Andean Community – Euregion

Scheldemond

29&30 May 2013

EU-Latin America collaboration on cross-border co-operation

in the framework of regional policy

Association of European Border regions

Morning programme: organizational

aspects of

cross-border cooperation

9:45-10:00 Introduction by Mr Marc De Buck, President of the

Provincial Council of the Province of East Flanders

Presentation ‘Province of East Flanders and cross-

border cooperation’ by Mr Hedwig De Pauw, director of the

department Economy, European and International Affairs

of the Province of East Flanders

10:00-10:15 Presentation ‘Andean Community and cross-border

cooperation’ by representative Andean Community

10:15-10:30 Presentation EU project ‘EU-Latin America collaboration on

cross-border co-operation in the framework of regional

policy’ by Mr Welf Selke, Advisory Committee AEBR

10:30-11:30 Presentation ‘Euregion Scheldemond: history, mission,

projects and organizational aspects’ by Ms Els Piqueur,

policy officer Euregion Scheldemond

Province of East Flanders and cross-border cooperation

Various ways to establish cross-border cooperation:

•The European Union: EU regional policy�European

Territorial Cooperation�INTERREG programmes (funded by the European Regional Development Fund)

•Other networks and organisations

Province of East Flanders and cross-border cooperation

• INTERREG IV A: cross-border cooperation

– Flanders-Netherlands Programme

– France-Wallonia-Flanders Programme

– 2 Seas Programme

• Flemish-Dutch Delta organisation

• Euregion Scheldemond

INTERREG IV A:

Border region Flanders-Netherlands

• one of the most integrated and successful border regions in Europe

• purpose: sustainable socio-economic development of the border

region

• cooperation focuses on the three themes of the so-called

sustainability triangle: people, planet, profit

INTERREG IV A:

France-Wallonia-Flanders

• purpose: economic and social exchange between the regions Nord-

Pas de Calais / Champagne-Ardenne / Picardie in France and

Wallonia / Flanders in Belgium

• priorities: economic development, promotion of identity through

culture and tourism, strengthening of feeling of community through

cross-border public services, sustainable development of the

environment

INTERREG IV A:

2 Seas Programme

• cross-border cooperation between the coastal regions of France (Nord-Pas de

Calais), England (SW, SE, E), Belgium (Flanders) and The Netherlands (South

coastal area)

• priorities: economically competitive, attractive and accessible area; safe and healthy

environment; quality of life; maritime cooperation with French-English Channel

Programme

Flemish-Dutch Delta

• provincial cooperation in close collaboration with seaports and

knowledge institutions

• Flanders: Antwerp, East Flanders, West Flanders; Netherlands: South-

Holland, North Brabant, Zealand

• economic and logistic development of the delta of the Rhein, Maas and

Scheldt

Euregion Scheldemond

Euregion Scheldemond

Visit Andean Community

29th of May 2013

Euregion Scheldemond

History & background

1989 Declaration of intent

1993 Installation of the Scheldemond Council

• Consecutive Interreg-programmes for Euregion

Scheldemond

• Interreg IV – Crossborder Region Flanders – The

Netherlands

• Reorientation of the Scheldemond crossborder

cooperation

Scheldemond Council

• Provinces of Zealand, East- and West-Flanders

– Commissioner of the King, two Governors

– 3 deputies

– 9 members of the provincial councils

• Municipalities

– 3 representatives per province

• Benelux

• Secretariat Euregion Scheldemond

Scheldemond Council

– Development of crossborder policy

– Initiation of crossborder initiatives and

projects

– Common lobbying

– Common participation in other partnerships

(for example EURES, AEBR, North Sea

Commission, …)

Thematic working groups

• 8 thematic working groups� Economy

� Culture

� Agriculture

� Safety

� Education

� Tourism

� Social affairs

� Environment

Municipal clusters

Three crossborder clusters

Secretariat Euregion Scheldemond

• Three part-time employees

• Seconded from the three provinces

• Execute the crossborder policy of the Euregion Scheldemond– Leen Ervinck

– Bram de Kort

– Els Piqueur

– Miguel Verstringe

Financing

• Interreg programmes

• Scheldemond Fund

• Other European funding

Strategy

• Strategy for the future (EU-2020)

• Thematic priorities:

– Biobased economy

– Innovation in care

– Sustainable ports and logistics

– Adaptation to climate changes

– Crossborder mobility

– Crossborder labour market

– Demografic changes

Projects

– Biobased economy – Bio Base Europe

• Interreg-project

• Total cost: 21 million euro

• ERDF financing: 7 million euro

Projects

– Sustainable ports – Sustainable seaports

• Interreg-project

• Total cost: 794.428 euro

• ERDF financing: 397.214 euro

• Five ports work together on sustainability

• Learning network

• Problem: competition between the ports

Projects

– Innovation in care – Stategy for innovation in care in the Euregion Scheldemond

• Scheldemond Fund project

• Total cost: 52.850 euro

• 100% financed

• Cooperation between the provincial

development agencies

Projects

– Crossborder labour market – Tendencies without borders

• Interreg project

• Total cost: 552.921 euro

• ERDF financing: 276.460,50 euro

• Establishment of an information point on crossborder labour for employers, employees and jobseekers

• Establishment of a crossborder database and website with companies who want to encourage youngsters to choose a technical training

Challenges

• Crossborder mobility: no efficient bus or train

connection across the border between Ghent

and Terneuzen

• Crossborder labour market - Shortage

occupations are the same on both sides

• Economic crisis – national states want to invest

less in crossborder cooperation

Questions?