The Interreg IVA France (Channel) England programme was approved by the European Commission in a Decision on 19 September 2008. It benefits from a 173,5 million euros enveloppe from the European Regional Development Fund which enables the co-funding of cooperation projects across the Channel between France and the United Kingdom. It aims to « promote the emergence - between the French and English parties - of a space of common citizenship fostering a sense of belonging to a cross-border area, and endowed with a specific identity, through support given to concrete and lasting cooperation. »
The programme consists of four priorities :
1. Reinforce the sense of belonging to a common space and the awareness of shared interests.
2. Build partnerships between players involved in cross-border economic development, and between centres of excellence.
3. Build an attractive common space to live in and visit.
4. Ensure sustainable environmental development of the common space.
The programme's eligibility area includes all British territories bordering the Channel as well as part of East England (Norfolk, Suffolf, Essex) bordering the North Sea. All French départements bordering the Channel are also eligible. This area is 81,771.9 sq. km large and its population reaches 15 million inhabitants, thus making it one of the most populated and economoically active zones in Europe.
Please download the map showing eligible and adjacent areas of the programme here.
Projects may be funded to a maximum of 50%. The rate is set at a maximum of 75% for "micro-projects", which are led by associations or small to medium-sized businesses with expenditure less than or equal to 60.000 "Adjacent" areas can only benefit from 20% funding of their expenditures.
The Haute-Normandie Région, Single Managing Authority, is responsible for the sound administrative and financial management of the programme. The Managing Authority authorizes the Certifying Authority permission to pay the grants.
For further information, please visit the Programme's official website .
