New perspectives for the EGTC Partnerships cooperations for

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 Co. R and the future regional policy The European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation General perspectives

The Co. R and the future regional policy

The Co. R and the future regional policy v Cohesion Package proposed by the Commission in 2011 • Common provisions • 5 funds + Territorial Cohesion + Common Strategic Framework + EGTC v Co. R positioning • 1 st wave of opinions (2012) • CSF opinion (2012) • Resolution about the cohesion package (2013) v 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) v Trilogues: Agreements between January and June 2013

The Co. R and the future regional policy Issues under debate v Final budget of cohesion policy v Objectives: Investing in growth and jobs + territorial cooperation v Intermediate regions v Capping and increase of co-funding rate v Common strategic framework for the ERDF, ESF, EARDF, EFF v Regional approach in the ESF v Macroeconomic conditionality

The Co. R and the future regional policy Implementation phase v The Member States are already programming • Partnership agreements • Operational programmes v How to involve local and regional authorities? • CERM-CCRE study • Questionnaire of the Co. R • Cor-AEBR workshop on 19 November v To which extent local and regional authorities participate? • ITI, CLLD, Operational programme, multi fund v Which impact of the final agreements?

EGTC - European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation

What is an EGTC? EGTC – European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation v At the beginning, an idea of the Committee of the Regions v Created by Regulation (EC) 1082/2006 v Public entities from different Member States can get together under an entity with European legal personality. v The EGTC has its own organisation, budget and staff. v It may implement programmes and projects of territorial cooperation, with or without EU funding. v Entered into force on 1 August 2007, the Member States adopt national provisions.

The EGTC trends and developments

EGTC trends and developments Figures v 39 EGTC set up, according to the Register of the Co. R +3 pending registration v More than 650 LRA involved v A reality in 19 Member States v Impact on the life of 30 Mo Europeans

EGTC trends and developments v National implementation varies v Only one EGTC implements programmes: ‘Greater Region’ v The use of structural funds is not the main object of activity v Although ‘laboratory for multi-level governance’, most of the EGTC group entities of the same level v Main focus on cross-border cooperation v Main areas: Axis Benelux-FR-DE, around HU and Mediterranean Precedent cooperation started in the 90 s. v Need of awareness among LRA, public and EC services

Examples of EGTC Grande Région v v v First EGTC to become management authority of a programme Involves FR, DE, LU, NL, BE www. interreg 4 a-gr. eu

Examples of EGTC Eurometropolis Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai v Conurbation between Belgium and France, 3 regions, 2 languages, 1. 7 Mo inhabitants v www. eurometropolis. eu v Touristic site: www. visiteurometropolis. eu

Examples of EGTC Galicia-Norte de Portugal Big euroregion with more than 20 years of co-operation History v 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 v v Service to 60, 000 inhabitants in the Pyrenees www. hcerdanya. eu

The Co. R has made a choice The EGTC as “preferential instrument for cooperation” Own-initiative opinion Núñez Feijóo - 2011

Leadership of the Co. R v Co. R Opinions of Bresso (2008), Núñez Feijóo (2011), Delebarre (2012), and two consultations (2010 and 2012) v Remove bureaucratic obstacles v Harmonize national implementation v Use the EGTC beyond regional policy Strategy Europe 2020, mainstream all EU policies v Awareness needed at all levels v Participation of non-EU countries

Influence on the new legislation v Ambitious proposal of the EC (Oct 2011) v Inter-institutional conference 29/03/2012 Fast-track the EGTC v The EP-REGI assumed the amendments proposed by the Co. R on 11/07/2012 v Debate about the EGTC in the future cohesion policy OPEN DAYS 2012 v Political agreement of the Council on 20/02/2013 v Inter-institutional trilogue March-May 2013, Co. R invited

New aspects of the Regulation v Approved tacitly after 6 months. v Main document to be approved will be the convention. v Clarification on the legal situation of the staff of the EGTC v Co. R wanted to create groupings in the fields of health, education and vocational training (even if entities are private) v 3 rd countries will be able to get involved in EGTCs, including neighbors of outermost regions and territories v The Co. R will maintain its role of register of the EGTCs

Perspectives

Short and medium term issues v How will the Member States implement the new Regulation? v How will the new generation of EGTCs look like? v Governance of the EGTCs Participation of the civil society v Participation in the Operational Programmes v EGTCs implementing new instruments ITI, CLLD, JAP. . . v EGTCs and macro-regions v Mainstreaming the EGTC in other EU policies Events with DG Move and DG Enterprise Next event with DG Markt on 9 October v Visibility EGTC award

The EGTC Platform v v 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 09 B 07 and networking event • Save the date! 19 November 2013 AEBR meeting • Portal www. cor. europa. eu/egtc, social networks

… Latest news v The Co. R launches EGTC award an 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 policies and networks – Unit E. 2 Alfonso Alcolea Martínez Administrator EGTC & territorial cooperation Pálfi István (1966 -2006) In memoriam www. cor. europa. eu/egtc@cor. europa. eu @EGTCPlatform EGTC