The story so far

INTERREG IVB North-West Europe Programme Overview 2007-2010

Do you have EU2020 vision?

ma
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executive summary
This publication showcases the work currently underway across the IVB North-West Europe cooperation area. It offers an insight into what is being achieved at a half way point in the 2007-2013 programming period. Since its first call for proposals in late 2007 the INTERREG IVB NWE Programme has, in the last 3 years and 6 calls, allocated over EUR 178 million of European Regional Development Funds (ERDF), which is serving as co-financing for 49 projects aimed at enhancing sustainable development across north-West europe. These funds were matched by project partners, raising the current nWe project portfolio to a hefty eur 371 million. Strong and diverse partnerships from across seven member states plus switzerland and beyond (Italy and Denmark) have taken up the challenge of tackling transnational territorial development issues head on, concentrating their efforts in four priority areas: Capitalising on Innovation, Managing Natural Resources and Risks, Improving Connectivity and Strengthening Communities. The NWE Programme is providing opportunities for the transnational cooperation of public authorities from the national, regional and local levels, private sector firms, universities and research institutes, communities and NGOs to find innovative ways to make the most of their territorial assets and tackle shared challenges. NWE projects are about experimenting and transferring knowledge through a series of joint actions and investments. They are helping speed up the local implementation of EU Directives by investigating ways to best transpose them. Though it is still early days for some of the projects, tangible results are already proving the benefits of transnational cooperation, testament to the invaluable political and financial support provided. The iVb nWe Programme continues to take forward the long-term vision set out in previous programming periods. It is looking to the next decade, its sights fixed on EU 2020 and the political visions for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The brochure highlights 14 projects organised in six themes, to provide evidence of how exactly the Programmes projects are contributing to the Europes Cohesion Policy with the aim of making Europes northwest corner the smartest, most sustainable and inclusive corner possible.

contents
A Quick Hello / About this Publication Contributing to Europe 2020 The story so far Six themes for success The projects (Part One) Theme 1: Reducing energy use and the human footprint Theme 2: Bringing innovation to small and medium-sized business Theme 3: Managing waste to protect water and soil Were you sustaining attention? The projects (Part Two) Theme 4: Keeping an ageing population healthy, active and involved Theme 5: Adapting nature planning to tackle climate change Theme 6: Promoting intelligent solutions for passenger and freight transport How smart are you? To be continuedbut mind the gap! Glossary Answers and Useful Links Project websites Acknowledgements 22-25 26-27 28-29 31 32-33 34-35 36 37 38 12-13 14-15 16-19 20 6 7 8-9 10-11

Hows your eyesight? could you read the opticians test card even the last line?

A Quick Hello
Dear Reader, Showing what Europe is doing to secure social, economic and territorial cohesion can sometimes be a challenge all the more so when we are talking about the smallest (at least financially speaking) of the three Objectives that make up the EUs cohesion policy: European Territorial Cooperation, or INTERREG as it is still often called. Nonetheless, great things can still be achieved, as this brochure demonstrates. Territorial Cooperation aims at improving peoples dayto-day lives by carrying out actions to address territorial problems that do not necessarily recognise national borders. This sounds very nice, but what does it mean? It means that joint initiatives can lead to improved governance; improved accessibility; improved environment through lower emissions; improved adaptation to unavoidable changes in climate; speeded up job creation... In short: things people will notice. But what is so special that we need a specific approach to co-operate on these matters? Well, we are convinced of the added value of doing things together. We can avoid duplication, we can speed up developments, we can do things more cheaply and with a greater impact. Above all, we can address issues at the territorial level where they occur; dealing with issues that matter most. The interreG iVb north-West europe Programme has a standard to uphold. In the ex-post evaluation of the last programming period of all 79 INTERREG Programmes, NWE was rated as the one having achieved the most in-depth cooperation. This certainly creates expectations for the current period. Therefore I am happy to see that the Programme is already giving you a first insight into the results. And I am particularly pleased by the way NWE has chosen to show the results against the background of the new Europe 2020 Strategy. Europe 2020 will be the framework for all cohesion policy actions in the future and starting to take account of the Strategy in advance can only be an advantage. Happy reading! Dr Dirk Ahner, European Commission Director-General Regional Policy

About this Publication

The aim of this brochure is to take stock, to stand back and glance at just some of the transnational cooperation currently underway. The brochure does not contain an official mid-term evaluation - its more an informal look at action on the ground, meant to provide a flavour of the types of projects being carried out. It offers a showcase of EU Cohesion Policy in practice. In these 40 pages we give a brief insight into whats being done at present across the four priority areas of the IVB NWE Programme. What are INTERREG projects currently up to in the programming period 2007-13? How is the Programme doing with its 355 million Euros of ERDF? Who is currently engaged in sustainable territorial development across North-West Europe? Why is INTERREG an essential tool for securing Europes ambitions and long-term vision for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in line with EU2020 goals? The best way to respond to these key questions is by letting project results speak for themselves. Well tell you about 14 projects across six key thematic areas of activity, which bring together 118 partners in total. This is of course just a selection of the 49 projects approved so far. Its just a taster! All these projects are up and running as we speak, their diverse, cross-sectoral partnerships fervently working away to complete their projects on schedule, as planned, and by 2015. Of course, most have not yet embarked on the larger action and investments planned. The early days of getting projects off the ground involves a lot of meeting, coordinating, planning, assessing and hammering out of fine details. Most projects still have a long way to go. Well impress you with their ambitious investments in a couple of years, but for now we wanted to take this opportunity to tell you a little about their initial successes, and project partners experience of transnational cooperation across the four Programme priorities so far.

INTRODUCTION

Contributing to Europe 2020

in a nutshell
The EU is a significant player on the global scale. Over the last two years, faced by the worlds worst economic crisis since the 1930s, much of the progress achieved in Europe has been reversed. It is confronted with high levels of unemployment, sluggish structural growth and excessive levels of debt. The economic situation is improving, but the recovery is still fragile. At the same time, the world is moving fast and longterm challenges persist globalisation, pressure on resources, climate change, ageing Europe needs to be proactive and resourceful. It needs to join forces and act collectively in order to succeed. The Europe 2020 strategy put forward by the European Commission sets out a vision of Europes social market economy for the 21st century. It shows how the EU can come out stronger from the crisis and how it can be turned into a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy delivering high levels of employment, productivity and social cohesion.

interreG iVb north-West europe is making the most of its assets to achieve balanced long-term growth
The NWE cooperation area consists of 8 countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, UK and Switzerland. It covers around 20% of the total EU27 land area but is home to more than 182 million people, so almost 40% of the EU27 population. It is largely urban and densely populated with 75% of the population living in built-up areas. At the same time, there are highly valued sparsely populated rural and coastal areas. The NWE area includes some of the most prosperous regions in Europe and a number of world class centres of financial command and academic excellence. Its territorial specificities are thus its strong economy, the high density of its population and transport flows (and their associated pressures) as well as its scenic peripheries. There are nevertheless significant gaps in levels of economic performance and environmental quality. The territorial make-up of NWE is marked by contrasts: an urban core enjoying relatively good provisions of ICT and the influx of young, talented professionals, while the sparsely populated peripheral areas continue to suffer from depopulation and unsatisfactory public transport. It is precisely this marked diversity in the socio-economicenvironmental landscape that is identified as NWEs main asset, and a vital ingredient in securing the attained economic growth and prosperity.
The NWE Programme looks for ways to best utilise its regional assets and know-how in building complimentary partnerships. Through the 4 thematic priorities, projects are asked to adhere to the fundamental principle of long-term, sustainable solutions for growth. In its own way, INTERREG IVB NWE is already contributing to the EU 2020 vision. In fact, transnational cooperation projects are working to identify attractive, practical and costeffective ways of achieving smart, sustainable and inclusive growth by experimenting and innovating, trying out new approaches and forging professional networks. Not only are such projects doing their own bit to help meet these ambitious EU-wide targets, but they are also contributing to priorities and targets set within local, regional and national development plans. The global in harmony with the local.

What is smart, sustainable and inclusive growth?

At the Conference on Europe 2020 on 3 March 2010 in Brussels, Jos Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, put forward a plan to get Europe back on track, explaining what needs to be done over the next 10 years. The aim is for Europe to be fully competitive on the global stage, by investing in structural change and structural growth. But not just any kind of growth: smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, three mutually reinforcing priorities: smart growth: by developing an economy based on knowledge and innovation. Put simply, we need to reboot the internal market for the 21st century. sustainable growth: by promoting a resource-efficient and competitive economy. We may have limited oil and gas but we do not have limited ideas. inclusive growth: by fostering a high-employment economy delivering social and territorial cohesion. Above all we need to invest in our people so they can invest in Europe.

business as usual is not an option

Europes growth deficit is putting our future at risk. For once the EU has called for measurable and representative targets. By 2020: 75% of the EU population aged 20-64 should be employed 3% of the EUs GDP should be invested in Research & Development The 20/20/20 climate/energy targets should be met to achieve an emissions reduction of 30%. The share of early school leavers should be under 10%, and at least 40% of the younger generation should go into higher education to get a university degree. 20 million less people should be at risk of poverty. To meet these targets, the EU has to mobilise its assets and make the most of its strengths.

The story so far

Just over half the Programme budget has now been committed. The table below shows the number of projects approved during the first 3 years of operation and after the first 6 Programme Steering Committee (PSC) meetings. They are presented according to thematic Programme priorities. Generally speaking, just over a quarter of submitted project applications have been approved. Among them, environmental projects under Priority 2 have had the highest success rate. This may be explained by the solid experience of cooperation on environmental issues in the wider region. Priority 4 has proven the most popular so far in terms of applications, but consequently, also the area where partnerships must compete most intensively for funds. Almost half of transport projects in the third priority have been successful.

Priority

applications

approved

success rate %

erDF budget

erDF budget allocated

erDF allocated as % of priority funds 38%

1 Capitalising on Innovation 2 Managing resources and risks 3 Improving connectivity 4 Strengthening communities total

52

12

23%

89,348,419

33,954,048

35 26 67 180

13 10 14 49

37% 37% 21% 30% average

86,930,420 89,357 ,665 68,480,191 334,116,695

62,466,568 44,132,658 38,136,313 178,689,587

72% 49% 56% 53%

INTRODUCTION

Were half way there

success rate 6 calls for proposals launched so far 53% of total Programme funding approved
with a 30%

180 applications

69% of projects (34) contain an investment average of 3.6 million euros per project 178,689,587 Euros of ERDF approved
projects worth 371,012,003 Euros average of 9 partners per

most recent approvals 16-17

June 2010 (Belfast)

a total of

445 partners

49 projects

project

building capitalising cleaning communicating comparing connecting cooperating

applying demonstrating
elaborating

adapting

advising analysing

evaluating exchanging
forging
greening

developing disseminating dynamising encouraging eliminating emphasising

innovating integrating investing inviting including liaising linking managing matchmaking mentoring minimising monitoring participating planning predicting promoting purifying reducing refurbishing researching revitalising re-using reviewing rewarding securing solving stimulating strengthening supporting
incentivising tackling

harnessing implementing

experimenting

facilitating

foreseeing

improving

validating

targeting testing treating

verifying vouching

transferring

as you read and speak

Six themes for success

INTERREG NWE is not strictly about killing two birds with one stone, so to speak for it respects our feathered friends across the NWE area but a question of achieving policy commitments at multiple levels with a single international project. NWE projects are about taking action on the ground, be it in the street, field, river or business park. This means engaging local authorities, communities and those bodies with the most expertise in territorial issues close to home. Beyond the decision to approve the project, decisions during the implementation of the project are taken by project partners at the lowest possible level. INTERREG thus embodies the concept of subsidiarity the principle that matters should be dealt with by the smallest, lowest and most decentralised authorities. Subsidiarity is a bit like trying to park your car in a multi-storey car park you only drive round and up if you absolutely have to! As a catalyst for sound territorial development and a driver of a participative EU society, the NWE Programme has spent the last three years striving to invest in opportunities. It will continue to do so in the years to come. As a sample of how NWE sets out to best mobilise its resources we now present 14 projects within six themes which are helping to strengthen NWEs territorial assets and achieve regional, national and EU policy goals, feeding in nicely to the EU 2020 goals for differentiated types of growth across North-West Europe.

theme 1: reducing energy use and the human footprint sustainable

theme 2: bringing innovation to small and medium-sized business smart

theme 3: managing waste to protect water and soil sustainable

theme 4: Keeping an ageing population healthy, active and involved inclusiVe

theme 5: adapting nature planning to tackle climate change sustainable

theme 6: Promoting intelligent solutions for passenger and freight transport smart
10

INTRODUCTION

reGain (7 partners) bliss (4 partners)

Fasilis (6 partners) +cOmPOsites (12 partners)

Pills (6 partners) citYcHlOr (9 partners) scalDWin (8 partners)

seniOr enterPrise (3 partners) cib (11 partners) HDc (8 parners)

WaVe (6 partners) amice (17 partners)

tramstOre21 (5 partners) cODe24 (16 partners)

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Theme 1: Reducing energy use and the human footprint

bright sparks in business parks
In the last 20 years the share of energy consumption has shifted in Europe, from industry previously the major consumer to transport, housing and the service sectors. This means, if we want to save energy and cut greenhouse gas emissions across NWE, we need to develop environmentally friendly materials that can be used in business parks and industrial estates. Innovative, well designed buildings not only help save energy and respect the natural surroundings, but importantly, help businesses save money on energy bills and carbon emissions. In reGain (reducing the Greenhouse effect through alternative industrial estates management) construction experts from four countries are using their powers of persuasion to encourage investors to build or refurbish tertiary and industrial buildings that function with a high level of energy efficiency. They have invested in four buildings and are adopting common technical standards for evaluating energy efficiency.

Proficiency in eco-efficiency
Like FASILIS on page 14, REGAIN has involved a partner from outside the NWE region. The project is working with an Italian partner to profit from their expertise. EnviPark in Turin was one of the first science parks to pioneer the concept of eco-efficiency for such sites. This transfer of knowledge is proving extremely valuable: for BEP in Belgium, which manages 23 industrial parks, together hosting 900 business and their 12,200 staff; for SIZIAF in northern France, with its 60 firms and 7 ,200 employees, as well as Blaenau Gwent Council in Wales, and Scottish Enterprise.

The EU goal of saving 20% of energy consumption by 2020 through energy efficiency is a crucial part of the puzzle. It would save the EU some 100 billion and cut emissions by almost 800 million tonnes a year. It is one of the key ways in which CO2 emission savings can be realised. (COM (2008) 30 final)

Bernard Laffaille, architect in charge of the pilot building in Douvrin (France), describes how the team realised the added value of an energy efficient building: It was a cold day in one of the coldest winters in recent years. The building was not finished and there was no heating, but inside it was surprisingly warm. This impression looks set to last: I am sure they will apply this knowledge to their next jobs.

Transport, buildings and more efficient power generation, transmission and distribution all offer opportunities which need to be stimulated through a mixture of legislation and information as well as being driven by the stimulus of avoiding the impact of rising energy costs for consumers. (COM (2008) 30 final)

REGaINs pilot building in Douvrin (France)

12

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

illuminating savings
Extreme happiness, utter joy, contentment. Thats what theyll soon be feeling in St. Helens (UK), Eindhoven (The Netherlands), Kaiserslautern (Germany) and Interleuven (Belgium). Why? Because they will have saved money by using new technologies to reduce the amount of energy used on street lighting, lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Public authorities are increasingly under pressure to reduce their spending. Though the partner regions vary in terms of their population size, together they are working to identify costeffective solutions through large-scale trials. In the UK the bliss (better lighting in sustainable streets) partners have been performing trials on two sites: the first with 165 houses comprising mainly social housing, the second with 132 semi-detached private houses. They achieved cost savings of 30% and 42%, respectively. Surveys among residents have revealed high levels of satisfaction. The trials have shown up the potential for saving vast amounts of tax payers money on municipal energy. In St. Helens alone, an average energy reduction of 40% would add up to around 500,000 Euros per year and 2,490 less tonnes of CO2. Imagine if these similar savings were felt by city councils across the UK. Across NWE as a whole we are talking tens of millions of Euros.

less light, more light-fingered?

However, its not as simple as that. Partners really need to work closely with communities to fully understand the social issues clearly. BLISS is developing resident focus groups to assist the project and is liaising closely with lighting suppliers. Project partners need to find cost-effective, acceptable solutions for all sorts of open spaces streets, parks, car parks, industrial areas and main roads. Clearly, the old one size fits all approach to street lighting is no longer possible. Solutions must be customised and investments varied. Reducing light pollution might seem sensible but many urban dwellers are used to being able to light up their front gardens. There have been reports of an increase in property crime. Further research must be conducted to establish any link. Should residents be encouraged to provide their own security lighting? If so this will increase the collective energy use and negate the reduction achieved on the street! Theres also the question of the impact on social disorder and traffic accidents. Watch this space
Product standards can be used to bring more efficiency to a wide range of goods, from televisions to cars and heaters to streetlights. Better labelling already means that 75% of labelled products bought are in the a class. all these savings means more scope for households to face up to rising energy prices, and more investment in technology and jobs. But driving on to the 20% target for energy efficiency will require a major commitment at all levels from public authorities, economic operators and citizens alike. (COM (2008)30 final)

The new lantern installation of white LED lighting the first of this kind specifically developed for main road routes contrast in the picture with the orange old style sodium. The new scheme will reduce energy consumption whilst improving road safety and possible crime incidents through improved colour rendition. Light spill is controlled reducing orange sky glow and night time light pollution.

Tithebarn Road, st.Helens (UK)

13

Theme 2: Bringing innovation to small and medium-sized business

Vouching for you
With 216,000 to spend, Fasilis (Facility sharing in life sciences) is giving out vouchers worth 6000 to SMEs in life sciences (biotechnology, pharmacy, medical biology), to provide each of them with an opportunity to carry out a small innovative project that will help them grow. This may require bringing together specialists from various different disciplines or providing a firm with access to state-of-the-art research facilities. Coordinated by North-Brabant Development Agency (BOM), the project aims to stimulate innovation through networking activities to bring researchers together across academic disciplines, business sectors and public-private boundaries. Direct contact has been made with 200 small and mediumsized enterprises and 60 facility-hosting organisations. Over two calls the relatively small project has helped as many as 82 small and medium sized businesses through its bilateral voucher scheme.

matchmaking for the marketplace

The lead partner hosts a growing database of R&D facilities in North-West Europe that can be used for matchmaking SMEs. Regional contact points are making companies aware of the expertise available in partner regions. Linking small firms up with vital, often high-tech facilities promotes fresh, innovative, and long-term research relationships. Founded in 2007 NYtor is a contract research lab specialized , in molecular diagnostics that works in close collaboration with the HAN University of Applied Science in Nijmegen. Its work is finding application worldwide in gene research and pathogen detection. Thanks to a FASILIS voucher NYtor has been working with Belgian firm BioXpr. NYtors expertise on molecular beacons has made BioXprs own in-silico design of molecular beacons more robust and reliable, thereby improving accuracy and the specificity of reactions. The economic benefits for the molecular diagnostics market are already being felt. And thats what just one of the 82 vouchers is doing. The project was featured in the April 2010 issue (page 48) of The Parliament, a top quality magazine covering current affairs and policy developments in the EU. See www.theparliament.com

Probably the best biotech in the world

All five partner regions host world-renowned universities, research centres, laboratories and science parks. This includes Biopeople, the Danish innovation network, outside the eligible area but with unique hands-on experience in bringing together SMEs with public R&D facilities cooperation opportunities for cooperation with Medicon Valley, the second-largest bioscience cluster in Europe. The resund region around Copenhagen in Denmark and Lund in Sweden is often regarded as the cradle of biotech thanks to the groundbreaking research that took place in the Carlsberg Breweries in Copenhagen in the late 1800s. The regions universities have a strong heritage in biological and medical research, resulting in several Nobel Prize winners. On the other hand, the South East of England Region has the highest concentration of health technology companies in the UK, probably the NWE, with more than 600 businesses. 30% of the countrys life sciences R&D is carried out in the region. 9 of the 10 leading global life science firms operate there as do all 12 of the top global pharmaceutical companies.

FasILIs is an excellent opportunity for us to establish cooperation with a partner and supplier in one of the other high-tech clusters in Europe. The voucher is a valuable contribution to bridge competences cross borders and will allow us to build a solid foundation for future developments projects. Jens Ole Pedersen, CEO at DNA Technology With the BerkelBike handicapped people are able to use their legs even if they have not been able to use them for the past 35 years. It is a unique concept that combines a wheelchair with a bike. But unique concepts quite often result in unique technical challenges! With the FasILIs voucher we will be able to have a top engineer work on this problem. Rik Berkelmans at Berkelbike Its a big leap towards establishing our market presence. The voucher will definitely benefit our on-site trials performed in collaboration with international partners and their facilities. Vishal Sisodia, CEO at Wirefricure

14

SMART GROWTH

Renewable energy technologies already account for a turnover of 20bn and have created 300,000 jobs. a 20% share for renewables is estimated to mean almost a million jobs in this industry by 2020 more if Europe exploits its full potential to be a world leader in this field. In addition, the renewable energy sector is labour intensive and reliant on many small and medium sized enterprises, spreading jobs and development to every corner of Europe: the same is true of energy efficiency in buildings and products. (COM (2008) 30 final)

Quality v. cost = a business balancing act

One of the major barriers to innovation for SMEs in NorthWest Europe is expertise. Keeping down costs in design and production processes, while maintaining quality is essential, but this requires right technological know-how. Increasingly, firms are using composite materials with enhanced physical or chemical properties, that allow for a better finished product, however, such materials are more expensive than regular materials like iron, aluminium and copper because they are engineered from two or more ingredient materials. But why use composites then if they are more costly? Sustainable growth means modifying industrial processes that will enable end products to be less polluting, more energy efficient and longer-lasting. This means firms must adapt their production practices in a way that integrates new materials while avoiding huge hikes in manufacturing costs, in order to stay competitive. The automobile, aeronautic, railways and mechanical equipment industries must all develop composites. In the future major companies such as AIRBUS will only work with subcontractors able to offer parts made from composites. Transferring to composites is thus vital for small businesses that operate as suppliers lower down the production chain.

six sites for composites

At a meeting held in Picardy in 2007 firms and research centres recognised how pressing the need was for technology transfer in composite materials across NorthWest Europe, particularly in the plastics, textiles and highperformance agriculture sectors in which the regions firms are active. The +composites partnership (awareness and transfer of innovation in composite materials) is now busy gathering information about market trends and technologies in composite materials, to help benefit the 15,000 firms in the six partner regions that are affected. Learning about the possibilities for transferring new technologies is encouraging innovation and supporting long-term commercial competitiveness. This is being done through e-learning training sessions and audits carried out by the project within NWE firms. By supplying information on technology transfer, business intelligence, education and commercial relations, the project is adding value to around 1000 firms, 25 of which are going to use the expertise gained to design and introduce new composites.

By encouraging all companies to use low-carbon technologies, the climate change challenge can be transformed into an opportunity for European industry. In total, the eco-industry already accounts for some 3.4 million jobs in Europe: it offers particular growth potential. Green technologies are not the monopoly of any one part of Europe. They are a growing part of an industry that now accounts for over 227 bn in annual turnover, offering real advantages to the first entrants into this market. (COM (2008) 30 final) 15

Theme 3: Managing waste to protect water and soil

Keeping tabs on tablets (down the drain)
We all take drugs of some kind. They help diagnose or cure diseases in humans and animals. Yet not all pharmaceutical compounds in the medicines injected or swallowed enter the bloodstream. What is not metabolized up to 70% and more in some cases gets excreted by the body and enters water courses, usually through the public sewer system. Unfortunately, modern technology is often unable to treat waste water completely, meaning micropollutants are not eliminated and residues pass from sewage plants into rivers. The concentration of these active ingredients found in surface water is low and usually harmless for humans. However, the impact on aquatic life and biodiversity is uncertain. Any affect on micro-organisms may be felt further up the food chain. through filtration, absorption or oxidation. The partners will collect results regarding the effectiveness (elimination rate) and efficiency (cost) of the different methods. The projects findings are feeding into wider discussions that address the life-cycle of pharmaceuticals, (including their production), in order to find ways to ensure the sustainable reduction of micropollutants in the environment. The pharma-ceutical industry employs over half a million EU citizens. The five Member States involved in PILLS account for over 50% of the EUs pharmaceutical industry (Eurostat 2005) think Bayer (Germany), GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca (UK), Sanofi-Aventis (France), plus Novartis and Hoffmann-La Roche in Switzerland.

Prize-winning partners
The partner hospital of the Luxemburgish partners, the Centre Hospitalier Emile Mayrisch, recently won the DEXIA prize in the non-profit category. The jury commended the project for its innovation and for stimulating others to adopt new techniques developed locally. The DEXIA prize was founded in France in 2002 amongst others on the initiative of Dexia Crdit Local with the aim to honour municipalities as well as public and private companies that contribute to sustainable development. The prize is meant to raise societal awareness of important challenges and stimulate others to engage in sustainable behaviour.

Researcher inspecting waste water samples at Eawag (switzerland) photo: Eawag, annual report 2009 Pills (Pharmaceutical input and elimination from local sources) is currently applying innovative purification methods and technologies to prevent the discharge of pharmaceutically contaminated waste water from medical institutions into the water cycle. The partnership is preparing investments to set up pilot plants at hospitals that use advanced treatment methods for the eco-toxicological analysis of waste waters, in order to reduce its pharmaceutical load to a low concentration and prevent harm to the ecosystem. It is also looking into how best to increase awareness about protective measures consumers, patients and medical staff should dispose of remaining tablets and liquids rather than letting them enter the water course.

avoiding pills spills

Involving universities in France (Limoges) and the UK (Glasgow Caledonian), research institutes in Switzerland and Luxembourg, and water boards in Germany and The Netherlands, the project partners are analysing those pharmaceuticals from specific therapeutic groups that are found in highest concentration in the partner hospitals: anaesthetics, analgesics, antibiotics, anticonvulsants/tranquilisers, beta blockers, cytostatics, hormones, X-ray contrast, and lipid regulators. Treatments can be performed
16

EU biodiversity targets will not be met without a Directive on soil, Commission representative told the European Parliaments Environment Committee during discussions on biodiversity held on 21 June 2010. This indicates the ongoing interest in the Commission for a soils Directive, confirmed in June by the Head of the Commissions Environment Directorate Mr Falkenberg. a blocking minority (Germany, France, austria, the Netherlands and the UK) in the Council are opposed to the adoption of the proposal for a Directive on soil Protection and have not changed their position. The Commission and the Belgian Presidency will attempt to continue negotiations with a view to achieving a political agreement during 2010 possibly through the presentation of a new compromise proposal. (www.eugris.info)

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

In 2008 the sediment load of some 18 stations was measured. The data was analysed to create a sediment delivery model. Preparatory steps for the construction of a sediment pond on a non-navigable water way were then taken in 2009, allowing construction to start in 2010. Removing sediment in just one location in a concentrated way, instead of along the whole watercourse, is more efficient and cost-effective damage to the water course and its river banks is now being minimised, but also considerable money saved!

a sticky situation for soil

Chlorinated products such as solvents are a threat to groundwater quality. Dry cleaners and printers operating on a relatively small scale use them for getting rid of stains and for thinning paint. Solvents commonly found in detergents can seep down into the subsoil to affect the quality of waterbearing layers of soil beneath and then migrate considerable distances, infecting aquifers. The evaporation of such chemicals also affects the health of those working or living on contaminated sites. In densely populated North-West Europe these are often in the middle of built-up, urban areas where the contamination lies underneath residential areas of houses and gardens. General health hazards associated with exposure to pure solvent products include toxicity to the nervous system and respiratory impairment. The risks are not quite as strong with contaminated soil, groundwater or air.

Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands with a population of over 300,000 people. The number of passengers handled by the Central station is approaching 100 million a year. already, some 700 hectares of the citys subsoil is severely polluted with 180 million m of groundwater containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Yet, the city has earmarked 90 hectares for redevelopment mainly historical areas containing buildings with wooden floors. It makes sense therefore that CITYCHLOR is testing a new remediation technique involving aquifer thermal heat storage (aTEs) and natural biological attenuation.

Such contamination also has huge socio-economic impacts. Its down to land or property owners to meet the cleanup costs, and they are often reluctant to pay. This severely restrains the (re)development of residential, industrial or business areas. Its not only private interests that are affected, but also public authorities, urban planners, investors, citizens and environmental organisations.

resolved to solve solvent abuse

While extensive research has already been done into finding technical solutions to address and correct soil contamination, in urban environments a very specific approach is needed. This includes, besides technical knowledge, engaging communities, to make them aware of the socio-economic implications of soil contamination as well as the health risks, and to encourage households to take steps to minimise their own domestic discharge of chemicals into garden ponds, park streams and open public spaces. This is precisely what the nine partners in citYcHlOr (tackling urban soil and Groundwater contamination caused by chlorinated solvents) are working on to benefit NWE City-Regions and their populations.

Clients dont want to pay for the R&D of the soil experts. Even the public procurement procedures of public agencies arent adapted to promote innovative technologies, so its good that a project like CITYCHLOR is organising pilot projects to remove barriers to their market acceptance a project contractor Were glad of the support CITYCHLOR can bring to the communication process. How to cope with anxiety over soil contamination? When is the best moment to start communicating? How to react when newspapers run articles before the research results are final? a practical tool for communications would be a big step forward a town council official

Technique tested by CITYCHLOR photo: Nanne Hoekstra

17

serious sentiment about sediment

Surface water also needs protecting from contamination. Though major investments have been made in industrial water treatment across NWE, a flow of nutrients and pesticides still seeps into rivers and accumulates in the sediment. Hazardous substances build up in the river bed. Ecological actions such as the construction of sediment ponds can improve sediment management, reduce the cost of dredging sludge and make rivers more natural-looking. This helps promote river tourism, encourages landscape restoration and feeds the local economy. scaldwin is working for a better quality of surface and groundwater bodies in the Scheldt International River Basin District (IRBD) an area of 36,413 km covering parts of France, Wallonia and Flanders with a population density among the highest in Europe at 353 inhabitants per km. Agriculture is very intensive across 60% of the area, placing immense pressure on the water system. The project is busy measuring sediment loads, taking forward its achievements from the IIIB project Scaldit.

upwardly mobile fish

Sediment not only clogs waterways, preventing boat traffic it also stops fish swimming up and down the river according to their natural cycle of reproduction. By removing sediment barriers the project is enabling fish to journey upstream to Wallonia. All three projects in this theme are contributing to meeting the targets laid out within in the 2000 Water Framework Directive and 2006 Groundwater Directive (see Glossary). Surface water aside, since groundwater does not stop at borders, it has been necessary to work with partners on the other side of the border, the territorial challenge being to ensure that all actions carried out transnationally are consistent and coordinated. All competent authorities of the Scheldt river basin district, united in the International Scheldt Commission, are taking part in the project to develop costeffective, transnational river basin management plans that will be implemented and evaluated together.

scheldt river in Uitbergen (Belgium) photo: Koen de Langhe

18

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

Oosterschelde national park (NL) photo: Ludo Goossens

results with a pinch of salt

The projects salinity study describes the distribution of freshwater and saltwater in the subsurface. The Flemish Environment Agency (Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij, VMM) is currently working with the province of Zeeland. Some 12 new measure points have been drilled in Flanders. The data (geophysical borehole measurements, level measurements) collected in these points will enable partners to draw up a groundwater model that shows the distribution of freshwater and saltwater in the subsurface, and that can then be used to monitor the river ecosystem and enhance biodiversity. A trilateral agreement between France, Wallonia and Flanders for the monitoring of groundwater levels in a deep transboundary layer (carboniferous limestone) was signed and measurements have got well underway, conducted by water experts from the eight partner organisations that make up the transnational team. The six Parties (France, Federal Belgium, the Walloon Region, Flemish Region, Brussels Capital Region and the Netherlands) of the international Scheldt Treaty signed in Ghent on 3rd December 2002, work together within the International Scheldt Commission to develop sustainable and integrated water management of the Scheldt river basin district. The ISCs top priority mission is cross-border coordination of all obligations resulting from the European Water Framework Directive and the European Directive on Flood Risk Assessment and Management. The ISC also operates a Homogeneous Monitoring Network and a Warning and Alarm System meant to deal with accidental water pollution. www.isc-cie.org

Meadow in Berlare (Belgium) photo: Yves adams

sCaLDWIN project

19

Were you sustaining attention?

1. How many projects have been approved after the first 6 calls for proposals? a. 19 b. 49 c. 409 2. reGains partners are striving to build or to refurbish industrial premises to make them more? a. Stylish b. Energy-efficient c. Respectful of the principles of feng shui 3. blisss efforts to introduce more sustainable street lighting have led to a reduction in? a. Crime b. Curtains c. Greenhouse gas emissions 4. What is Fasilis providing smes with to make them more innovative? a. Comfortable sofas b. Scholarships to study at business school c. Facility vouchers 5. Why does +cOmPOsites believe composite materials are better? a. Because they possess enhanced physical and chemical properties b. Because they contain compost to help plants grow c. Because they are cheaper 6. according to Pills, what should medical staff in hospitals pour less of down the sink? a. Contaminated blood b. Out-of-date or unwanted medicines c. Vending machine coffee thats gone cold 7. citYcHlOr is tackling the use of solvents by which key groups? a. Children and teenagers b. Dry cleaners and printers c. Police and detectives 8. better sediment management by the scalDWin project will help? a. Reduce the cost of dredging b. Increase the popularity of sledging c. Better educate NWE citizens about hedge funds

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a chance to reflect: optimist or pessimist? the Programme is half full, but also half empty

21

Theme 4: Keeping an ageing population healthy, active and involved

an age of opportunity
Reaching 50 doesnt have to mean a life of pottering in the garden shed, or walking the fairways of the golf course. After all, didnt life just begin at 40? The experience of quinquagenarians and sexagenarians can be harnessed to make NWEs economy more competitive. This doesnt just imply encouraging them to top up their pensions with a few hours working part-time on a supermarket till, but making the very most of the skills, experience and networks they have built up during their working life. This might be through membership of groups such as chambers of commerce, Rotary clubs, Lions clubs, senior worker associations. Successful business people and entrepreneurs may be financially comfortable enough to retire early and have little economic imperative to get involved, so the project is encouraging them to help small firms and local organisations grow by imparting with their wisdom. Research carried out by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) (www.gemconsortium.org) clearly shows that those aged over 50 are much less likely to be early stage entrepreneurs than those from younger age groups. For example across the EU 5.9% of the adult population is engaged in early stage entrepreneurial activity. When the rate of activity is examined in terms of age, 9.4% of those aged 25-34 are engaged in early stage entrepreneurial activity compared to just 2.8% of those aged between 55-64.

tapping into older talent

Its not only what you know but who you know that counts. seniOr enterPrise is encouraging older people not only to act as business ambassadors and role models to a younger generation of risk-taking local businesses, by investing their time and perhaps money in supporting new ventures, but also to set up their own enterprises. The project will be offering advisory clinics, training days, workshops and mentoring schemes. In short, these ambassadors will be really spoiling their partner regions, serving up something more commercially nutritious than a tray of Ferrero Rocher! (Remember the TV adverts?) take it from them Fergal Keogh, founder of Simtech, believes that people over 50 often do not realise the value of their own experience and skills until they get the chance to apply them. In his experience, an older experienced person with strong commercial skills, partnering with a younger entrepreneur, often brings a form of comfort to the banks and other financial backers than might not be there otherwise. Fergal is full of enthusiasm for his new career as an entrepreneur. Younger people havent had the benefit of having made all the mistakes that we have along the way...and learnt from them. Establishing Simtech has been great fun and a source of real stimulation. It has offered me the possibility of creating something from scratch to leave behind me for the family. I am 63 now and hope to continue well into my 70s.

breeding olderpreneurs Different partners are focusing on different segments of the population. In the UK almost one person in three aged between 50 and state pension age is jobless. Of these less than 10 per cent are retired on adequate incomes. The remaining 90 per cent are on incapacity benefit, registered unemployed, caring, made redundant or retired with an inadequate pension. PRIME (The Princes Initiative for Mature Enterprise) was set up by HRH The Prince of Wales who recognised this huge labour-market failure common to all developed countries. It is currently active on the ground in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Wales it works through PRIME Cymru, PRIMEs sister organisation. It provides free information, events and training to help older people get back into work by starting their own business and become olderpreneurs.

learning from success and failure Now aged 70, michael Heary is delighted to be able to put his skills to good use helping others in a way that makes a real difference to them and their business. I believe that there are many others that have a lifetime of experience but whose latent potential as advisors and mentors has not occurred to them. These people can make a real contribution through advising and mentoring others, having learnt from their own failures as well as their successes. It seems to me that not only would they make a difference in strengthening businesses to meet their current challenges, but that they would have great fun doing just that - just like I am!

22

INCLUSIVE GROWTH

relieving the grey pressure

The biggest grey threat to Europe may not be the volcanic ash cloud at the top of North-West Europe but the fact that in the next 30 years the EUs population over 75 years old will increase by 75%. By then 60-70% of patients in hospital will be in their 70s. Were not talking a sudden eruption of newlydiagnosed patients, but the steady growth in disorders that already afflict a large proportion of NWEs population. Old age has economic and social implications, but also places a massive pressure on the public healthcare system, which must investigate new approaches to treating elderly patients and ensure the appropriate development of a suitable geriatric culture at the different levels of hospital organisation.

tricks for geriatrics

HDC brings together two universities (Maastricht and Geneva) with five hospitals (Strasbourg, Lige, Luxembourg, MetzThionville, Mannheim) and a local public authority (LowerRhine) in a project that takes forwards the achievements of the IIIB Hospitals Cooperation project. The University of Maastrichts newly established Diagnostic Observation Centre for Psychogeriatric patients (DOG-PG) combines the hospital-based approach of a memory clinic, with the care-oriented approach of a regional community mental health team, and aims to provide general health practitioners with detailed diagnostic and therapeutic advice for patients with cognitive disorders. The Lige partners have pioneered geolocalization, which makes the most of new technology in devices such as a wifi captor fitted onto the neck of the patient and on a screen at the bedside. It can enable a 90 year old to be geolocalized. This may sound scary but its pretty straightforward. Take Paulette she can walk, and one day decides to walk to the hospital for her appointment. However, she suffers from Alzheimers and gets lost. Thanks to the project she is able to click a red button on her person and the geriatric unit can then spot where she is and go and fetch her.

nursing new solutions

The increasing need to treat patients who have returned home after an operation and are suffering from shock, or who are suffering from dementia, such as Alzheimers, is changing the practice of professionals in the healthcare sector with regard to managing dependency. How to ensure patients can remain living at home while receiving adequate medical attention? Which technologies are most appropriate to ensure good communication between medical institution and service user? Health and Demographic change (HDc) is all about experimenting with different possible solutions in the same field across a network of hospitals, rather than just harmonizing the approach to the uses of technology in elderly care. The project partners, working in geriatric services, are setting up collaborative internet-based dictionaries and glossaries of commonly understood terms, trialing new video conference and data-sharing techniques.

This might appear at first glance to be a social project. Yet it has huge territorial implications since many of the partners are located in close proximity but on different sides of national borders. The project is proving costeffective and is avoiding duplication in terms of paying out on staff and research time by treating the same issue collectively as one big medical team.

23

OaPs with mP3s

On 29 April 2010 the Cities in Balance partnership took part in the 2nd European Day on Solidarity and Cooperation between Generations, to promote inter-generational solidarity in their communities. In Bruges school students offered senior citizens basic skills in using a computer, mobile, MP3 player and i-pod. In Genk senior citizens were encouraged to engage in story-telling to young children who then produced works of art and handiwork. In Hagen deaf people, young and old, came together for IT lessons, a darts competition and sessions on managing stress.

Polishing the silver economy

Each one of us is getting older. Europe as a whole is also getting older in general. Demographic changes brought about by lower birth rates and better health, leading to longer life expectancy, mean an ageing population. Due to economic and social progress Europeans are living longer than ever, on average 8-9 years more than in 1960. Senior citizens are more active and in better health. They have greater purchasing power. Developing and stimulating the Silver Economy can help economic growth. Acknowledging this trend, the UK, France and other NWE Member States have recently abolished compulsory retirement or raised the pensionable age. They have acknowledged that if current levels of productivity and pensions are to be maintained, more people will have to work for longer. cib (cities in balance Promoting senior economy) is working to improve opportunities for societys Rolls Royce citizens, reducing reliance on healthcare services and encouraging greater well-being. It is focusing on services that improve quality of life and enable independent living. This means guaranteeing elderly citizens can take part in community life and that they are out and about, socialised and mixing with other generations. The project is promoting the development of Silver Hubs in all NWE cities meeting places for young and old alike. Digisenior It is the third time that I take this course, and it is because of the youngsters that Im coming again. I have now bought a laptop with which I surf, chat and mail. I am now familiar with Outlook, Google and Skype. Jeanne Vanden Bussche, 82 years old Though we receive a grade for giving these classes, we all enjoy it! For us, youngsters, all this study material is very normal as we grew up using the computer. We have to take into account that, what we consider as easy is not that normal for seniors. Inguro Verdin, 19 years old

CIB project action in Genk (Belgium)

24

INCLUSIVE GROWTH

let me tell you a story

The CIB partners organised a get-together between children and senior citizens in Genk (Belgium). The children were given an assignment: to listen to the stories told by the elderly participants, many of whom are grandparents themselves, and to interpret what they had heard visually, through paintings and drawings. Both story-teller and artist then sat down together to discuss the colourful images.

I didnt know my grandma was so cool! (after listening to the story from his grandmother about how she used to drive her little yellow car, when she was young, and her adventures on the road). Skarlidis Spiros, 11 years old

Stories included childhood memories of the Second World War and the emotional upheaval of having to flee ones country, to build a new life in a different part of North-West Europe. They also dealt with work, conveying to the younger participants the importance of acquiring life skills through education that can be put to good use in adult life. For example, a retired shoemakers story illustrated the importance of passing down knowledge from one generation to another, reflected the rise of consumerism, but also showed how modernity has brought challenges to artisans and craftsmen: I repaired shoes for other people my whole life. I learned everything from my father. There were a lot of different kinds of shoes, some with high heels and other very colourful ones. Things changed towards the end of my career though because people bought new shoes more often, instead of repairing them. Now you dont find many independent shoemakers anymore.

not just london 2012...a european Year on active ageing and intergenerational solidarity?
When Vladimir pidla, [former] EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, announced at the Slovenian Presidency conference in April 2008, that he would like to propose that 2012 should be declared the European Year on Active Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity, he met with a very enthusiastic response from the audience. Since then, a growing number of stakeholders have gathered in support of such European Year. At European level, non-governmental organizations AGE, AEIP AIM, CECODHAS, COFACE, Eurochild, the , European Womens Lobby and the European Youth Forum are campaigning together to raise awareness of the need to launch a major debate at EU, national and local level to find innovative solutions to encourage active ageing and greater solidarity and cooperation between generations and the best way to achieve that would be to have a European Year devoted to the theme in 2012. Lets see what current Commissioner, Lzl Andor thinks about this idea Extract from an article by Anne-Sophie Parent, director of AGE the older peoples platform, Social Agenda, The European Commissions magazine on employment and social affairs, Issue N 21, July 2009, p.26.

My grandmother lives in Turkey and my school teacher gave me another older woman who I could interview. so now this nice lady became sort of my grandmother from Belgium. Yildiz Saffet, 11 years old

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Theme 5: Adapting nature planning to tackle climate change

Handle water with care!
The appointment of Connie Hedegaard as the EUs first Climate Action Commissioner is evidence of the importance given by EU policymakers to climate change. This follows the Commissions 2007 Green Paper Adapting to Climate change options for action (SEC(2007) 849) which recognises the urgent need for mitigation to keep global average temperature increases below 2C compared to pre-industrial levels, because beyond 2C change the risk of dangerous and unpredictable climate change increases significantly and costs of adaptation escalate. In this regard, the 2007 Flood Risk Directive (2007/60/EC) requires all Member States to assess and map flood risk. But is the amice (adaptation of the meuse to the impacts of climate evolutions) project too pessimistic? The partners claim there will be more floods and more droughts, that whatever we do now, we cannot stop climate change. What they can do, they believe, is choose how to take action to counter its effects. In that sense, adaptation to changing circumstances is essential.

transnational armbands
Six river basin managers, six universities and research centres, three public administrations, and an NGO crisis centre are all responding to the transnational challenge, sailing on the same raft to prevent the kind of Waterworld scenario brought to us in 1995 when Kevin Costner struggled to find dry land. The International Meuse Commission is hosting the partner meetings. The recently completed report on flood crisis management is the first ever comparison of crisis organisations and tools in the Meuse basin fundamental for any timely, effective response to the challenges facing river management authorities and planners up and downstream. Its easy to think this is all simply about people living along the river basin worried about their front rooms getting flooded, and having to replace their sodden carpets. But theres a massive economic implication. As well as wrecking homes, extreme flooding causes huge damage to industry and severe disruption to infrastructures. The control of low waters is essential to guarantee energy production, with nuclear power stations along in Chooz (France) and Tihange (Belgium). Transport services, sustainable agriculture and the provision of drinking water (for 6 million people) all depends on keeping water levels down.

Promoting H2ope
The project is a unifying force in the Meuse basin, which stretches 950 km from the Langres plateau to Rotterdam, helping the river make friends with climate change. The 17 partner organisations in the river catchment are all looking to build a single overall strategy, but anticipating some real surprises as they paddle a course through the project. Does this mean getting wet? Capsizing? Well, it certainly requires reviewing, testing and quantifying. The partners are working towards a flood-proof, drought-proof understanding of how the Meuse will respond in the future to extreme water events.

not a flash in the pan severe river flooding is now in the can
AMICEs work is set to minimise the economic, social and ecological impacts of climate change for densely populated and built-up floodplains, which though it may not seem like it are some of the most vulnerable areas in Europe, at risk from storms, intense rainfall and flash floods. Anticipation is everything. Failure to respond is likely to bring about a reduction in external investment and depopulation. The projects impact will be felt by local populations for decades.

The Meuse is a transnational, navigable river, one of the largest in the NWE, with a catchment basin incorporating five Member states. Its discharge fluctuates considerably with the seasons: in the winter of 1993 it reached 3100 m per second at the Dutch/ Walloon border where normally it is only 10-40 m per second in summer. as a rain-fed river, it has no glacier and little groundwater storage capacity to cope with precipitation. This puts its economic activity, ecological status and priceless cultural heritage at risk.

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Borghaven, a village along the Common Meuse photo Willem Overmans

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

In 2007 the UK experienced the most severe inland floods , since 1947 Thousands of people were forced from their . homes during the wettest summer since records began in 1766. Whilst these floods were exceptional, they could happen again. NWE needs to adapt to this increasing risk, which is basically about two things slowing water down and storing water. Natural ways to manage flood risk can do both, and bring a host of other benefits for people and wildlife too.

making nWe climate-proof

At the same time, flood defence walls will continue to be a vital way of protecting homes and valuable farmland, but if the NWE is to address the future effects of climate change, then natural solutions to flood management must play a bigger role. WAVE builds on the IIIB JAF project with 12 investments aimed at investigating the consequences of changes in water, and with a view to developing a 50-year plan for flooding. Using aerial photos and landscape photos of the Levels and Moor the partners will overlay pictures onto fluvial/tidal flood modals for the area. Thanks to Somerset County Council some 40 landowners have received grants to plant small woodlands. Somerset is a generally low-lying county subject to flood risk from both sealevel rise and from rain (pluvial) and river (fluvial) flooding. The county relies on good early-warning systems to protect food production. With the WAVE partners it is promoting three ways to cope with risk: 1. Using predictive modelling to analyse the local effects of climate change, and translating the results into messages that communicate easily. 2. Promoting the sustainable management of excess water, using natural processes to simply make more space for water, thereby minimising the negative impacts on local communities and landowners while maximising opportunities for wildlife. 3. Raising awareness to change individual and community behaviour.

Keeping wetlands wet

You might actually think climate change is good news for the WaVe (Water adaptation is Valuable for everybody) partners. Contrary to AMICE they welcome high water. Securing high water will defend the hydrology of the wet heath in the local nature reserves. The new Living Landscapes approach within the WAVE project is making a difference to how we protect ourselves from flooding and at the same time, restoring our damaged landscape. Wetlands need to stay wet for wildlife, but they are invaluable to society for reasons beyond the wildlife benefits they bring. They store floodwater, provide recreation and tourism opportunities, improve water quality, and can act as the focus for raising awareness of flooding issues in local communities.

The Brue Valley is a vitally important inland wetland and is home to thousands of water birds. It is used for recreation, fishing, peat extraction and farming. Our WaVE-funded investment aims to stitch back together this fragmented mosaic of wetland habitats, working with local communities to create a resilient environment which can cope with the future challenges of climate change and increased pressure on land. Simon Nash, Chief Executive of Somerset Wildlife Trust

The most pleasing element is the positive response from farmers to addressing and embracing new ways of managing water. The project has certainly raised awareness of the type of practical solutions that farmers can understand and are willing to adopt in order to deliver catchment wide benefits. a good example of this is the tree planting scheme at Eastcombe that has virtually eradicated a long standing field run off issue that not only impacted upon the adjacent highway but also regularly resulted in soil laden water contaminating a tributary of the River Tone. By promoting this practical, cost effective solution there are a number of other farmers in other parts of somerset who have indicated their willingness to implement similar control measures. solving long standing issues through collaboration and co-operation without having to resort to enforcement and penalties has to be the most important output from this particular piece of WaVE-funded work. Importantly, once farmers have experienced this type of supportive approach they enjoy developing their own solutions to other water management issues and through peer pressure encourage neighbours and other like-minded farmers and land mangers to become involved. David Cliffe, FWAG

swan at Greylake, somerset (UK) photo: Mark Robinson (Flickr)

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Theme 6: Promoting intelligent solutions for passenger and freight transport

behind closed depot doors
Depots. Where to put them? When making such key planning decisions there is always the problem of nimbyism (Not In My Back Yard!). Landowners, often city councils, understandably want to maximise the value of space. But they also need to minimise environmental impacts and appease local inhabitants. How to develop public infrastructures without increasing their negative impacts on the urban environment? This applies to track and depots where maintenance work is carried out on vehicles. Depots are places that most public transport users rarely get to know. They are much more than large metal sheds, with some prized for their architecture, such as the Woluwe depot built in 1897 one of 6 depots in Brussels. Though part of our , design heritage, they are also social places, where drivers come together, collect their timetable, meet colleagues, eat, shower, change clothes, take a rest. Good design improves working conditions for large bodies of people there are 860 drivers in Brussels alone for the 350 trams operating on 19 lines. In this spirit, Beverwaard, a depot located in the south of Rotterdam, is being redesigned with a car park for 500 cars on the roof, freeing up valuable urban space in the Randstad. When they leave their vehicle, car drivers simply go downstairs and jump on a tram into the city centre. The Belgium partners have seen that in Germany public authorities tend to spend more money on good design, better finishing and that there are long-term benefits economic, social, environmental.

trendy trams
Trams are in fashion again all over North-West Europe. Examples of innovation in depot design are Paris, where a school, offices and shops were built above an underground depot, or in Zurich with flats above. Brussels, Rotterdam, Dijon, Blackpool. In tramstOre21 (building sustainable and efficient tramway Depots for the cities of the 21st century) four cities are working with a German industrial research institute. The project is involving technicians and urban planners, together with local public authorities such as transport departments, along with final beneficiaries the vast community of users. Beyond best practice, the project is carrying out major investments to the value of almost 7 million Euros to re.5 use, renovate and refurbish existing depots where trams are washed and repaired. This is much cheaper of course than starting from scratch since new depots cost about a million euros for every tram accommodated and the partners are looking to provide about 150 trams with shelter across the four partner cities. tramtastic opportunities! A few years ago we used to meet our colleagues from other cities each month. Sometimes we would ask them to help us, and reward them with a good bottle! Now, with the tensions in Belgium, this is more seldom the case, which is a pity. TRAMSTORE21 is an opportunity to renew these contacts. Fernand Van de Plas, STIB Local public operators should have occasions to cooperate and exchange local experience as easily as local teams from the big private international operators do, such as those from Veolia or Transdev. TRAMSTORE21 can help them with this. Raphael Calvelli. TRAMSTORE21 coordinator

the urban space race

Alas, there are plenty of examples of bad design all over NWE, which reduces the capacity of the tram network and proves more costly to run, in turn meaning higher ticket costs for passengers, and more noise and the unnecessary spread of concrete. Urban space is a rare and valuable commodity, so the solution may well be be to build upwards or downwards, instead of outwards.

Marconi depot, Brussels (Belgium)

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SMART GROWTH

message in a bottleneck: take coordinated action

Key to the Europe 2020 strategy is the need to modernise and decarbonise the transport sector. About 70 million people live and work in the catchment area of the Rotterdam-Genoa corridor, along which around 700 million tons of goods are transported annually some 50% of all north-south freight rail transport in fact. It is essential for sustainable economic development to eliminate bottlenecks suffocating the rail freight market, and to bridge infrastructure gaps for fast, clean and efficient multi-modal transport. The opening of two Alpine tunnels in Switzerland at Ltschberg in 2007 and Gotthard in 2017 will mark a quantum leap in this respect and cut journey times significantly. cODe24 is all about smashing bottlenecks. The project is feeding into a whole range of project investments that are creating synergies for sustainable freight transport along this corridor, providing its own planning tools and tailormade solutions for the sections in its partner regions. At the European Corridor Conference in Mannheim on 7 May 2010 partners from the CODE24 project met decision-makers playing a key role in the development of the corridor, including representatives from the consignment industry, logistics enterprises, infrastructure firms, traffic experts, spatial planners, politicians and municipal administrations. Success not only depends on political decisions, but also discussing the everyday practicalities of how to deal with transnational freight traffic. The partners have been testing different ways to improve handling, give due consideration to the spatial and environmental impacts of traffic growth, and make the most of existing infrastructure.

Flexible for freight

The project is also a stellar example of how new flexibility in INTERREG IVB NWE rules, allowing partners outside the cooperation area to participate in a project, can have a territorial impact inside it. Improving and coordinating infrastructure at the Italian end of the corridor will ease and encourage freight traffic to, from and through NWE regions.

trainspotters with political clout

The CODE 24 partners are being closely observed by key regional stakeholders, who are contributing to various work packages. Firstly, the Union of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry for Transport (UECC) is an association of 75 bodies from 11 European states that promotes a European Transport Policy based on the needs of the economy in its sphere of influence, namely, between Rotterdam, Marseille and Vienna. Secondly, the Gotthard Committee is an association of Suisse Cantons and Chambers of Commerce in the catchment area of the Gotthard axis. Its common goal is efficient and sustainable transport and the balanced development of natural habitats and economic centres.

tying in with tens

CODE24 (Corridor 24 Development Rotterdam) adds the regional development perspective, providing a third pillar that complements the political pillar of the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERMTS) and the administrative and managerial pillar in the shape of the European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG), formed by the four NWE Member States as well as the Swiss railway infrastructure companies. The projects 16 partners comprise regional public authorities, universities and private firms. The University of DuisburgEssen is the youngest university in North-Rhine Westphalia and now one of the top ten largest in Germany, following the merger in 2003. It is not a stand alone project but ties in nicely with transEuropean transport networks (TEN-T), the EUs masterplan for road, rail, air, maritime and inland waterway transport. High-quality hinterland connections are vital for NWE ports not just Rotterdam as the largest which act as hubs for cargo freight, because goods need to be distributed quickly and securely to markets across Europe.

The development of the railway corridor between the North sea and the Mediterranean harbour is one of the most important transport projects in Europe. The north-south railway axis known as Corridor 24 in the European planning of traffic routes leads through four countries and connects Europes top regions with an enormous economic power, a high population density and a growing traffic volume. Gnther H. Oettinger, Minister-President of BadenWrttemberg, European Commissioner for Energy since 2010

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navigating a course for nWe cooperation

30

How smart are you?

9. How much erDF is left for new projects to be approved by 2013? (clue: see page 32) a. More than 5.5 millions Euros b. More than 155 million Euros c. Just 55 Euros 10. seniOr enterPrise is encouraging nWe citizens over 50 to act as? a. Extras in films celebrating the cultural heritage b. Pantomime horses c. Business ambassadors 11. Health and Demographic change is pioneering geolocalization to be able to locate? a. Fossils and sites of archaeological interest b. The nearest university geology department c. Patients suffering from dementia 12. the cities in balance project is engaging young people to help the elderly get to grips with? a. Running and skateboarding b. Texting and surfing the internet c. Wheres cool in Berlin and Barcelona 13. amice is working hard to adapt communities along the meuse river to what? a. The impacts of climate change b. The effects of acid rain c. The increase in recreational boat traffic 14. What is the WaVe project doing to wetland habitats? a. Introducing exotic species of bird life b. Drying them out to create additional agricultural land c. Stitching a fragmented mosaic of land parcels back together 15. Why are the tramstOre21 partners so interested in existing tram depots? a. Because they want to make them more efficient and a nicer place to work b. Because they can make more money by transforming them into nightclubs c. Because they want to knock them down to create green spaces for recreation 16. What do the cODe24 partners want to do between rotterdam and Genoa? a. Visit the locations mentioned by Dan Brown in the Da Vinci Code b. Promote a north-south rail freight corridor c. Go on a sponsored bicycle race between the two ports to raise money for unemployed 24 year olds

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To be continued
As the table shows, after six calls for proposals there is still tremendous potential for new projects to help achieve smart, sustainable and inclusive growth in North-West Europe in the period 2010-2013. We hope for at least another 40 projects that means almost 400 partners from local, regional and national authorities, universities and research institutes, private firms and NGOs. Thinking back, NWE approved 99 projects in the previous period 2000-2006, and so far weve made a fantastic start with 49 projects but theres much project idea generation activity still to be undertaken. With over 155 million Euros of ERDF still to be allocated, there are plenty of opportunities to invest in. Priority erDF budget available (euro millions) erDF budget remaining (euro millions) erDF remaining as % of priority funds Potential number of projects still to approve (based on average project cost)

Data in September 2010

Potential number of partners still to get involved (based on average partnership size)

1 Capitalising on Innovation 2 Managing natural resources and risks 3 Improving connectivity 4 Strengthening communities total

89,348,419 86,930,420 89,357 665 , 68,480,191 334,116,695

55,394,371 24,463,852 45,225,007 30,343,878 155,427,108

62% 28% 51% 44% 48%

15-16 6-7 12-13 9-10 43-44

135-144 54-63 108-117 81-90 387-396

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but mind the gap!

The 7th Call for Proposals closed in September 2010. We are now looking to the 8th call and beyond, and continue to encourage excellent project ideas across all priorities. That said, we would really like to see more project applications in specific areas: Priority 1 projects in innovation, especially those addressing the innovation capacity of organizations Priority 3 projects in transport, especially on ICT-related matters Priority 4 projects on sustainable communities, especially those looking at good governance Given the range of existing projects in the INTERREG world and beyond, it is hoped that new projects will form synergies with existing ones being funded in the 13 transnational cooperation areas, but also with projects receiving other EU funds, such as the Objective 2 of the Cohesion Policy, the 7th Framework Programme Cooperation, Ideas, People Capacities, the new Competitiveness and Innovation Programme, or the trans-European networks (TENs) budget.

Growth within our grasp

As this brochure has shown, by providing just a taster of the diverse and complementary goals currently being pursued, the 49 approved projects are already addressing directly the priorities of the 2020 agenda. In their own way, each and every project those we were able to feature and those we werent are smart, sustainable and inclusive. Future projects should complement their work. Collectively, you as a project partner can help make North-West Europe the smartest, most sustainable and most inclusive region of Europe over the next 10 years and beyond.

We hope these projects have sharpened your focus on cooperation. Do you have eu2020 vision?

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Glossary
cohesion Policy (sometimes referred to as regional Policy) EU Cohesion Policy is designed to implement measures that will boost economic growth in the 27 Member States thereby reducing the gap in their respective levels of development. It enables regions to maximize their territorial assets, improve their competitiveness and contribute to a more cohesive Europe. For the first time ever, Cohesion Policy accounts for the largest share of the EU budget: 347 billion Euros - over a third of all EU spending. Within this budget 8.4 billion Euros of the European Regional Development Fund has been allocated to European Territorial Cooperation objective for 2007-2013. Also known as INTERREG, it is one of the three dimensions of Cohesion Policy (alongside Competitiveness and Convergence). structural Funds & cohesion Fund The Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund are the financial instruments of Cohesion Policy. The Funds participate fully, therefore, in pursuing the goal of economic, social and territorial cohesion. The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is currently the largest. Since 1975 it has provided support for the creation of infrastructure and productive job-creating investment, mainly for businesses. These Funds are used to finance regional policy projects in the framework of three new objectives Convergence aims at accelerating the convergence of the least developed EU Member States and regions by improving growth and employment conditions. This objective is financed by the ERDF and Cohesion Fund, as well as the European Social Fund. It represents 81.5% of the total resources allocated. Regional Competitiveness and Employment aims at anticipating economic and social change, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, protecting the environment and developing labour markets which include regions not covered by the Convergence objective. It is financed by the ERDF and the ESF and accounts for 16% of the total allocated resources. European Territorial Cooperation (thats us!) aims at strengthening cooperation at cross-border, transnational and interregional levels in the fields of urban, rural and coastal development, and fostering stronger economic relations and developing networks between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This objective is financed by ERDF Although it . represents only 2.5% of the total allocated resources, together we can achieve a lot with 1.83 billion Euros. interreG (now also known as Objective 3) Created in 1990, INTERREG differs from the majority of Cohesion Policy Programmes in one important respect: it involves collaboration among authorities of two or more Member States. It operates in all Member States and supports projects that seek to build on Europes territorial assets through cooperation. The aim of INTERREG is to learn from other European regions, share expertise and experience and develop cross-sectoral synergies in order to facilitate the development of a balanced territorial development. It consists of three strands: INTERREG IVA: 53 Programmes focusing on cross-border cooperation (6.46 billion Euros) INTERREG IVB: 13 Programmes targeting transnational cooperation (1.83 billion Euros) INTERREG IVC: 1 Programme focusing on interregional cooperation (0.32 billion Euros) now a to Z benchmarking This means measuring how well one country, business or industry is performing compared to other countries, businesses, industries, and so on. The benchmark is the standard by which performance is judged. climate change and 20/20/20 A Commission communication from January 2008 Europes Climate Change Opportunity (COM(2008)30 final) refers to the March 2007 agreement by the European Council (following a resolution by the European Parliament adopted on 14 February 2007) to set precise, legally binding targets being a symbol of Europes determination to tackle climate change. See: www.energy.eu/directives/ com2008_0030en01.pdf Much is at stake for the prosperity of the European economy. There is compelling evidence now available that the costs of inaction would be crippling for the world economy: 5%-20% of global GDP according to the Stern Report, by the UK , Treasury on the economics of climate change from 2006. See: www.hmtreasury.gov.uk/independent_ reviews/stern_review_economics_climate_ change/stern_review_report.cfm Two key targets were set by the European Council: a reduction of at least 20% in greenhouse gases (GHG) by 2020 rising to 30% if there is an international agreement committing other developed countries to comparable emission reductions and economically more advanced developing countries to contributing adequately according to their responsibilities and respective capabilities; and achieving a 20% share of renewable energies in EU energy consumption by 2020. committee of the regions Created in 1992 by the Treaty of Maastricht and established in 1994, the Committee of the Regions (CoR) is an advisory body that allows local and regional authorities to make their voices heard in the decisionmaking process of the European Union. It is composed of 344 representatives from local and regional authorities, appointed by the Council for four years. competitiveness and innovation Framework Programme (ciP) With small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as its main target, the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) supports innovation activities (including eco-innovation), provides better access to finance and delivers business support services in the regions. It encourages a better take-up and use of information and communication technologies (ICT) and helps to develop the information society. It also promotes the increased use of renewable energies and energy efficiency. The CIP runs from 2007 to 2013 with an overall budget of 3621 million. The CIP is divided into three operational programmes. Each Programme has its specific objectives, aimed at contributing to the competitiveness of enterprises and their innovative capacity in their own areas, such as ICT or sustainable energy: the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (EIP); the Information Communication Technologies Policy Support Programme (ICT-PSP); and the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme (IEE). copenhagen accord An agreement drawn up in December 2009 by leaders from the US, China, India, Brazil and South Africa that was recognized by the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. See: www.denmark.dk/en/menu/ClimateEnergy/COP15-Copenhagen-2009/ Directorate-General for regional Policy (DG reGiO) The mission of the Directorate General for Regional Policy, a service or department of the European Commission, is to strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion by reducing disparities in the level of development among regions and Member States. This means investing in regions indigenous potential to promote the competitiveness of regional economies and the permanent catch-up of those lagging behind the more prosperous areas. The emphasis is on ensuring that the EUs contribution to regional development adds maximum value. Regional policy is therefore an expression of solidarity and of the drive for increased competitiveness throughout the Union. Directive A piece of legislation that is binding as to the result to be achieved, but allows the individual Member States to choose how, often leaving a degree of latitude to accommodate national conventions. A Directive must be based on a Treaty Article, and will normally set a deadline by which the national legislatures must transpose it into law. Other EU legislative instruments include regulation, decision & recommendation. europe 2020 The Europe 2020 strategy put forward by the Commission sets out a vision of Europes social market economy for the 21st century. It shows how the EU can come out stronger from the crisis and how it can be turned into a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy delivering high levels of employment, productivity and social cohesion. To deliver rapid and lasting results, stronger economic governance will be required.

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GLOSSARY

Following the Commissions communication Europe 2020: a strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth put forward on 3 March 2010 (37 pages), discussions were held in the European Council on 25-26 March 2010. What it agreed was then formally adopted by the European Council, as can be seen in the conclusions from 17 June 2010 . Proposed strategy http://ec.europa.eu/eu2020/pdf/ Discussion and conclusions www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/ docs/pressdata/en/ec/113591.pdf conclusions and adoption http://ec.europa.eu/eu2020/pdf/115346.pdf Flood risk Directive Directive 2007/60/EC on the assessment and management of flood risks entered into force on 26 November 2007 This Directive . now requires Member States to assess if all water courses and coast lines are at risk from flooding, to map the flood extent and assets and humans at risk in these areas and to take adequate and coordinated measures to reduce this flood risk. This Directive also reinforces the rights of the public to access this information and to have a say in the planning process. Groundwater Directive The Groundwater Directive (2006/118/EC) on the protection of groundwater against pollution and deterioration establishes specific measures as provided for in Article 17(1) and (2) of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), in order to prevent and control groundwater pollution. These measures include criteria for assessing good groundwater chemical status; identifying and reversing significant and sustained negative upward trends; and defining how to reverse them. The parts of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) dealing with groundwater cover a number of steps for achieving good (quantitative and chemical) status by 2015. One of the things Member States must do is establish a programme of measures for achieving WFD environmental objectives (e.g. control or prevent abstraction and pollution) that would be operational by the end of 2012. Direct discharges of pollutants into groundwater are prohibited subject to a range of provisions listed in Article 11. The programme of measures has to be reviewed and, if necessary updated, by 2015 and every six years thereafter. lisbon and Gothenburg The Lisbon Strategy / Agenda was launched in March 2000 as an ambitious agenda of reforms to make the EU the most competitive and dynamic knowledge economy in the world. An environmental dimension was added through the EU Sustainable Development Strategy, with objectives relating to climate change, sustainable transport, public health and resource management, at the Gothenburg Council in June 2002. On 22-23 March 2005, the European Council discussed the Commissions mid-term review of Lisbon Strategy for economic, social and environmental renewal. More focus on

growth and employment, simplification and national ownership via national action plans were the key elements to relaunch Lisbon. mainstreaming Put simply, mainstreaming an issue means making sure it is fully taken into account in all EU polices. For example, every EU policy decision must now take account of its environmental implications. In other words, environmental considerations have been mainstreamed. natura 2000 Natura 2000 is a set of areas in the Member States in which plant and animal species and their habitats must be protected. Protection arrangements are laid down by the Birds Directive (1979) and the Habitats Directive (1992). Community legislation lists the species of fauna and flora and the habitats that are of special interest because of their rarity or vulnerability, and especially the species and habitats at risk of extinction. The network comprises Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for the conservation of over 180 bird species and sub-species and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for the conservation of over 250 types of habitat, 200 animal species and over 430 plant species. Natura 2000 today accounts for over 20% of the land area of the EU. Programme steering committee (Psc) The body composed of Member States representatives which decides on the project applications to be approved, based on recommendations put forward by the Joint Technical Secretariat. The PSC complements the work of the Programme Monitoring Committee (PMC) which takes more strategic decisions about the direction and priorities of the Programme. seventh Framework Programme (FP7) FP7 is the short name for the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. This is the EUs main instrument for funding research in Europe and it will run from 2007-2013. FP7 is also designed to respond to Europes employment needs, competitiveness and quality of life. http://ec.europa.eu/research/ fp7/index_en.cfm?pg=understanding spatial planning/spatial development/ territorial development/territorial cohesion Spatial planning / development refer to the methods used by the public sector to influence the distribution of people and activities in spaces of various scales. It includes all levels of land use planning and development (including urban and environmental) at a regional, national and international scale. At the European level, the term territorial cohesion is becoming more widely used and is mentioned in the EU Treaty (Constitution) as a shared competency of the EU. The term was defined in a scoping document in Rotterdam in late 2004 and elaborated further using empirical data from the ESPON Programme in a document entitled The Territorial State and Perspectives of the European Union. At the ministers

conference in May 2007 in Leipzig, a political document called the Territorial Agenda was signed to continue the process begun in Rotterdam. stakeholder Any person or organisation with an interest in or affected by EU legislation and policymaking is a stakeholder in that process. The European Commission consults as wide a range of stakeholders as possible before proposing new legislation or new policy initiatives. small and medium-sized enterprises (smes) SMEs are defined by a set of criteria concerning the workforce, turnover and independence of the business. In terms of the workforce alone, a micro-enterprise has fewer than 10 employees, a small enterprise fewer than 50 and a medium-sized enterprise fewer than 250. The EU has specifically defined SMEs so that the financial support can be targeted appropriately, acknowledging that SMEs account for more than 90% of all European firms. The aim is to source the untapped potential of SMEs for growth and job creation. subsidiarity The subsidiarity principle means that EU decisions must be taken as closely as possible to the citizen. It does not take action (except on matters for which it alone is responsible) unless EU action is more effective than when taken at the national, regional or local level. trans-european networks (ten) The function of Trans-European Networks is to create a modern and effective infrastructure to link European regional and national networks. They are essential to the internal market, since they ensure free movement of goods, persons and services. Title XV of the TEN provides its legal basis , which exist in three sectors of activity: transport, telecoms and energy. The TEN budget is supplemented by ERDF and the Cohesion Fund with loans granted by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Investment Fund (EIF). Water Framework Directive (WFD) The WFD is a piece of EU legislation from 2000. It forms the basis for many of the changes that are taking place in the management of the EUs water environment, providing a framework for the protection, improvement and sustainable use of all water bodies in the environment from source to sea, including rivers, canals, lakes, estuaries, wetlands, coastal waters and groundwater. The main aims of the Directive are to protect and improve the water environment. This includes preventing the deterioration of aquatic ecosystems and, where possible, restoring ground and surface waters damaged by pollution, water abstraction, dams and engineering activities to good status by 2015. For DG REGIOs own glossary of terms please go to: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_ policy/glossary/glossary_en.htm

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Answers How did you score?

1.B, 2.B, 3.C, 4.C, 5.A, 6.B, 7 8.A, 9.B, 10.C, 11.C, 12.B, 13.A, 14.C, 15.A, 16.B .B,

Useful links
theme 1: Created in April 2000, the european renewable energy council (erec) is the umbrella organization of the European renewable energy industry, trade and research associations active in the sectors of photo-voltaics, small hydropower, solar thermal, bio-energy, geothermal, ocean, concentrated solar power and wind energy. EREC represents an industry with an annual turnover of EUR 70 billion and providing over 550.000 jobs. EREC is composed of 11 non-profit associations and federations. www.erec.org theme 2: The european association of craft, small and medium-sized enterprises (ueaPme) is the employers organization representing the interests of European crafts, trades and SMEs at EU level. It is a non-profit seeking and non-partisan organization. As the European SME umbrella organization, UEAPME incorporates 85 member organizations from 34 countries consisting of national cross-sectoral SME federations, European branch federations and other associate members, which support SMEs. UEAPME represents more than 12 million enterprises, which employ around 55 million people across Europe. www.ueapme.com theme 3: euGris is a web portal offering information and services on topics related to soil and water management in Europe. EUGRIS operates as a community of collaborating projects, people and organisations who co-operate to supply information for the benefit of everyone and also to promote themselves and disseminate their work. It began as a project supported by the European Commission under the Fifth Framework Programme and other supporters. www.eugris.info theme 4: aGe Platform europe is a European network of around 150 organisations of and for people aged 50+ representing directly over 28 million older people in Europe. Its work focuses on a wide range of policy areas including anti-discrimination, employment of older workers and active ageing, social protection, pension reforms, social inclusion, health, research, accessibility of public transport and of the build environment, and ICT. AGE seeks to give a voice to older and retired people in the EU policy debates, through the active participation of their representative organisations at EU, national, regional and local levels. The european Hospital and Healthcare Federation (HOPe) is an international non-profit organisation, created in 1966. HOPE represents national public and private hospital associations and hospital owners, either federations of local and regional authorities or national health services. Today, HOPE is made up of 32 organisations coming from 26 Member States of the European Union, plus Switzerland. HOPEs mission is to promote improvements in the health of citizens throughout Europe, high standard of hospital care, and efficiency with humanity in the organization and operation of hospital and healthcare services. www.age-platform.org and www.hope.be theme 5: The institute for european environmental Policy (ieeP) is an independent not for profit institute dedicated to advancing an environmentally sustainable Europe through policy analysis, development and dissemination. It offers in depth expertise across the biodiversity and nature conservation field and undertake work for a range of clients including the European Commission, central government departments and agencies, and non-governmental organisations. IEEP contributes to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)s Regional Office for Europe newsletter, through an insert called Brussels in Brief, summarising EU policy developments of relevance to nature conservation and biodiversity. www.ieep.eu and www.iucn.org theme 6: The european local transport information service (eltis) is a web portal on urban transport and mobility. Its aim is to provide information and support a practical transfer of knowledge and exchange of experience in the field of urban and regional transport in Europe. It should give the user the opportunity to explore best practices from European cities and regions, to search for specific transport solutions and to be informed about the state of the art in a given transport application. In turn this should help create a more sustainable living environment, one which provides greater accessibility and mobility to its inhabitants. www.eltis.org

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INFORMATION

IVB NWE Project websites

VALUE WAVE FORESTCLIM HDC IMCORE REGAIN ALFA FloodResilienCity FITT MANDIE CIB FUTURE CITIES PILLS ROCK PORTICO ECCE INNOVATION COLLABOR8 BAPTS TRAMSTORE21 LIVINGGREEN ICMA BLISS AMICE CAPEM FASILIS C-CHANGE SINTROPHER SCALDWIN INTRADE DAIRYMAN MANAGE+ CITYCHLOR SUSSTATION TICKET TO KYOTO WECAN CODE24 FOOD2MARKET SIGNATURE SUCCESS SENIOR ENTREPRISE ENEVATE DEMARRAGE GREENOV +COMPOSITES WATERTRUCK INLANAV GREENCOOK MUSIC IOIT www.value-landscapes.eu/ www.waveproject.eu/ www.forestclim.eu www.hdc-cooperation.eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=32 www.imcore.eu/ www.programme-regain.eu/-Regain-Project-.html www.alfa-project.eu/en/about/ www.floodresiliencity.eu/en/about/index.php?mod=login&sel=setcookie www.fitt-for-innovation.eu/ www.district-management.eu/ www.cib-online.eu/ www.future-cities.eu www.pills-project.eu/index.php?id=138 www.rock-project.eu/ www.portico.nu/ www.ecce-innovation.eu/ www.collabor8.me/ www.bapts.eu/ www.tramstore21.eu/ www.livinggreen.eu/ www.icma-mobilife.eu/ www.bliss-streetlab.eu/ www.amice-project.eu/fr/ www.capem.eu/capem/en/6937-accueil.html www.fasilis.eu/ www.cchangeproject.org/ www.sintropher.eu/ www.scaldwin.org/scaldwin-1 www.intrade-nwe.eu/ www.interregdairyman.eu/ No website yet http://www.citychlor.eu/ No website yet www.tickettokyoto.eu/ No website yet www.code-24.eu/ No website yet www.securityinnovationnetwork.com No website yet www.seniorenterprise.ie/ www.link-eu.net/en/projects/P14 No website yet www.greenov.net/ www.pluscomposites.eu www.nweurope.org/index.php?act=project_detail&id=3988 www.inlanav.eu/DefaultContentFR.aspx?PageID=9 www.green-cook.org No website yet No website yet

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the Joint technical secretariat (Jts) is based in lille and can be contacted at any time for the Joint technical secretariat (Jts), based in lille, as well as the national contact Points, can be contacted at any time for queries related to project development, finance, management and the application procedure. With 18 members of staff from nine different countries, the international nature of the secretariat resonates with the Programmes aim. the working language of the secretariat is english although the team as a whole is competent in all four languages of the nWe area. members of staff including contact Points can be contacted by telephone or by e-mail.

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acknowledgements
This publication was produced and published by the Joint Technical Secretariat of the INTERREG IVB North-West Europe Programme. The work was done in collaboration with the United Kingdom Programme Chair on behalf of the Programmes bodies. Drafting: Paul Stephenson Editing: Paul Stephenson and the NEW Joint Technical Secretariat The Do you have EU2020 vision? slogan, Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive icons and opticians eye test symbol for EU2020/IVB NWE are the original idea and design of Paul Stephenson Printing: Poplar Graphic Design: Poplar Grid Design: Daniel Kurth Lille, September 2010 Thanks go to the project managers and their project partners and colleagues in communications and finance for providing input for the publication, and to all who helped produce this work, including those who supplied photographs.

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Working for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth