EU Funding Opportunity for Western Scotland
The Special EU Programmes Body has been highlighting opportunities for projects in the islands and west of Scotland to access funding through the European Union’s INTERREG lVA programme by partnering with organisations in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland.
Delegates to a one day conference at Loch Lomond last week were given details of the €30 million funding available which will aim to develop cross-border environment projects dealing with Resource Management: Water; Biodiversity and Marine as well as Rural projects for the socio-economic development of disadvantaged rural communities.
Chairing the event Howard Keery, Programme Secretariat (SEUBP) said:
“The overall aim of the INTERREG IVA Programme is to support strategic cross-border co-operation for a more prosperous and sustainable region. It requires partnership between the regions to progress joint projects. I am confident that this will attract innovative and strategic proposals which will play an important role in the development of rural communities and environmental projects”.
Marta Smart, the European Funding Manager at Scottish Development International, said:
"It's vitally important that organisations are given the information and help they need to access the right European funding opportunities. This event builds on some successful work already being done with similar projects and I am confident it will help organisations not only to access opportunities, but also to make some really useful connections."
In Scotland the eligible areas includes; Lochaber, Skye and Lochalsh, Argyll and the Islands, Dumfries and Galloway, and East, North and South Ayrshire.
All of Northern Ireland is eligible.
Up to 20% of a project/Programme can be used to finance operations in areas adjacent to the eligible area which would include: the Scottish Borders; South Lanarkshire; Inverclyde, East Renfrewshire, & Renfrewshire; Glasgow; East & West Dunbartonshire, Helensburgh & Lomond; Perth & Kinross and Stirling; Inverness, Nairn, Moray, Badenoch & Strathspey; Caithness, Sutherland, Ross & Cromarty; and the Western Isles.
In the Republic of Ireland the six necklace counties along the border with Northern Ireland i.e., Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan and Sligo are eligible