​​​​​​​The EGTC West-Vlaanderen / Flandre – Dunkerque – Côte d'Opale results from a partnership between France and Belgium, involving around 2 000 000 inhabitants in a 7 000 km²'s area.

This EGTC has been created to define strategies, actions and programs in the cross-border region, in order to meet the needs of its inhabitants.

Review of activities in 2019

Tasks

The EGTC provides an added value by the nature of its structure and organisation: all public authorities on both sides of the border are members of the EGTC. Furthermore, French and Flemish social-economic society take part (in)directly in the EGTC’s organisation. The composition of the partnership creates a cross-border multi-level governance in the territory of the EGTC. This structure allows a practical bottom-up approach regarding problems, difficulties, opportunities and challenges that require the additional competences, mediation, assistance and support of the members. At the same time, the multi-level governance structure allows a top-down information flow that helps the members with the daily execution of their tasks.

Topics dealt with in 2019 are economic development, water and flood management, spatial planning, public services and citizen participation.

The EGTC executes the Interreg V projects launched in 2016 and 2018 and supports the partners of a Interreg V micro project recently launched. Through the Interreg projects (Interreg V France-Wallonie-Vlaanderen programme) in which the EGTC is involved, a joint management of public services is encouraged, i.e. in the field of water management, spatial planning, employment, public transport and social and cultural cohesion.

Budget

Annual budget of € 260.000 provided by the financial contributions of the members, according to the principle of parity between French and Belgian members (each 50%), increased by ERDF grant (Interreg V projects).

4 EU funded projects, all 4 are part of the Interreg V France-Wallonie-Vlaanderen programme:

1. Mageteaux: (launched in 2016 – duration: 4 years) flood and water management in the cross-border coastal region – total budget of the project: € 2,235,000 (55% co-funded by EU) - total budget for the EGTC: € 59,000;
2. Partons 2.0: (launched in 2016 – duration: 4 years) more efficient organisation of public and commercial services in the cross-border rural region through participation of citizens & increased cross-border accessibility to public services – total budget of the project: € 2,248,000 (55% co-funded by EU) - total budget for the EGTC: € 31,000;
3. Grenzeloos Competent/Compétences sans frontières: (launched in 2016 – duration 4 years) improve matching cross-border labour market supply and demand through cross-border job promotion, training programmes and coaching employers – total budget of the project: € 4,000,000 (50% co-funded by EU) - total budget for the EGTC: € 54,000;
4. ​Transmobil : (launched in 2018 – duration: 4 years): increase accessibility to public transport and mobility services in cross-border rural region, especially for the inhabitants lacking their own car (young people, elderly, disadvantaged groups, early adopters) by the implementation of a cross-border network of mobility hubs and the development of a cross-border expertise platform – total budget: € 3.600.000 (50% co-funded by EU – total budget for the EGTC: € 66.625;
5. TIL – Taalinitiatie / Initiation linguisique: (launched in 2019 – duration 18 months): language learning project in line with Council resolution on the early teaching of European languages for young children of 2 neighbouring cities on both sides of the border, Veurne and Hondschoote - total budget: € 30.500 (micro project Interreg V) / No budget for the EGTC: EGTC is not an official partner in the project but helped the partners to set up their project and continues to support them with the project implementation (coordination and logistic support).
   
   

Staff (in FTE):

2​