The most recent Monitoring Committee meeting of the North Sea Programme was held in Brussels on the 24-25 of October. A number of issues were dealt with. The most important decisions are reported below.

• MSUO funding secured
• The new programme period – Events to come!
• Publicity and communications – Video project
• Publicity and communications – Special call for applications for additional PR funding
• Programme results – A progress report
• The future of the INTERACT Point for Qualification & Transfer

MSUO funding secured
MC10 decided to extend funding, with a clear focus on expanding the scope of the Umbrella and bring in more participating programmes and stakeholders to co-finance and join in the work.

The MSUO is hoping to expand significantly and has received a great deal of support from several Directorates General of the European Commission for its work to date and its plans for the future.

Read the full story here.

The new programme period – Events to come!
A pre-launch event in anticipation of the new Interreg IVB North Sea Programme will take place in Ostend on 21-22 March 2007. The aim of this event is to invite stakeholders and inform them about the content of the new programme.

At MC10 it was formally decided to arrange the Joint Annual Conference in Brunstad, Norway. The conference will mark the formal launch of the new programme.

Read the full story here.

Publicity and communications – Video project
A pilot scheme involving documenting projects on web based video formats has been carried out by the secretariat. The scheme involves videoclips and news coverage by film of approved projects to be put on the programme website.

Communicating the strategic, transnational and often complex nature of projects in a programme such as the North Sea Programme is a challenge, which calls for new methods of communication to be explored.

A decision was taken by MC10 to expand the scheme to involve a number of projects.

Follow this link to read the full story and view the videos.

Publicity and communications – Special call for applications for additional PR funding
It was decided at MC10 to allocate available funding for extra PR activities for projects within the North Sea Programme. The secretariat is currently writing the framework for this proposal. All projects approved under the programme can apply for funding. The initiative will be launched at the upcoming LP seminar in Lübeck on the 21-22 of November.

Read the full story here.

Programme results – A progress report
The latest developments on the delivery of the programme aims and objectives were presented at the MC. It was concluded that the outlook is good and in line with was reported in the Progress Report published earlier this year.

Read the full story here.

The future of the INTERACT Point for Qualification & Transfer
Following a strong demand of its services the staff has increased and the office is currently employing 6 people. 22 events have been arranged in 2006, up to September. Although changes are imminent for INTERACT as a whole, it is not expected to have any effect on the daily work of the INTERACT Point Q&T.

Read the full story here.