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State of play by the end of 2014

"By the end of 2014 there were 50 EGTCs and around 18 in the pipeline", explained Mr Cattaneo, "involving more than 800 local and regional authorities in 20 Member States and spending around 12 million euro, not counting 20 million euro which correspond to the Hospital of La Cerdanya".

Mr Cattaneo highlighted that the EGTCs are very active in implementing the Strategy Europe 2020: "They are mostly interested in vocational training and education, followed by employment; secondly, by the environment, energy and climate change, and finally by the support to the SMEs", he explained.

Third countries

Mr Cattaneo presented as well another study on the EGTCs and third countries.

"The revision of the EGTC Regulation is an important step forward in opening the EGTCs to cities and regions from outside the EU", he said, "and naturally, the highest interest is with Switzerland and with the Balkans".

The study covers the EEA, the IPA and the ENP countries, and also outermost regions and overseas countries and territories. "We intended to be very practical and to screen the different possibilities in each scenario", Mr Cattaneo explained, "I think it is important to exploit the opportunities for the EGTC foreseen in the newest association agreements, like the most recent ones with Ukraine and with Moldova".