The Interreg IVB North Sea Region Programme is still under development although it is anticipated that the Operational Programme will be finalised and submitted to the Commission by the end of February. 

Following approval by the Commission, the Programme Monitoring Committee will meet to agree on procedures. The first call for applications is likely to be in late summer/early autumn with the first Steering Committee meeting for the new programme taking place before the end of 2007. There, decisions on the first round of project will be made.

A number of promotional events
The programme secretariat will be carrying out a number of promotional activities and transnational events over the next 12 months to inform project developers of the content of the new programme, its priorities and their specific targets.

The events will also encourage partners to come together to discuss project ideas. Promotional activities will include transnational and national road shows around the seven countries of the North Sea Region. The national authorities for the North Sea Region will also play a role in programme promotion. Watch this space for more information on these events!