1. Brussels Open Days 2005 11CO2 : New Perspectives for Cross Border Co-operation Kevin Richardson Newcastle City Council kevin.richardson@newcastle.gov.uk EGCC : The Way Ahead?

2. EU EGCC EU LP Contract / Liability EGCC / EGTC COM(2004) 496 Contract / Liability PPPPP P P P P

3. Advantages No Lead Partner No Lead Partner Shared liabilities = shared ownership Shared liabilities = shared ownership Convention provides clarity and transparency Convention provides clarity and transparency Involvement of Member State Involvement of Member State A stable structure as a base for consecutive projects A stable structure as a base for consecutive projects Expertise and continuity Expertise and continuity Quality control through more standardised systems Quality control through more standardised systems Legal opening for some and wider understanding Legal opening for some and wider understanding Opportunities for smaller & inexperienced partners Opportunities for smaller & inexperienced partners Transfer of knowledge across EU Programmes Transfer of knowledge across EU Programmes Not just EU Programmes ! Not just EU Programmes ! Wider and deeper partnership Wider and deeper partnership

4. Risks (1) Optional & Flexible ? Optional & Flexible ? Institutional / Financial burden? Institutional / Financial burden? Simplification of financial management & audit Simplification of financial management & audit Flexible room for innovation? Flexible room for innovation? Minimum capacity? Minimum capacity? Closed partnerships? Closed partnerships? Involvement of local communities & private sector? Involvement of local communities & private sector? Democratic legitimacy? Democratic legitimacy? Involvement of Convergence regions? Involvement of Convergence regions? Centralisation in place and culture of Brussels Centralisation in place and culture of Brussels EGCC assumes delivery & leadership EGCC assumes delivery & leadership

5. Risks (2) Legal / financial uncertainties Legal / financial uncertainties Clarity on added value Clarity on added value Late approval & development Late approval & development Limited to NUTS III? Limited to NUTS III? 14 billion or 7.5 billion? 14 billion or 7.5 billion? 77% for Cross Border? 77% for Cross Border? Support & oversight from Member State Support & oversight from Member State Widespread lack of Awareness !!!! Widespread lack of Awareness !!!!

6. What needs to happens next? Isolate debate from Cohesion Policy Isolate debate from Cohesion Policy Clarify legal uncertainties Clarify legal uncertainties Forward Action Plan & Timetable Forward Action Plan & Timetable Involvement of local partners Involvement of local partners Promotion & Branding Promotion & Branding Leadership by COM and EU Parliament Leadership by COM and EU Parliament Protect financial allocation ! Protect financial allocation !