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Macro-Regional Strategies in the EU
In this section you will find useful information on European Macro-Regional Strategies and related INTERACT support
Several Macro-Regions are being identified throughout the European territory, covering large areas across national borders. The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region was adopted in October 2009 and is the first to be implemented, but not the last. The Commission has already started the preparations for the Danube Strategy, in order to start its implementation phase in 2011.
- The European Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (click here for more infos)
- The European Strategy for the Danube Region (click here for more infos)
What is a Macro-Region?
"There is no standard definition for a macro-region [...]. The definition developed during the preparation of the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, is that of “an area including territory from a number of different countries or regions associated with one or more common features or challenges.”
Source: Macro-regional Strategies in the European Union - published on the Website of DG Regional Policy.
What is a Macro-Regional Strategy?
The idea behind a Macro-regional Strategy is "to add value to interventions, whether by the EU, national or regional authorities or the third or private sectors, in a way that significantly strengthens the functioning of the macro-region. Moreover, by resolving issues in a relatively small group of countries and regions the way may be cleared for better cohesion at the level of the Union. Working together can become a habit and a skill. In addition, overall coordination of actions across policy areas will very likely result in better results than individual initiatives".
One should not forget that "the objectives of a macro-regional strategy will clearly vary according to the needs of the regions concerned".
The Macro-regional Strategies cannot rely on any addittional funding. Tha task is to find ways to use existing resources, legislation and structures to be better used for the benefit of the whole region.
Source: Macro-regional Strategies in the European Union - published on the Website of DG Regional Policy
What is INTERACT role and support?
INTERACT, based on its mandate by the EU Member States and the Commission, is offering dedicated support to cooperation programmes involved in the preparation and implementation of EU Macro-Regional Strategies.
- INTERACT Point Turku is contact point for ETC programmes within the Baltic Sea Region Strategy and is also leader of a Laboratory Group with Senior experts representing ETC programmes, Mainstream Programmes, ENPI Programmes and International Financial Intstitutions to support the implementation of the Strategy.
- INTERACT Point Vienna is contact point for ETC programmes within the Danube Region Strategy
Visit Inforegio, the Website of DG Regional Policy:
Macro-regional strategies in the European Union
A Discussion Paper presented by Commissioner Pawel Samecki in Stokholm on 18 September 2009
