Euroopa Majanduspiirkonna (EMP) kahepoolsete suhete fondi taotlus

Laura Pikkoja Riigi Tugiteenuste Keskus [email protected] 03.09.2024 nr 4-5/18/8553 Euroopa Majanduspiirkonna (EMP) kahepoolsete suhete fondi taotlus Austatud Laura Pikkoja Esitame Kliimaministeeriumi rohereformi osakonna taotluse Euroopa Majanduspiirkonna kahepoolsete suhete fondi, eesmärgiga arendada Euroopa Liidu ökomärgist. Lugupidamisega (allkirjastatud digitaalselt) Tanel Ross finantsosakonna juhataja Strateegia ja innovatsiooni asekantsleri ülesannetes Lisad: 1. Taotlusvorm 2. Expression of interest Kadri Koemets, 621 6260 [email protected] Suur-Ameerika 1 / Tallinn 10122 / 626 2802/ [email protected] / www.kliimaministeerium.ee/ Registrikood 70001231  EEA AND NORWAY GRANTS FUND FOR BILATERAL RELATIONS INITIATIVE PROPOSAL Title of the initiative: Best practice exchange: digitalisation of the EU Ecolabel awarding process and increasing EU Ecolabel awareness Implementing entity (beneficiary state entity): Republic of Estonia Ministry of Climate Partner(s) (minimum one donor state entity): Ecolabelling Norway Republic of Estonia Environmental Board Bilateral priority area identified by the JCBF beyond the programmes:  promotion of core European values, such as respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and the respect for human rights for all people, regardless of their racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity; x E-governance (digitalization)  eastern partnership  equality and equal treatment x competitive business environment, sustainable and adaptive governance (based on some“Competitiveness Plan for 2020” approved by the Government of Estonia) Allocation (total sum): approximately 14 860 euro, but final budget depends on the time and the costs at the time. Travel cost for 7 persons (including flight, accommodation, public transport, on-site expenses) – approximately 5530 euros Hosting cost for Ecolabelling Norway (including preparation, rooms, site visit, networking etc) – approximately 9330 euros Allocation (total sum): approximately 14860 euro, but final budget depends on the time and the costs at the time. (A more detailed project budget description in the activity plan) 1 Short description of the initiative: Background: The Republic of Estonia has one official ecolabel, the EU Ecolabel. The EU Ecolabel is recognized as the official label to show environmental excellence. For example, the Green Public Procurement Criteria in 3 product groups out of four adopted by Estonia take into consideration the EU ecolabel criteria, and thus the EU Ecolabel can be used in verifying compliance. The number of products awarded the EU Ecolabel has increased yearly and currently Estonia has awarded the EU Ecolabel to 1773 products in 7 product groups. It is anticipated that new policies like the Green Claims Directive and the Ecodesign Regulation that give regulatory relief to EU Ecolabel licence holders will increase interest in the label even further. Nevertheless, there are two main challenges in establishing the label as a first choice for organisations and the consumer: • Dated application process via e-mails which has many risks for the applicants and competent body. • Recent studies have shown that the consumer recognises the logo but rarely buys EU Ecolabel products – we believe that this can be changed by an efficient communication strategy. In addition, organisations are not aware of the EU Ecolabel scheme and the benefits it provides. Estonia has kept a strong product portfolio in the cleaning product groups but very little interest has been shown in other product groups although there are produces and service providers thus a good potential to expand the portfolio. In Norway there are two official environmental labels: the Nordic Swan and the EU Ecolabel. Their use is overseen by Ecolabelling Norway. Norway has a long experience with managing these labels and making the Nordic Swan into a Scandinavian success story. Thus, Norway would be a suitable best practice exchange partner for Estonia. We would like to learn from the success of the Nordic Swan and apply it to developing the EU Ecolabel scheme further in Estonia. We are looking for a knowledge and best practice exchange in order to form an understanding on how to digitalize the EU Ecolabel application process to meet the growing interest and how to plan communication activities aimed at consumers and potential licence holders more efficiently. Aim: Estonia would like to learn from Norway by sharing their best practises and knowledge on: 1. raising consumers awareness by using innovative and attractive means but also to identify possibilities of structured collaboration with Ecolabelling Norway; 2. attracting new licence holders and increasing product and service portfolios. Estonia has lisences in most cleaning product groups and paints and varnishes but three potential product groups with no licences at the moment are furniture, paper and tourist accommodation. 3. digitalizing the EU Ecolabel awarding process in order to make the process more accessible, more efficient and transparent and thus more attractive to applicants. This would also increase the competent body’s administrative capacity because the awarding process would be faster. 2 Activity plan: Three full day (in addition also arrival dinner) visit to the Ecolabelling Norway. Arrival: networking dinner to get to know the partners and establishing a good basis for collaboration. Fist day: raising consumer and potential licence holder awareness. Second day: visiting EU Ecolabel and/or Nordic Swan licence holders and hearing their feedback and experiences. Third day: digital solutions in use at the Ecolabelling Norway (sending the application, verification process and awarding the registration number). Departing: conclusion and networking lunch. Participants: • From Ministry of the Climate green transition department and communication department (2-3 persons). • From Environmental Agency environmental use department and development and plannind department (4 persons). Budget: Travel cost for 7 persons (including flight, accommodation, public transport, on-site expenses) – approximately 5530 euros Hosting cost for Ecolabelling Norway (preparation, rooms, site visit, networking, including dinner and luch for all participants etc) – approximately 9330 euros (background, aim, participants, activity plan, budget outline, communication and dissemination) Activity plan: Time frame planned beginning of December 2024 or January 2025. Activity Time Location Cost Participants Travel Travel (inc public TLL-OSL-TLL 5530 eurot From Environmental transport) and Board 4 persons and accomondation Ministry of Climate 2- 3 persons. Arrival Arrival and 18.00- Dinner Included in host Include also 7 networking dinner 19.00 venue cost participants from Ecolabelling Norway 1st day Knowledge and best 9:00-12- Henrik Included in host 2 persons from practice exchange 00 Ibsens gate cost Ecolabelling Norway on raising 20 will attend consumer and 14.00- potential licence 17.00 holder awareness. 3  2nd day Visiting EU Ecolabel 10:00- Site visit Included in host 2 persons from or Nordic Swan 12:00 cost Ecolabelling Norway licence holders will attend (accommodation, 14:00- furniture or paper). 16:00 3rd day Knowledge and best 9:00- Grand Hotel Included in host 2 persons from practice exchange 12.00 cost Ecolabelling Norway on digital solutions will attend for application and 14.00- verification process. 16.00 Knowledge and best practice exchange on how to follow EU Green Deal, new legislation and environmental requirements Conclusions and networking lunch. Summarising key takeaways and mapping further collaboration 15 hours, Preparation included in host cost Planned results: OUTPUT INDICATOR TARGET Best practice exchange on raising Estonian EU Ecolabel communication 1 Estonian EU Ecolabel consumers awareness. plan will be updated accordingly. A communication plan short and long term communication updated, 1 short and 1 long plan is established. term communication plan established. Knowledge and practical tips on More companies show interested in 1 established strategy plan how to raise potential licence EU ecolabel followed by an increased on how to approach holder awareness. number of licence holders and licence furniture and tourism holders in new product groups. sector. This will be part of Maintenance of a successful criteria the long term portfolio. communication plan. Best practice exchange on digital Estonia will develop a strategy and onepager with steps how to ecolabel application processes. implement steps towards the move towards digitalization digitalization and simplification of the as this is longterm target. awarding process. 4 Knowledge and best practice Incentives for SME-s onepager with EU Ecolabel exchange on how to follow EU incentives to increase Green Deal, new legislation and competitiveness and environmental requirements decrease of administrative burden and cost. Onepager also includes the potential future insensitive as the this are also longterm target. 5  Expression of interest for Programme Operators FUNDS FOR BILATERAL RELATIONS (In accordance with Article 2.5.3 of the Bilateral Fund Agreement and Article 4.7 of the Regulations on the implementation of the EEA and Norwegian Financial Mechanisms 2014-2021) Programme number: EE-Climate Programme title: Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Programme Operator: Ministry of Climate Donor Programme Partner(s): Norwegian Environment Agency Title of the initiative: Best practice exchange: digitalisation of the EU Ecolabel awarding process and increasing EU Ecolabel awareness Amount requested from the Fund for bilateral relations: Pre-defined initiatives to be implemented €0 by PO/DPP: Pre-defined initiatives to be implemented € 14860 by other entities: Call(s) €0 TOTAL € 14860 Description Please see in the Annex attached. Planned results Please see in the Annex attached. For the Programme Operator1 Tanel Ross Name /signed digitally/ Signature Position Chair of EE-CLIMATE Programme Cooperation Committee, Head of Finance Department 30.08.2024 Date 1 In case of Donor Partnership Programmes, the signature confirms that the content of the expression of interest has been discussed and agreed in the Cooperation Committee.