EGTC: Roundtable promises to deliver an Excellent Guide To Cooperation possibilities across Europe

The purpose of the event, entitled '"The EGTC: new impetus for territorial cooperation in Europe", is to assess the scheme's potential and to provide examples of initiatives which could get underway once the EGTC scheme becomes operational on 1 August 2007. Such examples could include running a cross-border transport or health service, managing a project co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, or running an EU-backed research and technological development programme.

The roundtable, to be opened by CoR Vice-President Luc VAN DEN BRANDE, will feature contributions from Jan OLBRYCHT, Vice-Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Regional Development and rapporteur on the EGTC; Luciano CAVERI, President of Valle d'Aosta Region, Italy; Karl-Heinz LAMBERTZ, President of the German-speaking community of Belgium; Franco IACOP, Minister for European affairs, Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region, Italy; Santiago GOMEZ-REINO LECOQ, Secretary-General of Galicia Region, Spain; and Martín GUILLERMO, Secretary-General of the Association of European Border Regions. The Commission's Regional Policy Directorate is also expected to be on hand to respond to questions.

The EGTC is not a funding programme; instead, it offers local and regional authorities or other partners in several countries the opportunity to form a legal body (called an EGTC) for the purpose of implementing cross-border, transnational or interregional programmes. One of the advantages of an EGTC is that it does not require the signing of a prior international agreement and cuts down on red-tape . It can also run for an unlimited period.

At the same time, Member States must indicate their agreement regarding the participation of potential members in their respective areas. And an EGTC cannot be used as a means for supplying police, legal, foreign policy or regulatory services.

An EGTC convention sets out in particular the name of the EGTC and its headquarters; the list of members; the area it covers; its objective; its mission and its duration. As well as local or regional authorities, EGTC members can be Member States, associations or any other public body. An EGTC is subject to the law in the Member State in which the EGTC headquarters are located.

Practical details
Roundtable venue: Room JDE 52, Committee of the Regions, Rue Belliard 99-101, B-1040 Brussels.
Time: 14:00-17:00.
Registration is mandatory. For programme and attendance form, click here.

For more information, please contact:
Dennis ABBOTT : +32 0)2 282 20 99, +32 (0)2 282 20 85, E-mail: Dennis Abbott
Estelle POIDEVIN : +32 (0)2 282 22 70, +32 (0)2 282 20 85, E-mail: Estelle Poidevin
Martin MALLON : +32 (0)2 282 20 33, +32 (0)2 282 20 85, E-mail: Martin MALLON