The Atlantic Area programme is a transnational program covering Atlantic region in five Member States of the European Union. The program belong to the objective 3 –Territorial cooperation – of the EU cohesion policy and for the period 2007-2013 it has a budget of 158,7 million co-financed at 66% by the EC through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The programme strategy is implemented through four strategic priorities:
•transnational networks of entrepreneurship and innovation;
•protection and enhancement of marine and coastal environment;
•accessibility and internal links,
•urban and regional sustainable development.
•protection and enhancement of marine and coastal environment;
•accessibility and internal links,
•urban and regional sustainable development.
The CAAC represented by its coordinator, Tamara Guirao-Espiñeira, participated to the meeting of the monitoring committee – the decision making body of the programme – last 29 June in Lisbon. The meeting was chaired by Ms. Dina Ferreira, IFDR Vice-President. M. Carlos Neves, new president of the Managing Authority, presented himself and introduced the session.
The participants approved the minutes of the last meeting and the annual execution report. An update was made on the Communication Plan, announcing a Facebook page for the programme.
The recently started projects, approved in the last call were presented, followed by issues on certification and auditing. The morning was closed by a reflection on the mid-term evaluation process.
Pauline Caumont, from CAA, presented the state-of-the-art of the Atlantic Strategy, specially insisting in the Atlantic Forum. Ms. Fausta Corda, form DG REGIO made an update on the new programming period, which was followed by a discussion.
The meeting was closed by the presentation of the Duratinet and NetMar projects.
