1. BUILDING AN EUROPEAN GROUPING OF TERRITORIAL COOPERATION (EGTC) How to use an EGTC for integrated territorial development? GALICIA-NORTE DE PORTUGAL FROM THE WORKING COMMUNITY TO THE EGTC NUNO ALMEIDA nuno.almeida@ccdr-n.pt Portuguese Coordinator of WC G-NP CCDR-N Brussels, 19th June 2008 EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL REGIONAL POLICY

2. Galicia Ferrol Guimarães Braga Vila Real Bragança Porto Lugo A Coruña Santiago Pontevedra VigoOurense Viana do Castelo Chaves Norte de Portugal The Euro-region and the relations between European Urban Areas

3. The Euro-region: main indicators

4. Average Daily Traffic (2004) High Mobility crossing the border 52%

5. International Trade 2006 Economic Interdependency Galicia is the 4th external commercial partner of Portugal ahead of UK The trade between G-NP represents more than 7% of the all Portugal-Spain trade Special investments: Car Sector – Technologic Platform (PSA, VW)

6. EIXO ATLÂNTICO 34 local municipalities from the 2 regions CEER (Euro-regional studies center Galicia-Norte de Portugal - 6 public universities (3 from each region) - regional institutions (Xunta de Galicia + CCDR-N) - local entities Eures Transfronteiriço G-NP - more than 40.000 cross-border workers = trade unions, employers associations - joint training courses, recognised in both regions Oficial inter-regional statistics (IGE / INE) since 1995 A Venture Capital Fund for interregional investments with 5 M, co- financed by INTERREG II and III-A The Euro-region

7. Working Community Galicia-Norte de Portugal First contacts between Xunta de Galicia and CCDR-N: 80s Signature of the First Agreement in 1991, based on the Madrid Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities, Council of Europe 1980 New set-up agreement in 2006 adapting to the new Cooperation Treaty on cross border co-operation signed between Portugal and Spain (Treaty of Valencia, 2004) Aim: to promote and coordinate the cross-border and inter-regional co-operation, with a view to reinforce the joint development of both regions The Presidency of the Working Community is alternatively assumed, every two years, by the Presidents of Xunta de Galicia and of CCDR-N Working Community Galicia-Norte de Portugal

8. GENERAL COORDINATOR IN GALICIA GENERAL COORDINATOR IN NORTE REGION PRESIDENCY COUNCIL COORDINATION GROUP SECRETARIATEnvironment, Planning and Rural Development Competitiveness and Employment Cooperation and Socio-economic, Institutional Integration Uniminho Minho Territorial Co-operation Community Eixo Atlântico SECTORIALCOMMITTEES Cávado Territorial Co-operation Community Lima Territorial Co-operation Community ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIC REFLEXION GROUP INTERREGIONAL OBSERVATORY Tâmega Territorial Co-operation Community Working Community Galicia-Norte de Portugal

9. From the Working Community to the Galicia- Norte de Portugal EGTC -Portuguese national provisions implementing the EGTC regulation (Reg 1082/206) adopted in 8 November 2007 (Decreto-Lei n.º 376/2007) - Spanish national provisions also adopted in 18 January 2008 (Real Decreto n. 37/2008) - EGCT G-NP submitted at the same time by the XG and CCDR-N to the Spanish and Portuguese governments in February 2008

10. From the Working Community to the Galicia – Norte de Portugal EGTC The G-NP EGTC will be responsible for the operational management and execution of contracts and agreements assigned in the scope of the Working Community. Furthermore, the G-NP EGTC will develop the Strategic Cooperation Plan Galicia – Norte de Portugal 2007-2013 and contribute to its main goals: - Development of the transportation systems and of the cross border accessibilities (High Speed Train Connection Porto-Vigo) - Cooperation in the maritime sector towards an integrated cluster - Internationalization of the SMEs from the euro-region (Innovation and Competitiveness) - Environment Protection and Urban Sustainable Development - Increase the co-operation and the Integration at Social and Institutional levels