The EGTCs: State of play and role of the CoR

Transcription

1 The EGTCs: State of play and role of the CoR Brussels, 8 April 2014 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 The European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation

10 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 amended by Regulation (EU) 1302/2013 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. The amended Regulation will enter into force on 22 June 2014

11 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.

12 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 (like Ukraine): 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

13 How to set up an EGTC Which decisions correspond to the State? Define the EGTC as entity of public or private Law Define the applicable Law The seat determines the applicable Law BUT the Convention can foresee exceptions: staff procurement - audit - others Authorize the convention and the statutes The Convention has primacy over the national legislation 3 months; 6 months under new Regulation, but tacit approval Authorize the EGTCs with non-eu countries Register and publication at national level and at EU level Decision and validation of the financial control Recognition of the EGTCs based in other countries Inclusion of the EGTC in the operational programmes

14 Trends and developments

15 EGTC trends and developments Figures 46 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

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

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

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

19 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 Clusters for innovation Urban mobility Etc.

20 Examples of EGTC Galicia-Norte de Portugal Big euroregion with more than 20 years of co-operation History Projects: Joint Investments Plan Mutual recognition of vocational training titles Transport: Guide, study on interoperativity Cooperation between technology centres and campuses Sectors: Sea, automotive, creative and cultural industries Tourism: Project One destination, two countries

21 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 Vital tourism : Turn the border area into a touristic destination of excellence

22 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

23 Examples of EGTC Euroregion Pyrinees Mediterranean Euroregional development in one of the economic poles of Europe Project CreaMed: creating networks between the business incubators Winner of the EGTC AWARD

24 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

25 Lessons: The factors of the EGTCs Vision Trust Negotiation Choice

26 Lessons: Obstacles OBSTACLES: Legal assymetries & different priorities Assymetries statistics, mobility, commuting, differences in language, social security and salaries Different rules for public procurement The convention may establish exceptions What about salaries and social security of the staff? The convention may allow alternative legal regimes for the staff Differences in national criteria for cross-border cooperation Different recognition as eligible entities to participate in national and in EU programmes Differet in auditing rules and auditing criteria

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

28 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

29 The negotiation 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 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 the inter-institutional trilogue Participation in seminars with Member States

30 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 18/02/2014 Open Days 8/10/2014 Thematic portal Social networks

31 Award Building Europe across Borders Bi-annual EGTC award of the CoR Focus on implemented actions related to growth and jobs Awardee: Pyrenees Mediterranean Honourable mentions to Gate to Europe and Tyrol-South Tyrol-Trentino

32 The revised EGTC Regulation

33 The revised EGTC Regulation New elements The Regulation (EU) 1302/2013 was adopted on 17 December 2013, amending the Regulation of 2006: The convention becomes the main document for an EGTC and may establish specific rules governing e.g.: Staff Procurement Taxation Audit and financial control Other aspects: Tacit approval of new EGTCs after six months Entities from non-eu Member States and non-profit private entities providing public services can be EGTC members

34 The revised EGTC Regulation Three joint statements The final version of the EGTC regulation contains several statements agreed between the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council: I. The Institutions intend to improve the visibility of the possibilities to use EGTCs as an optional instrument for territorial cooperation available in all EU policy areas. II. III. The institutions engage themselves to undertake actions of coordination and communication among national authorities and between authorities of different Member States in order to ensure clear, efficient and transparent procedures of authorization of new EGTCs. The Member States will endeavour to apply the rules of the Regulation on law applicable to contractual obligations for the staff hired under private law and the principle of territoriality for staff hired under public law.

35 The revised EGTC Regulation The CoR as register of EGTC The role of the Committee of the Regions as EGTC register is reinforced: The EGTC register was implemented by decision of the CoR Secretary-General It is available in all official EU languages and contains micro-sites for all EGTCs In a statement contained in the new Regulation, the institutions have confirmed the role of the CoR in managing the EGTC register From 22 June 2014, the CoR will publish the setup of new EGTCs in section C of the Official Journal of the European Union

36 The challenge of implementation Participation in Operational Programmes Joint CoR-AEBR Seminar The participation of citizens from border regions in the Operational Programmes The Case of the EGTC, Brussels, 19/11/2013: Border regions and EGTCs need to be consulted in the preparation of programming documents as part of a structured dialogue (cf. Art. 5 CCP) The national authorities should consider the specific needs of border areas and the potential of the EGTCs for the ETC

37 The challenge of implementation EGTC monitoring report 2013 Question: Are the EGTCs involved in the programming process? EGTC Monitoring Report 2013 Towards the New Cohesion Policy : 10 EGTCs have elaborated a position paper or key study that was presented to the Programming Group 5 EGTCs are represented in the Programming Group (risk of conflict of interests due to the later role of EGTC as beneficiaries) 4 EGTCs intend to take over a function in management and implementation of programmes (Grande Région, Euroregione Senza Confini, EUKN, ESPON)

38 Conclusion Open questions

39 Conclusion Open questions How will the revised EGTC Regulation be implemented? What will the future EGTC conventions look like? Are the Member States ready to approve EGTCs whose conventions override national law? What will be the changes in approval procedures in the Member States? How will the Member States apply the rules of the EGTC Regulation to staff? How will the EGTCs participate in JAP, ITI, CLLD and other instruments? What is the involvement of EGTCs in the programming process of the Operational Programmes?

40 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

41 Thank you! Vielen Dank! Grazie! Committee of the Regions Direction of horizontal policies and networks Alfonso Alcolea Martínez Administrator EGTC & territorial cooperation FB group: EGTC