Themes
At its last meeting, the Programme Monitoring Committee (PMC) made an analysis of the themes addressed by the 21 approved main projects so far. The PMC identified a number of themes that are not yet sufficiently addressed by the programme.

Although, the Fourth Call for Applications is an open call, the PMC especially welcomes projects addressing these themes:

• In Priority 1, in the Objective ” To facilitate development through the use of advanced information and communication technologies and transportation in the programme area” the four themes:
  i) increased use of ICT to overcome distance
  iii) developing innovative product and service solutions for developing and maintaining transport infrastructure with regard to roads, railways, airports and ports under harsh climatic conditions
  iv) development of transport schemes that benefit rural communities, such as new maritime routes
  v) maritime safety in relation to remote areas with arctic, harsh conditions.
  
• In Priority 2,  in the Objective ” To improve sustainable development in peripheral regions by strengthening urban-rural relations and enhancing regional heritage” the theme:
  i) urban-rural partnerships for new service solutions

Decisions
Decisions on all main project applications submitted to the Fourth Call for Applications will be made at the Programme Monitoring Committee meeting on 4th - 5th June 2009.

You can find more information about the call on the Fourth Call Page. The application pack will also be made available on this page from 21st January 2009.

Fifth Call
Please note that the Fifth Call for Applications will not be launched until the spring of 2010. This means that the autumn of 2009 is call-free. The PMC views the Fifth Call as potentially a focused call. More information about the exact nature of the Fifth Call will be published in August 2009 to inform applicants in good time about what will be expected from them.