Program of Transnational Cooperation of the Mediterranean Region MED 2014-2020 – Interreg V-B MED
Summary
The MED Transnational Cooperation Program supports the exchange of experiences, knowledge and the improvement of public policies at the national, regional and local level.
The MED Program covers 57 regions from 10 different EU member states. and 3 sub-member countries. More specifically, the Program covers the following areas:
EU Member States:
- Cyprus: The whole country
- France: 5 regions – Corse, Languedoc-Roussillon, Midi-Pyrénées, Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur, Rhône-Alpes
- Greece: The whole country
- Italy: 19 regions- Abruzzo, Apulia, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardy, Marche, Molise, Piedmonte, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany, Umbria, Valle D’Aosta, Veneto.
- Malta: The whole country
- Portugal: 3 regions– Algarve, Alentejo, Area Metropolitana de Lisboa
- Slovenia: Entire country (West and East Slovenia)
- etc.
The general objective of the MED Program for the programming period 2014-2020 is to promote the sustainable development of the Mediterranean region using innovative ideas and practices, promoting the rational use of the resources of the eligible region and supporting social integration through integrated territorial cooperation.
Programme Description
The general objective of the Program will be implemented through the following 4 Priority Axes:
Priority Axis 1: Promoting innovation capacity in the Mediterranean for smart and sustainable growth
Priority Axis 2: Creating low carbon and energy efficiency strategies in specific Mediterranean areas: cities, islands and remote areas
Priority Axis 3: Protection and promotion of the natural and cultural resources of the Mediterranean
Priority Axis 4: Promoting governance in the Mediterranean
Priority Axis 1: Promoting the capacity for innovation in the Mediterranean with the aim of smart and sustainable development: Priority Axis 1 aims to strengthen the capacity of public and private actors in the Mediterranean to innovate and support smart and sustainable development.
Specific Objective 1.1: Increasing the transnational activity of innovative clusters and networks of critical sectors of the Mediterranean Area
The aim is to improve the capacity for innovation of public and private actors involved in the fields of blue and green growth, creative enterprises and the social economy through stronger transnational cooperation and better interconnection between research bodies, businesses, public authorities and the civil society.
The main change sought is the strengthening of the clusters and networks of actors involved in innovation. This objective includes the development of clusters and networks of actors that already exist by increasing collaborations and increasing the transfer of innovation between said actors.
Priority Axis 2: Creating low-carbon strategies and energy efficiency in specific Mediterranean areas: cities, islands and remote areas: Priority Axis 2 aims to better manage energy consumption in buildings, promote renewable energy sources in territorial strategies development and increasing the use of low-carbon means of transport in urban areas. This specific axis mainly aims to adapt and improve public policies and practices followed by end users.
Specific Objective 2.1: Increase capacity for better energy management in public buildings at a transnational level
The aim is to reduce energy consumption in buildings by promoting the use of innovative solutions, better information and the involvement of the public sector and the population towards finding energy efficient solutions.
In the Mediterranean regions, buildings are the main source of greenhouse gas emissions. As many programs finance the upgrading of infrastructure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the MED Program wants to intervene in the qualitative aspect of the issue by supporting the exchange of experiences, practices and innovative solutions for owners and managers of public buildings.
The main change sought is to improve the ability of public building owners and managers to develop and implement energy efficient practices. The Program will focus on how energy efficient innovative solutions are promoted, disseminated and adopted by owners, managers and users of public buildings.
Specific Objective 2.2: Increase the share of renewable energy sources in energy mix strategies and plans in the Mediterranean regions
The aim is to increase the share of renewable energy sources in the energy mix taking into account the particularities and diversity of the Mediterranean regions (cities, islands, coastal and remote areas).
The main change sought is the increase of local renewable energy sources in the energy mix of the strategies and plans of the MED regions and the strengthening of these strategies, taking into account their territorial specificities.
Specific Objective 2.3: Increase capacity to use existing low-carbon transport systems including multimodal connections
The aim is to increase the use of sustainable transport systems by developing low-carbon mobility plans and implementing rail and sea transport applications for passengers and cargo in the Program areas.
The main change sought is the increase of end users who will have better access to the use of sustainable transport systems.
Priority Axis 3: Protection and promotion of the natural and cultural resources of the Mediterranean: The objective of Priority Axis 3 is to reduce the possible negative impact of human actions on the natural and cultural heritage and to ensure the protection of natural resources. Greater emphasis will be placed on coastal and marine areas as well as water management, areas which are common challenges for the Mediterranean regions.
Specific Objective 3.1: Promotion of sustainable development policies for more efficient use of natural resources and cultural heritage in coastal and marine areas
The aim is to strengthen sustainable development policies and to increase the coordination of strategies between regions at the inter-regional and transnational level for the better protection and exploitation of natural and cultural heritage in coastal and marine areas.
The main change sought is the improvement of strategies, policies and plans for a more effective exploitation of the natural resources and cultural heritage of coastal and marine areas.
Specific Objective 3.2: Conserve biodiversity and natural ecosystems by strengthening the management and networking of protected areas
The aim is to adapt and improve protection measures in order to reduce threats to coastal and marine ecosystems. It includes better integration of protected areas in regional development strategies and more intensive cooperation between MED regions (exchange of information, strategies, regulations …) taking into account the EU Marine Strategy Directive and the Barcelona Convention.
The main change sought is the strengthening of management and cooperation between protected areas, in order to increase their capacities in various matters such as for example the management of water resources, the fight against species that invade the area, as well as the monitoring of fishing and tourist activities.
Priority Axis 4: Promotion of governance in the Mediterranean: Priority Axis 4 will contribute to the promotion of the existing dialogue on macro-regional strategies in the Mediterranean and to the creation of a common basis for cooperation on issues that currently lack common agreements and operational planning.
Specific Objective 4.1: Support the process of strengthening and developing multilateral coordination frameworks in the Mediterranean with the aim of jointly addressing challenges
The aim is to develop the cooperation process and agreements by strengthening ongoing initiatives and strategies at macro-regional and sea basin level on important issues of concern to the Mediterranean and Europe. This process will involve authorities of all eligible countries participating in the Program and will necessitate a multi-level discussion with the participation of local, regional and national authorities.
The Mediterranean region is one of the most heterogeneous areas of EU cooperation. Geographical, economic and political contexts can differ significantly from one region to another and the implementation of common development strategies in key areas such as maritime security, transport, energy or pollution is a big challenge.
The main change sought is the development of a governance process between all the countries participating in the Program taking into account the cooperation initiatives already started or tested in the various areas of intervention of the MED program.
The main result of this priority will be the definition of cooperation measures between the countries participating in the Programme. It will include discussion and exchange of processes, multilateral cooperation platforms, defining the objectives, strategy and action plan for the implementation of common measures in the Mediterranean.
Integrated Approach to Territorial Development:
The MED Program is built on the basis of an integrated maritime approach and seeks adequate solutions to common transnational challenges. Cooperation and a territorial approach are the appropriate tools for contributing to the goals set by the Program and for the transnational response to challenges that require the adaptation of public policies and the response of all the actors involved that will ensure long-term and sustainable development.
Therefore, the actions to be financed under the different objectives of the Program must be developed taking into account integrated maritime policy, including integrated coastal zone management and marine spatial planning.
More specifically, the Program will place greater emphasis on 4 types of areas that represent significant challenges due to the resources they have, their potential development or the economic difficulties they face.
The areas of interest are the following:
Coastal areas that are attractive destinations, gather a significant number of activities and are characterized by fragile natural and cultural resources.
Urban areas as centers of innovation and socio-economic activities, which face environmental challenges due to pollution and carbon dioxide emissions.
Islands that represent an important economic, environmental and cultural aspect of the Mediterranean region.
Rural and remote areas characterized by agricultural activities and sparsely populated. The development of these areas is hindered by geographic isolation and/or demographic and environmental changes.
Types of actions (non-exhaustive list):
The Program, through the projects it will approve, will enable the exchange of experiences, knowledge, networking and capacity building of the public and private sector. Also, where deemed necessary, it will support the implementation of pilot actions for the control of tools, procedures, governance systems which will contribute to the improvement of public interventions and support long-term sustainable development in key sectors such as green and blue development (energy, agriculture and agro-industry , biotechnology, ecological constructions, etc.).
The expected results of the above actions will concern:
- Policies and strategies
- Methodologies and tools
- Pilot actions
- Action plans
- Common management systems and cooperation agreements
Total Budget
€ Co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) with 224,322,525 euros. The total support from the Mechanism for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) amounts to 9,355,783 euros. Therefore, the total budget of the program, including national participation, is 275,905,320 euros
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
85% for Priority Axes 1-4 except in the case of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which fall under the General Exemption Regulation, for which the co-financing rate is 50%.
Thematic Categories
- Education and training
- Energy
- Environment and Climate Change
- Fisheries/ Aquaculture and Maritime Policy
- Information Technology
- Natural and Cultural Heritage
- Public Administration
- Regional Development
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
- Small-Medium Enterprises and Competitiveness
- Tourism
- Transport
Eligibility for Participation
- Associations
- Central Government
- Chambers
- Educational Institutions
- Local Authorities
- NGOs
- Non Profit Organisations
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Services Providers
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
- State-owned Enterprises
- Training Centres
Programme Opening Date
01/01/1900
Programme Closing Date
01/01/1900
National Contact Point(s)
Marilena Αgiomamitou, Planning Officer, General Directorate of European Programs, Coordination and Development,
+357 22602870, +357 22602890, +35722602820, mayiomamitou@dgepcd.gov.cy
EU Contact Point
Région Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, 27, Place Jules Guesde, 13481 Marseille Cedex 20, France, Tel: +33 4 91 57 52 96 (or 5133), Fax: +33 4 91 57 53 13, E-mail: programme_med@regionpaca.fr
For the special objective 1.1:
Nicolas Espitalier, nespitalier@regionpaca.fr
Nuno Vaz Silva, ncvazsilva@regionpaca.fr
For special objectives 2.3:
Mercedes Acitores Franzon, acitoresfranzon@regionpaca.fr
For the special objective 3.1:
Sophie Scarvelis, sscarvelis@regionpaca.fr
For the special objective 3.2:
Blanca Lopez Bassa, blopezbassa@regionpaca.fr
Website
Programme/Sub-programme/Plan Calls
No calls found