Brussels Open Days 2005 Brussels Open Days 2005

11CO2 : New Perspectives for Cross Border Co-operation11CO2 : New Perspectives for Cross Border Co-operation

Kevin RichardsonKevin Richardson

Newcastle City CouncilNewcastle City Council

kevin.richardson@newcastle.gov.ukkevin.richardson@newcastle.gov.uk

EGCC : The Way Ahead?EGCC : The Way Ahead?

EU

EGCC

EU

LP

Contract / Liability

EGCC / EGTC COM(2004) 496

Contract / Liability

P P P P P

PP

P

P

Advantages Advantages • No Lead PartnerNo Lead Partner• Shared liabilities = shared ownership Shared liabilities = shared ownership • Convention provides clarity and transparencyConvention provides clarity and transparency• Involvement of Member StateInvolvement of Member State• A stable structure as a base for consecutive projectsA stable structure as a base for consecutive projects• Expertise and continuityExpertise and continuity• Quality control through more standardised systemsQuality control through more standardised systems• Legal opening for some and wider understandingLegal opening for some and wider understanding• Opportunities for smaller & inexperienced partnersOpportunities for smaller & inexperienced partners• Transfer of knowledge across EU Programmes Transfer of knowledge across EU Programmes • Not just EU Programmes !Not just EU Programmes !• Wider and deeper partnershipWider and deeper partnership

Risks (1) Risks (1) • Optional & Flexible ?Optional & Flexible ?• Institutional / Financial burden?Institutional / Financial burden?• Simplification of financial management & auditSimplification of financial management & audit• Flexible room for innovation? Flexible room for innovation? • Minimum capacity?Minimum capacity?• Closed partnerships? Closed partnerships? • Involvement of local communities & private sector?Involvement of local communities & private sector?• Democratic legitimacy?Democratic legitimacy?• Involvement of Convergence regions?Involvement of Convergence regions?• Centralisation in place and culture of Brussels Centralisation in place and culture of Brussels

• EGCC assumes delivery & leadershipEGCC assumes delivery & leadership

Risks (2) Risks (2) • Legal / financial uncertainties Legal / financial uncertainties • Clarity on added valueClarity on added value• Late approval & developmentLate approval & development• Limited to NUTS III?Limited to NUTS III?• €€14 billion or €7.5 billion?14 billion or €7.5 billion?• 77% for Cross Border?77% for Cross Border?• Support & ‘oversight’ from Member StateSupport & ‘oversight’ from Member State• Widespread lack of Awareness !!!!Widespread lack of Awareness !!!!

What needs to happens next?What needs to happens next?

• Isolate debate from Cohesion PolicyIsolate debate from Cohesion Policy• Clarify legal uncertaintiesClarify legal uncertainties• Forward Action Plan & TimetableForward Action Plan & Timetable• Involvement of local partnersInvolvement of local partners• Promotion & Branding Promotion & Branding • Leadership by COM and EU ParliamentLeadership by COM and EU Parliament• Protect financial allocation !Protect financial allocation !