Ecos-Ouverture 1998 to 2001 - Inter-regional cooperation with areas outside the European Union - The European Union as a motor of inter-regional cooperation in response to current economic changes
Date: 1998-06-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU financing, EU programme, environmental protection, regional cooperation, regional development, small and medium-sized enterprises

C  183/26

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

13.6.98

ECOS(cid:220)OUVERTURE  1998  to  2001

INTER(cid:220)REGIONAL  COOPERATION  WITH  AREAS  OUTSIDE  THE  EUROPEAN  UNION

The  European  Union  as  a  motor  of  inter(cid:220)regional  cooperation  in  response  to  current  economic
changes

(98/C  183/07)

All  European  countries  are  having  to  cope  to  varying
degrees  with  ever  more  rapid  and  mutually  reinforcing
trends  such  as  the  globalisation  of  the  economy,  the
transition  towards  an  economy  based  on  services  and
other  intangibles,  the  speed  with  which  the  information
society  is  developing,  the  pressures  on  the  environment,
security  of  supply,  high  levels  of  unemployment  and
increasing  attention  to  equal  opportunities.

The  Commission  (DG(cid:216)XVI)  accordingly  launched  Ecos/
Ouverture 
in  1991,  and  since  then,  using  ECU  70
million,  including  ECU  55  million  from  the  ERDF  and
ECU  15  million  from  Phare  programme  resources,  it  has
financed  400  projects  involving  1(cid:216)500  local  and  regional
authorities.

in 

involved 

People 
local  development  are  trying  to
respond  to  all  these  challenges.  The  range  of  know(cid:220)how
available  which,  because  of  the  diversity  of  the  situations
on  the  ground,  has  to  operate  against  backgrounds
institutionally
themselves  culturally  and 
which  are 
diverse,  has  given  rise  to  widely  differing  working
methods  and  experiences  throughout  Europe.

from  Phare,  enabling 

During  the  programming  period  now  beginning  (1998  to
receive
the  Ecos/Ouverture  programme  will 
2001) 
ECU  25  to  30  million  from  the  ERDF  and  ECU  15
million 
financial
contributions  towards  mutually  beneficial  cooperation
between  regions  and  towns  in  the  European  Union  and,
in  Central  Europe
principally, 
(Albania,  Bosnia(cid:220)Herzegovina,  Bulgaria, 
the  Czech
Republic,  Estonia,  Former  Yugoslav  Republic  of
Macedonia,  Hungary,  Latvia,  Lithuania,  Poland,
Romania,  Slovakia,  Slovenia)(cid:216)(˛).

counterparts 

to  make 

their 

it 

Inter(cid:220)regional  cooperation  offers  a  forum  for  working
together  where 
ideas,  methods  and  practices  can  be
compared.  All  the  various  parties  involved  can  subject
their  working  methods  to  review  and  learn  lessons  from
partners  in  other  regions  which  will  enrich  their  own
ways  of  working.  In  addition,  exchanges  and  coop(cid:220)
eration  will  help  to  solve  problems  better  and  more
swiftly.  Pilot  projects  can  help  to  foster  the  emergence  of
methods  of  regional  economic  development,  enabling
actors  at  local  level  to  assume  their  full  responsibilities
within  a  broad  partnership.

transition,  particularly 

Such  experience  makes  a  useful  contribution  to  economic
and  democratic 
in  partner
countries  of  Central  Europe  (CCE).  Experience  of  this
kind  can  also  provide  a  framework  which  helps  towns
and  regions 
integrate
successfully  when  the  European  Union  comes  to  be
enlarged.  Working  together  is  thus  both  a  motor  for
European  integration  and  a  factor  in  reducing  tensions.

in  the  applicant  countries  to 

The  Union’s  support  for  cooperation

Inter(cid:220)regional  cooperation  is  an  important  element  in  the
European  Union’s  policies  and  programmes.

As  part  of  Ecos/Ouverture  1998 
the
Commission  is  launching  this  call  for  proposals  in  order
to  invite  local  authorities  in  the  eligible  regions  to  submit
inter(cid:220)regional  cooperation  project
a  proposal  for  an 
before  the  deadline  of  15  November  1998.

to  2001, 

The  aims  of  cooperation

-(cid:217)To  encourage  cooperation  between  those  involved  at
regional  level  in  different  geographical  areas  through
joint  projects  based  on  the  exchange  of  experience  or
transfer  of  know(cid:220)how.

-(cid:217)To  promote  decentralisation  and  devolution  by
encouraging  the  development  of  skills  at  regional  and
local  level.

-(cid:217)Improved  capacity  for  action  and  better  methods  of
achieving  economic  and  social  development  in  the
countries  of  Central  Europe  and  the  less(cid:220)favoured
areas  of  the  European  Union  for  local  authorities  and
others  involved  at  local  and  regional  level.

Article  10  of  the  Regulation  on  the  European  Regional
Development  Fund  provides  a  mechanism  for  financing
innovative  regional  development  measures, 
including
external  inter(cid:220)regional  cooperation  with  partners  outside
the  Union.

(˛)(cid:217)The  NIS  (Moldova,  Western  Russia,  Ukraine,  Belarus)  and
the  Mediterranean  partners  (Algeria,  Cyprus,  Egypt,  Israel,
Jordan,  Lebanon,  Malta,  Morocco, 
the  Palestinian
Authority,  Syria,  Tunisia,  Turkey)  may  also  be  associated
with  the  cooperation  networks  set  up  by  the  Union’s
partners  and  the  central  European  countries.  For  details  of
finance  for  these  partners,  see  the  Infopack.

13.6.98

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

C  183/27

-(cid:217)To  achieve  practical  results  in  regional  or  local  devel(cid:220)
opment  which  provide  examples  that  can  serve  as
pilot  schemes  for  the  spread  of  good  practice  in  the
region  in  question  or  in  neighbouring  regions.

4.(cid:217)Economic  development  of  the  cultural  heritage  of  the
regions  in  order  to  maintain  or  create  permanent  jobs.

-(cid:217)To  prepare  for  enlargement  by  strengthening  the
in
pre(cid:220)accession  strategies  of  the 
those
Central  Europe.  This 
concerned  about  Community  policies,  particularly
about  the  Structural  Funds.

local  authorities 
informing 

involves 

Areas  of  cooperation

The  following  four  areas  of  cooperation  have  been
selected:

1.(cid:217)Improving  the  working  methods  and  tools  of  local  or

regional  authorities:

-(cid:217)establishing 
strategies, 
enlargement(cid:216)(ˇ),

local 

or 
particularly 

regional 
in 

development
for

preparation 

The  cooperation  partners

The  main  partners  must  be 
in  the
European  Union  and  non(cid:220)member  countries  or  a  body
controlled  by  them  and  acting  on  their  instructions.

local  authorities 

One  of  the  principal  partners  belonging  to  the  CCE  or
the  Union  must  be  responsible  for  managing  Phare  and
ERDF  appropriations.

The  project 
leader  responsible  for  organising  coop(cid:220)
eration  must  be  either  the  principal  partner  responsible
for  managing  ERDF  appropriations  or  the  principal
partner  responsible  for  managing 
the  Phare  appro(cid:220)
priations.

Associate  partners  may  be  regional  or  local  authorities,
development  agencies,  chambers  of  commerce  and  other
bodies  undertaking  work  of  public 
interest,  and
economic  and  social  partners.

-(cid:217)improving  urban  and  rural  services,  particularly
the  organisation  of  transport  systems,  and  use  of
information  technology.

Cooperation  projects  should  cover  between  three  and  six
principal  partners  from  different  areas  in  at  least  two
least  one  area  in  a  central
Member  States,  with  at 
European  country(cid:216)(—).

2.(cid:217)Improving  support  services  for  the  modernisation  and

development  of  small  and  medium(cid:220)sized  firms:

-(cid:217)setting  up  support  services  for  the  modernisation
small  and  medium(cid:220)sized

and  development  of 
firms,

-(cid:217)women  entrepreneurs:  developing 

the  role  of

women  in  local  economic  life.

Half  of  the  principal  partners  from  the  Community  must
be  in  ERDF  areas  eligible  under  Objectives  1,  2,  5b  or  6.

However,  for 
local  authorities  choosing  to  establish
development  strategies  (area  1,  point  1)  the  maximum
number  of  principal  partners  is  four,  with  two  from  the
Union  and  one  or  two  from  Central  Europe  and/or
Cyprus.  One  of  the  partners  from  the  Union  must  be  in
an  Objective  1  region,  the  other  in  an  area  eligible  under
the  ERDF  (Objectives  1,  2,  5b  or  6).

3.(cid:217)Protecting  and  restoring  the  environment  with  a  view

to  sustainable  development:

An  active  and  balanced  partnership

-(cid:217)protecting,  enhancing  and  managing  nature,

-(cid:217)improving  pollution  control,  managing  and/or

recycling  solid  waste  and  waste  water,

-(cid:217)saving  energy  and  promoting  renewable  energy.

Past  experience  of  inter(cid:220)regional  cooperation  shows  that
the  cooperation  networks  which  achieve  the  best  results
combine  a  number  of  the  following  features:

-(cid:217)Establishment  by  the  principal  partners  of  an  active
associate  partnership  at  local  level  in  each  of  the

(ˇ) NB:  special  eligibility  conditions  for  Central  Europe  and

Cyprus.

(—)(cid:217)Partners  from  the  New  Independent  States  and  non(cid:220)member
Mediterranean  countries  may  also  be  associated  with
networks  set  up  by 
the  Union  and  central  European
partners.

C  183/28

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Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

13.6.98

areas:  all  the  public  and/or  private  bodies  which  have
responsibilities  and  interests  in  the  area  concerned
and  which  wish  to  participate  in  the  project.

-(cid:217)Learning  to  work  together  at  regional  and/or  local
level  and  an  increase  in  the  capacity  for  action  of
local  orgnisations  and  persons  engaged  in  economic
development.

-(cid:217)Establishment  of  a  dynamic 

inter(cid:220)regional  part(cid:220)
nership,  in  which  the  project  leader  is  responsible  for
stimulating  the  whole  of  the  network  and  coordi(cid:220)
nating  the  project  while  the  principal  partners  of  each
of  the  other  areas  participating  is  responsible  for
coordinating 
local  associate  partnership  and
carrying  out  the  work  which  constitutes  the  substance
of  the  cooperation  project.

the 

-(cid:217)Development  of  practical,  balanced 

inter(cid:220)regional
cooperation  based  on  the  organisation  of  work  which
is  genuinely  shared  at  both  local  and  inter(cid:220)regional
the
level,  producing  concrete  results 
acquisition  or  improvement  of  know(cid:220)how.

leading 

to 

Quality  project  management

-(cid:217)The  project 

is 

leader 

technically  and  financially
responsible  for  the  success  of  the  project  and  must
demonstrate  managerial  ability  to  coordinate  the
network  and  manage  the  project  itself.

-(cid:217)The  project  leader  must  set  up  a  steering  committee
representing  the  principal  partners  of  the  project.
This  Committee  will  have  territorial  and  political
responsibility  for  cooperation.  It  must  approve  the
composition  of  the  project  team  in  charge  of  the
technical  implementation  of  the  project  itself.

-(cid:217)The  project  leader  is  responsible  for  setting  up  a  team
in  which  each  partner  takes  an  active  part  on  the
basis  of  a  jointly  agreed,  clear  and  balanced  allo(cid:220)
cation  of  tasks.  It  must  set  up  a  clear  and  feasible
work  programme.

-(cid:217)The  cooperation  network  should  secure  the  expertise
it  needs  to  do  quality  work,  even  if  this  comes  from
areas  other  than  those  engaged  in  the  cooperation
project.

-(cid:217)There  should  be  periodic 

interim  assessments  to
ensure  that  the  resources  being  used  are  appropriate
to  the  objectives  set.

Expected  results

-(cid:217)The 

of 

introduction 

the
improvement  of  existing  methods  by  comparing
practice 
in  different  regions  facing  the  same  or
broadly  similar  problems.

new  methods 

or 

-(cid:217)The  development  of  action  strategies  and  feasibility
studies,  activities  and/or  achievements  which  are
useful  for  the  economic  and  social  development  of
the  areas  concerned.

Budget  and  timescale

Each  project  should  involve  Community  financing  within
a  range  from  ECU  200(cid:216)000  to  800(cid:216)000  under  the  ERDF,
and  ECU  100(cid:216)000  to  400(cid:216)000  under  Phare(cid:216)((cid:209)).

The  Community  contribution  could  amount  to  75(cid:216)%  of
regions  eligible  under
the 
eligible  expenditure 
Objectives  1  and  6,  50(cid:216)%  for  other  areas  of  the  Union
and  up  to  75(cid:216)%  for  central  European  partners(cid:216)((cid:210)).

in 

At  least  half  the  ERDF  contribution  should  go  to  areas
eligible  under  Objectives  1,  2,  5b  or  6  of  the  Structural
Funds.

Each  project  should  be  carried  out  in  no  more  than  three
years.

Main  selection  criteria

1.(cid:217)Partnership

-(cid:217)Local  partnerships:  diversity  and  complementary
nature  of  the  local  associate  partners,  the  extent  of
their  involvement,  the  quality  of  the  organisation
local  partnership,  the  number  of  those
of  the 
involved  at 
level  and  the  nature  of  the
benefits  they  can  derive.

local 

-(cid:217)Inter(cid:220)regional  partnerships:  the  principal  partners’
the

representativity, 

technical 

political 

and 

-(cid:217)Results  on  the  ground  which  provide  a  vehicle  for  the
exchange  of  experience  or  transfer  of  know(cid:220)how  and
which  can  also  have  a  demonstration  effect  for  the
region  and  neighbouring  regions.

((cid:209))(cid:217)For  information  on  financing  for  the  Mediterranean  partners

or  New  Independent  States,  see  the  Infopack.

((cid:210))(cid:217)For  information  on  financing  for  the  Mediterranean  partners

or  New  Independent  States,  see  the  Infopack.

13.6.98

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Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

C  183/29

balance  of  the  inter(cid:220)regional  partnership,  shared
motivation, 
the
steering  committee,  suitability  of  the  partnership
to  implement  the  joint  project.

inter(cid:220)regional  composition  of 

2.(cid:217)Involvement  of  actors  at  local  level:

-(cid:217)The 

to 

learning  and 

importance  given 

the
exchange  of  know(cid:220)how,  particularly  in  the  context
of  concrete  achievements  for  a  significant  number
of  bodies  and  individuals  involved  in  each  of  the
areas.

3.(cid:217)Organisation  of  the  network:

-(cid:217)Organisation  of  the  steering  committee:  active
that  are

local  authorities 

participation  of 
principal  partners  of  the  project.

the 

-(cid:217)Organisation  of 

team:  managerial
the  project 
ability  of  the  project  leader,  quality  of  the  local
teams  and  capacity  of 
local  coordinator,
composition  of  the  team.

the 

-(cid:217)Mode  of  operation  of  the  project  team  and
effective  working  methods,  including:  means  of
communication  inside  and  outside  the  network,
common  working  language.

-(cid:217)Management  capacity  of  the  body  responsible  for
financial

the  Community 

funds, 

managing 
management  arrangements.

4.(cid:217)Objectives/expected  results:

-(cid:217)Shared  objectives:  clearly  formulated  objectives
for  the  project,  credibility  of  objectives  in  relation
to  the  local  contexts,  concrete,  feasible  short(cid:220)term
objectives,  mutual  consistency  of  the  objectives,
appropriateness  of  the  project  to  the  objectives
pursued.

-(cid:217)Expected  results:  clearly  formulated,  qualified  and
quantified,  credible,  concrete  and 
feasible,  of
inter(cid:220)regional  and  local  interest  (at  both  network
and  project  level),  consistency  with  the  shared
objectives  and  the  means  mobilised.

-(cid:217)Impact/benefits  for  the  various  partners:  expected
impact/benefit  for  each  partner,  particularly  for
in  non(cid:220)member  countries:  quality,
the  partners 
credibility  and  consistency  with  the  programme
objectives;  dissemination  of  the  experience  gained
from  the  project.

5.(cid:217)Quality  of  the  work  programme:

-(cid:217)Planned  measures: 

likelihood  that  the  planned
measures  will  achieve  the  shared  objectives  of  the
project  and  bring  about  the  expected  results;
clearly  formulated  measures;  a  sufficient  number
of  suitable  local  and  inter(cid:220)regional  measures  to
meet  the  needs  of  the  project;  balance  between
local  and  inter(cid:220)regional  measures.

-(cid:217)Clarity  of  the  work  plan:  the  plan  should  indicate
for  each  measure  the  work  to  be  done,  the  role  of
inter(cid:220)regional  cooperation,  the  partners  involved,
the  beneficiaries,  the  expected  results;  organisation
of  shared  work,  a  clear  and  credible  allocation  of
tasks,  balance,  how  measures  complement  each
other,  their  appropriateness  in  view  of  the  shared
objectives;  timetable  for  implementation.

6.(cid:217)Budget  and  financial  commitments:

-(cid:217)The  adequacy  and  transparency  of  the  budget  in
terms  of  the  objectives,  work  programme  and
measures  to  be  implemented,  the  quality  of  the
the
explanations  of 
calculation  of  estimated  expenditure  by  heading
and  by  measure; 
inter(cid:220)regional  part(cid:220)financing
balanced  between  the  various  partners.

the  budget  headings  and 

-(cid:217)Consistency  between  the  official  commitments  of
the  partners  and  associates  and  their  contribution
to  the  budget.

Eligibility  criteria

Only  those  applications  will  be  evaluated  in  which  the
projects  meet  the  following  criteria:

1.(cid:217)Partnerhip:  partners  from  at  least  three  and  not  more
than  six  areas  in  at  least  two  Member  States  and  at
least  one  partner  country  in  Central  Europe  (Albania,
Bosnia(cid:220)Herzegovina,  Bulgaria,  the  Czech  Republic,
Estonia,  Former  Yugoslav  Republic  of  Macedonia,
Hungary,  Latvia,  Lithuania,  Poland,  Romania,
Slovakia,  Slovenia)(cid:216)((cid:211)).

However,  for  partners  from  Central  Europe  and
Cyprus  choosing  to  establish  development  strategies
(area  1,  point  1)  the  maximum  number  of  principal
partners  is  four,  with  two  from  the  Union  and  one  or
two  from  non(cid:220)member  countries.  The  compulsory

((cid:211))(cid:217)Mediterranean  partners  must  come  from  Algeria,  Cyprus,
Egypt,  Israel,  Jordan,  Lebanon,  Malta,  Morocco,  the  Pales(cid:220)
tinian  Authority,  Syria,  Tunisia,  Turkey.  Partners  from  the
New  Independent  States  must  come  from  Moldova,  Western
Russia,  Ukraine,  Belarus.

C  183/30

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13.6.98

partner  from  the  Union  must  come  from  an  area
eligible  under  Objective  1,  the  other  must  come  from
one  of  the  areas  eligible  under  the  Structural  Funds
(Objectives  1,  2,  5b  and  6).

2.(cid:217)At  least  half  the  Community  partners  must  come  from
areas  eligible  under  the  Structural  Funds  and  must
receive  at  least  half  of  the  ERDF  assistance  allocated
to  the  project.

9.(cid:217)Implementation  of  the  project:

-(cid:217)application 

forms  must  contain  an  exhaustive

description  of  the  project.

-(cid:217)all  the  financing  tables  supplied  in  the  information
pack  should  be 
included,  showing  the  bodies
which  intend  to  make  contributions  (principal  and
associate  partners)  with  their  letters  of  intent  to
this  effect.

3.(cid:217)The  principal  partner  that  is  project  leader  and  the
other  principal  partners  for  each  area  involved  must
have  signed  a  letter  of  commitment  in  accordance
with  the  specimen  in  the  Infopack,  indicating  the
amount  of  their  own  contribution.

Submission  of  applications

Proposals  for  pilot  projects  should  be  sent  to  the
Commission 
later  than
in  six  copies,  postmarked  no 
15  November  1998,  at  the  following  address.

4.(cid:217)If  where  a  principal  partner  does  not  have  the  status
of  a  local  authority,  the  local  authority  to  which  it  is
answerable  must  specify  how  it  controls  the  body  and
in
must  have 
accordance  with  the  specimen.  This  letter  sets  out  the
local  authority’s  undertaking  to  participate 
in  the
project’s  steering  committee.  The  local  authority  is
politically,  technically  and  financially  responsible  for
the  body  which  will  represent  it  in  the  project.

letter  of  authorisation 

signed  a 

European  Commission
DG  XVI.A.2  -  Regional  policy  and  cohesion
DG  I.A.B.  -  Foreign  affairs
External  inter(cid:220)regional  cooperation  projects
Building  CSM2  -  3/67
Rue  de  la  Loi/Wetstraat  200
B(cid:220)1049  Brussels.

The  Infopack/information  file

5.(cid:217)The  ERDF  funds  must  be  managed  by  a  principal
partner  from  the  Union,  the  Phare  funds  by  a
principal  partner  from  Central  Europe.

6.(cid:217)Community  financing  of  between  ECU  200(cid:216)000  and
800(cid:216)000  from  the  ERDF  and  ECU  100(cid:216)000  and
400(cid:216)000  under  Phare.

7.(cid:217)Only  bodies  that  contribute  to  the  part(cid:220)financing  of
the  project  can  be  reimbursed  as  associate  partners  for
their  work.  Bodies  which  are  remunerated  for  the
totality  of  their  work  should  be  regarded  as  service
providers.

8.(cid:217)Complete  files  based  on  the  official  application  forms,
in  six  copies  and  submitted  no  later  than  the  date
stated  below.

the  application 

Information  packs  containing 
forms,
together  with  the  procedures  and  eligibility  criteria  for
the  submission  of  projects  and  the  general  principles
governing  Community  assistance,  may  be  obtained  from
the  above  address  or  on  request  by 
((32(cid:220)2)
299(cid:216)56(cid:216)01)  citing  the  message  "DG  XVI(cid:220)DG  1A,  Ecos(cid:220)
Ouverture  1998  to  2001’  or  by  e(cid:220)mail  (ecos(cid:220)ouverture
-fmb.dg16.cec.be),  or  through  the  website:

fax 

www.inforegio.org

The  Infopacks  will  be  sent  as  from  15  June  1998.

Lastly,  between  22  and  24  June  1998,  a  partnership  grant
and  seminars  will  be  organised  by  the  Commission  in  a
central  European  country,  to  inform  local  authorities
interested 
the  Ecos(cid:220)
Ouverture  1998  to  2001  call  for  proposals  about  the
opportunities  offered  by  the  programme  and  to  increase
their  knowledge  so  that  they  can  participate  successfully
in  measures  for  external  inter(cid:220)regional  cooperation.

in  measures 

financed 

through