Site updated 06-05-06
MANAGEMENT AND CO-ORDINATION OF INTERRG IIIB IN THE UK
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PRINCIPAL ORGANISATIONS
Office of Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM)
The ODPM is responsible for managing and co-ordinating INTERREG in England. A principal aim is to maximise UK participation in three of the four IIIB Programmes in which the UK has an interest: North Sea (NS), North West Europe (NWE) and Atlantic Area (AA) Programmes (the Northern Periphery Programme is managed and co-ordinated by the Scottish Executive). To meet this aim, ODPM works in partnership with the regional Government Offices in England. ODPM also co-ordinates INTERREG IIIB activity for the NS, NWE and AA Programmes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in partnership with the Devolved Administrations. In addition ODPM / International Planning Unit (IPU) liaises closely with a wide spread of non governmental agencies to consider how particular UK interests can best be served.
ODPM/IPU has established a UK Liaison Group (UKLG) on INTERREG IIIB and IIIC. The UKLG advises at a strategic level on the balance and quality of projects coming forward from within the UK. It is chaired by ODPM and includes representatives from the English Regions Network, the Welsh Local Government Association, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, the Regional Development Authorities, the Equal Opportunities Commission, environmental interests as well as the Government Offices and Devolved Administrations.
With the assistance of the Government Offices and Devolved Administrations, the UK Contact Points (see below), and the UKLG, the ODPM is maintaining an overview of the projects which are coming forward from the UK to ensure that quality transnational projects with tangible outcomes measured by outputs are developed and promoted successfully; that they are in line with the main aims and funding priorities of the Programmes, and they take forward relevant regional/territorial planning priorities. Click for the ODPM Project Development Overview.
ODPM is not directly engaged in project development activities but has appointed UK Contact Points who provide advice to those wishing to develop projects in the NS, NWE and AA Programmes. The ODPM also manages a fund (£9 million) to help provide successful UK ERDF project applicants with match funding. The ODPM is represented on the Programme Monitoring Committees which manage the Programmes and on the Programme Steering Committees which decide whether a project will be granted ERDF. Click for contact details.
UK Contact Points
ODPM has appointed four National Contact Points to help support project development for UK interests in the NS, NWE and AA Programmes of INTERREG IIIB. Click for contact details.
Government Offices and Devolved Administrations
Government Offices and Devolved Administrations help the ODPM to co-ordinate INTERREG IIIB activity. In particular their role is to facilitate important regional networking structures to promote the participation of their regions in the INTERREG IIIB initiative; in the process they link with the UK Contact Points. They also provide ODPM with an assessment of ERDF applications from their region/territory, advising on the extent to which applications meet (or impede) regional planning priorities as set out in Regional Planning Guidance or relevant Planning Frameworks and policies within the Devolved Territories. They also provide an assessment of applications submitted to them for ODPM match funding. Click for contact details.
