, innovation is also considered a horizontal goal and requirement for all projects seeking funding from the programme.
Priority 2: Improving accessibility to, and within, Central Europe
Projects under this priority will aim at improving accessibility, a precondition for economic development and a key factor for reducing disparities in the programme area. They will promote information and communication technology-based solutions, as well as non-technological alternative solutions for enhancing access. They will also foster interconnectivity and inter-modality for higher efficiency and reduced volumes of transport across the CENTRAL EUROPE cooperation area.
This priority includes the following areas of intervention:
- improving Central Europe’s interconnectivity;
- developing multi-modal logistics cooperation;
- promoting sustainable and safe mobility;
- promoting information and communication technology, as well as alternative solutions for enhancing access.
Priority 3: Using our environment responsibly
Projects under this priority will aim at more responsible use and better preservation of Central Europe’s environment. They will manage and protect natural resources, support the use of environmentally friendly technologies and reduce the risks and impacts of natural and man-made hazards. They will also support the use of renewable energy and increase energy efficiency.
This priority includes the following areas of intervention:
- developing a high-quality environment by managing and protecting natural resources and heritage;
- reducing the risks and impacts of natural and man-made hazards;
- supporting renewable energy and increasing energy efficiency;
- supporting environmentally friendly technologies and activities.
Priority 4: Enhancing competitiveness and attractiveness of cities and regions
Projects under this priority will aim at improving the quality of life in cities and regions and will promote sustainable urban development. They will support polycentric development to avoid disparities within urban areas that are due to social and spatial segregation, and they will address demographic and social change, as well as the protection, preservation and exploitation of cultural resources.
This priority includes the following areas of intervention:
- developing polycentric settlement structures and territorial cooperation;
- addressing the territorial effects of demographic and social change;
- capitalising on cultural resources, to make cities and regions more attractive.
How does it work?
CENTRAL EUROPE invites national, regional and local actors from the public and private sector to propose projects and apply for programme funds. Following these calls, the submitted project proposals will be assessed. CENTRAL EUROPE Member State representatives will select the projects that, based on the quality of the submitted documentation, promise to deliver the best results.
The programme makes €231 million in ERDF funds (European Regional Development Fund) available for eligible expenditure by lead partners and project partners. Project partners can be co-financed up to 85 percent, depending on their country of origin and on whether they are engaged in an economic activity or not. Partners will have to match the project budget with some of their own funds. Projects can have a total budget ranging of €1-5 million. In exceptional cases, smaller or larger projects can also be funded. Calls for proposals are announced on this programme website.
The first two public calls, open for project proposals within all four programme priorities, were launched beginning of 2008 and 2009. Information about new calls will be published as soon as available.
Which projects can be funded?
The CENTRAL EUROPE programme finances territorial cooperation projects that add explicit value to the CENTRAL EUROPE cooperation area. Whether or not a project generates transnational added value is the result of key factors such as, among others, the issue addressed, the partnership involved, the degree of innovation and the visibility and impact of project activities and results.
More specifically projects seeking funds from the CENTRAL EUROPE Programme should meet the following characteristics:
– Transnational thematic focus: Projects should focus on issues that are relevant to the four programme priorities and their areas of intervention and that cannot be sufficiently addressed by individual regions or countries alone. Projects should also contribute to the overall programme goas such as strengthening territorial cohesion and enhancing the competitiveness of Central Europe.
– Transnational partnership: The partnership must involve a minimum of three partners from at least three countries, and at least two of the countries should be EU Member States. Partners need to be involved in the project in a proportionate way, and they must be able to credibly outline the benefits they derive. The Programme is particularly interested in promoting multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral partnerships.
– Coherent approach and effective management: Projects must define their objectives, approach and planned effects in a logical, coherent and clear manner. Projects must have efficient and transparent management and coordination structures and procedures.
– Effective knowledge creation and transfer: The Programme’s emphasis on innovation implies that projects adopt a knowledge-based approach and pay close attention to generation, application and transfer of relevant expertise and state-of-the-art knowledge. This includes analysing a project’s environment.
– Concrete outputs and results: Projects must have a measurable positive impact on a clearly defined trans-national geographic area. Their outputs and results must enable actual implementation, for instance, by preparing investments and should be transferable beyond the partnership. Study projects without concrete and applicable results will not be supported.
- High emphasis on communication: Projects need to develop a communication strategy outlining their information and dissemination activities. This will include activities targeting the media in their regions as well as non-media communication and PR activities.
Which regions are covered?
The programme area includes regions from Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Ukraine. It covers about 1,050,00 square kilometers, an area that represents approximately a fifth of the EU landmass. About 148 million citizens or 28 percent of the EU population live in this area.
Its economy shows high disparities with regard to income and living standards: Besides encompassing some of Europe’s richest regions, Central Europe also includes some of Europe’s poorest ones. The CENTRAL EUROPE programme aims to contribute to reducing these differences through cooperation between regions, working towards joint solutions to common problems and actions that harness the regions’ potential. The programme should also help to strengthen the overall competitiveness by stimulating innovation and promoting excellence throughout Central Europe.
CENTRAL EUROPE serves the following countries and regions:
- Austria: Burgenland, Kärnten, Niederösterreich, Oberösterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien
- Czech Republic: Jihovychod, Jihozapad, Moravskoslezsko, Praha, Severozapad, Severovychod, Stredni Cechy, Stredni Morava
- Germany: Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Thüringen
- Hungary: Del-Dunantul, Del-Alfold, Eszak-Alfold, Eszak-Magyarorszag, Kozep-Dunantul, Kozep-Magyarorszag, Nyugat-Dunantul
- Italy: Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Lombardia, Piemonte, Provincia Autonoma Bolzano/Bozen, Provincia Autonoma Trento, Valle d'Aosta/Vallée d'Aoste, Veneto
- Poland: Dolnoslaskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lubelskie, Lubuskie, Lodzkie, Malopolskie, Mazowieckie, Opolskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Pomorskie, Slaskie, Swietokrzyskie, Warminsko-Mazurskie, Wielkopolskie, Zachodniopomorskie
- Slovak Republic: Bratislavsky, Stredne Slovensko, Vychodne Slovensko, Zapadne Slovensko
- Slovenia: The entire country
- Ukraine:* Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Volyn, Lviv, Zakarpattia
*Please note: Concerning the involvement of Ukrainian partners, please refer to the CENTRAL EUROPE Operational Programme.
Who manages the programme?
The programme is managed by a structure comprising institutions at the European, national and regional levels. Main decision-making body is the “Monitoring Committee”, which is composed of representatives of the Member States of the Programme. As Managing Authority the Department for EU Strategy and Economic Development of the City of Vienna is responsible for the operational management of the programme. It is supported by a Joint Technical Secretariat, an international bureau that is also located in Vienna, and a network of Contact Points, that are located in the Member States.
Implementation bodies and their functions:
Monitoring Committee
Composed of representatives of the Member States of the programme, the Monitoring Committee supervises and ensures the quality and effectiveness of programme implementation and approves projects for funding.
Managing Authority
The Managing Authority is responsible for sound programme management and implementation in accordance with EU regulations.
Certifying Authority
The Certifying Authority certifies that expenditures comply with European and national rules, and it is responsible for ERDF payments to project Lead Partners.
Audit Authority
The Audit Authority ensures that project audits are carried out according to internationally accepted audit standards to verify the expenditures declared.
Joint Technical Secretariat
The Joint Technical Secretariat) assists the Managing Authority, the Monitoring Committee and, where appropriate, the Audit Authority in programme management and programme promotion. It provides guidance to project partners and applicants, ensures sound project management and is responsible for the monitoring of project performance.
Network of Contact Points
Coordinated by the JTS, Contact Point in the Member States of the programme aim to complement the activities of the JTS by promoting the programme and providing applicants with first information and advice, and by contributing to the dissemination of results achieved.
Join the CENTRAL EUROPE Community
To guide project promoters in developing their project ideas and to facilitate partner search and networking, the CENTRAL EUROPE homepage, contains a Project Idea Database and a People section. Project promoters are invited to register as users, enter their personal profile and project ideas or browse through the information and data posted on this site. The Joint Technical Secretariat and Contact Points organize regular information days and partner search events, which will be announced on the CENTRAL EUROPE homepage and in mailings to the CENTRAL EUROPE user community. Project promoters seeking guidance in their project development are invited to contact the Joint Technical Secretariat or their respective national Contact Points.
Disclaimer: The information in this flyer is based on the CENTRAL EUROPE Operational Programme (OP).