European grouping of territorial cooperation (EGTC)

Developing transnational projects at regional and local levels used to be complex and lengthy, often requiring the negotiation of bilateral treaties by national governments. European groupings of territorial cooperation (EGTCs) were first introduced in 2007 to promote inter-regional working.

ACT

Regulation (EC) No 1082/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006 on a European grouping of territorial cooperation (EGTC).

SUMMARY

EGTCs are legal entities set up to facilitate cross-border, transnational or interregional cooperation in the European Union (EU). They allow regional and local authorities (but also national authorities in smaller or centralised countries) and other public undertakings from different member countries to set up groupings with a legal personality to deliver joint services. Member States have to agree to the participation of potential members in their respective countries.

In 2013, to clarify and ease the setting-up and workings of EGTCs, the original law, Regulation (EC) No 1082/2006, was amended by Regulation (EU) No 1302/2013.

Convention, territory and objectives

The objectives and tasks of the EGTC are laid down in a binding cooperation convention established on the initiative of its members. An EGTC may implement programmes co-financed by the EU or any other cross-border cooperation project with or without EU funding. As a general rule, it has members in at least two Member States, although, there are special rules when neighbouring and overseas countries and territories (OCTs) are involved. The convention specifies an EGTC's activities and lifespan and the conditions for dissolving it. The law applicable in regard to the convention is that of the country in which the registered EGTC office is located.

Statutes

These lay down details such as:

• the EGTC's organs, their remit and how they operate;
• its decision-making procedures and working language(s);
• its operating and employment arrangements;
• members' financial contributions, accounting, auditing and budgetary rules.

Acquisition of legal personality

Within 10 working days of the registration or publication of the convention and the statutes in the country in which the EGTC has its registered office, the EGTC notifies the Committee of the Regions (CoR) which keeps a register of EGTCs. The CoR then transmits the information to the Publications Office of the European Union which publishes a notice in the Official Journal announcing the EGTC's establishment.

RELATED ACTS

Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on specific provisions for the support from the European Regional Development Fund to the European territorial cooperation goal (OJ L 347, 20.12.2013).

Last updated: 16.06.2014