Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

The European Territorial Cooperation is celebrating its 20th anniversary. In honour of this occasion, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union represented by Wallonia and in association with the European Commission and the INTERACT programme, is organising a high-level conference dedicated to the future of this cooperation.

The conference has a dual objective:

• On the one hand, it is a fitting celebration of 20 years of European Territorial Cooperation, featuring testimonials from symbolic key figures and illustrations of practical achievements;
• On the other hand, it aims to initiate a debate about the future of this cooperation, bringing together experts and politicians from all levels of power where this cooperation is practiced: European, national, regional and local.

The 2007-2013 programme of the Structural Funds sanctioned the creation of a Territorial Cooperation objective with increased resources. This is an instrument which has an obvious European added value and which must be preserved (building European networks, cooperation development, the exchange of knowledge and experience, etc.). This instrument allows us to capitalise on the benefits we have reaped for over 20 years.

It now seems appropriate to continue discussions about the strategic contributions of the Territorial Cooperation objective within the Cohesion Policy. Subjects such as simplification and management control, the link between territorial cooperation and the "Europe 2020" Strategy, the relevance of cooperation territories or even the review of European Grouping for Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) regulations will be more closely examined.

The city of Tournai, which is hosting this conference, has profound symbolic significance for cross-border cooperation. Located at the centre of the cooperation area for the INTERREG France-Wallonia-Flanders programme, it is also at the heart of the territory of the first European Grouping for Territorial Cooperation, the Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai Eurometropolis.

The discussions during this conference will be chairing by the Minister-President of the Walloon Government, Rudy Demotte.

This conference is a decentralised event of Open Days.

Additional information

Regarding participants :

• Christine LETON

Coopération territoriale européenne
Wallonie-Bruxelles International
Courriel: c.leton@wbi.be

• Sabrina CURZI

Coopération territoriale européenne
Wallonie-Bruxelles International
Courriel: s.curzi@wbi.be