France now eligible for the Interreg North Sea Region program

France and in particular the Hauts-de-France Region, the Normandy Region and the Brittany Region have joined the future program "Interreg North Sea 2021-2027" whose Managing Authority and Joint Secretariat are based in Denmark.

With a budget of 175 million euros for the period 2021-2027, this Interreg program promotes collaboration with 6 countries in the North Sea region: Belgium (Flemish Region), Germany (North-East territories), the Netherlands, Sweden (South-West territory), Denmark and Norway (associated partner/southern territories). This cooperation area has 60 million inhabitants, a surface area of 536,000 km2 and a maritime border of 34,000 km. It is a maritime region marked by its diversity with densely populated urban territories and very dynamic at the European level, but also much more rural regions.

AQUIMER participated on Monday, June 28 in an inaugural webinar where the cross-cutting themes, priorities and specific objectives of the program were presented. Project proposals will be required to address one of the following priorities:

• Priority 1) robust and smart economies,
• Priority 2) a green transition,
• Priority 3) a climate resilient space,
• Priority 4) better governance for the North Sea area.

In addition to the priorities, three cross-domain challenges have been identified for this new programming period: digitalization; development of rural territories and connections between urban and rural territories; strengths and challenges in the North Sea maritime basin.

Any type of French entity based in the eligible area can participate (public and private entities, universities, third sector...) and benefit from a 60% co-financing rate. For the details of the rules of participation in the program it will be necessary to wait until after the summer when the final program will be adopted and the first call for projects will be launched.

AQUIMER has also met and obtained the contacts of more than 100 sector player from the regions eligible to the program during 4 networking days organized in the framework of this inauguration. Do not hesitate to contact us if you are looking for collaboration opportunities. Also, do not miss the opportunity to participate in the "Interreg North Sea Networking Conference" which will take place from 23 to 25 November in Bruges.