The role of "Euroregions" in the development of regional policy
The committee adopted the own-initiative report by
Kyriacos TRIANTAPHYLLIDES (GUE/NGL, CY) on the role of
"Euroregions" in the development of regional policy. It began by
pointing out that EU enlargement had resulted in greater disparities between
European regions, which needed to be addressed by means of an effective
cohesion policy. One way of achieving this was through the development of
cross-border cooperation, which provided a suitable approach to solving daily
problems on both sides of the border, especially in the economic, social,
cultural and environmental fields. Such cooperation could also contribute to
the implementation of the
The report noted that Euroregions (as proposed in the framework of the European grouping of cross-border cooperation - EGCC) were a "turntable" for all cross-border relationships, contacts, knowledge transfers, operational programmes and projects. They should be promoted as one of the tools of cross-border cooperation and be given "certain legal status" in order to be able to perform their tasks. The concept of Euroregions and similar structures should be extended, for example to include cooperation in promoting culture, education, tourism and economic issues as well as, where applicable, fighting organised crime, drug trafficking and fraud in partnership with relevant national institutions. They should also be enabled to devise, implement and manage cross-border programmes in the EU as well as programmes under the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument and the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance from 2007 onwards.
MEPs stressed the importance of Euroregions for Member
States with natural handicaps, including small island states. Lastly, they
called for support for cross-border cooperation and the establishment of
Euroregions involving regions from the sensitive area of the