Small Projects Fund (SPF) within Interreg VA

2.2.2016

Question for written answer P-000967-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Dariusz Rosati (PPE) , Werner Kuhn (PPE)

Within the Interreg VA Program Mecklenburg-Vorpommern/Brandenburg/Poland for the years 2014-2020, the Commission accepted the SPF as an umbrella project that would be managed by the Euroregion Pomerania.

The Euroregion would receive a specific amount of funds to manage Polish-German meeting projects that cost up to EUR 30 000. The Euroregion would receive a grant to manage the fund. The means for this objective are a direct part of the umbrella project.

This was how the SPF functioned between 2007 and 2015. During this period around 700 Polish-German projects were carried out. About 150 000 Poles and Germans took part in these projects. These projects were often assessed by independent auditors and government agencies. All of the reviews were positive.

Nevertheless, at the meeting of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern/Brandenburg/Poland program committee on 9 December 2015, a representative of the Commission informed the participants that the Commission had decided that it did not agree with the form of the umbrella projects being managed under European Territorial Cooperation. Yet, according to many observers of cross-border cooperation, SPF is one of the best parts of Interreg.

Does the Commission therefore plan to change how umbrella projects are implemented? If so, what does the Commission plan to change?