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Cross-border regional cooperation — eligibility for funding

 

SUMMARY OF:

Implementing Decision 2014/388/EU — regions eligible for funding for cross-border cooperation

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISION?

It lists the regions and areas eligible for EU funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to implement cross-border and transnational European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) initiatives for 2014-2020.

KEY POINTS

The regions and areas concerned receive funding specifically for projects involving cooperation with regions in other EU countries. The annexes list groups of regions and areas by ETC goals:

  • Cross-border cooperation: programmes carried out jointly by adjacent or maritime border regions from 2 or more EU countries. Joint programmes involving neighbouring regions of EU and non-EU countries are included, provided that the non-EU regions are not covered by programmes under the EU’s external financial instruments*.
  • Small regions (NUTS 3*) that are not part of any cross-border area and that are covered by the EU’s external financial instruments.
  • Transnational cooperation: programmes involving national, regional and local partners over larger areas of cooperation, such as the Baltic Sea Region.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DECISION APPLY?

It has applied since 18 June 2014.

BACKGROUND

  • ETC (also known as Interreg) is an EU programme which encourages joint programmes, projects and networks between regions in different EU countries and between regions in EU countries and neighbouring non-EU regions.
  • ETC allows regions and cities to work together on practical issues, share knowledge and learn from each other, to improve integration and quality of life across borders.
  • The ERDF supports regional policy projects designed to correct imbalances between EU regions and thus strengthens economic and social cohesion.
  • For more information, see:

KEY TERMS

External financial instruments: these support projects promoting European interests and values in non-EU countries, e.g. economic development in less affluent regions; peace, democracy and human rights; public sector reforms in EU candidate countries; etc.
NUTS 3: the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) defines NUTS 3 regions as those whose administrative units have an average population of between 150 000 and 800 000.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Commission Implementing Decision 2014/388/EU of 16 June 2014 setting up the list of regions and areas eligible for funding from the European Regional Development Fund under the cross-border and transnational components of the European territorial cooperation goal for the period 2014 to 2020 (OJ L 183, 24.6.2014, pp. 75-134)

RELATED DOCUMENTS

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, pp. 259-280)

Regulation (EU) No 231/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing an Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA II) (OJ L 77, 15.3.2014, pp. 11-26)

Regulation (EU) No 232/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2014 establishing a European Neighbourhood Instrument (OJ L 77, 15.3.2014, pp. 27-43)

Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 May 2003 on the establishment of a common classification of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) (OJ L 154, 21.6.2003, pp. 1-41)

Successive amendments to Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003 have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

last update 28.07.2017

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