Hidrológiai Közlöny, 2017 (97. évfolyam)
2017 / 3. szám - TRANSNATIONAL EFFORTS - Kocsis-Kupper Zsuzsanna: Financing possibilities for water projects in the Danube region in 2017
6 Hidrológiai Közlöny (Hungarian Journal of Hydrology) 2017. 97. évf. 3. sz. Financing possibilities for water projects in the Danube region in 2017 Zsuzsanna Kocsis-Kupper EUSDR Priority Area Water Quality (PA4), chief advisor Abstract The paper gives a short overview of the financing possibilities for water projects in the Danube region in 2017, highlighting the most relevant funding programmes from territorial cooperation to sectoral programmes, listing also Danube- specific funding instruments open in 2017. Keywords Macro-regional strategies, Danube Strategy, water management, alignment of funding, Priority Areas Water Quality and Environmental Risks, cross-border cooperation (CBC) programmes EUSDR ALIGNMENT OF FUNDING Six years after the launch of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) and approaching the edge of the current financing period of 2014-2020, cooperation between the Danube Countries has entered a new phase with even stronger focus on funding opportunities and specifically on more efficient use of funds. The importance of using funds efficiently was stressed already by the Ministers in charge of EU Funds, European Affairs or European Integration from the participating States and Regions and the European Commissioner for Regional Policy gathered in the EUSDR Annual Forum in Ulm in 2015 (Ulm Statement 2015). In their Joint Statement the Ministers agreed that the success of the EUSDR implementation requires the alignment of relevant programmes and use of these EU Funds in line with the EUSDR Priority Areas and targets. The Ministers emphasised that EUSDR countries should put all efforts in using other possible funding sources on national, regional or local level and called upon the European Commission to further enable stronger synergies between EU Macro-Regional Strategies, regional multilateral agreements and EU Programmes directly managed by the European Commission such as Horizon 2020, Erasmus+, Creative Europe, COS ME, LIFE, CEF and the EU Fund for Strategic Investments. Ministers agreed that the link between the European Territorial Cooperation Programmes (known as Int erreg) and the EUSDR is crucial. The Ministers stressed the importance of the ongoing exchange of information about successfully implemented mechanisms and good practices of the smart use of various regional, national and EU funding possibilities for relevant EUSDR projects. In this regard, they agreed to take further steps to: 1. Improve the exchange of information between the actors managing the ESIF Programmes and the equivalent instruments for non-EU countries, and those in charge of the EUSDR implementation. 2. Enhance coordination between the relevant ESIF Operational and Cooperation Programmes and the equivalent instruments for non-EU countries and EUSDR actors. 3. Streamline project selection within the applicable legal framework and where appropriate, the 2014- 20 ESIF Programmes can use part of the funds to co-finance actions or projects of macro-regional scope and interest 4. Consider EUSDR related calls and where relevant, such calls aim at allocating funds in a well- targeted manner through specific calls for EUSDR projects within Priority Axis of Operational Programmes or to a duly justified limited geographical perimeter. 5. Facilitate exchange of experience and development of joint solutions within the Danube Region. Finally, the Ministers have called upon all interested parties to join efforts and continue to ensure progress in the implementation process of the EUSDR by identifying and promoting suitable projects that can add value for the benefit of the inhabitants of the Danube Region. Taking on the conclusions from the referred Joint Statement, discussions continued within the EUSDR on stock-taking exercise of aligning EUSDR with European Structural and Investments Funds (ESIF). At the National Coordinators' meeting in Brussels, 10 December 2015 the National Coordinators (NC) provided practical examples to ensure financing of the EUSDR relevant projects from which discussions the following conclusions were drawn:- At the strategic document level: in general, the EUSDR objectives are well embedded in the Partnership Agreements' and Operational Programmes' texts in the Member States. At the operational level: a few countries already apply specific selection criteria in some of their programmes (i.e. giving bonus points, earmarked budget, etc.) Internal coordination: many countries are already using different approaches, which in general seem suitable for involving the programmes into the process. o Several NCs are taking part in the Monitoring Committee meetings of ESIF Funds as member or as observer to help to facilitate funding of relevant projects. o The involvement of Steering Group members of the specific priority areas at national level into the work of ESIF programmes (i.e. into the work of the Monitoring Committees, etc.) via the NCs or directly brings tangible results in the implementation, while increasing own
