Content

Newsletter INTERACT April 2010 | Territorial Cooperation in a Global Context

05.05.2010
The first issue of the INTERACT newsletter for the year 2010 is online. This issue "Territorial Cooperation in a Global Context" gives insight into territorial cooperation within the EU borders and beyond.

The territorial dimension within EU policy-making is gaining in importance. Joint cooperation and activities between regions are the future for achieving the objectives of growth and competitiveness, for establishing partnerships and for promoting new models of development, not only within the EU borders but also beyond.

The articles show in particular the strategic importance of European Territorial Cooperation within and beyond the EU borders. European Territorial Cooperation ensures that regions at the EU external borders can benefit from cross-border programmes with their neighbouring countries, it supports the candidate countries in their EU accession process, and it fosters the great potentials that outermost regions can offer to the European Union.

The guest editorial this month is provided by Moray Gilland from DG Regional Policy who reflects on the development of IPA Cross-Border Cooperation. Interviews are with Gordana Lazarevic from the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Serbia on the lessons learned and future challenges for IPA CBC in Serbia, and with Sheila Maxwell former civil servant for the Wales/Ireland Cross-Border Programme, on ETC operations outside the defined area.

Three interesting case studies are presented: Peter Mehlbye, Director of the ESPON Coordination Unit, highlights the findings of ESPON's report 'Europe in the World" as well as the reasons behind ESPON's new project on continental structures and flows under the theme of globalisation. Lucy Saban Diallo explains the benefits of the Caribbean Space Programme for the countries in the area of the Caribbean Sea. Finally, Beatriz Amigó, RFO Coordinator at the Government of the Canary Islands, presents the results of the improved cooperation between the seven outermost regions thanks to the RUP-PLUS Regional Framework Operation.