EU-voorzitter Spanje organiseert top over regionale samenwerking (en)

One of the priorities of the Spanish Presidency of the EU is to promote cooperation between European regions and to encourage social and economic development, as well as reinforcing the role of local and regional entities in the process to building the European Union and fighting the present crisis.

The summit on "European Territorial Cooperation: European Groupings for Territorial and Cross-Border Cooperation" is being held in Caceres and was opened by the Third Vice-president of the Spanish government, Manuel Chaves, and the President of the regional government of Extremadura, Guillermo Fernández Vara.

The summit will analyse the potential of the different interregional collaboration mechanisms, such as European Groupings for Territorial Cooperation (EGTC), and is being attended by regional representatives, EGTC members, members of the European Commission as well as from the Committee of the Regions.

EGTCs were set up in 2006 with the goal of forging cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation in order to strengthen social and economic cohesion. Their functions include developing programmes and projects jointly financed by the EU, and collaborative actions initiated by EU Member States and their local and regional authorities.

Since the entry into force of the regulation that governs such entities, nine EGTCs have been created in Europe and 20 are in the process of formation, involving regions in 20 countries.

Spain, through different territorial entities, participates in ten Groupings of which four are operational and the rest are in the process of being set up.

The Groupings' work agenda includes collaboration for better public transport, more competitive businesses, training and job-creation, preparing sustainable development projects, activities in the tourism sector, rural development and fisheries development or the construction of healthcare and medical equipment.

Regional policy

The Spanish Presidency of the EU has placed the issue of regions at the forefront of its agenda during the first six months of this year. The Cáceres summit highlights the importance given to EGTCs by the Trio of presidencies (Spain, Belgium and Hungary), as set out in the document of conclusions reached at the informal meeting of ministers of regional policy in Malaga in March.

A meeting is to be held in Seville in June to analyse the impact of political and administrative decentralisation on media in the EU.