ETC is a core objective of EU regional policy and is financed by the ERDF. The regulation describes the background and general principles of ETC and specifies the scope of the ERDF in achieving the objectives of territorial cooperation for the 2014–2020 period.
The aim of ETC is to encourage regions and cities from different EU Member States and other European countries to work together and learn from each other through joint programmes, projects and networks.
There are three types of ETC programmes.
Cross-border cooperation. Financing of joint projects implemented directly at the EU borders, for example between neighbouring land or maritime border regions, or a region in at least one Member State and non-EU country on the external borders of the EU. The regions in non-EU countries must not be covered by programmes under the EU’s external financial instruments.
Transnational cooperation programmes. These involve national, regional and local partners over larger areas of cooperation, such as the Baltic Sea region.
Interregional cooperation. All Member States are eligible to participate in this programme, which includes projects and networks for the exchange of experience and good practice between regional and local bodies in different countries. These projects aim to ensure that cohesion policy resources are applied effectively.
Management of programmes
As ETC programmes consist of a group of Member States and sometimes non-EU countries, they are managed by a body jointly designated by the participating countries.
Reporting
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/207 lays down the detailed rules that managing authorities need to follow for drawing up the annual and final implementation reports.
Budget
The budget within the ERDF for ETC is €8.9 billion over the 2014–2020 period, broken down as follows:
cross-border cooperation: €6.6 billion;
transnational cooperation: €1.8 billion;
interregional cooperation: €500 million.
List of cooperation programmes
Implementing Decision 2014/366/EU sets out the list of cooperation programmes and the amount of ERDF support for each programme.
Disruption of programme implementation as a result of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine
Regulation (EU) 2022/2192 lays down specific rules for the 2014–2020 cooperation programmes supported by the European Neighbourhood Instrument and under the European territorial cooperation goal, following the disruption of the implementation of programmes as a result of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine and Belarus’ involvement in that aggression. Regulation (EU) 2022/2192 enables these programmes to function effectively by:
ensuring that Member States and regions can use cohesion resources to support measures to address migratory challenges as a result of Russia’s actions;
allowing exceptions to be made from the normal co-financing rules offering the necessary flexibility to mobilise existing investment resources to address the direct and indirect effects stemming from the invasion of Ukraine;
allowing for the continuation of projects only on the Member States’ side of the border where other beneficiaries are not able to participate; and
providing legal certainty for other aspects facing programme authorities.
Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of on specific provisions for the support from the European Regional Development Fund to the European territorial cooperation goal (OJ L 347, , pp. 259–280).
RELATED DOCUMENTS
Regulation (EU) 2022/2192 of the European Parliament and of the Council of laying down specific provisions for the 2014–2020 cooperation programmes supported by the European Neighbourhood Instrument and under the European territorial cooperation goal, following programme implementation disruption (OJ L 292, , pp. 1–11).
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/207 of laying down detailed rules implementing Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the models for the progress report, submission of the information on a major project, the joint action plan, the implementation reports for the Investment for growth and jobs goal, the management declaration, the audit strategy, the audit opinion and the annual control report and the methodology for carrying out the cost-benefit analysis and pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the model for the implementation reports for the European territorial cooperation goal (OJ L 38, , pp. 1–122).
Successive amendments to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/207 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 821/2014 of laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards detailed arrangements for the transfer and management of programme contributions, the reporting on financial instruments, technical characteristics of information and communication measures for operations and the system to record and store data (OJ L 223, , pp. 7–18).
Commission Implementing Decision 2014/388/EU of 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, , pp. 75–134).
Commission Implementing Decision 2014/366/EU of setting up the list of cooperation programmes and indicating the global amount of total support from the European Regional Development Fund for each programme under the European territorial cooperation goal for the period 2014 to 2020 (OJ L 178, , pp 18–25).
Regulation (EU) No 232/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of establishing a European Neighbourhood Instrument (OJ L 77, , pp. 27–43).
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 480/2014 of supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (OJ L 138, , pp. 5–44).
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 481/2014 of supplementing Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to specific rules on eligibility of expenditure for cooperation programmes (OJ L 138, , pp. 45–50).
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 288/2014 of laying down rules pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund with regard to the model for operational programmes under the investment for growth and jobs goal and pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on specific provisions for the support from the European Regional Development Fund to the European territorial cooperation goal with regard to the model for cooperation programmes under the European territorial cooperation goal (OJ L 87, , pp. 1–48).
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 184/2014 of laying down pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, the terms and conditions applicable to the electronic data exchange system between the Member States and the Commission and adopting pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1299/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council on specific provisions for the support from the European Regional Development Fund to the European territorial cooperation goal, the nomenclature of the categories of intervention for support from the European Regional Development Fund under the European territorial cooperation goal (OJ L 57, , pp. 7–20).
Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of laying down common provisions and general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 (OJ L 347, , pp. 320–469).
Regulation (EU) No 1301/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of on the European Regional Development Fund and on specific provisions concerning the investment for growth and jobs goal and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006 (OJ L 347, , pp. 289–302).
Regulation (EC) No 1082/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of on a European grouping of territorial cooperation (EGTC) (OJ L 210, , pp. 19–24).