Baltic 21 Input to Chapter 6.3 Strategic Projects of the second draft of the BSR Interreg programme 2007-2013
Note by the Baltic 21 Secretariat Please see below the Baltic 21 suggested reformulation of Chapter 6.3 “Strategic Projects”. Also, enclosed in this document are four examples of possible strategic projects to be included in the BSR Interreg programme 2007-2013.
6.3 Strategic Projects For the first time, the new BSR INTERREG programme will fund a selected number of strategic projects. These projects will highlight the call for a new partnership between national / transnational and regional / local authorities and recognize the mutually beneficial interrelationship between the BSR INTERREG programme and the various pan Baltic organizations. Thus they are strongly footed within those pan Baltic organizations and support some of their initiatives, which have been identified as being of strategic importance in the coming years1 against the programme background for the development of the BSR as a model region not only within the European Union but on a global scale.
The stronger involvement of national authorities should not be understood as weakening of the role of regional/local authorities in the programme. On the contrary, it calls for a new partnership between national/transnational and regional/local authorities and organisations. In that partnership, national authorities take care of strengthening the strategic project character and its model solutions, while the regional/local authority develops the solutions on the ground. The term “think globally, act locally” is the main approach to be applied.
Whereas strategic projects will fulfill all given criteria as indicated under the following chapter 6.4, they will go beyond the scope of normal type of projects to be financed under each priority in the following way:
Strategic projects are initiatives which directly fit under the overarching strategic objective – to strengthen competitiveness of the BSR, its territorial cohesion and sustainable development. Whereas the strategic projects will also be strongly connected to the four priority themes, they have a more cross-sectoral nature and can cut across several priorities in order to emphasize territorial cohesion and the three pillars of sustainable development including economic, social and environmental aspect of cooperation.
Strategic projects feature strong linkages to overall EU policies and strategies as well as connect to global priorities. Hence, it is important to make the case that BSR is a sub-region of Europe but also a sub-region of the world. Strategic projects seek not only to have a region-wide impact but are also connected to global challenges such as climate change. The strategic projects suggested by Baltic 21 and other related pan-Baltic organizations are for instance strongly connected to the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (cycles of CSD), the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, obligations to be fulfilled under the Kyoto Protocol, the EU Environmental Technology Action Plan, the EU Biomass Action Plan and the EU Thematic Strategy on Urban Environment.
In all these cases, the strategic projects will support the development of comprehensive and coordinated approaches towards national policies and programmes to be designed in the coming years within the BSR countries as responses to EU and other global policies and strategies. They will prepare the ground for BSR wide coordinated national programmes using the opportunities created by the complementary – nationally distributed – EU structural and rural development funds in the most efficient way. Thus the strategic projects will path the way to develop the BSR into a model region on a global scale.
Among the key features of strategic projects is the strong involvement and commitment of the pan-Baltic organizations such as Baltic 21, BASREC, UBC, BSSSC and Helcom both in their design as well as their implementation. The partners of strategic projects will therefore mainly be the national authorities responsible for developing and implementing the responses to the EU and global policies.
Strategic projects will always feature policy development initiatives, which are then filled with life by concrete implementation steps “on the ground”. Thus it is anticipated that the strategic projects will not only result in policy documents approved and put into force by the respective authorities in the BSR countries, but will also form the basis for specific calls for regional project proposals within the scope of this BSR INTERREG programme. As such each strategic project is anticipated to outreach over the whole BSR INTERREG programme period, with the respective funding provisions.
The following set of strategic projects already identified within the period prior and during the consultation process provide a good example of this new partnership approach:2
Baltic Bio-Energy Promotion Envisaged Strategic Partner Framework: BASREC Bio-Energy Working Group, relevant Baltic 21 Sectors / Federal Ministries (Ministries of Environment, Ministries of Energy) of BSR countries
Key Background Policy: EU Biomass Action Plan
Complementary Funding Programmes: EU Structural and Rural Development Funds, IEE, Joint Implementation Schemes
Core Outcome: Biomass Action Programmes
Baltic 21 Sectors involved: Energy, Agriculture, Forestry, Industry, Spatial Planning
Key Features: Diffusion of Innovation; Rural Development; Land-Based Pollution of the Baltic Sea; Transport Reduction due to decentralized energy solutions
See Annex 1 for detailed project description.
Capacity Building for the Implementation of the UN Decade for ESD in the Baltic Sea Region Envisaged Strategic Partner Framework: Baltic 21 Education Sector and Ministries of Education of a majority of all BSR countries
Key Background Policy: UN Decade for Sustainable Education
Complementary Funding Programmes: National Sources; UNECE; UNESCO
Core Outcome: ESD Programmes / BSR ESD Quality Label
Baltic 21 Sectors involved: Energy, Agriculture, Forestry, Industry, Fishery, Tourism
Key Features: Societal Understanding and Public Participation; Competitive Cities and Rural Areas; the Baltic Sea as a common concern; ICT networks
See Annex 2 for detailed project description.
Innovation for Sustainable Development Envisaged Strategic Partner Framework: Baltic 21 Industry Sector, Ministries of Environment, Economics and/or Industry of a majority of BSR countries, Baltic 21 Institute for Sustainable Industry
Key Background Policy: EU Environmental Technology Action Plan, National ETAP Roadmaps
Complementary Funding Programmes: EU 7th Research Framework, LIFE, Cordis, IEE, Marco Polo, CIP
Core Outcome: Triple Helix Support Structures and Activities
Baltic 21 Sectors involved: Industry, Energy, Agriculture, Forestry
Key Features: Diffusion of Innovation; Competive Cities and Rural Areas; Innovative Solutions to Baltic Sea and Transport Issues
See Annex 3 for detailed project description.
Integrated Management for Urban-Rural Areas
Envisaged Strategic Partner Framework: Relevant Baltic 21 Sectors, Union of Baltic Cities, BSSSC, BLAF21
Key Background Policy: EU Thematic Strategy on Urban Environment, EU SDS, 6EAP, Agenda 2000, Aalborg Commitments
Complementary Funding Programmes: Structural and Rural Development funds, National Sources, UNEP, LIFE+, DG Environment
Core Outcome: Integrated Management Systems for Local and Rural Authorities
Baltic 21 Sectors involved: Transport, Spatial Planning, Energy, Agriculture, Forestry, Industry
Key Features: Competitive Cities and Rural Areas; Integrated Transport and ICT Solutions; Regional Clusters.
See Annex 4 for detailed project description. In summary it can be noted that a project is regarded strategic if it demonstrates the following features:
it fits directly into the overarching strategic objective of the BSR INTERREG programme and supports the development of the BSR into a model region of territorial cohesion and sustainable development – thereby strengthening its competitiveness on a global scale
it covers across the four priority themes, but is strongly connected to each of them
its geographical area or area of influence encompasses the whole BSR
it refers not to a single standing local or regional case but to a problem essential for the sustainable development of the whole BSR
it has evolved from within pan-Baltic organizations and features a strong involvement of their national and regional members
it therefore has a strong political backup at the national level, which takes responsibility for endorsement of the policy recommendations
it offers a BSR response to policy areas seen as being of strategic importance on an EU-wide or even global scale
it develops the framework for separate calls for projects to be implemented on regional and / or local level
it develops the framework for transnationally coordinated activities such as joint quality labels, joint implementation schemes, technology transfer initiatives
Strategic Partners Interested Partners: BASREC Bio-Energy Working Group, relevant Baltic 21 Sectors (Forest Sector, Agricultural Sector,Industry sector, Spatial Planning), Federal Ministries of Environment and/or Energy of BSR countries (e.g. German Ministry for Environment, the INTERREG BSR BalticBioMass Project and the INTERREG North Sea ProBioEnergy Project, other partners to be brought in at later stage.
Strategic Focus Key Background Policy: EU Biomass Action Plan
Complementary Programmes: EU Structural and Rural Development Funds, Joint Implementation Schemes
INTERREG Priority Features: Diffusion of Innovation; Rural Development; Land-Based Pollution of the Baltic Sea; Transport Reduction due to decentralized energy solutions
Project Background BSR Institutional Framework
BASREC, Baltic Sea Region Energy Co-operation, was established by the Ministers responsible for Energy in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russian Federation, Sweden and the EU Commission. The BASREC Working Group on Bioenergy was established in November 2002. The work is organised around the following four actions: 1) Capacity Building 2) Standards and Market Harmonisation 3) Joint Implementation – Bioenergy for climate projects 4) Research & Development.
Within the framework of the Agenda 21 for the Baltic Sea Region working groups with representatives from the relevant ministries from all BSR countries have been active since more than eight years in the agriculture, forest, industry, transport and spatial planning sector – all of which have expressed an interest in bringing their resources to the bio-energy topic as well and to cooperate with BASREC in this sphere.
EU Policy Framework
One of the main energy policy targets of the EU is to double the share of the Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in gross inland consumption, from 5.4 % in 1997 up to 12.0% by 2010.
Various legislative actions have been undertaken in order to facilitate this target by i.e. promoting renewable electricity generation or promoting biofuels for transport applications by replacing diesel and petrol.
Nevertheless the Communication on “The share of renewable energy in the EU” (COM(2004) 366 final) concluded that further efforts – in particular in the biomass sector – are needed in order to achieve the above policy objective. If both targets for RES-e and biofuels market penetration– are achieved, it will lead to a 10% general share of renewable energy in the EU. However, under current trends only 18-19% of the RES-E target will be achieved. Additional biomass production can only be achieved in the short term with strong and targeted measures and actions in all three sectors (electricity, heat, and biofuels for transport) and a better coordination of EU policies. For this purpose a “Community Biomass Action Plan” (COMM(2005)628) has been published in December 2005.
Within this document the EU encourages the development of “National Biomass Action Plans”, which should:
Assess the physical and economic availability of biomass of different kinds, including wood and wood residues, wastes, agricultural crops
Identify priorities for how biomass resources can be developed
Indicate measures that will be taken at national level to promote this
Linking them to consumer information campaigns on benefits of biomass
Specific BSR context The Baltic Sea region is characterised by vast forest resources, in particular in NW Russia. At the same time forests are the main sources for solid biofuels. Another source is the agricultural sector land where straw and other residues can be used for energy production. Also large potential exists for increased use of biogas, sewage and landfill gas.
At the current stage, however, these potentials are not fully exploited so far – especially in the E-BSR countries. Whereas for instance the well developed district heating systems in the Nordic countries are already based on bioenergy, the heating systems of the E-BSR countries are mainly based on fossil fuels.
A further advantage of the BSR lies in its large source of highly skilled energy specialists and innovative companies also throughout the countries with less biomass resources themselves (i.e. Germany/Denmark). The practical application of this know-how is, however, also lagging behind.
Especially the new EU member states throughout the E-BSR have now increased financing opportunities for promoting increased use of biomass within the EU structural and cohesion funds (i.e. these funds can support retraining of farmers, provision of equipment for biomass producers, investment in facilities to produce biofuels, etc.). The Commission encourages the member states to ensure that the benefits of biomass are taken into account when preparing their National Strategic Reference Frameworks and operational programmes under the cohesion and rural development policy. Furthermore increased funding opportunities exist via “joint implementation” projects under facilities like NEFCO.
Main Project Objective It can be concluded that an overwhelming number of good arguments exist for BSR countries to promote the increased use of bioenergy throughout the region. And that these arguments are also supported and underlined by corresponding networks, EU policy documents and financing opportunities outside the range of the INTERREG BSR programme.
What is needed to get the “ball roling” is a coordinated regional approach marked by National Strategies, which clearly show the expected potential and target for the use of each bio-energy source and use; align the national programmes towards those targets; create the resources and capacities to promote and facilitate practical implementation and establish regionally coordinated standards.
The INTERREG BSR programme can, however, play a decisive role in supporting the BSR countries by preparing such National Biomass Action Plans as called for by the Commission and by facilitating a coordinated exchange of information and experience throughout the BSR via the BASREC and Baltic 21 network in this area to develop it into a model area on bioenergy production.
Thus the ultimate objective of this strategic project is to contribute to the 2010 EU 12% target, foster regional and social development throughout the BSR by offering new economic opportunities in an environmental sound manner esp to rural areas and promote applications of new technology in this sphere esp also in E-BSR countries through the development of “National Biomass Action Plans”, within a BSR wide coordinated context and by supporting national and BSR wide joint pilot activities in awareness raising, capacity building, financing, technology transfer and implementation:
Assess the physical and economic availability of biomass of different kinds, including wood and wood residues, wastes, agricultural crops
Identify priorities for types of biomass to be used
Identify priorities for how biomass resources can be developed
Indicate measures that will be taken at national level to promote this
Linking them to consumer information campaigns on benefits of biomass
Main Project Activity Lines BSR Networking
Policy Level = BSR wide networking and exchange of experience among involved Ministries of Energy within BASREC and other involved Ministries from Forest, Agriculture, Spatial Planning, Transport and Industry within Baltic 21 – on development of National Biomass Action Plans.
Cross-sectoral meetings between BASREC and Baltic 21 sector groups as well as between BASREC bio-energy and joint implementation group.
Project Level = Integration of experience from former INTERREG projects (ProBioEnergy, BalticBiomassNetwork, etc.) into network forums.
Stakeholder Level = Bringing together bioenergy producters, users and manufacturers of equipment, local consultants, project developers, project owners and public authorities
Database Promotion = Further update of “BASREC Bio-Energy Database” – and promotion of USE of database
Development of National BioMass Action Plans
Assessment of the physical and economic availability of biomass of different kinds, including wood and wood residues, wastes, agricultural crops
Identification of priorities for types of biomass to be used
Identification of priorities for how biomass resources can be developed
Indication of measures that will be taken at national level to promote this
Renewables are domestic resources in each country; thus their deployment would reduce the dependence of the EU on energy imports and improve the security of supply. In addition, the use of renewable energy resources will contribute to new income sources and job creation in rural areas throughout the BSR especially among SMEs and the agriculture and forest sector. It therefore greatly contributes to rural / regional development).
Priority 1: Innovations
By applying new technological solutions esp. in Eastern BSR countries bio-energy production is estimated to be competitive in the market. In its biomass action plan the Commission stresses the benefits to be expected from extending the EU technological leadership in this sector. At the same time – it should be stressed that the project will mainly support innovation by creating the platforms for its diffusion across the BSR, thus following the aim of INTERREG not to support basic research as such: financing sources for innovative applications are available, but require the pooling of many small players and awareness raising among them on the opportunities available to them (Priority 1c: Innovation).
Priority 3: Baltic Sea
Esp. by applying biogas solutions within rural areas throughout Eastern BSR a substantial reduction of harmful emissions from agriculture production to the Baltic Sea itself (leading to eutrophication) could be achieved.
Priority 2: Accessibility
With focus on regional energy solutions (in contrast to the other decentralised energy supply options) a contribution to the reduction of transport within the BSR could be achieved, while at the same time promoting the increased use of transport bio-fuel throughout the BSR.
ANNEX 2
Strategic Project 2: Capacity Building for the Implementation of the UN Decade for ESD in the Baltic Sea Region
Strategic Partners Interested Partners:: Baltic 21 Education Sector together with the
BSR National Coordinators of the UN Decade for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) (situated within the Ministries of Education = members of the Baltic 21 Education Sector) with the additional involvement of other Baltic 21 members, other additional partners to be brought in at later stage.
Strategic Focus Key Background Policy: UN Decade for Education for Sustainable Development
Complementary Programmes: National Sources, UNECE, UNESCO
Core Outcome: ESD Programmes / BSR ESD Best Practices and Innovations
INTERREG Priority Features: Societal Understanding and Public Participation; Competitive Cities and Rural Areas; the Baltic Sea as a common concern; ICT networks
Project Background BSR Institutional Framework
In March 2000, the Ministers of Education from the Baltic Sea Region agreed to enter Education as an additional sector of crucial importance for sustainable development in the region. As a result of this decision the “Agenda 21 for Education in the Baltic Sea region – Baltic 21 E” was adopted by the CBSS Ministers of Education in January 2002.
The Action Programme foresees the following activities:
Policies and strategies - includes the development of education of sustainable development guidelines and promotion of international co-operation for curricula, program and course development at all levels of education;
Competence development within the education sector including actions to increase the awareness of sustainable development issues among officials, principals and staff, to support co-operation in BSR between educators, researchers and practitioners to promote knowledge and skills in education for sustainable development;
Continuing education which include sustainability related knowledge and skills;
Teaching and learning resources such as stimulate the production of education for sustainable development material for schools, higher education and training;
Research on and development of education for sustainable development as well as stimulate the dissemination of results of research on issues concerning.
UN / EU / BSR Policy Framework
On December 2002, resolution 57/254 on the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly and UNESCO was designated as lead agency for the promotion of the Decade.
In the following the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe took up the challenge. During the “Environment for Europe” Conference in Kiev ministers gave the green light to draw up a regional Strategy for Education for Sustainable Development. Less than two years later the UNECE Strategy for Education for Sustainable Development was adopted in Vilnius, March 2005, by high-level representatives of Environment and Educational Ministries throughout Europe. This strategy is closely linked to the Baltic 21 E Agenda, which formed the basis for the UNECE Vilnius Strategy.
The implementation of the strategy is a continuous, long-term process, which is divided into three major phases:
Phase 1 (until 2007): review of current policies, legal and operational frameworks, financial mechanisms and educational activities – with corresponding identification of obstacles and gaps and related priorities for further action to overcome weaknesses. Preparation of national implementation plans.
Phase 2 (until 2010): implementation of the strategy; countries review progress made in implementation of their national strategies and revision of them, if necessary
Phase 3 (until 2015): countries should have made considerable progress in implementing education for sustainable development.
The strategic project is also very much in line with the EU Lisbon Strategy, newly adopted EU Sustainable Development Strategy and other relevant EU policy papers.
Specific BSR context As can be seen from the close linkage between the work of the Baltic 21 Education Sector and the UN Decade and UNECE Vilnius Strategy, the Baltic Sea region is one of the forerunners in realising innovative methods in education at all levels.
This is also evidenced by such initiatives like the “UNESCO Baltic Sea project”, which is already running for more than 15 years, and gives a selected number of teachers and students in this region the opportunity to carry out joint activities based on their common cause to save the Baltic Sea. Another example is the Baltic University programme which in the same time period (1991 until today) has developed courses on SD for universities in the BSR (i.e. INTERREG BSR BUUF and SUPERBS). Also the German approach towards realizing the UN Decade provides an interesting showcase: among its special features are the creation of a national committee – including 30 experts from various ministries, regions, NGOs, media, business and science – and the introduction of a “quality label” for official projects of the UN-Decade. Already by now more than 200 successful and innovative projects have received this label.
While the Baltic Sea Region – and within it Baltic 21 – can play an important role at global level as a good example of regional cooperation, it has to be noted that there is still a need of more constructive synergy and in-depth exchange of information and experiences between the various levels. Whereas differences in local context and priorities have to be taken into account, large “saving” potential exists by implementing numerous activities in the Baltic Sea region on a common basis.
Main Project Objective Strengthening cooperation on ESD at all levels and between all stakeholders is one of the basic objectives of all named strategies.
Thus the ultimate objective of the project is to use the already existing potential of transnational cooperation within the Baltic Sea Region to develop it into a showcase of good practice on ESD within Europe (i.e. UNECE Strategy) as well as world-wide (UN Decade) – and thereby positively contribute to the development of the region.
Whereas some common frameworks exist (UNESCO – worldwide / UNECE – Europe / Baltic 21E – BSR), which provide meeting platforms for the national coordinators, it has to be noted that there is a clear funding gap to provide for an in-depth exchange of experience among the working level, realisation of joint activities such as curricula and course development, best practice labeling, a joint internet portal and especially facilitating activities on local and regional level. Especially in the countries of the E-BSR this is one of the major obstacles in order to further develop and implement high-quality and innovative content and methods to realise the aims of the UNECE Vilnius and Baltic 21E strategies.
Main Project Activity Lines National Networking The overall aim is to increase the visibility and facilitate implementation of ESD within the each BSR country by giving support to each national coordinator for the UN decade on realising the activities as defined in their national plans
Policy Level = Creation and support to National Round tables bringing together the various stakeholders involved in the UN Decade
Working Group Level = Creation and support to various working group levels dealing with the UN Decade within each country: i.e. School, Elementary Level, Professional Training, Universities (Research, Science), Informal Learning, Consumption
Project Level = Exchange of experience among existing and planned project coordinators; transfer of best practice to other level, sectors, players, regions
BSR Networking The overall aim of the various networking activities is to exchange experience, create a common understanding and develop joint approaches and activities (where useful) on BSR wide level.
Policy Level = BSR wide networking and exchange of experience among involved Ministries of Education and Environment as well as other involved high-level bodies within the framework of the Baltic 21 Education Sector on the ways of how the UN Decade is implemented within each country
Working Group Level = BSR wide networking and exchange of experience among the various working group levels dealing with the UN Decade within each country: i.e. School, Elementary Level, Professional Training, Universities (Research, Science), Informal Learning, Consumption
Cross-sectoral meetings = Integration of Know-How from other Baltic 21 players into Baltic 21 Education Initiative (various sectors, Coalition Clean Baltic, UBC, BSSSC, BLAF21, BUP, etc.)
Project Level = Integration of experience from existing projects (i.e. Baltic Sea Project, German UN Decade Working Groups, BSR Eagle, BUUF, MBA Distance Learning Programme: Sustajnability Management, Forest in School) into network forums
Joint Development of Educational Material with local adaptation
Identification of existing educational material and assessment of potential for BSR wide application
Identification of themes/topics for new educational material to be developed on common basis
Identification and agreement of possible best practice cases to be transferred to other areas (i.e. BSP, Forest to School, etc.)
Joint contracting of curricula / course development
Local adaptations of material
Support to dissemination
ESD Best Practice
Collection of ESD Best Practice on national level (based on exchange of experience with countries already implementing such scheme)
Establishment of national selection committee
Publication of Best Practice projects on national and BSR wide web-portal
Realization of Best Practice Transfer Exchange Workshops on National and BSR wide level
Pilot Activities / Implementations on Joint BSR Projects
The strategic project should contribute to the development of implementation projects on local, regional, national and transnational level to be financed from various sources including the INTERREG BSR programme
Recommendations
Continuous contributions to development of further UN / EU / national policy papers, legislation and programmes
Linkage to Interreg Priorities Priority 1: Innovations
Education for Sustainable Development implies inter-sectoral cooperation and integrative learning with regard to natural sciences, social sciences, economics and culture with a demographic approach and using integrative, process-oriented and participatory learning methods. ESD targets different ages of peoples with different positions in life. By connecting all levels and stakeholders involved in the UN Decade throughout the BSR, developing joint material and introducing an ESD quality label in each country – the project will provide a key platform for facilitating networking and exchange of best practices on education and other policies, which provide the ground for an innovation environment.
Priority 4: Competitive Regions
By supporting a comprehensive and coordinated approach of all BSR countries within the UN Decade and facilitating joint activities in this sphere, the project is at the core of offering strategic support for an integrated BSR development and socio-economic and territorial cohesion.
Priority 3: Baltic Sea
The UNESCO “Baltic Sea Project” shows that “saving the Baltic Sea” as a common cause provides an excellent basis for realising joint activities for teachers and students of schools around the Baltic Sea Region, where programmes have been developed around such themes like water quality, rivers, coast watch, air quality, phenological studies and bird ecology. Whereas the current project will build on this best practice example, it should be noted that the BSP resources and actual scope of people reached is very limited. Thus efforts will be undertaken in the framework of this INTERREG strategic project to use the BSP sample at a much broader scope with focus on issues which involve cooperation between different actors and stakeholders in society where new capacity development is needed.
Priority 2: Accessibility
As could be shown in the BSP project mentioned above, joint BSR wide ESD projects can be structured around common issues such as the Baltic Sea. The implications of increased transport, new mobility cultures, new transport, planning and regional solutions, etc. are part of an ESD programme. Especially projects around “sustainable consumption and production” patterns link into this theme and thus support the enhancement of efforts under this priority.
