About the Programme 2007-2013

The North Sea Region Programme 2007-2013 works with cutting edge policy areas in regional development through transnational projects.

A principal aim of the Programme is to expand the scope of territorial cooperation and focus on high quality projects in innovation, the environment, accessibility, and sustainable and competitive communities.

The 2007-2013 Programme connects regions from seven countries around the North Sea, incorporating policy level planning and the long lasting and tangible effects of projects. These are the foundations of the future transnational projects, which will create added value to partner regions and beyond.

Aim of the Programme

The aim of the Programme is to make the North Sea Region a better place to live work and invest in.

By this we mean that the North Sea Region Programme has a role in enhancing the overall quality of life for residents of the North Sea Region by ensuring that there is access to more and better jobs, by sustaining and enhancing the acknowledged environmental qualities of the region, by improving accessibility to places and ensuring that our communities are viable, vibrant and attractive places to live and work.

This endeavour translates into four Programme priorities, which are to promote transnational co-operation that:

• Increases the overall level of innovation taking place across the North Sea Region,
• Enhances the quality of the environment in the North Sea Region,
• Improves the accessibility of places in the North Sea Region,
• Delivers sustainable and competitive communities.

Operational Programme

A comprehensive description of the Programme strategy and priorities as well as a socio-economic analysis of the region is included in the Operational Programme for the North Sea Region 2007-2013.

The Programme contributes strongly to the aims of the revised Lisbon and Gothenburg strategies and the shared objectives of the national partners. It draws on the Community Strategic Guidelines on Cohesion and the National Strategic Reference Frameworks of the Member States involved in the programme to ensure a strong strategic consistency.

The Region's assets provide a strong basis for a contribution to the objectives set out in the Lisbon and Gothenburg strategies. The future development of the North Sea Region, however, will be determined by its ability to achieve economic progress through shared development objectives and shared resources, building on individual regional strengths and territorial potentials.