As part of the preparation process for the new programming period 2021-2027, a draft territorial analysis was developed covering the eligible area of the Interreg Next Black Sea Basin Programme.

In order to explore the expectations of the stakeholders as first step for thematic concentration of the programme strategy, an online survey was published to receive inputs regarding the Policy, Interreg and specific objectives considered as relevant to receive support.

Survey has been online from 11th of January 2021 until 12th of February 2021. The survey included a mix of questions including quantitative and open-ended qualitative questions. 340 stakeholders have fully completed the survey. The survey managed to reach out to academic institutions, business support organizations, international / interregional organizations, consultants, enterprises as well as the public.

The survey aimed at exploring the preferences of the stakeholders in the Policy and Interreg objectives as well as the specific objectives under each Policy / Interreg objective.

Please find below the results of the survey:

Countries of the stakeholders by participation

Types of Organization

Levels of operation of participating organizations

Previous Participation in ENPI/ENI Black Sea Basin Programme (2007-2013/2014-2020)

Consideration of Participating in the new (Interreg VI-B) NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme

Ranking of all Objectives

Below graph and table represents the weighted average of each policy and Interreg Specific Objectives.

Ranking of Specific Objectives Under Policy Objective – 1: “Smarter Europe and its Neighbourhood”

The following Specific Objectives have been considered:

1. developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies (‘SO1’);
2. reaping the benefits of digitisation for citizens, companies, research organisations and public authorities (‘SO2’);
3. enhancing sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and job creation in SMEs, including by productive investments (‘SO3’);
4. developing skills for smart specialisation, industrial transition and entrepreneurship (‘SO4’).

Ranking of Specific Objectives Under Policy Objective – 2: “A Greener Low-Carbon Europe and its Neighbourhood”

The following Specific Objectives have been considered:

1. promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (‘SO1’);
2. promoting renewable energy in accordance with Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/20014, including the sustainability criteria set out therein (‘SO2’);
3. developing smart energy systems, grids and storage outside TEN-E (‘SO3’);
4. promoting climate change adaptation, and disaster risk prevention, resilience, taking into account eco-system based approaches (‘SO4’);
5. promoting access to water and sustainable water management (‘SO5’);
6. promoting the transition to a circular and resource efficient economy (‘SO6’);
7. enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity, and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution (‘SO7’);
8. promoting sustainable multimodal urban mobility, as part of transition to a net zero carbon economy (‘SO8’).

Ranking of Specific Objectives Under Policy Objective – 4: “A More Social Europe and its Neighbourhood”

Ranking of Specific Objectives Under Interreg Specific Objective – 1: “A Better Cooperation Governance for Europe and its Neighbourhood”

In addition to the online survey, consultation events with National Working Groups (NWGs) in an online environment have been also carried out during February 2021 in all the participating countries.

The conclusions of the consultations (both online survey and events with NWGs) of the stakeholders from the participating countries regarding the Territorial Analysis developed for the eligible area of the Programme were discussed during the Joint Programming Committee on 25^th of February 2021. Based on these conclusions, taking into account the provisions of the new proposal for an Interreg Regulation on thematic concentration and following the analysis of the needs and development potential of the area, the Joint Programming Committee agreed the following Policy Objectives (POs) and the Specific Objectives (SOs) to be funded under the future Programme:

• PO 1 – A more competitive and smarter Europe and its Neighbourhood, with one Specific Objective: SO 1 – developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies;
• PO 2 – A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe and its Neighbourhood, with two Specific Objectives: SO 4 – promoting climate change adaptation, and disaster risk prevention, resilience, taking into account eco-system based approaches and SO 7 – enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity, and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution.

These selected Specific Objectives will be the subject of the second round of consultations of the stakeholders from the participating countries, with the purpose of further thematic concentration, process agreed to start in March 2021.