Handbook on the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation – What use for European Territorial Cooperation programmes and projects?
Contact: Elise Blais, INTERACT Point Managing Transition and External Cooperation, firstname.surname@interact-eu.net

Updated version May 2008

The INTERACT Handbook on the EGTC is a synthetic and practice-oriented guide containing the main information available to date and useful for the setting up of an EGTC. The Handbook addresses in particular two types of EGTC: for the management of European Territorial Cooperation programmes and projects, but it also provides general guidance for all types of EGTC.

The Handbook contains:

• A presentation of the EGTC: genesis of the Regulation, content, presentation of the main advantages and disadvantages
• A presentation of the state of the national provisions in the EU Member States
• A presentation of a Roadmap for the setting-up of an EGTC: The roadmap focuses on the different phases of the setting-up and implementation of an EGTC, with a presentation of the legal basis, the main questions to be asked and an action list.
• A list of case studies from EGTCs in preparation, completed by a non-exhaustive listing of the EGTCs currently in development on the EU territory.
• Two templates available for consideration and possible use: "EGTC model convention" and "EGTC model statutes"
• Etc

Downloads:

• EGTC Handbook and main annexes - new version

Additional annexes

• Relevant Community Regulations (EGTC, EEIG, SE, SCE etc)
• National provisions adopted or in adoption:
• Belgium - Region Flanders (in Flemish)
• Bulgaria (in English)
• Denmark (in Danish)
• France (in French)
• Greece (in English)
• Hungary (in English)
• Portugal (in Portuguese and English)
• Romania (in Romanian)
• Spain (in Spanish)
• United Kingdom (National provisions and Guidance note, in English)

Handbook on the Lead Partner Principle
Contact: Manuel Gonzalez Evangelista, INTERACT Point Valencia, manuel.gonzalez@interact-eu.net

This handbook analyses the tasks and obligations of the "Lead Partners" in the current and future programming period for INTERREG programmes. The handbook has a practical approach and provides clear guidelines, reference sources and good practices for the implementation of the "Lead Partner Principle" at both programme and project level, concerning the financial and technical issues relating to programme management.

Strategic Project Generation: Experience and Good Practice in INTERREG IIIA Programmes (in communication patterns and information flows)
Contact: Mauro Novello, INTERACT Point Managing Transition and External Cooperation, mauro.novello@interact-eu.net

The objectives of this handbook are 1) To find and describe the patterns of formal and informal structures, processes and activities that favour strategic project generation in INTERREG IIIA Programmes and 2) To document examples of good practice of strategic cross border project generation. The results of this investigation shall help the involved Programme Authorities to design their own communication and support tools in a way that makes the generation of strategic projects more likely. The handbook is now available.

Handbook on Financial Support to Draft INTERREG Project Applications
Contact: Inma Arroyas, INTERACT Point Tool Box, ip.tb@interact-eu.net

A tool for better use of European Regional Development Funds commitment.

Effective Management of INTERREG IIIA Programmes - A set of Information Sheets
Contact: Matt Nichols, INTERACT Point Qualification and Transfer, ip.qt@interact-eu.net

A set of eight Information Sheets covering subjects such as: How to implement the Lead Partner principle; First Level Control; and What changes can be expected in the Next Programming Period.

The Eligibility Handbook
Contact: Daniela Abratzky, INTERACT Point Managing Transition and External Cooperation, ip.mt@interact-eu.net

This study includes a comparative analysis of the various different interpretations and practices of EU provisions on eligibility of expenditure in the Member States of Managing Transition and External Cooperation’s geographical area. The wide scope of the EU Regulations related to EFRD and the different national legislations have lead to an inhomogeneous use of the eligibility principle, the study is, therefore a useful tool for INTERREG actors involved in programming and other (potential) project owners (e.g. Intermediary Bodies, JTS).

Recommendations for the implementation of INTERREG III Subsidy Contracts
Contact: INTERACT Point Valencia, ip.valencia@interact-eu.net

The tool has been conceived to provide INTERREG programmes with practical and analytical information for an easy implementation of their information and contractual tasks towards project Lead Partners, when executing Subsidy Contracts. In this tool, you will find in a compact way:

• A commented analysis of a standard Subsidy Contract and Good Practice examples.
• A comparative analysis on existing Subsidy Contract models considering whether these obey the same rules or whether legal, political and administrative profiles in the different areas of cooperation play a defining role and lead to different approaches.

This study is also available in French.

Good Practice INTERREG III Partnership Agreement
Contact: INTERACT Point Valencia, ip.valencia@interact-eu.net

The tool has been conceived to provide INTERREG programmes with practical and analytical information for an effective execution and implementation of INTERREG Partnership Agreements. In this tool, you will find in a compact way:

• A comparative analysis on existing Partnership Agreements templates and practices in order to identify Good Practice examples, bottlenecks and unresolved legal issues that may have delayed, in the current programming period, the implementation of INTERREG projects.
• A practical and clear template of a Good Practice Partnership Agreement.

This study is also available in French.

Good Practice INTERREG III Reporting Template
Contact: INTERACT Point Valencia, ip.valencia@interact-eu.net

The tool has been conceived to provide INTERREG programmes with a complete and optimized Reporting Template and Guidelines for easier future project reporting procedures within INTERREG III programmes. In this tool, you will find in a compact way:

• A comparative analysis of existing INTERREG III programmes' reporting templates and guidelines.
• A Good Practice Reporting Template, as well as identified Good Practices templates and guidelines in INTERREG Programmes.

Good Practice INTERREG III Strands A, B & C Eligibility and Selection Criteria
Contact: INTERACT Point Valencia, ip.valencia@interact-eu.net

The tool has been conceived to provide INTERREG programmes with a tool to improve the quality of existing instruments for project evaluation. The aim of the tool is twofold:

• To identify Good Practice examples amongst INTERREG programmes (as well as bottlenecks or lack of tools).
• To propose good practice examples for project evaluation, including good practice Eligibility and Selection criteria.

Downloads:

• The Cube (application/vnd.ms-excel, 2.22MB)

Good Practice INTERREG III Project Evaluation and Selection Manual
Contact: INTERACT Point Valencia, ip.valencia@interact-eu.net

The tool has been conceived to provide INTERREG programmes with practical and analytical information on evaluation methods for INTERREG project selection. In this tool, you will find in a compact way:

• A comparative analysis on existing evaluation methods used by INTERREG III programmes.
• An Evaluator's Manual compiling identified Good Practice examples.

This study is also available in French.

Along the EU's external borders

Cross-border success stories

Good Practice INTERREG III Quality Project Generation
Contact: INTERACT Point Valencia, ip.valencia@interact-eu.net

The handbook aims to provide INTERREG programmes with practical and analytical information on current practices for INTERREG project generation that ensure quality projects. You will find in a compact way:

• A comparative analysis on existing methods to generate projects and ensure quality used by INTERREG III programmes.
• Cases studies of identified Good Practice examples and suggestions for their implementation.

This study is also available in French.

Good Practice INTERREG III Application Pack
Contact: INTERACT Point Valencia, ip.valencia@interact-eu.net

The tool aims to provide INTERREG programmes with quality information, to improve project and programme implementation tasks, especially those related to application processes. You will find in a compact way:

• A Good Practice Application Form Template.
• A list of all documents that should be included in an application pack, such as application guidelines, programme manuals, and identified Good Practice documents.