A conference in Brussels, on the 19th June, puts the spotlight on a new tool that makes it easier for regions to team up to manage projects involving more than one Member State. The conference, entitled 'Building a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation', aims to promote setting up new groupings under the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) instrument. The event is organised jointly by the European Commission and the Committee of the Regions, in cooperation with the Slovenian Presidency of the European Union and the European Parliament.

Bottlenecks arising from different legal and administrative systems can hinder cooperation among regions in different Member States at a time when there is growing interest in expanding it. The EGTC is new European legal instrument designed to enable regional and local authorities from different Member States to set up cooperation groupings with a legal personality. Such groupings can facilitate cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation, enabling those taking part to deliver transport or health services, for instance.

"This new instrument will make it much easier for regions that want to team up to deliver projects in, for instance, health and transport to improve the quality of life across borders in EU countries. I hope this conference will open up a political discussion, promote understanding of the mechanism and enable participants to exchange experiences so far," Commissioner Danuta Hübner said.

Among the advantages of forming an EGTC:

• Allowing members to create a single legal body, using a single set of rules to implement joint initiatives in two or more Member States. This means, for instance, a single staff employment contract, and common procedures for procurement. Such measures make it far easier for contractors to work with an EGTC.
• Allowing stakeholders in two or more Member States to cooperate on joint initiatives without the need to sign an international agreement needing ratification by their parliaments. EGTC members can choose the activities over which they will cooperate, and specify the decision-making process and internal rules.
• Allowing EGTCs to respond directly to calls for projects launched by EU territorial programmes and to act as the single Managing Authority for them.
• Giving a clear political signal that cooperation with partners in other Member States is important and supported at the highest political level.

Further details of the whole initiative is available via the official website of the Committee of Regions.