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The Committee of the Regions Adopts Own-initiative Opinion on EGTC
02.02.2011
The own-initiative opinion of the CoR, following a broad consultation co-organised with the participation of INTERACT, was adopted on 27 January at the CoR plenary session.
The Committee of the Regions' proposals are based on an extensive consultation of existing EGTCs, regional and local authorities as well as other stakeholders, launched in cooperation with the Trio of Presidencies of the EU Council, the European Commission and Interact. One of the key issues raised by the CoR is the lack of coordination that has dominated the past five years. This resulted in a patchwork of national implementing measures that are not necessarily compatible with each other. The Committee opinion therefore urges clearer guidance from the EU institutions on how to apply the concept in national law. Another obstacle is that national capitals often take a long time to process requests for setting up EGTCs, which the CoR wants to reduce.
Paradoxically, some EGTCs have reported problems when applying for EU funding. Sometimes their multinational nature is not recognised and projects are rejected on grounds of an insufficient number of nationalities represented, or on grounds of an unclear legal status. The Committee therefore urges that more information on the concept be made available to administrations at all levels, including the European Commission. The CoR also repeats its call for a specific EU funding programme to support fledgling EGTCs.
CoR | Own-Initiative Opinion on the EGTC | 27.01.2011
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This is the own-initiative opinion of the Committee of the Regions on "New perspectives for the revision of the EGTC Regulation" adopted in plenary session on 27.01.2011
