COMMISSION STAFF WORKING PAPER
Date: 2011-07-29
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: application of EU law, cross-border cooperation, international cooperation, regional cooperation

EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 29.7.2011 
SEC(2011) 981 final 

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING PAPER 

Accompanying the document 

Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council  

The application of Regulation (EC) No 1082/2006 on a European Grouping of 
Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) 

{COM(2011) 462 final} 

EN 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
I. Table of Member States' progress on implementation of Regulation 

Member State 

Belgium 

Date of Adoption1  Authority to which the prospective members of an 
EGTC  have  to  submit  the  request  for  approval 
according to Article 4(2) of the Regulation2 

     Federal level 

21 December 20073  Foreign Minister 

     Brussels-Capital Region 

14 May 2009 

Government 

     Flemish Region /  

21 December 20074 

Minister of Interior 

     Dutch-speaking Community 

+ 18 January 20085  

as amended 

     French-speaking Community 

not yet adopted 

not yet designated 

     German-speaking Community 

23 June 2008 

Government 

     Walloon Region 

not yet adopted  

not yet designated 

Bulgaria 

29  August  2007  as 
amended6 

Minister for Regional Development and Public Works 

Czech Republic 

7 May 2009 

Ministry for Regional Development  

Denmark 

Germany 

     Federal level 

1 June 2008 

National Agency for Enterprise and Construction 

30 November 2006, 
text  not  yet 
but 
communicated 

Federal Ministry of Economics 

     Baden-Württemberg 

18 June 2007 

Regional  administrative  authority  of  the  District 
(Regierungspräsidium) of Freiburg  

EN 

2 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Bavaria 

1 January 2008 

Government of the District (Regierung) of Oberpfalz 

     Berlin 

20 February 2007  Ministry 

(Senatsverwaltung) 

of 

Economics, 

Technology and Women  

     Brandenburg 

19 December 2007  Ministry of Interior 

     Bremen 

     Hamburg 

     Hesse 

     Lower Saxony 

date  not  yet  known 
+ 
text  not  yet 
communicated 

Minister  (Senator)  for  Environment,  Construction, 
Transport and Europe  

not 
communicated 

yet 

Ministry  (Behörde)  for  Urban  Development  and 
Environment  

date  not  known  + 
text 
yet 
not 
communicated 

10  July  2007,  but 
text 
yet 
not 
communicated 

Ministry  for  Economics,  Transport  and  Regional 
Development 

Ministry of the Interior and Sports 

     Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 

not 
communicated 

yet 

Ministry for Economics, Works and Tourism 

     North Rhine-Westphalia 

not 
communicated 

yet 

Ministry  for  Economics,  Small  Firm  Sector  and 
Energy 

     Rhineland-Palatinate 

30 July 2007 

Ministry of the Interior and Sports 

     Saarland 

7 May 2008 

Ministry for Economics and Science 

     Saxony 

2 January 2008 

Regional  administrative  authority  of  the  District 
(Regierungspräsidium) of Dresden 

     Saxony-Anhalt 

24 July 2007 

Ministry for Economics and Works 

EN 

3 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Schleswig-Holstein 

26 May 20057 

Ministry for Justice, Works and Europe 

     Thuringia 

17 July 2007 

Office 
(Landesverwaltungsamt)  

of 

Land 

Administration 

Estonia 

Ireland 

Greece 

Spain 

France 

Italy 

Cyprus 

Latvia 

Lithuania 

Luxembourg 

Hungary 

Malta 

Netherlands 

Austria 

5 June 2008 

Government of the Republic 

16 December 2009  Minister for Finance 

23 November 2007  Minister of the Interior 

18 January 2008 

Ministry of Public Administration 

16 April 2008 

State representative at regional level (préfet de région) 

7 July 2009 

Secretariat-General of the Prime Minister's Office 

9 July 2008 

Registrar of Companies 

5 September 2009  Ministry 

for  Regional  Development  and  Local 

Government 

3 June 2008 

Ministry of the Interior 

19 May 2009 

Ministry responsible for Regional Development 

1 August 20078 

Metropolitan Court 

9 December 2010  Minister responsible for Finance 

26 November 2009  Minister for Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations 

     Federal level 

not yet adopted 

not yet designated 

     Burgenland 

8 April 2011 

Land Government 

     Carinthia 

18 December 2008 

Land Government 

     Lower Austria 

21 January 2010 

Land Government 

     Upper Austria 

1 April 2011 

Land Government 

EN 

4 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Salzburg 

26 September 2009  Land Government 

     Styria 

11 February 2010 

Land Government 

     Tyrol 

1 September 2010 

Land Government 

     Vorarlberg 

23 April 2009 

Land Government 

     Vienna 

Poland 

Portugal 

Romania 

Slovenia 

Slovakia 

Finland 

Sweden 

25 September 2010  Land Government 

7 November 2008  Minister of Foreign Affairs 

8 November 2007 

Financial Institute for Regional Development  

12 November 2007  Ministry of Development, Public Works and Housing 

20 March 2008 

Government  Office  for  Local  Self-Government  and 
Regional Policy 

1 May 2008 

Ministry of Construction and Regional Development  

1 August 2009 

Ministry of Employment and Economy 

1 August 2009 

Government 

United Kingdom 

1 August 2007 

Secretary 
Competitiveness and Consumer Affairs) 

of  State 

(Minister 

of  State 

for 

1  which may not be the same than the date of entry into force. 

2  authority as of date of adoption.  

3  adopted by Government, final approval not yet communicated. 

4  adopted by Flemish Parliament. 

5  adopted by Flemish Government. 

6  24 October 2008. 

7  Schleswig-Holstein designated the member of the Land Government responsible 
for  European  Affairs,  which,  according  to  a  decision  of  26  May  2005,  was  the 
Minister  of  Justice;  since  October  2009,  the  responsible  minister  is  the  Prime-
Minister. 

EN 

5 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8  as amended, but not yet communicated. 

EN 

6 

   EN 

 
 
II. List of EGTCs set up– information supplied by Committee of the Regions 

EGTC  

Countries1 

Seat 

of 
Date 
constitution

Purpose 

1  Eurométropole  Lille-
Kortrijk-Tournai  

2 

Ister-Granum EGTC 

BE  (10)  - 
FR(4) – 

Lille (FR) 

Jan-2008

HU  (46)  – 
SK(38) 

Esztergom 
(HU) 

Nov-2008

The main mission of this EGTC is to ensure efficient and coherent cross-
border cooperation to improve the quality of daily life of the inhabitants, 
which  will  be  realized  through  the  promotion  of  regular  political 
dialogue  between  the  partner  and  the  preparation  and  management  of 
projects co-financed by the EU 

This  EGTC  focuses  on  the  following  key  areas  of  cooperation: 
communication,  public  transport,  energy  policy,  health  care,  tourism. 
Hereby the EGTC intend to realise joint broadcast and regional bilingual 
television,  joint  public  transport  management  system,  joint  energy 
agency  for  using  renewable  resources,  a  regional  health  care  system, 
joint tourist destination management and thematic routes. 

1 Numbers in brackets represent the number of partners/members in each country. 

EN 

7 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
 
                                                 
EGTC  

Countries1 

Seat 

of 
Date 
constitution

Purpose 

3  Galicia-Norte 

Portugal AECT 

4  Amphictyony 

- 
Network  of  Twinned 
Cities  and  Areas  of 
the  Mediterranean 
EGTC  

5  Ung-Tisza-Túr-Sajó 
(Hernád-Bódva-
Szinva) 
Liability EGTC 

Limited 

ES  (1)  –  PT 
(1) 

Vigo (ES) 

Oct-2008

CY (6) – FR 
-  GR 
(1) 
(35) – IT (3)  Athens (GR) 

Dec-2008

(3)  – 

HU 
SK (1) 

Kántorjánosi 
(HU) 

Jan-2009

This  EGTC  focuses  on  the  preparation  of  a  Strategic  Cooperation  Plan 
Galicia – Norte de Portugal 2007-2013 and contribute to its main goals, 
namely:  1.  The  development  of  the  transportation  systems  and  of  the 
cross  border  accessibilities.  2.  The  cooperation  in  the  maritime  sector 
towards  an  integrated  cluster.  3.  The  internationalization  of  the  SME’s 
from  the  euro-region.  4.  Environment  protection  and  urban  sustainable 
development. 

This  EGTC  aims  to  provide  an  environment  of  constant  peace  and 
sustainable  development  for  the  people  living  there  with  special  regard 
to  joint  action  and  co-operation  amongst  its  members  in  line  with 
principles of freedom, democracy, justice, security and protection of the 
environment. 

This  EGTC  focuses  on  the  improvement  of  cross-border  transport, 
the 
communication  and  environmental  protection  as  well  as 
strengthening of the social and economic cohesion of the border area by 
closer  cooperation  in  the  fields  of  business,  RTD,  education,  labour-
market, health care and risk management. 

EN 

8 

EN 

 
  
 
EGTC  

Countries1 

Seat 

of 
Date 
constitution

Purpose 

6  Karst-Bodva 

(2)  – 

HU 
SK (1) 

Hačava (SK) 

Feb-2009

7 

GECT Duero-Douro 

ES  (105)  – 
PT (72) 

Trabanca (ES)  Mrch-2009

This  EGTC  will  develop  and  realize  common  development  program, 
focusing  on  the  development  of  economic,  social  and  environmental 
activities on cross border territories by: 1. supporting small and middle 
businesses  in  travel  and  tourism.  2.  protecting  of  environmental  and 
cultural values, prevention of environmental and technological risks. 3. 
Partnerships between communal and rural areas of cities and villages. 4. 
improving  cross  border  travel  system,  IT  -  communication-,  water 
supply-,  energy  systems  and  the  communal  and  industrial  waste 
management. 4. cooperation and joint use of infrastructure, especially in 
health service, culture, travel and tourism and education areas. 

transport,  new 

The partners of this EGTC defined the following fields of action for their 
cooperation:  equal  opportunities,  economic  and  local  development, 
information  and 
public 
communication 
sustainable 
and 
development,  education,  health,  social  policy,  tourism,  culture  and 
culture heritage, sports, leisure time, research and innovation form also 
part of the key activities. 

technologies,  especially 

technologies. 

Environment 

8  West-

Vlaanderen/Flandre-
Dunkerque-Côte 
d'Opale  

BE (5) – FR 
(6) 

Dunkerque 
(FR) 

Apr-2009

This EGTC focuses on cross-border coordination of the activities of its 
partners, defining strategies for cross-border action programmes in order 
to meet the needs of the inhabitants in the region. 

EN 

9 

EN 

 
  
 
EGTC  

Countries1 

Seat 

of 
Date 
constitution

Purpose 

9  ArchiMed 

CY (1) – ES 
(1) – IT (1)  Taormina (IT) 

Jul-2009

The  aim  of  this  EGTC  is  to  create  an  area  of  stability  between  the 
Mediterranean islands. For this reason they will focus to cooperate in the 
following areas: sustainable use of natural resources, rural development, 
transport,  culture,  tourism,  research  and  development,  energy  and 
migration. 

10 

11 

12 

Eurorégion  Pyrénées-
Méditerranée  

ES  (2)  –  FR 
(2)  

Toulouse (FR) 

Aug-2009

Eurodistrikt 
Strasbourg-Ortenau  

DE (6) = FR 
(1) 

Strasbourg 
(FR) 

Feb-2010

ZASNET 

ES  (3)  –  PT 
(2) 

Bragança (PT)  Mch-2010

13  Cerdanya 

Cross-

Border Hospital 

ES  (5)  –  FR 
(2)  

Pugicerdá 
(ES) 

Apr-2010

This  EGTC  intends  to  manage  different  territorial  cooperation  projects 
and  activities.  Special  focus  is  given  to  inter-regional  economic 
research  and 
development,  culture, 
development, 
improvement  of 
telecommunication and transport services. 

innovation  and 
tourism,  environmental  protection, 

technology, 

Aim  of  this  EGTC  is  the  development  of  an  association  of  local 
authorities for the benefit of all inhabitants of this area. Another aim is to 
strengthen  the  European  dimensions  of  Strasbourg  as  seat  one  of  the 
major seats of the European Institutions. 

This  EGTC  focuses  on  cross-border  cooperation  between  the  members 
of  the  EGTC  in  the  fields  of  the  environment,  culture,  tourism  and 
economic  development,  in  order  to  implement  joint  projects  of  co-
operation. Beside this promote the territory to the outside for generating 
synergies to invert the negative demographic tendencies of the area. 

Construction,  operation  and  management  of  a  cross-border  hospital 
located  in  the  Catalan  territory  of  La  Cerdanya  (Spain)  and  oriented  to 
the attention of patients of the territories of La Cerdanya (Spain) and La 
Cerdagne and Capcir (France). 

EN 

10 

EN 

 
  
 
EGTC  

Countries1 

Seat 

of 
Date 
constitution

Purpose 

14  EGTC 

INTERREG 
Programme  Grande 
Région 

BE (3) – DE 
(2) – FR  (5) 
–  LUX (1)  Metz (FR) 

Apr-2010

Management  Authority  of  the  INTERREG  IV/A  Programme  Grande 
Region. 

15 

Eurodistikt 
Saarmoselle  

DE  (1)-  FR 
(7) 

Sarreguemines 
(FR 

Mai-2010

This  EGTC  focuses  on  the  development  of  a  cross-border  area  where 
600  000  inhabitants  live.  Special  focus  is  put  on  tourism,  health  and 
transport. 

16  ABAÚJ 

-  ABAÚJ 

EGTC 

(9)  – 

HU 
SK (5) 

Miskolc (HU) 

June -2010

This EGTC has been established in order to foster economic and social 
development  in  the  region.  Its  goal  is  to  support  cooperation  and 
development between cross-border territories by strengthening economic 
and  social  cohesion, 
to  allow  and  assist  economic  and  social 
development  between  cross-border  territories  as  well  as  to  support 
business  spirit  and  a  high  level  ethical  attitude  to  entrepreneurship  in 
cross-border territories. 

17  Pons Danubii 

(3)  – 

HU 
SK (3) 

Komarno 
(SK) 

Dec 2010

The  general  goal  of  the  associated  towns  is  their  co-operation  to 
strengthen and maintain economic and social cohesiveness.  

18  Bánát 

- 
Cofinium 
Liability EGTC 

Triplex 
Limited 

(6)  – 

HU 
SK (2) 

Mórahalom 
(HU) 

Jan-2011

The  objective  of  this  EGTC  is  to  increasing  the  dynamism  and  the 
competitiveness  of  the  border  regions.  Implementation  of  development 
strategies  in  the  field  of  agricultural  innovation,  renewable  energy 
sources, infrastructure and education-training. 

EN 

11 

EN 

 
  
 
 
 
III. EGTCs under preparation 

EGTC  

Countries2 

1  Euroregione Tirolo-Alto Adige-Trentino  

AT, IT 

2  Tritia 

3  Ulm-Vienna-Budapest 

4  Euroregions Alps-Mediterranean 

5  Territorio dei Comuni 

CZ, PL, SK  

AT, DE, HU 

FR, IT 

IT, SI 

6  Euranest 

BE, CH, FR, IT 

7  Euregio Meuse-Rhine EGTC 

BE, DE, NL 

8  Agglomeration Alzette-Belval 

FR, LU 

9  Euroregion Neisse-Nisa 

CZ, DE, PL 

10  Donauhanse 

Networks  of  towns  and  cities  along 

Danube 

11  National Park Area Alpi Marittime / Mercantour 

FR, IT 

12  Alpen-Adria and Croatia 

AT, HU, IT, SI 

13  Eurodistrict Oderland Nad Odrze 

DE, PL 

2 Numbers in brackets represent the number of partners/members in each country. 

EN 

12 

   EN 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
EGTC  

Countries2 

14  Eurocidade Chaves-Verin 

15  Europaregion Donau-Moldau 

16  Euroregion Corridor VIII 

17  Bulgaria-Romania  EGTC  on  common  navigation  on 

the Danube 

18  CODE 24 

19  Parc 

Marin 

International 

Bouches 

de Bonifacio 

20  Ostbahn (Eastern Railway) 

ES, PT 

AT, SK 

BG, IT 

BG, RO 

CH, DE, IT, NL 

FR, IT 

DE, PL  

EN 

13 

   EN