Europe comes to Lower Normandy! INTERREG is encouraging cooperative European territorial projects.  And Lower Normandy is eligible. The news is out. Throughout the region, teams are actively rallying to develop projects

Interregional cooperation is not only possible, it is also very much encouraged by the Europe Union. And it is precisely the aim behind INTERREG (see definition). “The aim of these cooperative programmes is to reduce the psychological or material barriers associated with geographical frontiers,” explains Julie Miclot, in charge of the Lower Normandy Regional Council’s “European affairs and territorial cooperation” department. Lower Normandy is eligible to join four INTERREG programmes. And each time, the European procedure involves a request for proposals. Then all the project initiator needs to do is to register within one of the priority themes defined by the Europe Union, bearing in mind that cooperative projects can cover a variety of subjects such as innovation, tourism or the environment.”Among the programmes, the cross-border strand (INTERREG IV A) is the one that the most directly concerns our region. “It aims at transforming the English Channel from a frontier into a link,” highlights François Thomas, assistant to the Secretary General for Regional Affairs (SGAR) for Lower Normandy.

And to build projects between European partners (at least two are required), finding the right idea is, of course, crucial. However (very rapidly) assistance proves to be necessary. And that’s precisely what the Regional Council’s department of “European affairs and territorial cooperation” is there for. “We are a coordinating body for INTERREG programmes throughout the region, offering assistance in developing projects and in finding partners. For project initiators, the first and most important thing to do is to contact us.” notes Julie Miclot. “There are major stakes involved and the opportunity needs to be seized, for whereas European programmes have been reduced for France, INTERREG has manoeuvred well,” adds François Thomas.
And the good news since June 2008, is that the Lower Normandy Regional Council now presides over the Atlantic Arc Commission, reuniting 27 regions (further details below). “We are working with the managing body in charge of the INTERREG IV B Atlantic Area programme, based in Portugal, in an attempt to articulate policy and projects within the area,” explains Julie Miclot.
Lower Normandy is keen to develop a priority policy on fisheries, maritime cooperation and coastal issues. Consequently, a “Marine and maritime research” group, coordinated by MIRIADE(1), has, on several occasions, reunited scientists, public authorities and businesses in order to develop projects focusing on aquaculture and coastal preservation. “Our work consists in targeting the common needs of researchers in both fields,” informs Laurent Lecoeur, MIRIADE’s European Project Coordinator. Six projects have been developed. “MIRIADE has offered support to all of the partners based in Lower Normandy up to project submission on the 5th of June,” he adds. A truly helping hand since partners are numerous and scattered throughout Europe’s many regions. That’s why INTERREG is so valuable.

(1) Regional Mission for Innovation and Economic Development Action

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