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This event explores the future of European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) and their role in sustainable cross-border development. The Committee of the Regions and regional policy are discussed, along with the implementation phase and examples of successful EGTC projects.
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New perspectives for the EGTC Partnerships, co-operations for a sustainable joint cross-border development after 2014 István Pálfi Day 2013 Brussels, 8 October 2013 Alfonso Alcolea Committee of the Regions of the EU
The CoR and the future regional policy • The European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation • General perspectives
The CoR and the future • regional policy
The CoR and the future regional policy • Cohesion Package proposed by the Commission in 2011 • Common provisions • 5 funds + Territorial Cohesion + Common Strategic Framework + EGTC • CoR positioning • 1st wave of opinions (2012) • CSF opinion (2012) • Resolution about the cohesion package (2013) • The Council and the Parliament • EP REGI voted a mandate of negotiation in July 2012 • General Affairs Council adpted a ’general agreement’ on the different blocks (CAG) • Trilogues: AgreementsbetweenJanuary and June 2013
The CoR and the future regional policy • Issues under debate • Final budget of cohesion policy • Objectives: Investing in growth and jobs + territorial cooperation • Intermediate regions • Capping and increase of co-funding rate • Common strategic framework for the ERDF, ESF, EARDF, EFF • Regional approach in the ESF • Macroeconomic conditionality
The CoR and the future regional policy Implementation phase • The Member States are already programming • Partnership agreements • Operational programmes • How to involve local and regional authorities? • CERM-CCRE study • Questionnaire of the CoR • Cor-AEBR workshop on 19 November • To which extent local and regional authorities participate? • ITI, CLLD, Operational programme, multi fund • Which impact of the final agreements?
What is an EGTC? EGTC – European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation • At the beginning, an idea of the Committee of the Regions • Created by Regulation (EC) 1082/2006 • Public entities from different Member States can get together under an entity with Europeanlegal personality. • The EGTC has its own organisation, budget and staff. • It may implement programmes and projects of territorial cooperation, with or without EU funding. • Entered into force on 1 August 2007, the Member States adopt national provisions.
EGTC trends and developments • Figures • 39 EGTC set up, according to the Register of the CoR+3 pending registration • More than 650 LRA involved • A reality in 19 Member States • Impact on the life of 30 Mo Europeans
EGTC trends and developments • National implementation varies • Only one EGTC implements programmes: ‘Greater Region’ • The use of structural funds is not the main object of activity • Although ‘laboratory for multi-level governance’, most of the EGTC group entities of the same level • Main focus on cross-border cooperation • Main areas: Axis Benelux-FR-DE, around HU and Mediterranean • Precedent cooperation started in the 90s. • Need of awareness among LRA, public and EC services
Examples of EGTC • Grande Région • First EGTC to become management authority of a programme • Involves FR, DE, LU, NL, BE • www.interreg4a-gr.eu
Examples of EGTC • Eurometropolis Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai • Conurbation between Belgium and France, 3 regions, 2 languages, 1.7 Mo inhabitants • www.eurometropolis.eu • Touristic site: www.visiteurometropolis.eu
Examples of EGTC • Galicia-Norte de Portugal • Big euroregion with more than 20 years • of co-operation History • Projects: • Working plan fostering competitivness and promoting employment. • Transport: Guide, study on interoperativity • Cooperation between technology centres and campuses • Many sectors: Sea, automotive, creative and cultural industries, tourism www.gnpaect.com
Examples of EGTC • Cerdanya cross-border hospital • Service to 60,000 inhabitants in the Pyrenees • www.hcerdanya.eu
The CoR • has made • a choice The EGTC as “preferential instrument for cooperation”Own-initiative opinion Núñez Feijóo - 2011
Leadership of the CoR • CoR Opinions of Bresso (2008), Núñez Feijóo (2011), Delebarre (2012), and two consultations (2010 and 2012) • Remove bureaucratic obstacles • Harmonize national implementation • Use the EGTC beyond regional policy Strategy Europe 2020, mainstream all EU policies • Awareness needed at all levels • Participation of non-EU countries
Influence on the new legislation • Ambitious proposal of the EC (Oct 2011) • Inter-institutional conference 29/03/2012 Fast-track the EGTC • The EP-REGI assumed the amendments proposed by the CoR on 11/07/2012 • Debate about the EGTC in the future cohesion policy OPEN DAYS 2012 • Political agreement of the Council on 20/02/2013 • Inter-institutional trilogue March-May 2013, CoR invited
New aspects of the Regulation • Approved tacitly after 6 months. • Main document to be approved will be the convention. • Clarification on the legal situation of the staff of the EGTC • CoR wanted to create groupings in the fields of health, education and vocational training (even if entities are private) • 3rd countries will be able to get involved in EGTCs, including neighbors of outermost regions and territories • The CoR will maintain its role of register of the EGTCs
Short and medium term issues • How will the Member States implement the new Regulation? • How will the new generation of EGTCs look like? • Governance of the EGTCs Participation of the civil society • Participation in the Operational Programmes • EGTCs implementing new instruments ITI, CLLD, JAP... • EGTCs and macro-regions • Mainstreaming the EGTC in other EU policies • Events with DG Move and DG Enterprise • Next event with DG Markt on 9 October • Visibility EGTC award
The EGTC Platform • The Platform groups all players in EGTC and cross-border • Coordinator: Mr Herwig Van Staa (AT/EPP) • Monitoring Study ‘EGTC Monitoring Report’ • Assistance and support, political input • Face-to-face communication: • Open Days 9/10/2013 09B07 and networking event • Save the date! 19 November 2013 AEBR meeting • Portal www.cor.europa.eu/egtc, social networks
… Latest news • The CoR launches an EGTC award • Adopted by the Bureau of 7 October 2013 • Bi-annual edition • Focus on implemented actions related to growth and jobs
Thank you! Köszönöm! Committee of the Regions Direction of horizontal policiesand networks – Unit E.2 Alfonso Alcolea Martínez Administrator EGTC & territorial cooperation www.cor.europa.eu/egtc egtc@cor.europa.eu @EGTCPlatform EGTC Pálfi István (1966-2006) In memoriam