Content
Third Additional Protocol to the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation
20.11.2009 | Source
On 16 November 2009, 7 Member States of the Council of Europe signed the protocol concerning European Co-operation Groupings (CEG)
Content
This Protocol provides for the legal status, establishment and operation of 'Euroregional Co-operation Groupings', composed of local authorities and other public bodies.
Signatory member States
It has been signed on 16.11.2009 by Belgium, France, Germany, Lithuania, Montenegro, the Netherlands and Slovenia and is open to signature of other member States of the Council of Europe (under the condition that they have already signed the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities (Madrid Convention of 1980)).
What is the difference between ECG and EGTC?
After the adoption of a Community Instrument, the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) in 2006, the work of the Council of Europe was reoriented to draft a Third Protocol "that would provide the core provisions for the establishment and functioning of transfrontier and interterritorial co-operation bodies while at the same time being fully compatible with the EC Regulation... [...]. The two bodies (EGTC and ECG) do not exclude each other [...] however prospective members will choose, in view of the objectives of their co-operation and the means at their disposal, which of the two instruments may accomodate their expectations and goals adequately".
The Protocol foresees the establishment of model legislation that the parties [...] may adopt as such or reformulate according to their legal traditions".
Impact for ETC programmes and projects
The ECG instrument provides an additional alternative to the EGTC in the EU Member States (for those Member States that sign the Third Protocol).
In non EU Member States which are members of the Council of Europe, the ECG (under the condition that the 3rd Protocol is signed) offers a new instrument for cooperation, very close to the EGTC instrument, and could therefore facilitate cooperation between programme and project partners from EU Member States and third countries of the EU.
