A4-0179/98

Resolution on the communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, and the Committee of the Regions on cross-border cooperation within the framework of the Tacis programme (COM(97)0239 - C4-0280/97)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission communication (COM(97)0239 - C4-0280/97),

- having regard to its resolution of 16 May 1997 on cross-border and inter-regional cooperation ((OJ C 167, 2.6.1997, p. 245.)),

- having regard to the Commission's 1996 annual report on the Tacis programme (COM(97)0400),

- having regard to the report from the Commission on the implementation of cross-border cooperation between the Community and the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe in 1994 (COM(95)0662 - C4-0142/96),

- having regard to the communication from the Commission: the European Union and Russia: the future relationship (COM(95)0223 - C4-0217/95),

- having regard to the European Charter for Frontier and Transfrontier Regions adopted by the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR),

- having regard to the hearing of the Committee on Regional Policy concerning cross-border cooperation on 21-22 November 1995 in Luxembourg,

- having regard to the decision taken by the European Council in Luxembourg to start membership negotiations with Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs),

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Regional Policy and the opinions of the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on External Economic Relations (A4-0179/98),

A. whereas a fundamental objective of the European Union is to promote peace and security, democracy and human rights,

B. whereas cross-border cooperation constitutes an important element of partnership between the European Union and the New Independent States (NIS),

C. whereas cross-border cooperation can contribute to the integration of Europe and to economic cohesion by reducing the economic disparities between neighbouring regions,

D. whereas developing the economies and promoting employment and social, cultural and environmental cooperation are key objectives of cross-border cooperation with third countries and whereas the development and strengthening of democracy is a central element in cooperation,

E. whereas, besides economic cooperation, one of the objectives of cross-border cooperation is to bring peoples in regions on both sides of borders into contact with one another and to establish good-neighbourly relations and mutual understanding,

1. Welcomes the introduction of cross-border cooperation in the framework of the Tacis programme; notes, however, that detailed information should be made available on its implementation according to the guidelines laid down by the budgetary authority;

2. Considers that it is very important for the enlarged EU to form closer ties with Russia and Ukraine and the other new independent states on the basis of partnership and cooperation agreements and, bearing in mind the proposals set out in Agenda 2000 and the new geopolitical conditions, to make changes in the content and the geographical organisation of the various Community programmes, such as Tacis;

3. Considers that EU cross-border cooperation requires resources to develop cooperation and safeguard stability in regions close to the EU¨s borders and to the borders of future member states; takes the view that the EU¨s future regional policy should increasingly stress cross-border cooperation in all border areas;

4. Calls on the Commission to bear in mind the future enlargement when planning and implementing the Tacis-CBC programme so that mid and long-term priorities such as the strengthening of the new external EU border are taken into account in advance;

5. Expresses the opinion that experience resulting from the Tacis-CBC projects, especially in environmental protection, should be shared and further multiplied also in NIS regions which do not qualify for financial support within the framework of the Tacis programme;

6. Considers that the financial involvement of regional and local players and the social partners and greater participation by the private sector are essential, as only in this way can the survival of projects and jobs be ensured once EU cofinancing ceases; recalls in this context the decisions taken by the budgetary authority in the 1998 budget (Articles B7-520 and B7-521);

7. Recalls the decisions taken to delegate the coordination of regional cooperation to the regions or regional associations and to ensure that a democratic decision-making process on the objectives, programmes and projects relating to development in the Euroregions takes place at regional level, so that models for self-determined regional development going beyond national borders can be established;

8. Notes the need to ensure, in accordance with the principle of partnership, that the regions, local authorities and social partners participate at a practical level in the planning and implementation of measures concerning Tacis cross-border cooperation; considers therefore that the training and developing of local and regional administration must be one of the priorities of the Tacis-CBC programme;

9. Maintains that cross-regional cooperation between local and regional administrations on both sides of borders makes an important contribution towards maintaining peace, freedom, security and respect for human rights and the protection of national minorities; emphasises that the regions have an important role to play in the process of European unification and in the coexistence of the peoples of Europe;

10. Stresses the importance of models for democratic co-determination on lines of the 'bottom-up' approach in the planning, transposition and evaluation of structural policy measures, in view of the need for measures for the establishment and stabilisation of democracy in the countries underdoing transformation, and calls on the Commission to place more emphasis on these matters in establishing guidelines in the Tacis programme;

11. Emphasises also, however, the importance of a 'Small Project Fund' (comparable to current practice in the Euroregions with Phare and Interreg) to be made available directly to the Euroregions for promoting very small-scale projects at local level and to support the process of mutual understanding between peoples separated by borders in an exemplary fashion;

12. Stresses the need to coordinate the cross-border cooperation programmes implemented by the EU, including the Tacis, Phare and Interreg programmes, in order to avoid overlapping and to increase the impact and the effectiveness of the initiatives financed thereunder; considers it essential, therefore, that the new Structural Fund regulations should include coordination and more flexible joint funding;

13. Considers that the conditions must be created to enable genuine joint projects to be realised involving the cross-border elements of Interreg and Tacis; calls therefore on the Commission to agree on common provisions for the use of funds available for cross-border projects between the EU and third countries;

14. Hopes that the Tacis programme will facilitate significant investment in the same way as the Phare programme, as the significance of infrastructure programmes is more marked in less developed regions; in order for resources to be used rationally and effectively in cross-border cooperation between the EU and third countries, it is necessary, inter alia, that CBC in the Interreg II, Tacis and Phare programmes should be coordinated so as to ensure genuine project-centred cooperation and cooperation between citizens; Tacis-CBC should provide for multiannual projects with a cross-border dimension to facilitate the consolidation of Interreg;

15. Considers that joint cross-border programmes must be prepared at regional level and at unit level, and not for the whole length of national borders, and that they must always be based on a joint socio-economic analysis, while investment must benefit both sides of the borders and all projects must be implemented jointly;

16. Takes the view that it is necessary to foster synergy between the Community instruments and those of institutions such as the EBRD or the IMF, as part of a balanced financial burden sharing process;

17. Believes that the future implementation of cross-border cooperation in the framework of the Tacis programme should be based on integrated multiannual programming, so as to ensure that the programme is more consistent with the various other programmes (especially Interreg) and to prevent any duplication, in view of the large number of projects involved;

18. Stresses the important role of the policy of providing technical assistance during the transitional period, not only in the framework of the Tacis-CBC programme but also more generally, and stresses that this policy must be subject to continual review so as to ensure greater effectiveness, proper allocation and usage;

19. Regrets that the effectiveness of the Tacis programme has been limited by slow, complex and bureaucratic procedures; considers that the Commission should rationalise its administrative practice so as better to meet the needs of regional partners; believes that it is necessary to simplify the existing system; urges the Commission to provide prompt advice and guidance for the setting of priorities and objectives and calls on the Member States to provide adequate political support and commitment in respect of cross-border cooperation;

20. Stresses the need to concentrate on, and improve information about, the various programmes, to facilitate public access to information and to increase openness and transparency about the utilisation of funds and decision-making;

21. Finds it regrettable that Tacis programmes are still run centrally in capitals; stresses the need to allocate adequate resources to regional Tacis offices to enable the programmes to take better account of aspects important to regions; considers it important that the Commission should have at its disposal, if necessary by redeployment, adequate staff resources for the new duties relating to cross-border cooperation;

22. Points out that the regional Tacis offices are bodies at a remove from central government, and the regional authorities must participate in them in order to ensure that their tasks are carried out more effectively;

23. Considers that the Tacis-CBC programme should define the environmental policy objectives arising from the special conditions in the border regions and the instruments needed to implement them, mainly owing to the antiquated and deficient environmental technology of undertakings in the NIS;

24. Stresses in particular the new environmental problems of the regions near the border between Russia and the EU, for the solution of which sufficient funds must rapidly be found;

25. Stresses that the environmental programmes will have to maintain a key role in the framework of the Tacis-CBC programme and that special attention will have to given to promoting contacts between local communities which will contribute to the further economic development of border regions;

26. Wishes to see a strengthening of the measures designed to encourage cooperation as regards training, business development and the transfer of technology and marketing skills to small and medium sized businesses; takes the view, moreover, that special attention should be given to the development and promotion of female entrepreneurship, and to the creation and support of social and health services which are of vital importance to the citizen;

27. Takes the view that the provisions governing implementation of the programmes and contracts and procurement should be revised so as to enable cooperation projects with the participation of regional and local authorities to be implemented and that, in the case of small-scale projects as well, account must be taken of the rules governing public tendering in order to ensure that EU funds are used to the best possible effect;

28. Considers it appropriate that the AEBR, which offers technical assistance to border regions in the context of Interreg, Phare-CBC and LACE, should also provide assistance for the border regions covered by Tacis;

29. Considers it important to promote measures permitting the removal of practical obstacles to border crossing and customs clearance so that both sides comply with the procedures agreed jointly and adopted by the European Union in connection with problems which still arise in practice concerning the movement of goods and persons between the European Union and non-EU countries; also hopes that the safe arrival of cross-border humanitarian aid without undue customs or other charges will be guaranteed;

30. Stresses that the Tacis-CBC programme must be strengthened and that the resources allocated to it must be increased gradually on the basis of experience, and at the same time that care must be taken to ensure that the resources are used as effectively as possible; points out that the projects within the framework of the Tacis-CBC programme must be implemented in a less bureaucratic manner, as already occurs with the Interreg programmes, so as not to discourage local administrations from submitting proposals;

31. Hopes that, apart from financing different feasibility studies, investment plans and other preparatory documents, significant attention will also be given to the basic and current needs of people, institutions and organisations in bordering regions; this would imply developing and financing basic infrastructure at border-crossing points, proper technical equipment of local authorities and immediate elimination of the most urgent and direct sources of pollution;

32. Stresses the importance of support for SMEs in cross-border cooperation since economic contacts create a natural incentive for the development of such cooperation; suggests that particular support measures could include the establishment of mutual clearing banks, training and consultation in the field of customs and tax legal regulations;

33. Considers that the Commission should propose the creation of a specific Baltic Sea Programme, promoted by opening a separate heading in the budget; this would at the same time facilitate the development of a special northern dimension for the EU;

34. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Committee of the Regions and the governments of the Member States.