ENI CBC MED thematic clusters

Following the signature of the MoU between the UfMS and the ENI CBC MED Managing Authority in April 2019, and the Joint Action Plan agreed, the labelling of this project contributes to the promotion of a wider impact of the Programme on selected strategic priorities by fostering deeper involvement of national / regional stakeholders and capitalization actions, in close coordination with the UfM, its regional dialogue platforms and projects.

In the framework of the EU-funded cross-border cooperation Programme “ENI CBC Med”, this project aims to reinforce the impact of the funded projects across the Mediterranean region, through the creation of 4 thematic clusters of projects based on the 4 thematic objectives of the Programme – namely business and SMEs development; technological transfer and innovation; social inclusion and fight against poverty; environment and climate change.

The main objectives of the project are to support knowledge exchange and management among ENI CBC Med funded projects based on synergies with UfM main policy orientations and ongoing initiatives, as well as to promote key projects outputs and good practices with decision-makers at local, national and regional level in order to support evidence-based policy making.

The expected beneficiaries of the project are: Public authorities (at national and regional level), universities/research bodies, private sector (mainly SMEs, start-ups, civil society organizations, including associations, foundations, citizens’ groups, etc.).

The creation of the thematic clusters will be based on a joint analysis of the results of the inter-programme consultation with all relevant Euro-Med programmes and initiatives, together with a summary report on most relevant actions of EU Programmes and initiatives currently underway in the Mediterranean and their synergies with ENI CBC MED projects and UfM initiatives. This process will lead to the thematic cluster strategy to strengthen synergies and complementarities among projects and participation in common actions.

Transnational events will be organized to promote dialogue between institutional actors in the EU/MED area, as well as to attract in the thematic community new stakeholders. Also result oriented monitoring missions on funded projects will be undertaken, to improve their performances and strengthen their outcomes, as well as mid-term evaluation on selected projects, mid-term conference on achieved results and perspectives and dedicated events for selected results follow-up involving key decision makers.

Finally, the project will be evaluated through a report on achieved results based on the performance framework set by the ENI CBC MED Programme and through the analysis of ENI CBC Med projects that could be potentially labelled and supported by the UfM.

The expected results are: Enhanced quality of ENI CBC Med implemented projects by fostering exchange of knowledge, benchmarking of results cross-contamination; Enhanced links with UfM labelled projects and with a wider community of stakeholders/donors/international organizations; Ownership of project results enhanced at local and national local level through capitalization and capacity building activities; Reinforced complementarity between the UfM priority areas of action and ENI CBC Med thematic priorities, to better address most relevant challenges at Euro-Mediterranean level; Pave the way to potential extension of ENI CBC Med projects results to UfM countries not involved in the Programme.

Promoted by the ENI CBC Med Programme Managing Authority (Autonomous Region of Sardinia), the project targets 14 countries (Algeria*, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Palestine, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia – *Financing agreement with the EC pending) for a duration of 36 months.

With a total cost of € 76 M, the project is fully funded, 90% co-financed by the ENI CBC MED Programme and 10% of national co-financing by partner organisations.

The labelling of this project represents an important and concrete step ahead within the reinforced partnership among the UfM and the ENI CBC MED Programme, pushing forward the common interest of both organizations for enhancing synergies and complementarities, with the shared objective of supporting regional integration and development.

About the promoter and partner institutions

ENI CBC Med is the largest Cross-Border Cooperation (CBC) initiative implemented by the EU under the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI). The Programme brings together the coastal territories of 14 EU and partner countries in view of fostering fair, equitable and sustainable development on both sides of the EU’s external borders. Through calls for proposals, ENI CBC Med finances cooperation projects for a more competitive, innovative, inclusive and sustainable Mediterranean area.

The Managing Authority (MA) is the Autonomous Region of Sardinia which was appointed by decision of the participating countries: it is responsible for the day-to-day Programme operational and financial management.

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