Link(s)

Atlantique Pyrénées Euro-Institute

Countries: Spain, France
Border(s): France-Spain-Andorra,
Territories:
Territory of the Basque Eurocity,
Topic(s):
- Cross-border cooperation professions
- Education, training and languages

As the flagship project within the Basque "Eurocity", the creation of a Euro-Institut ("Euro-Institute") came to pass in 2000 with an agreement signed between the Conseil régional d´Aquitaine (Aquitaine regional council), the French government, the Conseil Général des Pyrénées Atlantiques (Departmental council of the Pyrénées Atlantiques), and the Communauté d´Agglomération de Bayonne Anglet Biarritz (Conurbation Community of Bayonne Anglet Biarritz) under the auspices of the French Governmental-Regional performance contract.The Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière (Cross-border Operational Mission) has been given responsibility for the feasibility study and for a second operational phase, bringing in the Diputaciòn de Gipuzkoa; this step is intended to result in the creation of the Euro-Institut during 2005 - 2006. Once set up, the structure will constitute a training centre promoting Franco-Spanish cross-border cooperation, a research and resource centre for the generation and sharing of strategic information, and also a support structure for cross-border and transnational projects (notably through the development of methodologies and the transfer of good practice).

Partners

- Agence transfrontalière de l´Eurocité basque Bayonne
- San Sebastian (The cross-border agency for the Bayonne-San Sebastian Eurocity)
- Communauté d´agglomération de Bayonne-Anglet-Biarritz (The Conurbation Community of Bayonne-Anglet-Biarritz)
- The Diputacion Foral de Gipuzkoa- Conseil régional d´Aquitaine (Aquitaine Regional Council)
- Conseil général des Pyrénées-Atlantiques (Departmental council of the Pyrénées Atlantiques),
- The French Government- The Government of the Basque Country
- The Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière (Cross-border Operational Mission)

Project goals

The role of the Euro-institut is to act as
- a centre for initial and ongoing training,
- a research and resource centre for the generation and sharing of strategic information on cooperation,
- a location providing technical assistance to those managing cross-border and international projects.

Target group(s)

- Public and semi-public bodies in France and Spain (the national governments and local municipalities), or even other European governments, elected officials

- Private-sector actors in cross-border cooperation (trade associations, businesses, etc.)

Project activities

- Training course development
- Creation of a research and resource centre
- Technical support for cross-border projects