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Territorial Co-operation Programmes

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Territorial Co-operation Programmes

European Territorial Co-operation (ETC) programmes address issues which cut across national borders and provide the opportunity for regions across the EU to work together, share best practice and knowledge transfer and co-ordinate actions to provide solutions to common challenges.

Wales is taking part in five ETC programmes during the period 2007-2013 which are co-financed through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). 

Ireland/Wales (cross-border): linking the west coast of Wales with the south-east of Ireland, WEFO is joint partner in this €70m programme which is utilising €52m ERDF to strengthen economic links on both sides of the Irish Sea.  The Managing Authority is the Southern and Eastern Regional Assembly (SERA) in Waterford, Ireland

Atlantic Area (transnational): all of Wales is eligible for this €158m maritime focused  programme which is worth €104m ERDF and links regions on the Atlantic coast in the UK, Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal.  WEFO has delegated responsibility from the UK Government Department for Communities and Local Government to lead input at the UK level.  The Managing Authority is the North Regional Co-ordination and Development Commission (CCDR) in Porto, Portugal.

North-West Europe (transnational)  the UK (including all of Wales) is collaborating with Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg and areas of France, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland on this €697m programme which is worth €355m ERDF. The Managing Authority is the Nord-Pas de Calais Region in Lille, France.

EU27 IVC programme (inter-regional): worth €405m including €321m ERDF, this Programme covers the EU27 plus Switzerland and Norway. The Managing Authority is the Nord-Pas de Calais Region in Lille, France.

URBACT (transnational): a €70m EU initiative utilising €53m ERDF to focus on sustainable urban regeneration and knowledge transfer and exchange of experience between European cities.  The Managing Authority is the French Ministry for Urban Policy Saint Denis, France.

Together, the programmes are investing around €1.4 billion (€885m in ERDF grant) in projects across the EU to strengthen the economic, environmental and social links between Member States and the regions.

How to apply for funding

Each of the programmes operate dedicated bidding rounds for funding applications. As the programmes are administered by different Managing Authorities, the procedures for accessing the funds are specific for each individual programme.

Our collaboration

To date Welsh partners are co-operating in 86 European funded projects collaborating territorially with organisations in:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • the Czech Republic
  • Cyprus
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macedonia
  • the Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Other areas of the UK.