The EGTC: Delivering growth and opportunities

Transcription

1 The EGTC: Delivering growth and opportunities LAF study tour EU entrepreneurship and SME policies at local level Brussels, 24 May 2013 Alfonso Alcolea Committee of the Regions of the EU

2 Europe without borders?

3 Europe without borders? Polish-German border between Frankfurt am Oder and Słubice

4 Europe without borders? Former checkpoint dismantled between Frankfurt am Oder and Słubice A. Alcolea, 2008

5 Europe without borders? Situation of the border between Italy and Slovenia in Gorizia, till 2004

6 Europe without borders? GDP per head poorest region: +/ GDP per head richest region: +/

7 Europe without borders? Disparities European Commission 5th Cohesion Report

8 Europe without borders? External borders and Neighbourhood Policy

9 Europe without borders? IPA Pre-accession

10 The European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation

11 What is an EGTC? EGTC European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation 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.

12 What for? Missions Art. 1 (2) To facilitate and promote cross-border, transnational and/or interregional cooperation between its members with the aim of strengthening economic and social cohesion. Art 7 (3) Tasks of the EGTC: Implement ETC programmes co-financed by ERDF, ESF or Cohesion Fund Implement ETC projects [ ] Other specific cooperation actions with EU funding Other cooperation actions without EU funding Limits: Powers of the State such as police, regulation, justice or foreign affairs.

13 Who can participate? Who can be a member? Basically, entities of Public Law (reference to the Directive 2004/18/EC on public procurement) and associations Participation of entities from third countries: 2 EU Member States needed (minimum 2 EU + 1 non EU) The third country adopts similar legislation or signs an agreement with the country of seat of the EGTC The EU Member States involved authorize it

14 How to set up an EGTC The basic procedure Registered office The seat determines the applicable Law Convention and statutes Authorisation by the Member States The Regulation says 3 months Publication National journal and OJEU Notification to the CoR Launching of the EGTC

15 The EGTC and SME policy What an EGTC can do? Support cross-border clusters Support enterprises with Business Angel Fund entrepreneurship projects Implement cross-border business-parks Participate in the Small Business Act, adopted in 2008 Take part in Enterprise Europe Network and other programs

16 Trends and developments

17 Examples of EGTC Grande Région First EGTC to become management authority of a programme Involves FR, DE, LU, NL, BE

18 Examples of EGTC Amphictyony Twinning 53 cities of the Mediterranean More than 39 non-eu cities associated

19 Examples of EGTC Archimed Cooperation structure among Mediterranean islands Joint defence of common interests

20 Examples of EGTC Eurometropolis Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai Conurbation between Belgium and France, 3 regions, 2 languages, 1.7 Mo inhabitants Touristic map of the eurometropolis Project LKT Tourisme Touristic site:

21 Examples of EGTC Eurometropolis Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai Desks and Clusters: exchanges and crossborder networks for entrepreneurship and innovation.

22 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 Sectors: Sea, automotive, creative and cultural industries Tourism: Project One destination, two countries

23 Examples of EGTC Duero-Douro Rural development: 187 municipalities with an average population of <500 inhabitants Projects: Econometric model for investments Goat livestock to prevent forest fires and create jobs Culture, education TOURISM VITAL: Turn the border area into a touristic destination of excellence

24 Examples of EGTC West Vlaanderen / Flandre -Dunkerque -Côte d Opale Integration of a highly urbanised border area Projects: Interreg IVA project 'Cross-border cooperation Project Coast to coast and Tourism without borders Public transport and recreational mobility Health cooperation Training and employment Cross-border GIS Culture

25 Examples of EGTC Abaúj az Abaújban and Bodrogközi 2 different Groupings between HU and SK municipalities Mainly oriented to rural tourism and development. An 18 months EU-funded project «Creating an international education network to help SMEs»

26 Examples of EGTC Cerdanya cross-border hospital Service to 60,000 inhabitants in the Pyrenees

27 The EGTC and SME policy Examples of projects Project CreaMed: creating networks between the business incubators located in the Euroregion Pyrennees- Mediterranean. The CTE GO-KMO network, Interreg IVA France-Wallonie- Flandres project : supporting the establishment of new SMEs across the border.

28 EGTC trends and developments Figures 35 EGTC set up, according to the Register of the CoR More than 600 LRA involved A reality in 19 Member States Impact on the life of 30 Mo Europeans

29 EGTC trends and developments National implementation varies, but also national approaches 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 only regions or only municipalities 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

30 The factors of the EGTCs Vision Trust Negotiation Choice

31 The CoR has made a choice The EGTC as preferential instrument for cooperation Own-initiative opinion Núñez Feijóo

32 The vision CoR Opinions of Bresso (2008), Núñez Feijóo (2011), Delebarre (2012), Bureau decision 2012 Preferential instrument for cooperation Remove bureaucratic obstacles Not only regional policy Strategy Europe 2020, mainstream all EU policies Awareness iat all levels External dimension Non-EU countries Participation of the civil society

33 The negotiation Ambitious proposal of the EC (Oct 2011) Inter-institutional conference Fast-track the EGTC 29/03/2012 The EP-REGI assumed the amendments proposed by the CoR on 11 July 2012 Open questions related to the EGTC in the future cohesion policy OPEN DAYS workshop 9 October 2012 Round of meetings of the CoR, DG Regio and EGTCs with the DGs of the EC, the EIB and the EEAS Ongoing Active presence in trilogue Ongoing the inter-institutional

34 The trust Platform of EGTC since 2011, grouping all players in EGTC and cross-border Monitoring Assistance and support Political input European register of EGTC in the CoR Face-to-face communication: Annual meeting 25/02/2013 Open Days Thematic portal Social networks 8/10/2013

35 Last reminder Europe will not be made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity. Declaration Schuman 9 May 1950

36 Faleminderit! Hvala! Хвала! Благодарам! Committee of the Regions Direction of horizontal policies and networks Alfonso Alcolea Martínez Administrator EGTC & territorial cooperation URL: FB group: EGTC