CCBS Toolkit Essential Reading for INTERREG V and PEACE IV Applicants

Applicants to the INTERREG VA Cross-border Programme for Territorial Co-operation 2014-2020, Northern Ireland, Border Region of Ireland and Western Scotland & PEACE IV EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation 2014-2020, Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland have been encouraged to use the Impact Assessment Toolkit for Cross-Border Cooperation, developed by the Centre for Cross Border Studies with the Euro Institute.  The Toolkit  –  one of the key guidance documents for applicants – is accessible directly from the website of the Special EU Programmes Body or on the CCBS website at http://www.crossborder.ie/?p=2951.

At both stages of the application process, “the quality of cross-border co-operation with demonstrable added value” is an essential criteria for INTERREG V-funded projects against which applications will be assessed – with a value of up to 20% of the total score. This requirement is in line with the renewed emphasis on cross-border work by the EU Commission.  All INTERREG VA projects must be cross-border in nature and they must show why the project is needed on a cross-border basis and how it will be enhanced through cross-border delivery. Applicants to the PEACE IV Programme are encouraged to place an increased emphasis on cross-community and cross-border work.

The Guide for Applicants for the two Programmes sets out what information is needed to demonstrate compliance with the cross-border cooperation criterion. Applicants must:

• Describe how the project will apply principles of joint development, implementation, financing and staffing.
• Show how the proposed results and outputs could not (or perhaps could only to some extent) otherwise be achieved without co-operation on a cross-border basis;
• Demonstrate if and how the project will bring significant added value for the partners by working on a cross-border basis;
• Show how cross-border working will bring new solutions that go beyond the existing practice in the sector on a single jurisdictional basis.

(Most of the open Calls for INTERREG V are closing in October or November 2015, although Calls for three of the Environment Objectives will close in early January. The new PEACE Programme is currently undergoing review and negotiation with the European Commission with an anticipated launch in the spring of 2015).

The Centre for Cross Border Studies provides training and mentoring services to cross-border partnerships (involving public bodies, civil society organisations and/or enterprises) that wish to develop cross-border or transnational projects.  Our training in cross-border project planning is based on the 6-step methodology in our Impact Assessment Toolkit for Cross-border Cooperation and can be tailored to meet the needs of your project.