WRITTEN QUESTION P-0556/00

by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(23 February 2000)

Subject: Protocol on cooperation between the Aquitaine region, the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country and the Autonomous Community of Navarre

In 1980 France and Spain signed an agreement in Bayonne, France, paving the way for regional cross-border cooperation. On 3 October 1989, in Bordeaux, the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country and the Aquitaine region signed a protocol on cooperation formalising cross-border relations between them. They were subsequently joined by the Autonomous Community of Navarre on 13 February 1992, when a new protocol was signed.

The objectives of that protocol are:

- to exchange information and harmonise the policies pursued by the three regions to develop infrastructure in the communications, training, economic, social, research and cultural fields, where the said policies overlap;

- to reach agreement on the framing and development of projects of joint interest; and

- to foster cooperation between public-sector, professional and private-sector bodies in the three regions.

On 25 January last the Government of the Autonomous Community of Navarre decided unilaterally to withdraw from the protocol on cooperation, citing political differences of no relevance to issues in the areas covered by the protocol.

Does the Commission believe that the development of cross-border cooperation between these three regions could suffer as a result of this move, especially bearing in mind that the new Interreg Community initiative will strengthen such cooperation? Will the Commission say whether the subsidies and aid currently received by the Autonomous Community of Navarre for projects under the said protocol are now in jeopardy?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(17 March 2000)

During the new programming period for the Structural Funds (2000-2006), the Interreg Community Initiative will cover only projects which are of a genuine cross-border and transnational nature and which form part of a cooperation programme drawn up jointly by the appropriate authorities on both sides of the border.

In addition, this programme will have to be implemented by joint cooperation structures: a joint Monitoring Committee, steering committee and management/payment authority for the Member States and frontier regions covered by the Interreg programme. The establishment of these joint cooperation structures is therefore a condition for the implementation of Interreg and a condition of admissibility and approval of the programme by the Commission.

In this context, it is clear that agreements and bilateral protocols of cooperation, such as the Bayonne agreement mentioned by the Honourable Member, can prove very useful for the creation and consolidation of the joint Interreg structures.

The France/Spain cross-border programme is currently being completed and is in no way affected by the decisions taken by the government of the Comunidad Foral of Navarre. At this stage, it is not possible to forecast how the new Interreg III Community Initiative will be implemented in these regions since the Commission will soon adopt its guidelines on this topic. The Member States and regions concerned will then be invited to prepare proposals for operational programmes.