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

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: Agreements between January and June 2013

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

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?

The CoR and the future regional policy

EGTC - European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation

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 European legal 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.

What is an EGTC?

The EGTCtrends 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

EGTC trends and developments

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

Examples of EGTC

The CoRhas madea choice

The EGTC as “preferential instrument for cooperation”Own-initiative opinion Núñez Feijóo - 2011

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

Leadership of the CoR

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

Influence on the new legislation

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

New aspects of the Regulation

Perspectives

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

Short and medium term issues

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

The EGTC Platform

 

… 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 RegionsDirection of horizontal policies and networks – Unit E.2

Alfonso Alcolea MartínezAdministrator EGTC & territorial cooperation

www.cor.europa.eu/egtc

egtc@cor.europa.eu

@EGTCPlatform

EGTC

Pálfi István (1966-2006)

In memoriam