• As also specified in the Work Programme, applicants from Widening Countries are only encouraged to identify alignment and complementarity with the RIS3 of their respective country or region. However the Commission stresses the fact that there is no obligation whatsoever for a Twinning proposal to follow RIS3 priorities.
  • Associated Countries do not benefit from Cohesion Policy funding and therefore do not have to produce an RIS3 as an ex-ante ESIF conditionality. Thus the encouragement for alignment with the RIS3 will not apply for Associated Countries. However, applicants for Twinning proposals coming from Associated Countries are encouraged to align to the priorities of their existing national/regional R&I Strategy, if there is one in place.