1. EGTC in the financial crisis Elements of reflection EGTC interinstitutional conference 29 March 2012 | Brussels

2. Is the EGTC a useful tool to face financial crisis? Financial crisis demands coordinated answers, cooperation and solidarity, beyond national borders. EGTCs can and do contribute, as a tool at the service of economic, social (and territorial) cohesion. EGTCs cannot solve all problems: but EGTCs shed light on existing cooperation barriers (multi- level governance, economic development, administrative burdens, legal incompatibilities) – and find innovative solutions. 2

3. Is the EGTC a useful tool to face financial crisis? 3

4. REVIEW OF EGTC REGULATION 4 Amended EGTC Regulation will foster cooperation possibilities: Extension to public undertakings Clarification on liability (insurance) Bilaterial EGTCs EU/third countries ASAP, so that programming can start and integrate new EGTC provisions Tax incentives (like EEIG or ERIC system – e.g. VAT exemption)?

5. 2014-2020 – A NEW DIMENSION FOR EGTCS? Reinforced and new options for EGTCs: ETC programmes (MA/JTS, incl. FLC). Interest limited? ETC projects Integrated Territorial Investments in cooperation context: EGTC as intermediate body Joint action plan: member of steering committee Community-led Local Development: EGTC as member of local development group? See also EGTC to manage interregional cooperation actions of regional OPs (art 37(6)b -> 87(2)c) Programming is starting now already! 5

6. EGTCs in the framework of macro-regional strategies 6 What new opportunities in the framework of macro- regional strategies? No new institutions. But coordination needed (between countries, funds and sectors) EGTCs could contribute to alignment of funding, e.g.: Run, on long-term, several projects financed by different sources along a consecutive line Act as partner in different small projects, which together contribute to a wider policy Manage a fund put together by different countries (e.g. Investment fund) to support initiatives Manage a multi-fund programme (e.g. in Baltic Sea Region – BONUS Programme run by an EEIG)

7. What´s next? 7 Existing and potential EGTCs to look at the options posed by new regulatory framework Networking between EGTCs – Sharing experiences and bringing EGTC issues to the forefront Information + political support Information and possible scenarios on EGTC use in new legal framework (INTERACT is working on this)