Interreg - RoHu

Dear Readers,
Welcome you all to the first issue of the Interreg V-A Romania-Hungary Programme Newsletter. Let us share some useful information with you on the Programme state of the play, at the end of 2016.
The past few months brought about a great progress in the programme’s implementation. Good ground for common understanding of the further work has been set, Programme documents were drafted and approved, Programme’s website and Facebook page were created and important decisions have been made, so that we are now happy to announce the launching of two Calls for project proposals in the framework of the Programme.
In this first Newsletter issue, we intend to have a review of the year 2016 and to cover a various range of topics. We offer you information regarding the outcomes of the first two Monitoring Committee meetings, also stressing upon aspects linked to the preparation of the CfP packages and their public consultation, as well as on the recommendations received on the Methodology and Criteria for assessment and selection of projects and on the activities performed by the JS all through the year 2016, in order to support all those interested in the Programme. At the same time, we offer information related to the launching conference of the Programme, which has been organised in Oradea, Romania and which proved to be an event of major importance, with a symbolic dimension.
Finally, yet importantly we would like to share with you a series of communication materials, such as the Programme leaflet and info graphics, designed to make the Investment Priorities of the Programme understandable at a glance.
Hoping our Newsletter will raise your interest, we wish you all a Happy New Year and many co-operation opportunities in 2017, leading to successful projects.

Roxana RACOVIŢĂ,
Head of the Managing Authority

1st MONITORING COMMITTEE MEETING IN BÉKÉSCSABA, HUNGARY - MAY 26, 2016.

On May 26, 2016 the first meeting of the Monitoring Committee of Interreg V-A Romania-Hungary Programme took place in Békéscsaba, Hungary. Rules of Procedure of the Monitoring Committee were approved and the Monitoring Committee established. Decisions were made to adopt the TA financial allocations for the entire programming period, the Communication Strategy, the Visual Identity Manual, and the Annual Implementation Report (AIR) of the Programme for the year 2015.
Please check the Programme news and events section for more details.

2nd MONITORING COMMITTEE MEETING IN TIMIȘOARA, ROMANIA - NOVEMBER 24, 2016

On November 24, 2016 the second meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Programme took place in Timișoara, Romania. On the occasion, the Monitoring Committee (MC) approved, under condition, the launch of some of the Investment Priorities within the Programme by the end of 2016, the Annual Communication Plan for 2017, the Evaluation Plan of the Programme and the Anti-fraud Strategy.

Please check the Programme news and events section for more details.

NATIONAL PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS FOR RESTRICTED CALL - FLAGSHIP PROJECTS

Two rounds of national public consultations for Restricted Call, under which flagship projects may be supported, occurred in 2016:

1st round was open between 21.03.2016 - 20.04.2016
The draft of the Guide for Applicants together with its Annexes launched in the first round of public consultation can be found here, and the Programme’s replies to requests for clarification/amendment can be consulted here.
2nd round was open between 11.07.2016 -18.07.2016
The draft of the Guide for Applicants together with its Annexes launched in the second round of public consultation as well as the Programme’s replies to requests for clarification/amendment can be consulted here.

NATIONAL PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS FOR OPEN CALL – NORMAL PROJECTS

One round of national public consultations of the draft of the Guide for Applicants for the first Open Call for proposals was open between 21.09.2016 – 20.10.2016.
The draft of the Guide for Applicants together with its Annexes launched in the first round of public consultation and the Programme’s replies to requests for clarification/amendment can be found here.

RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE METHODOLOGY AND CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT AND SELECTION

In reference to the Methodology and Criteria for assessment and selection of flagship projects and of projects submitted under open calls, MC members and observers had made several recommendations.
The JS modified the documents according to the formulated requests.
The European Commission made recommendations regarding the balanced allocation of funds among the eight eligible counties and to the fact that the Programme should ensure the selection, in the frame of a transparent selection procedure, of the best flagship projects, having the strongest cross border value in the entire eligible area. Another recommendation received referred to shortening of the assessment and selection process. MA/JS and all programme bodies agreed and are committed to reduce as much as possible the duration of the assessment and selection process.
Thank you all for cooperating and being involved!

HELP-DESK ACTIVITIES AND SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS

Through the year 2016, the JS provided continuously personalised information on request and organised periodic support group meetings, attended by a number of more than 300 potential applicants, with the aim of discussing project ideas, identifying funding opportunities and facilitating the creation of partnerships. The meetings took place on both sides of the border.
Detailed information on this topic is available on our webpage here and here.

“KEEP ON COOPERATING!” - MORE THAN 150 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE PROGRAMME’S LAUNCHING EVENT

The Programme organized in Oradea, (Romania), on November 10, 2016 its first annual event, under the form of a launching conference, with the title” KEEP ON COOPERATING!”.
The conference brought together 159 participants from both partner states and aimed to present the status of Programme implementation, results to be obtained as well as stories behind successful cross border initiatives already implemented in the region and all across Europe. It also provided a joint platform for sharing knowledge, for receiving information and for networking.
Please check the Programme news and events section for pictures and more details on this topic.

PROGRAMME IN A NUTSHELL

The Programme leaflet (trilingual) containing general information about the financing opportunities can be downloaded from here. Also Infographics (ENG) containing easily
understandable information about the 8 Investment priorities of the Programme have been designed and can be downloaded from here.
The Programme’s performance framework
can be downloaded from here.

AND...

The Interreg V-A Romania-Hungary Programme is pleased to announce the launching in its framework of two Calls: the 1st Restricted Call for Strategic Project Proposals and the 1st Open Call, for Normal Project Proposals.
Application phase is
25.01.2017 – 24.04.2017.
For more information please visit
http://interreg-rohu.eu/en/calls-for-proposals/.

WE WISH YOU SUCCESS!