Content

EGTC and European Territorial Cooperation

The adoption of this binding regulation constitutes a major step for territorial cooperation, as it provides public actors at different levels (Member States, regional and local authorities mainly) with a simple, yet solid, legal tool for developing and implementing a territorial cohesion policy, at cross-border, transnational and interregional levels.

Typology of EGTCs

As stated in article 7(3) of the EGTC Regulation, there exist four models of EGTCs:

2764 - Main Models of an EGTC

Currently most EGTCs in place are multi-functional and have a diversity of objectives and types of actions. One EGTC is currently involved in the management of ETC programmes (see below), but more EGTCs are actually preparing or implementing ETC projects or active as governance structures.

EGTC for programme management

Trends

In the INTERREG III period of 2000-2006, only 6% of the INTERREG IIIA programmes were managed by a joint cross-border structure. Most programmes were managed by local, regional or national authorities. This trend has been pursued during the programming period of 2007-2013.

One of the main challenges that joint structures have to face is connected with their legal personality. This has implications, e.g. on the power to hire international staff or to be bound to a national legal framework. The EGTC offers the possibiliy to step over these difficulties and others.

Cross-border structures in ETC programme management

A variety of cross-border structures are involved in different ETC programmes, as Managing Authority, Joint Technical Secretariat and/or contact points. There is a diversity of structures with different legal status, naming and functions:

Names: Euregio, Euroregion, Working Community etc. For instance:
- Managing Authority of INTERREG IVA Programme Euregio Meuse-Rhine is a Euroregion: "Foundation Euregio Meuse-Rhine";
- Managing Authority and JTS of INTERREG IVA Programme France-Spain-Andorra is a working community: "Consorcio of the Working Community of the Pyrenees".
Legal status:
- public, created by a national law or an interstate convention (Openbare Lichaam (NL), Zweckverband (DE), Consorcio (ES), Groupement d’Intérêt Public (FR) etc);
- private: association, foundation etc.

The EGTC does not aim to replace existing instruments and structures. In regions where no alternatives exist or where these appear to be ill-adapted to the needs of programme management, the EGTC offers a unique, harmonised and adapted solution to foster programme management by cross-border structures.

The example of Grossregion/Grande Région/Greater Region

This EGTC is the first one to be established as Managing Authority of an INTERREG/ETC programme, in this case the INTERREG IVA Programme Greater Region. It was established on 1 April 2010 with partners from France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg (registered office in Metz, France). Please consult the programme website for further information.

Use of the EGTC instrument for ETC programnme management is considered in several ETC programmes in view of the preparation of the programming period 2014-2020.

EGTC for ETC project management

The community legal framework enables EGTCs to become lead partners or partners of ETC projects. In particular, it has been acknowledged and confirmed by the European Commission that an EGTC fulfils the cooperation criteria required from any ETC project (joint development, implementation, staffing and financing), and therefore, an EGTC can act as sole beneficiary in an ETC project. See DG Regio Mailing of February 2008.