INTERREG Update – September 2015

This update looks at recent developments in the North West Europe and North Sea Transnational Programmes.   Much of the information comes from an event organised by the UK and Scottish Governments and held in Dundee on 1 September 2015.

The North West Europe Programme is more advanced than the North Sea Programme and has held its first Steering Committee to select projects.  Just to remind everyone that both Programmes now operate a two stage application process.   There were 82 Stage One applications (Concept Note/ Expressions of Interest) and of these only 19 were successful and will be allowed to go onto Stage 2.  This is a success rate of under 25% and seems very low.  It will be interesting to see if the Programme introduces any actions to improve the success rate.

Ian Hill (UK Contact Point for the NWE Programme) stated that the major reasons for rejection included:-

• Lack of focus and clear objectives.
• Problems with the internal coherence of the project.
• Problems with the results claimed.
• Lack of long term and sustainable impact for the project.

Future calls close on 30 November 2015 and 31 May 2016.  Decisions will be made by 24 February 2016 and 31 August respectively.

The North Sea Programme was approved by the Commission at the end of August and the first PMC meeting has been set for October 2015.  The first Steering Committee to approve projects has been set for 9/10 November 2015.  A Second Call will open in mid-January 2016 and close at the end of February 2016.  There will be an Inter work Event for the new Call in November 2015.  The Interwork event helps prospective applicants prepare for the Second Call.

The North Sea Programme has a new UK Contact Point – Alison Childs.