EU BUDGET: EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS

Below are a few projects, big and small, showing how the EU budget works for the EU citizens. The EU budget finances many more projects in the EU and beyond.

Project Consumer Credit Campaign

Country Austria, Czech Republic and Greece

Policy area Consumer protection

Year 2015-2016

Money from EU budget €964,000

Project description The purpose of the campaign is to raise the awareness of 18 to 35 year-

old consumers of their rights when taking out a credit. It promotes in particular: i) the right to be provided with “pre-contractual information” in a standardised format; ii) the right to change your mind and

withdraw from the contract within 14 days without giving any

explanation; and iii) the right to repay the credit earlier than foreseen in the contract. The campaign will be conducted in 2015-2016 in three EU countries - Austria, the Czech Republic and Greece. It builds on the

experience gained during the first part of the campaign in 2013-2014 in Cyprus, Malta, Ireland and Spain.

More information http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/citizen/my_rights/consumer-credit/index_en.htm

Project Research centre supports the aeronautical industry

Country Belgium

Policy area Regional development

Year 2002-2008

Money from EU budget €4.13 million

Project description Set up in 2002 in Charleroi, the Cenaero research centre provides digital simulation software to the aeronautical industry. The centre has become a reference point at the European level and has signed partnership

agreements with major international groups. Employing more than 75 people, it is expected to create 50 more jobs by 2015 as well as two start-up companies.

More information http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index.cfm/en/projects/belgium/bringing-sophisticated-solutions-to-aeronautical-research

Project ARDAFORECAST - a reliable flood warning system, developed for the cross-border Arda River

Country Bulgaria and Greece

Policy area Environment

Year 2012-2014

Money from EU budget €69.97 million

Project description The EU budget helps avoid flood disasters in Bulgaria and Greece. The two countries have come together to create a cross-border early

warning system on the Arda river in order to ensure the safety of those living along one of the most flood-prone rivers in the southeast Balkans. The project reduces the adverse consequences of floods for human

health, environment, cultural heritage and economic activity in the region.

More information http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index.cfm/en/projects/bulgaria/ard

aforecast-a-reliable-flood-warning-system-developed-for-the-cross-border-arda-river

Project Refurbished fort to attract more visitors to an ancient coastal city

Country Croatia

Policy area Tourism and regional development

Year 2007-2013

Money from EU budget €1.0 million

More information http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index.cfm/en/projects/croatia/refurbished-fort-will-help-to-bring-more-visitors-to-ancient-coastal-city

http://www.sibenik.hr/projekti/sveti-mihovil---idejno-rjesenje-ljetne-pozornice

Project description An imposing but crumbling castle overlooking the mediaeval city of Šibenik on the Croatian coast has been restored to its former glory,

thanks to an EU-funded project. Thanks to the EU budget, its visitors can now safely enjoy St Mihovil Fortress and visit various exhibitions about the region’s history in a newly-established tourist information centre. In addition to helping preserve Europe’s cultural heritage, the

project is expected to attract more tourists to the area.

Project EU budget gives a new look to the centre of Limassol

Country Cyprus

Policy area Regional development

Year 2010-2013

Money from EU budget €15.64 million

Project description Thanks to the EU budget, Cyprus’s second largest city – Limassol – has undergone a major urban regeneration that has spruced up the city’s

historic centre. Streets, buildings, squares and other public spaces in the city centre have been restored. The restored city centre will be popular with tourists, as well as the city’s residents, and will boost the

local economy.

More information http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index.cfm/en/projects/cyprus/regeneration-project-boosts-limassol-town-centre-for-residents-visitors-and-

businesses

Project Building a trans-European gas network

Country Czech Republic, Poland

Policy area Energy

Year 2009-2012

Money from EU budget € 14 million

Project description The first natural gas pipeline interconnection between Poland and the Czech Republic was launched in April 2012, strengthening the security

of supplies, particularly in emergency situations and the integration of the energy markets in the region. The pipeline, which allows gas flows of 0.5 billion cubic meters in both directions, also enables the diversification of supply routes.

More information http://ec.europa.eu/energy/eepr/projects/files/gas-interconnections-and-reverse-flow/reverse-flow-cz-pl_en.pdf

Project Encouraging the entrepreneur spirit among students of Aarhus University

Country Denmark, Germany

Policy area Education and culture

Year 2007-2013

Money from EU budget €435,900

More information http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index.cfm/en/projects/denmark/energising-the-entrepreneurial-spirit-at-aarhus-university

Project description The EU budget supports the Student Incubator at Aarhus University, designed to encourage more students to consider entrepreneurship as a career path. The project helps students develop a business idea, set up their own business and meet other students with whom they could

develop it further. It provides personal and business coaching as well as office space.

Project State-of-the-art medical centre in Tallinn

Country Estonia

Policy area Regional development

Year 2007-2013

Money from EU budget €66.8 million

Project description The EU budget supported the renovation and enlargement of North Estonia Medical Centre, a key hospital in Estonia, making it possible for

the hospital to better service its patients.

More information http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index.cfm/en/projects/estonia/medi

cal-facelift-for-tallinn

Project Delivering cost-effective health care services in rural Finland

Country Finland

Policy area Healthcare

Year Until 2015

Money from EU budget €48,000

Project description The EU Budget supports mobile healthcare in Finland. The ‘Mallu does

the rounds’ project provides easily accessible medical services to the population in Finland’s rural areas via the Mallu bus. The bus is a medical centre on wheels that has an on-board computer and

broadband equipment. It contributes to the health and wellbeing of the people in rural areas while providing the local authorities with

information about their needs.

More information http://bit.ly/1PxcoUi

Project A great start – in later life

Country France

Policy area Social

Year 2011

Money from EU budget €15,000

Project description The EU budget helps people at risk of exclusion find new jobs. The PLIE (Plan Lillois pour l’Insertion et l’Emploi) project trains such people and helps them get in touch with employment agencies who would seek jobs for them. More than half of those who take part in the project manage to find jobs.

More information http://ec.europa.eu/esf/main.jsp?catId=564&langId=en&portraitId=254

Project Innovation incubator

Country Germany

Policy area Education and social inclusion

Year until 2015

Money from EU budget €63.6 million

Project description The Lüneburg Innovation Incubator is a research-driven project for regional development. Based in German state of Lower Saxony, it brings

together scholars and businesses, making sure research solutions match the needs of industry.

More information http://europa.eu/workingforyou/en/content/business-incubator-

germany-bringing-industry-back-europe

Project Natural gas pipeline improved energy efficiency and cuts down CO2 emissions

Country Greece

Policy area Energy

Year 2007-2013

Money from EU budget €9.95 million

Project description The EU budget partly supported the construction of a new high-pressure natural gas pipeline in the Attica and Central Greece regions. The project will enable more households and companies to use natural gas,

thus improving the country’s energy efficiency, cutting down CO2 emissions, boosting competitiveness of local enterprises and creating

some 400 new jobs.

More information http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index.cfm/en/projects/greece/natural-gas-pipeline-to-improve-production-power-and-reduce-emissions

Project New opportunities for Hungarian researchers

Country Hungary

Policy area Health and research

Year 2008-2010

Money from EU budget €2.25 million

Project description The EU budget supports the development of the research industry in Hungary. The EU-funded Semmelweis Bridge Project was aimed to

enable some 200 people - young scientists, international partners and industry representatives - to carry out long-term cardiovascular research. This project would create new opportunities for Hungarian

researchers and make them consider a career in Hungary, to the benefit of the domestic research sector and industry.

More information http://ec.europa.eu/esf/main.jsp?catId=46&langId=en&projectId=259

Project CoLab: a centre for incubation, research and enterprise

Country Ireland

Policy area Growth and jobs

Year 2007-2013

Money from EU budget €1.27 million

Project description The EU budget supported the expansion of modern centre for incubation, research and enterprise CoLab. It provides campus-based

incubation facilities to start-up companies and has facilities to support industrial research. With a capacity to support a total of 23 companies with a staff of 58, CoLab helps improve the competitiveness of the European economy.

More information http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index.cfm/en/projects/ireland/colab-a-centre-for-incubation-research-and-enterprise

Project A state-of-the-art waste treatment plant in Salerno

Country Italy

Policy area Regional development

Year 2007-2013

Money from EU budget €12.5 million

Project description The EU budget has supported the construction of an environmentally-

friendly waste treatment plant in the Italian city of Salerno. It includes a

facility to treat the process up to 30,000 tonnes of organic waste a year

and generate electricity out of it.

More information http://ec.europa.eu/budget/mycountry/IT/index_en.cfm#projects

Project Latvian libraries become digital

Country Latvia

Policy area Social

Year 2007-2013

Money from EU budget €1.76 million

Project description The EU-budget project ‘National Unified Library Information System’ has allowed modernise Latvian libraries and help librarians improve their

skills and competences. The project made it possible to acquire some 750 new computers for the libraries throughout the country, improve internet connections and train librarians how to make best use of

technology to better service citizens.

More information http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index.cfm/en/projects/latvia/the-digital-face-of-latvian-libraries

Project Gas pipeline improves supply to homes and businesses

Country Lithuania

Policy area Regional development

Year Started in 2014

Money from EU budget €22.32 million

Project description The EU budget helps build a 138 km-long gas pipeline between Jurbarkas and Klaipėda in Lithuania which will secure the reliability and safety of natural gas supplies. It will connect 56,000 citizens to the gas

network and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

More information http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index.cfm/en/projects/major/lithuania/gas-pipeline-improves-supply-to-homes-and-businesses

Project Environmentally-friendly cars on the European roads

Country Luxembourg

Policy area Environment

Year 2014-2018

Money from EU budget €3.43 million

Project description The EU budget helps scientists in Luxembourg make a large step towards clean road vehicles. The projects which they are working on, LIFE DI-CNG, aims to develop a technology that will allow Direct

Injection of Compressed Natural Gas (DI-CNG) into car engines. The expected effect is significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions due to transport, currently making for 23% of all greenhouse gas emissions.

More information http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/project/Projects/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.dspPage&n_proj_id=4982

Project Better and safer roads in Malta

Country Malta

Policy area Cohesion, Transport

Year Started in 2014

Money from EU budget €42.36 million

Project description The EU Budget invests in Malta's main road network to the benefit of its

people and economy. The upgrade will cut journey times, ensure more space for motor drivers and increase road safety. The investment will also attract more tourists and bring down costs of regular drivers and transport companies.

More information http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index.cfm/en/projects/major/malta/improving-sections-of-maltas-ten-t-road-network-benefits-the-islands-

people-and-economy

Project Renovating Eindhoven’s main square

Country Netherlands

Policy area Regional policy

Year 2007-2013

Money from EU budget €3.2 million

Project description The EU budget helped renovate Dutch Eindhoven’s main square ’18 Septemberplein’. The square, designed by Italian architect Massimiliano

Fuksas, includes a special bicycle shed with a capacity to host up to 1

500 bikes (for free). The square renovation is part of an overall plan to make the city a more attractive place to live and visit.

More information http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/projects/netherlands/eindhoven-square-heads-into-the-future

Project Green trolley buses improve quality of urban life in Poland’s Gdynia

Country Poland

Policy area Regional development

Year 2010-2013

Money from EU budget €13.43 million

About the project The EU-budget funded project enhanced the power supply system of the trolleybus network and enabled the purchase of 28 new trolleybuses. This made the public transport in the Polish city of Gdynia greener and more attractive. More people started using the public transport, which

brought cleaner air and better quality of life to everybody living or working in the area.

More information http://europa.eu/!Kj88qJ

Project Portugal’s innovative chair-makers gain a global reputation

Country Portugal

Policy area Innovation, Regional development

Year 2010-2013

Money from EU budget €931,000

Project description Thanks to the EU budget, the cooperation between designers and the local companies made it possible to start producing top quality designer

chairs and export them throughout Europe, which created new jobs and boosted growth.

More information http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/videos/video-details.cfm?vid=1427&LAN=EN

Project Freshly baked bread creates jobs in Romania

Country Romania

Policy area Agriculture

Year 2008-2011

Money from EU budget €500,000

Project description The EU budget backed the modernisation and expansion of a small

bakery chain in the areas of Cluj and Bistrita, northwestern Romania. Thanks to the EU funding, the owner managed to upgrade its factory, increase its production capacity, hire more people and deliver bread to some 85,000 people in the area.

More information http://enrd.ec.europa.eu/en/policy-in-action/rdp_view/baking-traditional-bread-local-community

Project Cleaner water for the region of Trenčín

Country Slovakia

Policy area Environment

Year 2007-2013

Money from EU budget €48.3 million

Project description The EU budget improves the wastewater treatment facilities of the cities Trenčín, Nové Mesto, Trenčianska Teplá, Trenčianske Teplice,

Trenčianske Stankovce and Chocholná Velčice and their surroundings. The project foresees the construction of one new wastewater treatment plant and the upgrade of four more, as well as the upgrade of the

sewage system. Thanks to the project, some 100,000 people enjoy cleaner water.

More information http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index.cfm/en/projects/slovakia/tren

cin-region-to-gain-improved-wastewater-treatment-facilities

Project New skills for people at the risk of exclusion

Country Slovenia

Policy area Social

Year 2010-2014

Money from EU budget €850,000

Project description The EU budget fosters social enterprise in Slovenia. An innovative project based in Pomurje organised qualification programmes aimed to

provide long-term unemployed and socially excluded people with know-how and skills in specific fields, including ecological agriculture and food processing; weaving and the production of goods using natural materials; ecological tourism.

More information http://www.korenika.si/en http://ec.europa.eu/esf/main.jsp?catId=46&langId=en&projectId=1544

Project Supporting a short supply-chain of local food in Spain's Aragon region

Country Spain

Policy area Agriculture

Year Project completed in 2015

Money from EU budget €2.75 million

Project description The EU budget help food producers and providers in Spain’s Aragon region promote local food through short supply chains. The project makes it easier for local and online stores easily access and sell local food. At the same time, it raises a awareness about the availability,

quality and diversity of Aragon’s local food among consumers and merchants. This encourages both sides to buy and sell local products.

More information www.ponaragonentumesa.com

Project Mobilising older people to help older people

Country Sweden, Finland, Greenland, Northern Ireland and Scotland

Policy area Social inclusion

Year 2007-2013

Money from EU budget €2.1 million

Project description The EU-budget funded 'Older people for Older people' project has developed alternative ways to support and provide services to the older people living in northern Europe's rural areas. For this, it mobilised the

elderly to help their peers. In Sundom, for instance, elderly people were offered training in paying their bills over Internet, communicating via social network sites, using Skype, reading newspapers online and using

other relevant services.

More information http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index.cfm/en/projects/finland/mobilising-older-people-to-help-older-people

Project EU budget contributes to West Coast Main Line upgrade

Country United Kingdom

Policy area Transport

Year 2007-2013

Money from EU budget €78.6 million

Project description The EU contributed GBP 66 million (EUR 78.6 million) to the modernisation of the west coast mainline. The route connects London,

Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Thanks to the project, the line now connects with the Channel Tunnel rail link and thus with mainland Europe. As a result, passenger and freight journey

times have been cut (journey times from London to Manchester reduced to 2 hours), helping to shift traffic from the roads.

More information http://inea.ec.europa.eu/en/ten-t/ten-

t_projects/30_priority_projects/priority_project_14/priority_project_14.htm