INTERREG I / II : CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION Euregio Meuse-Rhine: implementation and management in practice Speech by Mr K.H. Lambertz - Chair of the Monitoring Committee for the Euregio Meuse-Rhine Interreg Programme - Director of Euregio Meuse-Rhine - Minister-President of the German-speaking community of Belgium 1. General background and geographical situation In 1974, the governors of the Dutch and Belgian provinces of Limburg, together with the Chief Executive of the Cologne county administration, acted on the proposal made to them by the future Queen of the Netherlands, Princess Beatrix, during an official visit to Maastricht, to draw up draft arrangements for an association under which even closer cross-border collaboration could develop, along the lines of the Dutch-German Euregio project that had been running since 1957. This initiative was part of the new Community direction in regional policy, which in 1975 was to be provided with an instrument to assist economic development called the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). In 1976, the principle of cross-border institutions was passed in law. Initially formed as an ad hoc association, the Euregio Meuse-Rhine was designed to promote integration between inhabitants on each side of the national borders. The area covers: • in Holland: the southern part of the Dutch province of Limburg; • in Germany: the city of Aachen, and the districts of Aachen, Heinsberg, Düren and Euskirchen, which make up the Aachen Regio, and • in Belgium: the entire province of Limburg. The province of Liège joined the Euregio Meuse-Rhine in 1978. In 1992, the German-speaking community of Belgium became the fifth partner in the Euregio Meuse- Rhine. Formed as it is from five regions spanning three countries, working in no less than three languages (Dutch, French and German), and covering an area of 10 745 km² containing 3.7 million inhabitants and four different cultures (German, Dutch, Flemish and Walloon), the Euregio Meuse-Rhine could indeed be regarded as "a microcosm of Europe". The considerable resources allocated to the 1991-93 Interreg operational programme, and the prospects of being granted their own powers (once bilateral relations between the three countries had developed), led the project managers to transform Euregio Meuse-Rhine into a foundation under Dutch law. The mission of this foundation, or Stichting, is to expand its economic programme and step-up cross-border cooperation. The cross-border action programme signed in 1986 by the Governors' Conference, confirmed Euregio as an economic entity, both for its constituent areas and for the European Union as a whole. 2. Organisation of the Euregio Meuse-Rhine project Management Committee This is composed of the Governor of the province of Liège, the Governor of the Belgian province of Limburg, the Queen's Commissioner for the Dutch province of Limburg, the Chief Executive of the Cologne county administration and the Minister-President of the German-speaking community of Belgium. In addition, each partner region is allowed to appoint two extra members to the committee. The committee is chaired on a rotating basis, changing every two years (or every three years as of this year). The remit of the Committee is basically to decide on the allocation of the budget, evaluate the programmes that are under way, draw up programmes for the coming year and launch new initiatives. Euregio Council The Euregio Council was set up on 25 January 1995 and has 118 members. It includes as a matter of course the 15 members of the Management Committee, the rest of its members being representatives of political parties and the "driving forces" of the Euregio project (unions, employers, associations, universities, the small business sector, etc.). The task of the Council is to issue opinions and recommendations on the form of cross-border cooperation, the budget, and the activities and programmes of the Euregio projects. Standing Office The Standing Office consists of five delegates from the partner regions, an Interreg manager and his/her assistant for the Interreg programme, an assistant responsible for dealing with the Euregio Council and structural policy issues, and two secretaries. The delegates are responsible for managing the working parties. The Standing Office of the Meuse-Rhine Euregio project uses office space and equipment put at its disposal by the provincial government of Limburg (Netherlands) in Maastricht. Working parties The linchpin of the Euregio project, these working parties are composed of specialists appointed as representatives by the partner regions. The Euregio Meuse-Rhine organisation is currently being restructured. 3. Stages in the development of the INTERREG programme 3.1. INTERREG I On the basis of the "Euregio Meuse-Rhine programme of cross-border action", implemented in 1986, a single operational programme was developed. A joint plan for the operational programme in the border regions was developed as early as August 1990 by the different Governments involved (Germany, Netherlands and Belgium). To prepare the programme, the Ministers for Economics Affairs of the partner regions established "guidelines" and a "preparation schedule". The operational programmes were notified jointly to the European Commission by the Governments of Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany in February 1991. The programme for the Euregio Meuse-Rhine project was approved on 16 December 1991. The ERDF contribution was set at ECU 22 million (ECU 23.212 million through indexation). 3.2. INTERREG II In 1994 the managers of the projects in the different partner regions, in conjunction with the Office of the Euregio Meuse-Rhine, began to draw up the operational programme. The goal was to reach consensus on the Euregio project, based on agreement in the regions involved. This involved identifying the weaknesses in each participating region, and the response required, so that this action could be coordinated. The definitive structure of the programme was laid down on 7 September 1994 by the Ministers of Economic Affairs from the three Member States. This enabled agreement to be reached on a uniform structure and terminology in each of the seven Euregio areas in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. The Commission approved the INTERREG II operational programme of the Euregio Meuse-Rhine on 28 July 1995. The Community contribution was set at ECU 35.705 million (ECU 33.455 million from the ERDF and ECU 2.250 from the ESF). 4. Programme implementation 4.1. The prerequisite was the signing of an agreement between the following parties from the partner countries: a) National Ministries: - Ministry of Economic Affairs (NL) - Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs (D) - North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Economic Affairs, Small Businesses, Technology and Transport (D) - Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Economic Affairs, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulture (D) - Region of Wallonia (B) - French-speaking community (B) - Flemish community (B) - German-speaking community (B) b) Regional authorities: - The Province of Limburg (NL) - The Province of Limburg (B) - The Province of Liège (B) - The Aachen Regio (D) c) The Euregio Meuse-Rhine Foundation (Stichting Euregio Maas-Rijn) 4.2. Decision-making bodies - Monitoring Committee For the Euregio Meuse-Rhine programme Members (12 partners): - DG Regional Policy - Ministry of Economic Affairs (NL) - Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs (D) - North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Economic Affairs, Small Businesses, Technology and Transport (D) - Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Economic Affairs, Transport, Agriculture and Viticulture (D) - Region of Wallonia (B) - French-speaking community (B) - Flemish community (B) - German-speaking community (B) b) Regional authorities: - The Province of Limburg (NL) - The Province of Limburg (B) - The Province of Liège (B) - The Aachen Regio (D) Remit: - to modify the programme as necessary, - to monitor and assess the programme, - to organise the call for project tenders - Accompanying Committee For the Euregio Meuse-Rhine programme This consists of exactly the same members as the Monitoring Committee (the Commission representatives are always invited) Remit: - to select projects - to monitor their implementation 4.3. Managing authority Payments authority - Both these functions are carried out by the same authority: the Euregio Meuse-Rhine Foundation (Stichting Euregio Maas-Rijn) The partners have delegated responsibility for administering the operational programme and for the financial management of the Community funds paid to the Euregio Meuse-Rhine Foundation. Once a project has been approved by the Accompanying Committee, the Foundation sends the funding decision and the official funding form to the project creator for his agreement. The Foundation is also responsible for disbursing the subsidies to the project creators. Except where a project has obtained a derogation, subsidies are disbursed only on production of copies of invoices, or supporting documents for eligible expenses. As all the documents providing proof of payment are processed at the Euregio Meuse-Rhine Foundation, this body is able to effectively monitor the ongoing financing of the project. 5. Selecting projects and granting assistance Defining cross-border projects (see Annex) Call for project tenders procedure The managers of the projects in the 6 partner regions are responsible for the following: - (in theory) making the initial contact; - sending out the official application forms; - helping in the search for