The Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly is delighted to announce it has been appointed as the Irish Urban Contact Point (UCP) for the European Urban Initiative (EUI), having been nominated by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The EMRA was only last year reappointed as URBACT Contact Point for the new programming period, with both Contact Point functions reaffirming the growing expertise of the Assembly around sustainable urban development. This will equip the Assembly in best supporting towns and cities of all sizes across Ireland with a menu of options when it comes to project calls for funding in both programmes.

Look out for upcoming communication about the EUI, including an online information session! In the meantime, see below for some initial background information on the programme and if you have any immediate questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to Karl Murphy, Contact Point for the EUI and URBACT programmes in Ireland at kmurphy@emra.ie

The EUI sets out to support urban areas of all size with innovative actions, capacity and knowledge building, policy development, and communication on sustainable urban development of EU relevance. The projects help test new solutions, techniques, and planning models. In doing this and in line with objective five of the current European Cohesion Policy, namely, bringing Europe closer to its citizens, the European Union seeks to ensure cities are actively involved in designing and implementing policy responses to their local challenges. The EUI further aims out to help realise the Urban Agenda for the EU, working closely with the new URBACT IV programme. The EUI is funded by the EU, with a total ERDF budget of €450m for 2021-27.

There are three main strands of assistance:

1. Innovative Actions: Urban authorities are supported with up to 80% direct co-financing and up to €5m in ERDF, permitting cities to experiment as testbeds for their innovative idea and then transferring it to other cities. Innovative Actions are organised under themes and these projects give urban authorities the space to take a risk and experiment on innovative and creative solutions to their urban challenges, figure out how they work in practice, before transferring this scalable solution to other EU cities. Innovative Actions’ projects must be participatory and can include agencies, private sector, research institutions, NGOs, academia, industry, civil society, and other levels of government.
2. Capacity Building: cities’ capacity can be strengthened through the design of sustainable urban development strategies, policies and practices in a way that is integrated and participative. Peer-learning activities are organised to provide targeted and short-term support, facilitating the exchange of knowledge, good practices and solutions via its peer reviews and city-to-city exchanges.
3. Knowledge environment: cities are also provided with avenues through which horizontal and thematic knowledge and knowhow can be accessed. The knowledge collected and related communication will help ensure support for Urban Agenda cooperation between Member State governments so that evidence-based policy on sustainable urban development can be acquired and developed.

 

On 6 February 2023 the Just Transition Platform (JTP) launched a call for applications for a new and targeted technical assistance called JTP GROUNDWORK. It will support eligible Just Transition Fund (JTF) regions in implementing their Territorial Just Transition Plans (TJTP).

As the implementation phase of the EU Just Transition Fund starts, the European Commission is rolling out new supports during 2023 which include technical assistance on the ground, knowledge products and case studies, an expert database and a peer-to-peer exchange programme for practitioners. This will enable eligible territories to effectively implement their Just Transition Territorial Plans.

This call is an initiative managed by the European Commission’s Just Transition Platform, and not through EMRA. Queries about the call should be directed to jtpgroundwork@justtransitionplatform.eu.

JTP GROUNDWORK – a co-creative technical assistance facility

The European Commission will provide eligible regions with tailored capacity-building and advisory support. Examples of potential services are:

• Project identification and development
• Capacity building for regional and local administrations and other key stakeholders
• Support for transparent, inclusive, and efficient governance mechanisms for TJTP implementation
• Stakeholder engagement and mobilisation
• Awareness-raising campaigns and communication strategies
• Support to engage in cross-border cooperation with other JTF regions

A core principle of this service is co-creating solutions with recipients to increase ownership and develop long-term capacity. Once selected by the Commission, beneficiaries will jointly develop the scope and type of technical assistance services. Support will be delivered through a mix of face-to-face and online meetings, workshops etc. A specific event will be organised per selected applicant.

All call for application details can be found on the Commission’s website.

DEADLINE for applications: 28 February 2023 at 23:00 CET.

There will be an information session on the #Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Scheme. The scheme is administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as part of the new EU Just Transition Fund. See details about the content of the event below!

DATE: Tuesday, 4th July 2023

TIME: 11am – 1pm

VENUE: The CUBE, 18 Church Street, Portlaoise, Co. Laois R32 TP89

Space is limited. Please reserve your place: www.eventbrite.ie/e/eu-just-transition-fund-bioeconomy-demonstration-initiative-scheme-tickets-665210190587

About the event

As Ireland moves towards a low-carbon economy, the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine will deliver the Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Scheme as part of the EU Just Transition Fund. Through this scheme, we’ll develop bioeconomy piloting and demonstration projects across the Midlands – scaling up biobased innovation and solutions, developing new green jobs, businesses and communities.

The fund will support the transition of the Just Transition Fund Territory to a sustainable and circular biobased region through funding of sustainable bioeconomy projects that are designed to have significant climate positive and regenerative impacts on local communities including our peatlands. The fund will be used to create a biobased local society and economy.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine intends to launch the Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Scheme in July 2023. Further information on details of the scheme and how to apply will be outlined at the event.

The designated territory under the Plan and Programme includes the entire counties of Laois, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath, and municipal districts of Ballinasloe (Co. Galway), Athy and Clane-Maynooth (Co. Kildare), and Carrick-on-Suir and Thurles (Co. Tipperary).

Please share this event and information on this scheme with your colleagues.

Survey on Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Scheme

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have also released a survey for EU Just Transition Stakeholders. You can take part in the survey here.