After the launching of the first European Interreg programmes some twenty years ago, the participants in cross-border cooperation very soon realized the value of these programmes when forming or strengthening partnerships with their neighbours and generating new development opportunities for themselves. However, all too often projects remained at the study or strategy definition stage. One thing that was lacking was a legal instrument enabling the implementation of joint action programmes. Today the European grouping of territorial cooperation (EGTC) meets a large part of this need.
Partners, including those on either side of French borders, thus have a legal framework for their cross-border operational arrangements and for the management of European (Interreg) co-funding. They nevertheless have a need for information about technical procedures not related to these two areas, such as issuing cross-border calls for bids, making joint investments or cross-border payments.
To meet this need, in 2008 the Caisse des Dépôts commissioned from the MOT the production of a “Practical operational and financial guide”, a practical tool for participants in cross-border cooperation intended to facilitate the working and the management of their projects, through cross-border cooperation agreements or joint structures. It is initially issued for consultation within the MOT network.
Source: Cross-border news, No.50, May 2009
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