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Citizens are not always aware of what Europe brings them on a daily basis. Yet it contributes directly to the development of our regions.
Structural funds play a key role because their purpose is to reduce economic, social and territorial disparities between European regions. They therefore reflect particularly well our idea of an interdependent and integrated Europe involving all regions in a dynamic of development and improvement. Through different programmes, Europe supports structuring projects in sectors as diverse as health, the environment and transport. Walloon businesses and research centres are therefore strengthened thanks to the combined financial efforts of Wallonia and Europe.
The Erasmus programme is no longer present in higher education. However other programmes in the field of education allow young people of Wallonia and Brussels to train in all four corners of Europe. Programmes such as “Youth for Europe ” and “European voluntary work” allow young people in Wallonia and Brussels to experience Europe by consolidating their integration in the world of work.
Crossborder cooperation finds expression in “Interreg” programmes which directly affect the daily lives of Walloons, for example when they involve care or training outside our borders.
In terms of the environment, there are a number of projects relating to water quality. Wallonia also benefits from the “Natura 2000” network, which promotes natural sites by protecting the biodiversity of fauna and flora.
Europe has also strongly focused its business support policies on SMEs. For example, Erasmus has been extended to young entrepreneurs and our Presidency will begin work on the Small Business Act: a measure highlighting even more the flexibility of Walloon SMEs.