1. What is the South Baltic Cross-border Cooperation Programme?

In formal terms the South Baltic Cross-border Cooperation Programme is the so called multilateral cross-border cooperation programme created on the maritime border between the southern Baltic Sea regions. In practical terms the South Baltic Programme is a completely new cooperation area where cross-border cooperation structures have not been set at a full scale yet.

The overall objective of the South Baltic (SB) Programme, which is the new initiative implemented within the framework of the European Territorial Cooperation objective, is to strengthen the sustainable development of the South Baltic area through joint actions increasing its competitiveness and enhancing integration among people and institutions.

The Programme is characterized by the following specific features:

• Promoting both bilateral and multilateral cooperation;
• Focus on co-operation over sea rather than over land borders;
• Unusual fields of cooperation;
• Cultivating the "cross-border cooperation heritage" in the South Baltic area;
• Fostering cooperation between regions;
• Being close to beneficiaries;
• Welcoming small, but well developed projects;
• Soft outcomes, exchange and networking as values in itself.
  

2. What is the eligible co-operation area in the South Baltic Cross-border Cooperation Programme?

The South Baltic Programme covers the coastal territory of five EU Members States, and specifically - the following NUTS III units:

Member State	Core area	Adjacent area (according to the '20% eligibility rule')
Denmark	Regional Municipality of Bornholm	Zealand sub-region
Lithuania	Klaipeda County	Taurage and Telsiai Counties
Germany	sub-regions of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: Greiswald, Rostock, Stralsund, Wismar, Bad Dobera, Nordvorpommern, Norwestmecklenburg, Ostvorpommern, Rügen, Uecker-Randow
Poland	Szczecinski, Koszalinski, Slupski, Gdanski, Gdansk-Gdynia-Sopot sub-region	Elblaski sub-region
Sweden	Kalmar, Blekinge, Skane Counties	Kronober County

Some areas listed above are eligible in the Programme under the so-called 20% eligibility rule. This means in practice that the Programme may report costs related to the activities incurred on the territory of these areas to the limit of 20% of the ERDF budget. In the SB it is assumed that all costs paid by a partner located in the adjacent area are subject to the 20% eligibility rule (so-called "location of partner principle").

Organisations from outside the EU cannot get direct support from the SB Programme. They are not eligible for ERDF co-financing and can therefore not become partners in SB projects. However, eligible project partners from the EU can cover expenditures related to the involvement of regions and organisation from outside the European Union in a project from their ERDF budget. With this regard, cooperation with organisations from Kaliningrad region is especially considered to be highly valuable for the Programme. The prerequisite for the eligibility of those costs is, however, that involvement of regions and organisations from outside the EU are essential to reach the project objectives and it is clearly demonstrated that they are for the benefit of the EU territory and Programme area. Costs related to Programme activities carried out outside the European Union are limited to 10% of the ERDF budget of the South Baltic Programme (the so called 10% eligibility rule).

The 10% and 20% eligibility rules are monitored at Programme level. Projects are allowed to use funds that are subject to the rule only if the limit of 10% / 20% of total ERDF allocation at Programme level is not reached.

As the outcome of the first call for proposals of the Programme, the limit of  20% has been untouched. As regards the 10% rule, contracted projects already spent 28.003,00 EUR on 10% rule. 6.045.562,90 EUR is still available for 10% spending. 


3. What are the topics addressed by Programme?

The Programme consists of two Priority Axis:
I. Economic competitiveness
1.1. Entrepreneurial development
1.2. Integration of higher education and labour markets
1.3. Transport accessibility
II. Attractiveness and common identity
2.1. Management of the Baltic Sea environment
2.2. Energy saving and renewable energy
2.3. Sustainable use of natural and cultural heritage for regional development
2.4. Local community initiatives
For detailed information please see Programme Manual, Chapter 2.


4. How much money is available?

The Programme is co-financed by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The European Union contribution to the SB programme is 60 735 659 EUR. Total budget of the Programme is 75 342 210 EUR. As the result of the first call for proposals, 4 projects were approved amounting to more than 4,5 million EUR (ERDF). 

5. How is the Programme managed?

A joint Steering Committee comprising representatives of all participating countries selects projects and makes funding decisions. A joint Monitoring Committee oversees the use of ERDF funds. A Joint Programme Technical Secretariat, located in Gdansk (Poland) is responsible for the day to day Programme management, and acts as the main contact point. The Polish Ministry of Regional Development, acting as the Managing Authority, manages the ERDF funds. Regional contact Points (CPs),  established in participating regions in Sweden (the regions of Skane, Blekinge, Kalmar, Kronoberg), Germany (the region of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern), Lithuania (the region of Klaipeda) and Denmark (the regions of Bornholm and Zealand),  participate in the project generation process, promote the Programme, provide information to potential beneficiaries (including information on procedures and rules concerning control of expenditures) and may also assist the JTS  in the assessment of submitted applications. On Polish side there are also the Marshall offices of Voivodeships: Pomorskie, Zachodniopomorskie and Warmińsko – Mazurskie, that acts as regional info points for beneficiaries. Contacts of related authorities can be found at Contacts  and Links


6. What is the general rate of the co-financing?

The co-financing rate from ERDF for Polish, Lithuanian, and German partners will be maximum at 85% level. Swedish and  Danish partners can receive from the ERDF  up to 75% of the eligible expenditure as a refund of the incurred costs.


7. Who can apply for funding from the South Baltic Cross-border Cooperation Programme?

Potential beneficiaries of the Programme are: 

• national, regional or local authorities as well as their associations
•  non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
• schools, universities, other educational organisations and centres
• research and development institutions
• entrepreneurship and innovation development support structures, like business incubators, chambers of commerce
• other public institutions supporting and promoting sustainable development

For more information please consult the Programme Manual, Chapter 4.   


8. How many partners have to be involved in the project?

The minimum project partnership in the South Baltic Programme consists of two partners from two different Member States involved in the Programme. Nonetheless, projects are encouraged to create larger partnerships, covering broader geographical areas and grouping adequate institutions for solving the problems tackled upon by a project. In such a partnership, all partners and associated organisations shall cooperate on equal terms.


9. How many calls for project applications were launched/will be launched?

The calls in the South Baltic Programme are going to be open for activities of both priority axes. However, it is possible that in later stages of the Programme implementation the Monitoring Committee  would decide on organizing a target call for relevant priority axis or measures.

The first call for proposals of the South Baltic Programme was held from 26 March 2008 till 30 April 2008. The second call for proposals of the South Baltic Programme was opened on 20 October and 2008 will be closed on 9 January 2009. The third call for proposals is planned from 15 July 2009 to 30 September 2009. The updated information regarding this call will be published on the Programme website www.southbaltic.eu 


10. When and where information on the application procedure be found?
Information regarding the opening of call for proposals and all related documents can be found at www.southbaltic.eu 

11. How long can a project last?

A project must have a limited lifetime. The project activities shall be completed, objectives met and expected results achieved within the specified duration. The general recommendation for projects in the South Baltic Programme is that their implementation period should last between 24 and 36 months.

12. What are the responsibilities of a Lead Beneficiary?

Among all partners involved in a project, one of them takes the overall responsibility for the project implementation. This is the main role of the Lead Beneficiary who takes full administrative and financial responsibility for the project. The Lead Beneficiary agrees with the other project partners upon preparation of a project on the division of tasks and responsibilities. Such information shall be included in the application form. Only an authorised person representing the organisation of the Lead Beneficiary can sign the project application. The Lead Beneficiary is obliged to sign partnership agreements with the other project partners in order to define the division of labour and financial obligations. For more information please check the Programme Manual, Chapter 4.1.


13. Can one organisation presents to projects for the Programme acting as Lead Beneficiary?

Formally, one institution can act as Lead Beneficiary for two projects in the South Baltic Programme. However, one is advised to consider carefully the capabilities of an institution before taking a decision.

For any further questions please contact the Joint Technical Secretariat of the South Baltic Programme southbaltic@southbaltic.eu


14. Do I have to translate feasibility study and/or financial analysis, status of my institution?

When submitting the Application Form to the JTS it is not necessary to provide the English version of the feasibility study and/or financial analysis, status of the institution. However, during the assessment procedure the JTS can contact the lead applicant (lead beneficiary) in order to ask for the relevant information in English. Moreover, in case the project is approved for co-financing by the decision of the Steering Committee, the English translation of these documents will be necessary for signing the Subsidy Contract.

15. What is meant by technical documentation?

Technical documentation is documentation showing how the investment will be completed from technical point of view. For erecting a building e.g. a technical plan of its construction done by an architect will be needed. For some investments, e.g. a new computer in a tourist info point there is no need for any technical documentation.

The beneficiaries are strongly recommended to consult their national law to see what documents are necessary for the planned investment.


16. Who will be the owner of the project results after the project closure (e.g. the exhibition)?

Such issues should be regulated in the Partnership Agreement. The general rule is that results will belong to the project partners but they should be kept unchanged for five years after the project closure. Therefore, for example an exhibition should remain available five years after project closure in the project partners’ disposal. Please, see the paragraph on sustainability of the project in the Programme Manual (any substantial modification, particularly concerning project nature, implementation conditions, revenues not stated in the application form, resulting in the nature of the ownership of project outputs or cessation of a productive activity, within 5 years from the project finalization must be avoided).

17. Who can act as a 1st level controller in the South Baltic Programme?

The 1st level control systems vary among the countries that participate in the SB programme. Some countries have set up so-called “centralized systems”, in which only a specific body designated by the government is entitled to certify the expenditures of the project partner. Others have chosen “decentralized systems”, in which the project partners can choose e.g. private audit companies for this task.  It must be underlined that not all companies may be chosen. As a general rule, no internal controllers can be appointed for the certification of the expenditure, unless specific national regulation state differently. However, the chosen controller must be independent on the project, project activities and without private prejudice to the project owner.

More concrete information on who can act as 1st level controller in the individual countries can be found on pp. 84/85 of the programme manual. It is furthermore recommended to contact the JTS, relevant Contact Point or the MA before choosing the FLC in countries with a decentralised system for further advice on national specifics.

18. It is stated in the manual that the 1st level controller has to be independent from the organization that is a project partner. Does this mean in the case of Poland, where 1st level control is done by the Voivodship administration, that Voivodship administrations and their inferior administrations (e.g. example to be added later) cannot act as project partners?

No. Polish Voivodship administrations and their inferior administrations can act as project partners in SB Programme projects. In this case, the 1st level controller and the project partner can be part of the same organization. The independence of the controllers are ensured as they are located in strictly separated organizational units, which do not take part in any project implementation


Source: www.southbaltic.eu