Achievements and outcomes of the project activities

Innovative management of drinking water and waste water
A common framework for categorising measures for groundwater protection was developed in Sustainable Groundwater Management (Water4all). The cooperation fostered by the partnership involved in the project went beyond its formal end and was progressed with additional partners in the follow-up project Sustainable and Cost-Effective Groundwater Quality Management (WaterCost). This provided the relevant authorities with a framework for assessing the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of measures for the management of groundwater quality for river basin management plans. The project had links to the implementation of the Water Framework and Groundwater Directives and combined groundwater protection measures (identified under the Water4all project) with cost-effectiveness calculations in order to create a common assessment methodology.

North Sea Regional and Local Implementation of the Water Framework Directive (NOLIMP) succeeded in drawing together best practice for dealing with the Water Framework Directive at both local and regional levels: public involvement, monitoring of water quality and reducing emissions. No Rainwater in Sewers (NORIS) carried out field trials in water sewage using an innovative technique to separate drain and rain water from the sewer system. The reconstruction of old sewage systems by the new  ‘2-in-1 method’ could be carried out without extensive digging work as flexible liners were installed in the old water pipes. The new system saved energy that would have been necessary to pump water, and also the use of chemicals that would have been necessary to treat the water.

The availability of fresh water was the main concern for Finding the Right Measures to Avoid Water Shortage (No Regret). The project developed local integrated strategies by researching measures to improve the availability of fresh water.

The Ancient Groundwater Reservoirs in Buried Valleys – Sustainable Water Resources for the Future (BurVal) created an important link between academic research and end-user applicability of the research results (geophysical techniques such as helicopter geophysical measurements). It pointed to the need for future spatial planning strategies to take account of ancient groundwater reservoirs, thereby ensuring a sustainable use of fresh water resource management.

Renewable energy sources
Pushing Offshore Wind Energy (POWER), Promotion of Bio-Energy by Marketing, Implementation and Trading in the North Sea Region (ProBioEnergy) and Energize Regional Economies (ERE) worked on renewable energy sources to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. At a swimming pool in Silkeborg, Denmark, a supplementary reliable and profitable biomass heating system was installed. The aim of the installation was to reduce the dependence of the building on its combined heat and power (CHP) system and it achieved a reduction of annual CO2 emissions by approximately 70 tonnes.

Positive results are already visible through the POWER project, which influenced national and international decision-making. The project created a North Sea competence network for offshore wind energy. The results of regional and transnational supply chain studies were implemented by the private OWE wind energy businesses.  At the European level, the project worked together with Concerted Action for Offshore Wind Energy Deployment (COD), OWE and CA-OWEE projects. POWER also co-operated with the Safety at Sea (S@S) project to develop risk management strategies and reduce harmful effects of disasters.

Energize Regional Economies (ERE), investigated how regions could stimulate their economies by promoting sustainable energy. A number of projects have grown out of this and been approved within the new Interreg IVB North Sea Region Programme for example: ANSWER, Built with Care and Cradle to Cradle Islands.

Waste management
The responsible use of the environment is clearly an issue for marine and coastal zone environment areas. Forum Skagerrak II (FSII) completed various pilot projects to demonstrate different techniques both to reduce water pollution and to explore waste reception technologies.  It also aimed to improve biotopes and develop spatial planning guidelines. The findings and activity of the project were disseminated through national TV, seminars, conferences, a website, newsletters and newspapers.

North Sea Commission Fisheries Partnership (The Partnership) was concerned with the improvement of the management of natural resources. It confirmed and underlined the problems arising in fish management caused by the lack of co-operation between fishermen, scientists and fisheries managers. As a result of the work of the project the first Regional Advisory Council (RAC) was established in November 2004 and is now in full operation.

Save the North Sea demonstrated the potential for improving the environment and for waste management in the sea. Significant media attention was attracted during and beyond the lifetime of the project. This included filming on the Dutch island of Texel with the national TV school for a programme on marine litter: Fishing for Litter and the SNS Fulmar research was carried out and aired nationally in February 2003. The Save the North Sea promotional film was distributed to more than 500 local and national politicians, MEPs, NGOs, TV stations, and North Sea stakeholders throughout the whole North Sea region.

Coping with waste management was the key feature of Making Waste Work. The project influenced legislation and future planning guidance, particularly in relation to the importance of underpinning waste management systems with a package of education and awareness measures. A good example of this was built into the development of waste management strategies in Stockton UK.

Sustainable economic development
Improving and strengthening the role of socio-economic development while enhancing sustainable water management along water corridors that connect wetlands, cities and the North Sea was the focus of the Waterline Economy (WE). The project stimulated further activity, preparing the ground for large-scale investment. The Trilateral Wadden Sea Forum (WSF) developed socio-economic perspectives for the Wadden Sea ecosystem compatible with national and international standards of nature and environmental protection.

Strategic Partnerships in River Corridors (SPARC) focused on river management programmes in the five participating countries. It encouraged bio-diversity, addressed the problem of flooding, and the preservation of heritage. It also underlined the local economic development opportunities available in the context of conservation. Some SPARC-related projects attracted new investment. Others attracted steady income from visitors with the concomitant creation of employment and a financially secure and stable future for the continuing conservation of the water-dependent environment.

In order to enable regions to cope with current social, economic and environmental constraints Creation of Sustainable Tourism Destinations (CREST) carried out research into interpreting the concept of sustainable tourism destinations in their own particular contexts. Information was compiled on the likely issues to be faced in the process of becoming a sustainable tourism destination. Surveys were undertaken and identified good practice that was available and applicable to partners. Recommendations to various levels of authorities were devised and an ambitious media campaign was achieved to highlight the issues. The CREST project was also presented during the European Day of Tourism on the 7th of October 2008 at the Open Days European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels.

By reconstructing and restoring watercourses Transnational Ecological Network 3 (TEN 3) provided practical examples of the natural functions of rivers and streams. The rehabilitation of rivers was shown to have a direct effect on bio-diversity as well as mitigating the risks associated with flooding.

Chain of Safety served as a learning exercise for, and a step towards, future North Sea Region contingency planning in cross-border areas. Within the Dutch – Belgian coastal region, the results of the inventories on available plans and equipment were used to compare the existing situations.

Lasting legacy for the North Sea Region through the projects' achievements

There were 19 projects that provided a rich source of lasting results under this theme of the Programme. It was the first time that a full range of water issues were addressed by the North Sea Region partners. The final results of Water4all and WaterCost provided valuable input for drafting guidelines for Member States on land use and groundwater, developed further during 2008 by the European Commission.  Based on the results of No Regret and the national drought study, the Province of Fryslan, the Netherlands, and its water authority, formulated a strategy for dealing with water shortages for the 2010 –2015 period and incorporated this in new water policy plans for the coming period. The conclusions and recommendations made by the WSF influenced national policy development and legislation, in particular in respect of integrated coastal zone management and spatial planning. The North Sea Regional Advisory Council (NSRAC) was the first Regional Advisory Council (RAC) to be created. Established by the North Sea Commission Fisheries Partnership, it brings together stakeholders to advise the European Commission and the Member States on fisheries management issues. Save the North Sea received a UN-Habitat Programme “Good Practice” award for being one of the most sustainability aware projects in the world. It also received recognition at CONSSO, OSPAR and Environmental Minister meetings. As a result of the work carried out by Chain of Safety, a new cross border contingency plan against coastal flooding in Belgium and the Netherlands was prepared. POWER created a North Sea competence network for offshore wind energy.