On current and future challenges regarding cross-border cooperation with neighbouring countries
A-9-2023-0415
Committee on Regional Development · Rapporteur: Daniel Buda
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This is a committee report with a motion for a resolution on current and future challenges of cross-border cooperation with neighbouring countries. It reviews Interreg NEXT programmes, cooperation with the Eastern Neighbourhood, the Black Sea and Mediterranean basins, and sets out policy recommendations.¶¶¶ It welcomes the suspension of cooperation with Russia and Belarus and the re-routing of funds to Ukraine and Moldova, and calls for support to regions bordering those countries.¶ It asks for more funding, simpler procedures, better transport and digital infrastructure, and stronger cooperation on energy, environment, migration and security.¶¶¶
Committee position. The rapporteur proposes an own-initiative report divided into 7 chapters presenting key features of cross-border cooperation, highlighting benefits and challenges, and making policy recommendations on complementarity, synergies and simplification of procedures.¶¶
Key points
- Welcomes the alignment of Interreg NEXT programmes with Interreg programmes to simplify procedures and increase effectiveness, but calls for simpler evaluation and implementation and a focus on quantifiable results.¶
- Stresses that local and regional authorities play a key role in cross-border cooperation, and that people-to-people projects and cross-border investments strengthen territorial cohesion and solidarity.¶¶
- Says the 2021-2027 allocation is far from optimal and calls for stronger financing, greater accountability of third countries for recoveries, and involvement of private investors.¶
- Welcomes electronic data transmission but warns against greater bureaucratisation, and expresses concern that large infrastructure projects will no longer be subject to Commission approval.¶¶
- Welcomes the removal of the limit on EU funding for large infrastructure projects and calls for public-private involvement in energy, transport, communication and digitalisation infrastructure.¶
- Highlights cross-border cooperation's role in pre-accession processes, sustainable management of natural resources, climate change adaptation and fighting climate change.¶¶
- Welcomes the suspension of cross-border cooperation with Russia and Belarus and the re-routing of funds to Ukraine and Moldova, and calls for support to regions bordering Russia and Belarus.¶¶
- Calls for funds for sustainable transport infrastructure, including railway connections and storage facilities near the EU's borders with Ukraine and Moldova, to streamline goods and grain flows.¶
- Calls for support for sustainable infrastructure projects improving connectivity and mobility, and for appropriate support to host displaced Ukrainians and address challenges from Russia's war.¶¶
- Stresses the importance of increased financial support for the Black Sea programme given security challenges, and calls for a cohesive strategy for the Black Sea and synergies with the Danube Programme.¶¶
- Underlines the importance of partnerships with Mediterranean third countries, calls for coordinated use of funds, management of migration flows and combating irregular migration and human trafficking.¶¶¶
- Recommends greater complementarity between projects, synergies with other EU funding tools, simplification of procedures, and an increased overall budget for cross-border territorial cooperation.¶¶¶
Who is affected
- EU border regions and their local and regional authorities, which would receive more support and simplified procedures.¶¶
- Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, which would receive re-routed funds and support for transport infrastructure and post-war reconstruction.¶¶¶
- Regions bordering Russia and Belarus, which face social and economic challenges after the suspension of cooperation.¶
- Third countries and private-sector beneficiaries, which face greater accountability for recoveries and are encouraged to invest.¶
- Candidate countries, which benefit from familiarisation with EU programmes and legislation through cross-border cooperation.¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- 184 regions, 33 countries and 260 million inhabitants covered by EU cross-border cooperation with neighbouring countries.¶
- 2021-2027 period for which the allocation is far from optimal and financing should be strengthened.¶
- Half of the programmes proposed for the period 2021-2027 were affected by the suspension of cooperation with Russia and Belarus.¶
Legal basis: Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union and Articles 4, 162, 174 to 178 and 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.¶